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Key details to know about the arrest of a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEOCNBC's Jim Cramer previewed next week's important Wall Street action, pointing to a slew of retail earnings, as well as reports from Dell and CrowdStrike. Best Buy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Kohl's, Macy's, Burlington Stores and Dick's Sporting Goods all report Tuesday. The coming week is typically a good one for the market and he advised investors to ring the register on some of their more volatile stocks that have seen significant gains. CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday previewed next week's important Wall Street action, suggesting it's wise to pay attention to a slew of retail earnings as well as reports from Dell and CrowdStrike . He also said that the coming week is typically a good one for the market and advised investors to ring the register on some of their more volatile stocks that have seen significant gains. "If you have huge profits in the month of November, could you do me a favor?" he said. "I would show a little thanks next week and take something off the table in your most risky positions." Monday brings quarterly reports from Bath & Body Works and Zoom . Cramer noted that the soap maker's stock hasn't been popular on Wall Street as of late, but wondered if positive commentary about the holiday season from management would make a difference. He also pointed to the tension between those who are shorting stock of Zoom and those intending to buy and said it seems the company always "has a lot of irons in the fire." Tuesday is a big day for retailers, with reports from Best Buy , Abercrombie & Fitch , Kohl's , Macy's , Burlington Stores and Dick's Sporting Goods . Cramer noted that many of these stocks have run up heading into earnings — so it's "treacherous" to buy now — and wondered which ones will impress Wall Street. He added that some retailers whose earnings weren't great still saw their stocks soar but others got badly dinged , like Target . J.M. Smucker will also post earnings that day. Cramer said some investors weren't pleased with the snack food company's pricey Hostess acquisition , but he suggested the stock could climb if results are in-line. A few major tech names also report Tuesday, including CrowdStrike , Dell , and Workday . Cramer said he's positive on all three, noting that Dell is a major Nvidia partner that is helping implement its newest technology. He said investors might want to buy some Dell stock now and some after earnings if it pulls back. HP will report after close, and Cramer said he wants to know if new artificial intelligence-enabled PCs are seeing success. While stock action tends to slow during the rest of the holiday week, Cramer pointed out that on Wednesday the government will release the latest personal consumption expenditures index. This data is an inflation metric for the Federal Reserve and could indicate whether there will be another interest rate cut before the end of the year. Sign up now for the CNBC Investing Club to follow Jim Cramer's every move in the market. Disclaimer The CNBC Investing Club Charitable Trust holds shares of Best Buy, CrowdStrike and Nvidia. Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.com567bets.com 。

Auckland business consultant Katie*, 29, describes herself as self-contained. "When I was growing up, my mother would sometimes call me secretive . "I don't like that word as it makes me sound dishonest. I didn't lie about things – well, maybe about parties and whether adults were supervising them." (Relatable.) "I've just always been a private person. I wasn't that girl who told her parents or her friends or her boyfriend everything. READ MORE: 'I came off the pill and was no longer attracted to my husband' "We all keep secrets. I think of it not so much as being secretive, but as keeping some things private." Katie says she keeps some secrets from her partner of three years. One being aspects of her relationship history, including her cheating on an ex-partner. "It was just once. I would never cheat on my current partner. I don't think he needs to know about it." READ MORE: 'The lingerie I thought my husband bought me for Christmas, actually went to his secret lover' Katie also keeps some secrets when it comes to the therapy she's getting. "He knows I have anxiety and some issues I'm working through. But I haven't told him I have some OCD [Obsessive-compulsive Disorder] symptoms." For Katie, repetitive behaviours occupy 10 to 15 minutes a day – something she hides from him. "I haven't outright lied, but I have deflected about what I've been doing. Because it would worry him. I feel like he'd start observing exactly what I was doing, which would make me self-conscious and sort of ashamed. "And I'm getting on top of the OCD stuff. I do share with him most other things going on in my life. He knows everything about my finances, my politics, my goals etc." There are secrets and then there are secrets . Most people would agree it's fine to keep small secrets from your partner: for instance, how much their mother annoys you, that you follow former cast members of The Bachelor on Instagram, or that you used to have a crush on a friend of yours. A friend of mine, Charlotte*, gives some examples of what she'd consider 'OK secrets'. "Surprises: secrets for now, but I'll reveal them later and it'll be good. "Confidences: things other people tell me in confidence, or things I have to keep confidential for work. READ MORE: 'We'd been trying for a baby for a year before he mentioned his vasectomy' "White lies and benign omissions: I don't tell my partner how much his hair is thinning, I choose not to say how much it annoys me when he does X, I tell him I'm sure X likes him, I withhold my scary medical appointment coming up until close to the time or afterwards. "Private information: choosing not to disclose what I fantasise about, which partner was better at oral, that I'm insecure about this body part, that I was assaulted before we met. I wouldn't call any of the above 'being secretive' even though there are secrets." In a Psychology Today story called 'Why We Keep Secrets From Our Partners', Susan Krauss Whitbourne – Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts – writes that "not everyone feels completely comfortable engaging in self-disclosure, even to the people we hold most dear". She writes that some secrets are fine to keep, but that there may be an issue if the secret directly affects or concerns your partner. She also explains why people may keep these secrets. "First and foremost, particularly for women, is [a] reluctance to hurt their partner or damage the relationship. "Keeping a secret allows them to avoid their partners' disapproval. Shame is another driver for keeping secrets, as individuals in romantic relationships may feel that what they're doing would not only lead their partner to disapprove, but to lose faith in them." "But protecting those secrets that may lie in the core of your identity keeps your partner from having a complete picture of you, flaws and all. "The longer you keep such secrets, the more difficult they become to keep, and the more they can jeopardise the pathways of communication between you." Several women tell me that they see privacy and secrecy as different things. "Secrecy has more implications of deceit," one says. "Privacy is about choices around what you might share." Philippa* feels uncomfortable with the idea of keeping secrets from your partner. "But I also 100 per cent believe we have the right to be private, even when we're in relationships, and that nobody has the right to know things we don't want to tell them. "Case in point: my husband and I have been together for many years, and there are so many things he doesn't know about my life before we met – for example, how many people I've slept with. RELATED: The Divorce Diaries: 'He ended up with my Pilates instructor in lockdown' "He asked me once and I said it was none of his business. He also doesn't know that I had relationships back in the day with a couple of guys that I still maintain friendships with." "I'm a very private person and I don't like talking about my feelings. I don't like to confide in anybody. "Even though my husband is the love of my life and the person I trust above all others, I still wouldn't choose to tell him everything that goes on in my head. I have the right to be private and keep things to myself!" Meanwhile, Fiona* likes some "emotional privacy" in her relationship. "I don't feel the need to go into details about everything." When does she think keeping secrets from your partner is or isn't OK? "Maybe it depends on the secret. "Everyone is free to make decisions about what they do or don't want to share with a partner, but ultimately some things are bound to have an impact – i.e. if it impacts the other person or the relationship." "If someone can't talk to their person about something, the reason for why may point to issues in their relationship. "For instance, whether each person feels safe enough to share their past pain with their partner. RELATED: The Divorce Diaries: 'I returned from a trip to find my husband had moved out' "On the other hand, sometimes a little private time, healing, or therapy may help the person work through their pain – and they can later communicate what's happened with a bit of perspective, or reframing, or in a way that may be informative rather than damaging." As for Katie, her therapist has gently suggested that perhaps she could tell her partner about the OCD symptoms. "Now that I'm really thinking about this, maybe I could tell him? I don't know. It would be hard." If their positions were reversed? "Yeah, I'd want to know." This article was originally published on Capsule , and is republished here with permission. FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE : Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.Treasurer: Why Aussies should be optimistic about 2025

Carter hits 5 3s, scores 23 to help LSU beat Mississippi Valley State 110-45Daily news reporting from the field of agriculture, farmers, crime, health, environment, education, politics, and feature articles from Ambala (with coverage of Kurukshetra & Yamunanagar). Read More How to make Masala Chicken Curry at home 10 beautiful animals that are pink in colour 10 easy-to-care-for beautiful freshwater fish for home aquariums 9 vegetarian dishes shine in the ‘100 Best Dishes in the World’ list 10 rare animals found only in Asia In pics: Sai Pallavi's vacation to Australia 8 books that will help develop discipline and good habits in 2025 Sanskrit names for baby boy that sound modern 18 stews and soups shine among the '100 Best Dishes in the World' 9 foods that provide over 30 grams of protein when cooked

Kolkata, Dec 15 (PTI) IT industry veteran and Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy on Sunday emphasised the need for using advanced technologies, including Artificial intelligence (AI), in India, stating that technology is a “great leveller”. Technology can help reduce the gap between the well-to-do and the not-so-well people, Murthy said while speaking at the centenary celebration of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here. “Technology is about reducing cost. It’s about increasing revenues and profitability. So technology has a lot of value. It also does something that most people don’t realise. Technology is a great leveller. So we need technology in India if we want to reduce the gap between the well-to-do and the not-so-well. That’s what financial inclusion has done,” he said. “My personal view is there are areas where we cannot do without AI,” Murthy said. He said AI can be used in areas like automatic cars, precision operations, disease detection and hazardous operations in which human beings may be exposed to high risk. Murthy stressed the need for hard work and performance to earn respect for oneself and for the country. “I urge the youngsters to understand that we have a great responsibility to fulfil the pledge of our founding fathers (of the nation). We have greater responsibility as enunciated by scriptures. We have to show fairness and justice to create opportunities for the less fortunate one. That is why we have to work hard,” he said. Murthy also asked entrepreneurs to embrace “compassionate capitalism” which is practising capitalism while combining it with the best aspect of liberalism and the best aspect of socialism. PTI BDC NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP) today announced that its Board of Directors declared the regular quarterly cash dividend payable to holders of its Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) (Nasdaq: LBRDP). The per share amount of the quarterly cash dividend will be $0.43750001, payable in cash on January 15, 2025 to holders of record of the Preferred Stock at the close of business on December 31, 2024 (the “Record Date”). About Liberty Broadband Corporation Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP) operates and owns interests in a broad range of communications businesses. Liberty Broadband’s principal assets consist of its interest in Charter Communications and its subsidiary GCI. GCI is Alaska’s largest communications provider, providing data, wireless, video, voice and managed services to consumer and business customers throughout Alaska and nationwide. GCI has delivered services over the past 40 years to some of the most remote communities and in some of the most challenging conditions in North America. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209914110/en/ CONTACT: Liberty Broadband Corporation Shane Kleinstein, 720-875-5432 KEYWORD: COLORADO UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY TELECOMMUNICATIONS MOBILE/WIRELESS INTERNET CARRIERS AND SERVICES SOURCE: Liberty Broadband Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 04:13 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209914110/en

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SpaceX knocks out 1st of final 2 Space Coast launches of 2024BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored a hat trick including two penalties for Bayern Munich to beat Augsburg 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored a hat trick including two penalties for Bayern Munich to beat Augsburg 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored a hat trick including two penalties for Bayern Munich to beat Augsburg 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday. The win stretched Bayern’s lead to eight points ahead of the rest of the 11th round, and Kane took his goals tally to a league-leading 14. The England forward is the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Bundesliga in what was his 43rd game. However, coach Vincent Kompany should be concerned by his team’s ongoing difficulty of scoring in matches it dominates. Bayern previously defeated St. Pauli and Benfica only 1-0. Kompany’s team had to wait until stoppage time before Kane sealed the result with his second penalty. Two minutes later, Kane scored with a header after controlling Leon Goretzka’s cross with his first touch for a flattering scoreline. “We had to be patient,” Kane said. “And at halftime that’s what we said, to keep doing what we’re doing. We had a few chances in the first half and we just had to be a bit more clinical and obviously, thankfully, we got the penalty to kind of open the game up.” Mads Pedersen was penalized for handball following a VAR review and Kane duly broke the deadlock in the 63rd. Bayern continued as before with 80% possession, but had to wait for Keven Schlotterbeck to be penalized through VAR for a foul on Kane. Kane sealed the result in the third minute of stoppage time and there was still time for him to grab another. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. It’s Bayern’s seventh consecutive win without conceding a goal since it conceded four at Barcelona (4-1) on Oct. 23 in the Champions League. “You can see now that we have a solid defense and that’s the basis, also in games like today’s,” Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. “When it’s a game of patience, then it’s important for us to know that sometimes one goal will have to do. Like today we added two more before the finish, but in the end you only need to score one more than the opponent.” Bayern next hosts Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, then Borussia Dortmund away in the Bundesliga next weekend, before defending champion Bayer Leverkusen visits in the third round of the German Cup. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Advertisement AdvertisementBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Cam Carter hit five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points, Vyctorius Miller added 20 points and LSU never trailed Sunday night in a 110-45 win over Mississippi Valley State, the Tigers' 21st consecutive victory when scoring at least 100 points. LSU's 65-point margin of victory was its largest since the Tigers beat Grambling by 75 (112-37) on Nov. 20, 1999 and is the third biggest against a Division-I opponent in program history. The 110 points were the most by LSU since a 119-108 win over North Florida on Dec. 12, 2015. Carter scored 11 points — including three 3-pointers — in the first six minutes to make it 18-6 and LSU led by double figures the rest of the way. The Delta Devils went 0 for 6 from the field and committed five turnovers as LSU scored 17 consecutive points to take a 28-point lead with 7:44 left in the first half and led 55-13 at halftime. The Tigers allowed the seventh-fewest points in a half by an opponent in program history. Mississippi Valley State (2-11) is averaging 46.2 points and is winless with a scoring margin of minus-44.2 in 11 games against Division-I opponents this season. LSU (11-2) has won three games in a row since a 74-64 loss to SMU at the Compete 4 Cause Classic in Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 14. Jordan Spears and Daimion Collins added 15 points apiece for the Tigers, who shot 66% (46 of 70) from the field and made 12 3s. Alvin Stredic led Mississippi Valley State with eight points. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Support grows for Blake Lively over smear campaign claimNutanix Announces Proposed $750 Million Convertible Senior Notes OfferingUS actress Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, hostile work environment and embarking on a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation with claims of a targeted social media campaign. The legal complaint states that Baldoni, 40, hired crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, the same publicist who actor Johnny Depp is said to have hired during his high-profile defamation trial against Heard in 2022. In a statement given to NBC News, Aquaman star Heard said: “Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying, a lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on. “I saw this first-hand and up close. “It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.” Depp successfully sued ex-wife Heard over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser. At the time, Heard said the jury’s verdict “sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated”. Bryan Freedman, a lawyer representing Baldoni and the other named defendants, said Lively’s claims were “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious”, adding that the studio “made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film”. It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, is about a woman’s pursuit of a loving and healthy relationship, with Lively playing lead character Lily Bloom and Baldoni as her love interest Ryle Kincaid amid a backdrop of domestic violence. After the legal action was filed, Hoover appeared to voice support for 37-year-old Lively, writing on her Instagram stories: “@blakelively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. “Never change. Never wilt.” Hoover posted a link to a New York Times article titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine. Lively’s former cast members from the 2005 film The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, also released a joint social media statement to defend their long-time friend. “As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” the statement said. “Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.” They added: “We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment,” the statement continues. “We are inspired by our sister’s courage to stand up for herself and others.”

Thailand midfielder Worachit Kanitsribumphen believes that the War Elephants will have no problems taking on the Philippines on the artificial grass surface at Manila's Rizal Memorial Stadium. Thailand, who topped the Group A standings after four straight victories, are scheduled to face the Philippines in the away leg of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Asean Cup semi-final on Friday. The Philippines reached the last four stage of the regional championship after finishing runners-up in Group B. Worachit said: "I am not saying that we won't have any problems playing on the artificial pitch, but I think we will adjust to it if we train well. I don't think it will be a cause for any major concern for us. "The Philippines have a number of foreign-based stars and their players have good potential. We need to avoid making any mistakes against them. If we can do that, I am sure we will win the away leg of the semi-final. "It is in fact good that we are playing the first game away. We can count on home support in the second leg and accomplish whatever is needed to be done. "Even if we end up with a draw on the artificial pitch, we will still have the home ground advantage in the second leg to make amends." The match will kick off at 8pm (Thai time) on Friday and will be televised live by Thai Rath TV (32), AIS Play, True Sport 2 (667) and the BG Sports channel on YouTube. Meanwhile, Thai League 1 defending champions Buriram United extended their lead to six points following a 1-0 victory over Muang Thong United on Sunday night. Guilherme Bissoli netted the winner in the 68th minute after the Kirins were reduced to ten men on 55 minutes when Theerapat Laohabut was handed his second yellow card of the night.Seeking to preserve their perfect record in the Conference League , Chelsea travel to Kazakhstan to take on Astana in their penultimate League Phase fixture on Thursday afternoon. While the West Londoners are already guaranteed at least a last-16 playoff spot, the Yellow and Blues still have work to do to finish inside the top 24. Chelsea are one of only two teams in this season's Conference League, along with Polish outfit Legia Warsaw, who have picked up a maximum 12 points from their opening four fixtures, scoring a competition-high 18 goals and conceding just three in the process. Enzo Maresca 's men managed to navigate their way past Gent (4-2), Panathinaikos (4-1) and FC Noah (8-0) before edging past German side Heidenheim by a 2-0 scoreline a fortnight ago, courtesy of a record-breaking goal from Christopher Nkunku and a late strike from Mykhaylo Mudryk . Unlike the Champions League and Europa League where eight games are played in the newly-formed League Phase, Conference League teams only have six fixtures pencilled into their diaries, and Chelsea - sitting top of the 36-team table - can all but guarantee a top-eight finish if they beat Astana on Thursday, with just one game at home to Shamrock Rovers left to play. The West Londoners will be confident of success against Astana, as they have put together an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions since losing 2-0 at Newcastle United in the EFL Cup at the end of October, winning each of their last five matches by an aggregate score of 16-5. Chelsea have won all of their last four away games during this run, including last weekend's eventful 4-3 victory against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, a result that has moved Maresca's men up to second outright and to within four points of leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand. Competing in the Conference League for the second successive year, Astana have struggled to build on their opening win against Backa Topola (1-0) in October, as they have since picked up just one point across their last three fixtures. Back-to-back defeats against The New Saints (2-0) and Pafos (1-0) were followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Portuguese outfit Vitoria de Guimaraes a fortnight ago - their most recent competitive fixture played in any competition - with Branimir Kalaica 's first-half opener cancelled out by an 89th-minute equaliser for the visitors. Two points dropped at such a late stage in the game came as a blow to Grigori Babayan 's side, but they remain in contention to secure a place in the knockout rounds as they sit 23rd in the 36-team table, just inside the playoff positions thanks to goal difference, while they are five points behind the top eight. Babayan has acknowledged that "the excitement is crazy" ahead of Astana's home encounter with Premier League giants Chelsea, and although they enter Thursday's contest as major underdogs, they have reason to be optimistic of claiming a positive result. Indeed, the Yellow and Blues - who ended their domestic season finishing just one point behind Kazakhstan Premier League title winners Kairat - are enjoying a 13-game unbeaten home run (W11 D2) in all competitions, and it includes four wins and one draw across five Conference League fixtures (including qualifiers). Astana currently have a clean bill of health and Babayan's side is well-rested having not played a competitive fixture in two weeks. A similar team to the one that beat Dynamo Kiev is set to be named, with defender Aleksa Amanovic potentially continuing in a midfield role next to Maks Ebong as top scorer Geoffrey Chinedu Charles , who has 10 goals to his name this term, leads the line. As for Chelsea, Wesley Fofana , Romeo Lavia , Cole Palmer , Ben Chilwell and Marcus Bettinelli are all ineligible having been omitted from the club's Conference League squad; the former two are sidelined with injuries anyway and are joined in the treatment room by Reece James (hamstring). Cesare Casadei is also unavailable due to suspension after being sent off in the Blues' win at Heidenheim last time out, while Mykhaylo Mudryk (illness) will be assessed ahead of kickoff. Maresca is expected to rotate his side once again and could call upon a number of academy starlets including defender Josh Acheampong , midfielder Samuel Rak-Sakyi and winger Tyrique George , who made his full debut in the 8-0 win over FC Noah last month. Astana possible starting lineup: Condric; Bartolec, Kazukolovas, Kalaica, Vorogovskiy; Ebong, Amanovic; Tomasov, Gripshi, Camara; Geoffrey Chelsea possible starting lineup: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga; Rak-Sakyi, Dewsbury-Hall; George, Nkunku, Felix; Guiu Astana will been keen to put in a spirited performance on home soil and will look to frustrate Chelsea, but the West Londoners should have enough quality on show to get the job done, even if Maresca makes multiple changes and hands some younger players a run-out in the freezing temperatures of Kazakhstan. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .

In a lengthy speech at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C. think tank, on Tuesday, President Joe Biden forcefully defended his economic legacy and harshly criticized his successor. “Most economists agree the new administration is going to inherit a fairly strong economy, at least at the moment, an economy going through fundamental transformation,” Biden said. “It is my profound hope that the new administration will preserve and build on this progress. Like most great economic developments, this one is neither red nor blue, and America's progress is everyone's progress.” RELATED STORY | What impacts will a Trump presidency have on the economy? The president pointed specifically to record job growth during his tenure and an historically-low unemployment rate, as well as solid GDP performance, major investments in infrastructure and a soaring stock market. Most economists agree Biden’s term in office has coincided with a strong jobs market, and note the economic forecast remains bright – especially when contrasted to that of other peer nations, many of which have struggled to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, Americans by and large disapprove of Biden’s economic tenure, particularly the high costs of goods and services. Though inflation has fallen some, it remains higher than when the president took office and has become a frequent point of attack for Republicans critical of the Biden administration. RELATED STORY | Wealthier Americans are driving retail spending and powering US economy President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last month served in some was as a repudiation of the president’s so-called “Bidenomics” policies, with most voters telling pollsters they were dissatisfied with the state of the U.S. economy and Biden’s handling of the issue. Since Trump’s election, attitudes towards the economy have improved slightly, particularly among Republicans; according to research from Gallup, just eight percent of Republicans in October viewed economic conditions as getting better, compared to 30% last month. Biden himself seemed to acknowledge some missteps in selling his economic vision to Americans. “I also learned something from Donald Trump,” Biden said. “He signed checks for people for $7,400 bucks,” the president noted of the pandemic-era relief measures. Even though Biden approved similar relief efforts during his term, his name never appeared on American’s checks. “I didn't – stupid,” Biden conceded. RELATED STORY | Powell says Fed will likely cut rates cautiously given persistent inflation pressures Seeking to bolster Biden’s economic legacy, the White House on Tuesday launched a new website hailing the “Biden Economy,” featuring statistics about economic performance during his term and complimentary videos from his supporters. Biden’s speach, meanwhile, also served as a warning of sorts to his successor, with the president arguing against tax cuts for the wealthy and the notion that such benefits would “trickle down” to middle class Americans. “You can make as much money as you can, good for you, but everybody's got to be they pay their fair share,” Biden said. Trump has pledged to extend the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017, telling NBC News he intends to submit a tax package to Congress within his first 100 days in office. “They’re coming due and they’re very substantial for people,” Trump said of his 2017 cuts. “That’s what led us to one of the greatest economies ever.” RELATED STORY | Amid corporate layoffs, 36% of workforce turns to gig economy for alternative employment A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in December found that failing to extend those tax incentives would have a negligible impact on the economy, though Republicans are expected to pursue them and other business tax breaks after they retake both chambers of Congress next year. Trump has also promised to impose significant tariffs on the import of foreign goods from Mexico, Canada and China – despite economists’ and retailers’ warnings that will drive up consumer prices. Trump in the NBC interview said he couldn’t guarantee the move wouldn’t increase consumer costs, something Biden harshly refuted. “I believe we've proven that approach is a mistake over the past four years,” Biden said. “But we all know in time, we all know in time what will happen.”

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711 casino no deposit bonus Sarita Fadnavis, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis's mother, on Saturday said her son is a "favourite" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and everyone in the BJP wants him to become the next chief minister of Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur as the ruling coalition was on its way to win a massive victory in the assembly elections, she said her son, currently a deputy chief minister, knows how to overcome challenges. "Everyone in the party wants him to become the next chief minister. It is evident that others also wish that he takes on that role. He is indeed a favourite of prime minister Narendra Modi who regards him as a son," Sarita Fadnavis said. Her son's tireless work and people's love for him brought this victory, she said. Asked about the Opposition targeting her son over the last two years, she said, "This is precisely why he described himself as the Abhimanyu of modern times. He understands how to navigate his way through the challenges he faces." Fadnavis's political stock has soared after Saturday's results as the BJP has put up its best-ever performance in these elections. He was the chief minister of the state from 2014 to 2019. His father, late Gangadhar Fadnavis, was a leader of the Jan Sangh and later the BJP. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats failed Wednesday to confirm a Democratic member of the National Labor Relations Board after independent Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema opposed the nomination, thwarting their hopes of locking in a majority at the federal agency for the first two years of President-elect Donald Trump's term. A vote to move ahead with the nomination of Lauren McFarren, who currently chairs the NLRB, failed 49-50. Had she been confirmed to another five-year term, it would have cemented a Democratic majority on the agency's board for the first two years of the incoming Trump administration. Now, Trump will likely be able to nominate McFarren's replacement. The NLRB oversees labor disputes, supervises union elections and has the power to investigate unfair labor practices . The partisan breakdown of the NLRB’s leadership is fiercely contested by businesses and labor groups, as the majority on the board sets the agenda and determines how readily the agency uses its power to investigate and enforce labor laws. “It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. The rejection of McFarren was yet another blow to Senate Democrats and President Joe Biden from Manchin and Sinema, who served as major brakes — and at times outright obstacles — to much of their legislative agenda the first two years of Biden's term. Manchin left the Democratic Party in May, while Sinema withdrew from the party in 2022. Both chose not to run for another Senate term and will be leaving the Congress in January. Some congressional Republicans praised Manchin and Sinema for preventing the confirmation. “This NLRB seat should be filled by President Trump and the new incoming Senate. Not a historically unpopular president and a Senate Democrat Majority that has lost its mandate to govern,” Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said in a statement after the vote. “Big Labor knows the days of having the federal government do its bidding are numbered,” Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., wrote in a statement. Foxx, who chairs the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said that the incoming Trump administration would focus on “enacting a truly pro-worker agenda.” Business groups also praised the rejection of McFarren. Kristen Swearingen, a vice president at Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group, called McFarren's policies “harmful” and said the process to nominate her was “flawed.” “Under McFerran’s leadership, the NLRB has issued decisions and expanded interpretations of the National Labor Relations Act that have been rejected by the business community, Congress and federal courts," argued Swearingen. Labor unions decried the vote. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest consortium of labor unions, said the senators who rejected McFarren's nomination “voted against the working people of this country” and warned that the incoming Trump administration would direct the NLRB to side with management over workers. “Make no mistake: This vote had nothing to do with stopping Chair McFerran’s renomination and everything to do with reversing generations of progress workers have made toward building a fairer and more just economy," Shuler said. Democratic lawmakers, like Schumer, took a dim view of the vote. Some directed their anger directly at Manchin and Sinema. “Shortchanging workers is a bad way to leave,” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., wrote on social media .The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a landmark defense policy bill with a historic $895 billion allocated for annual military expenditure. The contentious policy targeting gender-affirming care for transgender children is part of the legislation, sparking debate. The bill was approved by a vote of 281-140, moving it to the Democrat-controlled Senate for further deliberation. Among its provisions, the 1,800-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) addresses standard military priorities, such as equipment purchases and competition with nations like China and Russia. This year's bill stands out for significantly improving the quality of life for service members, featuring a 14.5% pay raise for the lowest-ranking troops and 4.5% for others, alongside authorizations for constructing military housing, schools, and childcare facilities. Significantly, the bill prohibits TRICARE, the military health program, from covering gender-affirming care for the transgender children of service members if it might risk sterilization. The inclusion of this provision highlights the political focus on transgender issues in the U.S., with Republicans signaling their intention to keep it in the public discourse. (With inputs from agencies.)Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a doctor in the state of New York alleging the doctor prescribed abortion medication to a woman in Texas therefore violating the state’s strict anti-abortion law. In the first-of-its-kind lawsuit, Paxton is testing the bounds of conflicting state abortion laws by pursuing litigation against a doctor in New York – where shield laws protect providers from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions. The 11-page lawsuit, filed in Collin County, Texas , alleges Dr. Margaret Carpenter illegally prescribed the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol via telehealth to a 20-year-old woman in Collins County. The lawsuit claims the 20-year-old woman sought and took the medications without informing the father of the fetus when she was nine weeks pregnant. But he later found out about the medication abortion after the woman had to be taken to the hospital for severe bleeding. Paxton alleges Carpenter was not permitted to prescribe the medication via telehealth because she is not a licensed physician in Texas and state law only allows for abortion when the patient’s life is at risk or there is a “serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.” The Texas AG claims Carpenter has seen multiple patients in Texas and has done this. Carpenter is the co-founder and co-medical director of Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine , a clinic that provides “telemedicine abortion care to patients in all 50 states.” Her biography says she has worked in reproductive health for years, volunteering with Planned Parenthood and providing medical and surgical abortions since 1999. The Independent has asked Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine for comment. “Carpenter’s knowing and continuing violations of Texas law places women and unborn children in Texas at risk,” Paxton argued. Paxton is asking the Texas court to prevent Carpenter from practicing telehealth in the state and impose a $100,000 fine for each violation. But it’s unclear how far the lawsuit can go given New York’s law protects providers from out-of-state lawsuits like this by refusing to order a defendant, like Carpenter, to comply with extradition, arrest and legal proceedings in other states The state’s shield law also gives prescribers who are sued the ability to countersue to recover damages. Paxton has relentlessly pursued litigation against those who provide or seek abortion in the state. He sent threatening letters to medical providers in 2023 after a woman named Kate Cox got explicit permission to obtain a medically necessary abortion. His lawsuit, of course, has only arisen because the Supreme Court overturned the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade in 2022. Roe made abortion a federal right – preventing each state from outright banning it. But now, with each state responsible for creating its own law, immense legal and social conflict has arisen. One way those living in states with strict abortion bans, like Texas, have skirted around rules is by using telehealth to obtain abortion medication. But lawsuits like this and others risk the availability of it.ATLANTA -- Georgia Senate Republicans recommended on Friday that the state write laws banning transgender girls and women from participating in high school and college sports, setting the stage for action in the 2025 legislative session. The vote by a committee that was studying the issue is hardly a surprise. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — a possible Republican contender for governor in 2026 — announced almost identical goals at the panel's first meeting in August . It’s an issue that’s already been addressed in Georgia. Legislators in 2022 empowered the Georgia High School Association to regulate transgender students' participation in sports. The association, which regulates sports and activities for all public schools and some private schools, then banned transgender boys and girls from playing on the school sports teams matching their gender identity. Jones and others argue that doesn't go far enough and that lawmakers themselves need to act. It's a sign Republicans believe there is more political gain in fears about transgender women playing women’s sports or using women’s bathrooms. At least 26 mostly Republican states have passed laws or rules to restrict transgender girls from participating high school sports and, in some cases, transgender women from college sports , according to the Movement Advancement Project, a gay rights group. In Georgia, additional action appears more likely now after House Speaker Jon Burns and Gov. Brian Kemp, both Republicans, have voiced support for further legislation. Jeff Graham, executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Georgia Equality, said his group is playing defense, concerned about the possibility of other bills that could further restrict gender-affirming care or ban transgender people from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity. “We’re expecting that it’ll be at least what we saw in 2023 and 2024, with the number of bills and more than likely laws,” Graham told reporters Friday. But Burns, from Newington, has said he's not interested in other bills dealing with transgender people besides those dealing with girls' and women's sports. Republican State Sen. Greg Dolezal, of Cumming, who led the Senate study committee, said Friday that he, too, is not interested in a broader bill regulating bathroom usage, although his committee recommended that schools that host sporting events require athletes to use locker rooms based on their assigned sex at birth. Dolezal said senators would seek to write legislation that regulated public schools and colleges, as well as private institutions that compete against public schools and colleges. The committee also recommends that people be able to sue or file grievances if schools break the rules, and that state money be withheld from schools that break the rules. Supporters of more action have focused on the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, swam for the University of Pennsylvania and won the 500-meter freestyle . The NCAA has since revised its policy on transgender women’s participation, saying it will follow the rules of respective athletics federations. World Aquatics, the swimming governing body, banned transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in women’s races. That means Thomas wouldn’t be allowed to swim in NCAA events today. “My basic contention that this is a solution in search of a problem remains,” Graham said. He said he fears that many people who oppose laws that seek to restrict transgender people will be afraid to testify and lobby at the Georgia Capitol, citing assault charges against a man accused of shaking U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in a Capitol office building in Washington, D.C. Dolezal repeatedly tried to turn down the emotional temperature of the issue on Friday. “I think that there’s a group of people that wants to be respected and I think that they deserve respect,” Dolezal told reporters. “But I also think that you can be respectful, but also recognize that in the sporting arena, fairness and competition is important.”

Remembering Jimmy Carter: The president who set the standard for national-disaster responsePhotos courtesy: Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center T he Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center (RMPJC) is making a clarion call: If unity has ever been needed on the front lines of the fight for justice, peace and human rights, it’s now. The Boulder-based nonprofit organization is guided by the philosophy that everything is interconnected and interdependent–thus, the need to acknowledge intersectionality in the various forms of oppression that people face. “At RMPJC, we work to bridge various movements for justice, recognizing that we as a community are stronger when we stand in solidarity,” says Center campaign coordinator Giselle Herzfeld. The RMPJC story began at the historic Encirclement of Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant near Denver on October 15, 1983. After years of protest and arrests, that day activists took a different tack: They surrounded Rocky Flats hand in hand around its 17-mile perimeter. That action led directly to the founding of the Boulder Peace Center, later renamed Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. In the 41 years since the Encirclement, though humanity’s flashpoints in the struggle for justice have changed, RMPJC’s vision statement has not: “We strive to nourish the inherent capacity for compassion, generosity and joy in all people. We seek a healthy, sustainable relationship between people and the planet. We recognize that Earth and all its beings are inherently valuable and have the right to exist and be healthy. We seek to create egalitarian social, economic, political and environmental structures where all people are empowered to participate directly in decisions that affect their lives. We seek a world where conflict is handled justly and nonviolently, creating true peace.” Over the past five years in particular, with an escalating climate crisis, COVID and conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, with the real threat of nuclear war, many activists have been ground down with despair and burnout. “The past few years in particular have underlined why the power of community and care is so, so crucial,” says Herzfeld. “It is vitally important to be building deep relationships of trust and collaboration, and to stand in mutual solidarity with our allies. We cannot afford to fall prey to infighting and division because...it is only when we move together that we will have a chance of shifting the paradigm.” RMPJC is a multi-issue organization that has worked in a variety of campaign areas through the years. Currently, their primary focus is on Nuclear Guardianship and Free Palestine. They work in regional coalitions such as the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, Nuclear Free Colorado, and the Colorado Palestine Coalition. Herzfeld: “The Center is grateful and honored to be a part of these diverse and regional networks of organizers working toward common goals promoting peace and justice.” When the Work is Working Consider this powerful example of the culmination of the Center’s passionate civic engagement on Rocky Flats this year. Rocky Flats is heavily contaminated with plutonium and other radioactive materials. Since 2016, there has been a multi-government effort to install a mountain biking trail, called the “Rocky Mountain Greenway,” to encircle the most contaminated part of Rocky Flats, which remains an EPA Superfund site. On September 23, 2024, Westminster City Council voted to withdraw from the Greenway project. Their decision set a powerful new precedent. “In addition to establishing another local government decision which acknowledges the public health risks of recreation at Rocky Flats, it demonstrated the courage to stand up against regulatory capture,” explains Chris Allred, Nuclear Guardianship coordinator for RMPJC. “Westminster was being advised from multiple angles to ‘go along to get along;’ however, they took the most principled stand and decided to deny any additional funding to the Rocky Mountain Greenway. This is one of the more courageous actions we’ve seen by any local government, truly extraordinary. We believe that this precedent and the spirit behind it will prove stronger through the years.” At the time of this writing, Superior and Broomfield have also withdrawn from the Rocky Mountain Greenway, and seven school districts have also banned field trips at Rocky Flats. “As the precedents continue to mount, it proves that the construction efforts at Rocky Flats have only been made possible through manufactured consent and regulatory capture,” Allred says. “We will remain steady until we see justice. Boulder County has yet to withdraw and the community will continue to make the demand for responsible policy that protects people from environmental contamination. We recognize that organizing with local governments has a regional and national importance.” Support RMPJC on Colorado Gives Day A powerful way to support RMPJC is to make a donation on December 10 – Colorado Gives Day . Maximize your impact by becoming a monthly sustainer at rmpjc.org. There are volunteer opportunities, too, in the Center’s various campaigns. Sign up for the newsletter online and follow the Center on Instagram, @rmpjc.boulder , to stay up to date on its events and action opportunities. However you are able to contribute, and whatever your background or skill set, the Center is deeply grateful for the support and has a place for you. The Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center is grateful for the incredible partnerships it has developed with other organizations and institutions in the Boulder community, including Naropa University’s Joanna Macy Center and student groups at CU Boulder like Students for Justice in Palestine and Climatique. Reach out to the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center at 303.444.6981 or visit: rmpjc.org .

The last few months have been bumpy for 23andMe, with the company settling a lawsuit related to a data breach and announcing a round of layoffs, and many past customers are wondering, Can I delete the genetic data the company has from me? Though it might not be that easy, there are some things you can do. As we grow increasingly aware of how much of our personal information is being gathered across the internet, our genetic information is perhaps the most personal data we could possibly share with anyone, let alone with companies. But over 15 million people did just that with the popular genetic-testing and ancestry-tracking company 23andMe . These concerns certainly haven't been soothed by recent news out of the company. Last month, 23andMe announced that it would be laying off around 40 percent of its workforce, in the wake of a major data leak and ongoing financial and management struggles at the company, which has seen its stock price plummet by 70 percent. With all that hovering over the company like a dark cloud, some people who used 23andMe's DNA testing services are now looking to bail, concerned about the company's ability to protect their sensitive genetic information. Around 6.9 million users were affected by the data breach , with investigations finding that the hackers responsible for the attack specifically targeted the accounts of users with Chinese or Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, which they spread on the dark web. If you're ready to close your 23andMe account, read on for the at-times confusing steps you need to take to delete your data from 23andMe. For more, find out how much 23andMe will pay out in a class-action settlement and read about the complex relationship between DNA testing companies and privacy . Can you delete your 23andMe account? Yes. If you used 23andMe for DNA testing, you have the option to delete your account and personal information whenever you choose. A 23andMe spokesperson told CNET that once your request is submitted, the process of deleting data begins "immediately and automatically" and can take about 30 days to complete. But not all your data is deleted in 30 days. What data is deleted after you close your 23andMe account? The answer to this is more complicated. Your 23andMe data will be deleted after you request the deletion of your profile, a company spokesperson told CNET. The process gives you the option to have the company discard your genetic sample, too, if you initially requested that 23andMe store it. And your information will no longer be usable for any of the company's research projects. However, there's more to it than that. "If a customer opted in to 23andMe Research, their Personal Information will no longer be used in any future research projects," the spokesperson said. "Please note, data cannot be removed from research that's already been conducted." Bay Area news site SFGate found that genotyping laboratories that worked on a 23andMe customer's sample will also hold on to the customer's sex, date of birth and genetic information, even after they're "deleted." A 23andMe representative said that by law, labs are required to retain the information for a set period of time -- from two to three years -- after which it will be deleted. The representative also said that this data is retained only by the genotyping lab, not 23andMe itself. If the lab were to be the subject of any sort of breach, the data it retains is anonymous -- it does not include a name, address, email, phone number or other contact information -- and that the genetic information included is raw and unprocessed. Before you delete your 23andMe account, download your data Before closing your account, consider saving all your 23andMe information first, including your raw genotyping data, your DNA relatives and your ancestry composition. Some of the files can take up to 30 days to prepare, so make a plan for how you want to approach this. Downloading your raw DNA file will let you upload your genetic data to another service for family or ethnicity searches, if you want. Here's how to download your raw genotyping data and related information: Log into your 23andMe account. Head to Settings and in a browser scroll to the bottom and tap View next to 23andMe Data. In the app, scroll to the bottom of Settings and tap Access your data under 23andMe data. Here you can pick which information you want to download before you delete your account, including an overview of your 23andMe reports, your ancestry composition raw data, your family tree data and your raw genetic data. Note: These files come through as PDF, TXT, JSON and other formats, and you'll need the appropriate apps to view the data. For your DNA file, 23andMe will send you an email with a link you use to download the data. You can also recreate everything in spreadsheets, as mapped out here , or take screenshots of everything. Some of the downloads come through right away, but some can take 30 days, 23andMe said. How to delete your 23andMe account and data Once you delete your data from 23andMe, unless you've downloaded it first, it's gone, the company warns. Ready? Here's how to delete your data: Head to Settings again, scroll down to 23andMe Data, and tap View . You may be asked to verify your birthdate to continue. If you've already downloaded or otherwise captured all the information you want to keep, scroll to the bottom and tap the Permanently Delete Data button. 23andMe will send you an email asking you to confirm your request. Once you do, the company will begin the deletion process and you will lose access to your account. If you had the company store your genetic samples, it will discard them. For more, find out how 23andMe fares against its main competitor, Ancestry .Sebastian Gorka, the pugilistic commentator who leveraged fears about Islam as a threat to Western civilization into a short-lived role in the first Trump administration, is poised for a second run inside the White House. Gorka was tapped to serve as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism, president-elect Trump said Friday night. Previously, Gorka was an adviser on national security matters for Trump for seven months until his abrupt exit .

TBILISI -- Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili joined thousands of pro-West demonstrators on the streets of Tbilisi to protest the Georgian Dream-led government's moves to delay closer integration with the European Union and its perceived tilt toward Russia. The December 28 rally came at a potentially explosive time in the South Caucasus nation as Zurabishvili has vowed not to step down at the end of her term on December 29, claiming her successor -- chosen by an electoral college dominated by Georgian Dream -- was "illegitimate." Zurabishvili and demonstrators, waving Georgian and EU flags, marched along the Saarbruecken Bridge in the capital, joined by members of parliament from allied countries, including Poland and Lithuania, to form a "chain of unity." The rally marked one month since the start of the recent wave of anti-government protests, which have been met with violent police action, injuries, and mass arrests by Georgian authorities. Protesters accuse the government of the Georgian Dream party of moving the country away from the EU and closer to Moscow. The political crisis erupted after Georgian Dream claimed victory in October parliamentary elections that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said was marred by instances of vote-buying, double-voting, physical violence, and intimidation. The rallies intensified after a government decision last month to delay negotiations on Georgia joining the EU. On December 24, Human Rights Watch called for Georgian security forces to be investigated for the "brutal police violence" against largely peaceful protesters who have taken to the streets for the demonstrations. On December 27, the United States said it had slapped fresh sanctions on Russia-friendly billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and the founder of the Georgian Dream party, for undermining Georgia's democracy for the "benefit of the Russian Federation." "Under Ivanishvili's leadership, Georgian Dream has advanced the interests of the Kremlin by derailing Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory -- in direct contradiction to what was envisioned by the Georgian people and the Georgian Constitution," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The action prompted anger from the Georgian Dream party, while the Georgian opposition hailed the action and called on the EU to also move against Ivanishvili and other Georgian leaders. Zurabishvili -- who has spilt with the government and backed the protesters early in the wave of rallies -- on December 22 called on Georgian Dream to set a date for new parliamentary elections by December 29. U.S. Republican House member Joe Wilson on December 27 wrote on X that he welcomed the new sanctions and added that he had invited Zurabishvili -- "as the only legitimate leader in Georgia" -- to Donald Trump's presidential inauguration on January 20. "I am in awe of her courage in the face of the assault by Ivanishvili and his friends" in China and Iran, Wilson added, without mentioning Russia. Earlier this month, an electoral college dominated by Georgian Dream chose Mikheil Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former soccer player and right-wing populist, as Georgia's next president. His inauguration is supposed to take place on December 29, though the 72-year-old Zurabishvili, whose term ends this year, has said she will not step down, setting up a potentially explosive showdown. "Next week at this time, I will be president," Zurabishvili restated on December 27. Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023, but ties with Brussels have been tense in recent months following the adoption in May of a controversial "foreign agent" law pushed through parliament by Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012. Germany's foreign minister described the suspected sabotage of a Baltic Sea power cable as a "wake-up call" for the West and urged the European Union to impose new sanctions targeting what is known as Russia's " shadow fleet ." Meanwhile, a media outlet focusing on shipping news and intelligence reported that the ship suspected of damaging the cable linking Finland and Estonia on December 25 was equipped with "special transmitting and receiving devices that were used to monitor naval activity." The Eagle S "had transmitting and receiving devices installed that effectively allowed it to become a 'spy ship' for Russia," Lloyd's List reported on December 27, citing "a source familiar with the vessel who provided commercial maritime services to it as recently as seven months ago." Finland seized the Eagle S on December 26, citing suspicions that it caused an outage of the Estlink 2 undersea power cable and damaged four Internet lines. Finnish investigators said the ship may have caused the damage by dragging its anchor along the sea floor. Finnish and EU officials say the Eagle S is believed to belong to a "shadow fleet" of old, uninsured oil vessels used to bypass Western sanctions and maintain a source of revenue for Russia's economy and its war against Ukraine. The poor condition of these ships has also raised concerns about environmental disasters. "The suspected vessel is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment , while funding Russia's war budget," the European Commission said on December 26, suggesting the incident was part of a deliberate effort to damage "critical infrastructure" in Europe. "We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet." In comments on December 28, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged "new European sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet," which she said is "a major threat to our environment and security" that is used by Russia "to finance its war of aggression in Ukraine." "Almost every month, ships are damaging major undersea cables in the Baltic Sea," Baerbock said in a statement to the Funke media group. "Crews are leaving anchors in the water, dragging them for kilometers along the seafloor for no apparent reason, and then losing them when pulling them up.” "It's more than difficult to still believe in coincidences," she said. "This is an urgent wake-up call for all of us." Afghanistan's Taliban-led government said Taliban forces targeted what it claimed were "centers and hideouts for malicious elements" it said were involved in a recent attack in Afghanistan, as an upsurge of cross-border fighting continues. The statement from the Taliban's Defense Ministry followed reports of deadly early morning clashes on December 28 between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards. It came days after the government said Pakistani aircraft bombed targets in Afghanistan in an attack it said killed dozens of civilians. The ministry gave few details about the strikes, which it said were launched against targets in several districts behind the "hypothetical line" -- a reference to a portion of the border with Pakistan that Afghan authorities have long disputed. Local sources told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that three people in Paktia Province were killed and two wounded by gunfire from Pakistani border guards, and that clashes also took place in the Khost province. The reports could not be independently verified. There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani government. But the head of a community in the Kurram district told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that Taliban forces fired rockets at two security posts near the border at about 6 a.m., setting off fighting that continued for several hours. The Taliban's Defense Ministry suggested the strikes on Pakistan were retaliation for what the Taliban-led government said were Pakistani air strikes that killed 46 civilians in Paktika Province, which also borders Pakistan, on December 24. Pakistan says that militants from the Islamist group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are hiding across the border in Afghanistan, and Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban to take action against them. The Afghan Taliban say the TTP is in Pakistan. There has been a steady increase in TTP attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan. Authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka extended a wave of pardons ahead of a January presidential election in Belarus, ordering the release of 20 prisoners jailed on extremism charges his opponents and rights groups say were politically motivated. Lukashenka's press service suggested the pardons were issued on humanitarian grounds, saying 14 of those ordered released have chronic illnesses and 10 of them have children. It said 11 of the 20 are women. The press service claimed the prisoners had all sought pardons and expressed remorse, an assertion that could not be independently verified. It said that authorities would "monitor their behavior following their release." Since July, Lukashenka has pardoned more than 225 people whom activists consider political prisoners. Rights groups have recognized nearly 3,600 people as political prisoners since the state launched a massive crackdown when pro-democracy protests erupted after Lukashenka, in power since 1994, claimed a landslide victory in an August 2020 election that millions believe was stolen though fraud . Many of those have served out their sentences. Ahead of a January 26 election in which he is certain to be awarded a new term, Lukashenka may be seeking to signal to the West that he is easing off on the persistent clampdown that the state has imposed since the 2020 election. But the crackdown continues, with frequent arrests and trials on what activists say are politically motivated charges. At least 1,253 people whom rights groups consider political prisoners remain behind bars, and the real number is believed to be higher. Lukashenka has roped Belarus closely to Russia and has provided support for Russia's war on neighboring Ukraine, including by allowing Russian forces to invade from Belarusian territory, and he says Russian nuclear weapons have been deployed in Belarus. But over 30 years in power, he has often tried to capitalize on Belarus’ position between Russia in the east and NATO and the European Union to the west and north. Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane this week, the Kremlin said, amid growing evidence that the jet was hit by a Russian air-defense missile in the Chechnya region before it went down in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. In a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin said Russian air defenses were repelling an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Chechnya’s capital, Grozny, when the plane was trying to land at the airport there, a Kremlin statement said. Putin "conveyed his apologies in connection with the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace," the statement said, indicating that Putin acknowledged the plane was damaged over Chechnya but stopped short of stating a Russian missile strike was the cause. "In the conversation, it was noted that...the aircraft tried more than once to approach the Grozny airport for landing," it said, adding that “at this time, Ukrainian combat drones were attacking Grozny [and the nearby cities of] Mozdok and Vladikavkaz, and Russian air-defense systems were repelling these attacks." Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into the possible violation of flight safety rules, the statement said. It said two Azerbaijani prosecutors were working with Russian law enforcement in Grozny and that Russian, Azerbaijani, and Kazakh authorities were working together at the crash site near Aqtau, Kazakhstan. The Kremlin statement is likely to further increase suspicions that a Russian missile damaged the Embraer-190 jet before it was diverted to Aktau, across the Caspian Sea from Chechnya, where it crashed near the shore after a steep descent and burst into flames. Evidence of a missile strike includes footage of damage inside the plane before the crash and images of the hole-pocked tail section after the crash, as well as comments from survivors who said they heard at least one explosion outside the plane over Chechnya. Azerbaijani lawmaker Hikmat Babaoghlu told RFE/RL on December 27 that there is a "very strong" possibility that the plane was damaged by a Russian air-defense missile. He said that the "observations and conclusions drawn so far support the idea that the plane being shot down is the closest to the truth." On the same day, White House spokesman John Kirby said U.S. experts "have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air-defense systems." Reuters quoted an Azerbaijani source familiar with the investigation as saying results indicated the plane was hit by a Pantsir-S air-defense system, a self-propelled antiaircraft gun and missile system designed by Russia. The crash has disrupted air traffic in the Caucasus and beyond. An Azerbaijan Airlines flight bound for the Russian spa town of Mineranlye Vody, not far from Grozny, took off from Baku on December 27 but then abruptly headed back after receiving a flight information notice that Russian airspace it was due to fly through was closed. Azerbaijan Airlines later said it is suspending flights to several Russian cities, including Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Grozny, and Makhachkala. Turkmenistan Airlines announced on December 28 that it was canceling all its flights between the capital, Ashgabat, and Moscow from December 30 to January 31, giving no reason for the decision. Turkmenistan borders Kazakhstan on the eastern shore of the Caspian. Also on December 28, Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said that restrictions were briefly placed on the operation of the airport in the Tatarstan regional capital, Kazan, to ensure flight safety, and media reports said that all departures and arrivals had been suspended. Flights heading to Kazan from the Siberian cities of Tomsk, Surgut, and Kemerovo were redirected to an airfield in Nizhnekamsk, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing the airport's press service. No specific reason was given for the measures, which Rosaviatsia said had been lifted a few hours later. Russia has closed airports at times due to alleged drone attacks, and a drone attack hit high-rise buildings in Kazan on December 21. NATO has said it would bolster its presence in the Baltic Sea after undersea power lines and Internet cables were damaged by suspected sabotage believed to be carried out by vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called “ shadow fleet .” Estonia also announced on December 27 that it had begun a naval operation to guard a crucial electricity line in the Baltic Sea in coordination with allies as tensions mounted in the region. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in a social media post following discussions with Finnish President Alexander Stubb that "NATO will enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea." Both Finland and Estonia have coastlines on the Baltic Sea. When asked for details about planned actions, NATO officials told AP that the alliance “remains vigilant and is working to provide further support, including by enhancing our military presence” in the region. "We have agreed with Estonia, and we have also communicated to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, that our wish is to have a stronger NATO presence," Stubb told a news conference. Stubb added that investigators did not want to jump to conclusions, but a day earlier he had said that "it is necessary to be able to prevent the risks posed by ships belonging to the Russian 'shadow fleet.'" The "shadow fleet" is a reference to old, uninsured oil vessels typically used to bypass Western sanctions on Russia and maintain a source of revenue. European government and the United States have accused Russia of intensifying "hybrid attacks" following reports of damage to Baltic Sea communications cables, although they have not yet directly tied Moscow to the damage. NATO stepped up monitoring critical infrastructure in the Baltic following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the destruction of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline seven months later. Chinese-linked ships have also been suspected of sabotaging undersea infrastructure over recent years. Sweden -- NATO's newest member, which also has a coastline on the Baltic Sea -- said its coast guard had stepped up surveillance of sea traffic and had deployed aircraft and vessels in concert with regional allies. The European Commission on December 26 said a cargo ship suspected of having deliberately damaged power and Internet cables in the Baltic Sea was part of Russia's "shadow fleet." The poor condition of these ships has also raised concerns about environmental disasters. Finnish authorities on December 26 boarded and took command of the Cook Islands-registered Eagle S oil tanker in the Baltic Sea as part of its investigation into the damages, saying it likely belong to the "shadow fleet." Investigators have said the damage could have been caused by the ship intentionally dragging its anchor. The Kremlin said it had no connection to the ship seized by Finland. It has regularly denied that it is involved in any of the many incidents involving Baltic Sea region infrastructure assets. The United States said it has slapped fresh sanctions on Russia-friendly billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, for undermining Georgia's democracy for the "benefit of the Russian Federation." "Under Ivanishvili's leadership, Georgian Dream has advanced the interests of the Kremlin by derailing Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory -- in direct contradiction to what was envisioned by the Georgian people and the Georgian Constitution," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on December 27. Blinken added that "Ivanishvili and Georgian Dream's actions have eroded democratic institutions, enabled human rights abuses, and curbed the exercise of fundamental freedoms in Georgia." "We strongly condemn Georgian Dream's actions under Ivanishvili's leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures." The new measures will block transactions involving entities owned by Ivanishvili, the statement said. According to Bloomberg News, Ivanishvili's fortune is estimated at $7.5 billion, much of it coming through metals, banking, and telecom assets in Russia during the 1990s. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the U.S. action "blackmail" and said it was Ivanishvili's "reward" for protecting Georgia's national interest. However, opposition leader Giorgi Vashadze of the Unity National Movement hailed the U.S. decision, according to Georgia's Interpress news agency. "I welcome this step from the United States and believe that we are quickly moving toward victory and will celebrate Georgia without Ivanishvili, who is the bringer of chaos and misery to this country," he was quoted as saying. In a previous action, the United States on December 12 said it would "prohibit visa issuance to those who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Georgia." That move affected some 20 people, "including individuals serving as government ministers and in parliament, law enforcement and security officials, and private citizens," it said in a statement , without naming the individuals. Georgia, once a closer U.S. ally, has angered Washington and the European Union with its perceived tilt toward Russia and its violent crackdown on dissent in the Caucasus nation. The sanctions come at a crucial time, as Georgia's fate hangs in the balance -- whether it will intensify its tilt toward Moscow, return to the pro-Europe path, or remain in an environment of unrest and uncertainty. Police in Tbilisi have clashed with pro-West protesters over the past several weeks, detaining dozens and injuring scores of people who accuse the government of the Georgian Dream party of moving the country away from the European Union and closer to Moscow. The political crisis erupted after Georgian Dream claimed victory in October parliamentary elections that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said was marred by instances of vote-buying, double-voting, physical violence, and intimidation. The rallies intensified after a government decision last month to delay negotiations on Georgia joining the EU. The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on December 24 called for Georgian security forces to be investigated for the “brutal police violence” against largely peaceful protesters who have taken to the streets for huge anti-government demonstrations. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili – who has spilt with the government and backed the protesters -- on December 22 called on Georgian Dream to set a date for new parliamentary elections by December 29. "Next week at this time I will be president," Zurabishvili restated on December 27. U.S. Republican House member Joe Wilson wrote on X that he welcomed the new sanctions and added that he had invited Zurabishvili -- "as the only legitimate leader in Georgia" -- to Donald Trump's presidential inauguration on January 20 "I am in awe of her courage in the face of the assault by Ivanishvili and his friends" in China and Iran, Wilson added, without mentioning Russia. Earlier this month, an electoral college dominated by Georgian Dream chose Mikheil Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former soccer player and right-wing populist, as Georgia's next president. His inauguration is supposed to take place on December 29, though the 72-year-old Zurabishvili, whose term ends this year, has said she will not step down, setting up a potentially explosive showdown. Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023, but ties with Brussels have been tense in recent months following the adoption in May of a controversial "foreign agent" law pushed through parliament by Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012. PODGORICA -- After a multinational back-and-forth legal battle, Montenegro on December 27 said it would extradite South Korean cryptocurrency entrepreneur Hyeong Do Kwon -- the so-called Crypto King -- to the United States. Do Kwon is sought by both the United States and South Korea and also faces possible legal action in Singapore. Montenegrin courts have previously issued at least eight often-contradictory decisions regarding Do Kwon's fate. In September, the Montenegrin Supreme Court ruled that Do Kwon could be sent to either the United States or South Korea and that the final decision on which country would be up to Justice Minister Bojan Bozovic. On December 24, Do Kwon lost his final appeal against extradition with Montenegro's Constitutional Court. In the latest ruling, the Justice Ministry said the U.S. request had met the threshold for removal and, as a result Bozovic "issued a decision approving the extradition." The ministry said the criteria included the gravity of the criminal acts, the order of submission of the extradition requests, and the citizenship of the person in question. The former CEO and co-founder of the cryptocurrency company Terraform Labs is wanted by U.S. and South Korean authorities for his alleged role in capital market and securities fraud involving assets worth some $40 billion. Do Kwon was arrested with business partner Chang Joon in March 2023 at Podgorica airport while attempting to fly to Dubai using on allegedly forged passports. They each received a four-month prison sentence on the forged-passport charge. Chang, who was wanted only by South Korea, was extradited to that country on February 5. After serving his sentence, Do Kwon was sent to a shelter for foreigners near Podgorica, where he awaited extradition. Do Kwon in October claimed that the South Korean charges were illegitimate and "politically motivated." Despite the legal struggle, Do Kwon's trial in absentia took place in the United States, where a New York jury on April 5 found him and Terraform labs liable on civil fraud charges, agreeing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that they had misled investors. Terraform Labs agreed to pay about $4.5 billion in a civil settlement with the SEC following the court's ruling. Do Kwon was ordered to pay $204 million. Following the verdict, a Terraform spokesperson said, "We continue to maintain that the SEC does not have the legal authority to bring this case at all" and that the company was weighing its options. Italy’s Foreign Ministry said journalist Cecilia Sala, who was in Iran to carry out "journalistic activities," has been detained by Tehran police authorities. The ministry said in a statement on December 27 that Sala, who has a podcast called Stories that covers life in places around the world, was detained on December 19. It gave no reason for the detention, but said in a statement that the ambassador from Italy's embassy in Tehran had paid a consular visit "to verify the conditions and state of detention of Sala." "The family was informed of the results of the consular visit. Previously, Sala had the opportunity to make two phone calls with her relatives," it said. Sala posted a podcast from Tehran on December 17 about patriarchy in the Iranian capital. Iran is routinely accused of arresting dual nationals and Western citizens on false charges to use them to pressure Western countries. Earlier this month, Reza Valizadeh , a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and former journalist for RFE/RL's Radio Farda, was handed a 10-year sentence by Tehran's Revolutionary Court on charges of "collaborating with a hostile government." Valizadeh resigned from Radio Farda in November 2022 after a decade of work. He returned to Iran in early 2024 to visit his family but was arrested on September 22. His two court sessions, held on November 20 and December 7, reportedly lacked a prosecution representative, with the judge assuming that role. Sources close to the journalist claim he fell into a "security trap" despite receiving unofficial assurances from Iranian security officials that he would not face legal troubles upon returning to Iran. Iran is among the most repressive countries in terms of freedom of the press. Reporters Without Borders ranked Iran 176th out of 180 countries in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index. The Paris-based media watchdog says Iran is now also one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists. An Azerbaijani lawmaker said there is a "very strong" possibility that the crash of a passenger jet earlier this week was caused by Russian air-defense systems on alert for Ukrainian drone attacks. Speculation has mounted that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which was headed from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechnya region, may have been hit by an air-defense missile before crossing the Caspian Sea and crashing near Aqtau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 passengers and crew. Lawmaker Hikmat Babaoghlu told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service in an interview on December 27 that such an explanation is most likely "closest to the truth." "This is only a possibility, but a very strong one, and the observations and conclusions drawn so far support the idea that the plane being shot down is the closest to the truth," he said. "In this specific case, the incident involves Azerbaijan's airliner being damaged within the territory of the Russian Federation, with the event causing the crash occurring there. Therefore, there is no doubt that responsibility falls on the Russian Federation. If these assumptions are correct, accountability also undoubtedly rests with Russia," he added. Kazakh experts arrived on December 27 to examine the crash site and black box of the ill-fated passenger jet, as speculation -- and evidence -- mounted suggesting that a Russian air-defense missile may have inadvertently struck the craft. Even as the probe intensifies, countries with victims aboard the plane -- Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan -- continue to mourn their dead and treat the injured from the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft. Since the crash, uncertainty has rocked the aviation industry throughout the Caucasus. An Azerbaijan Airlines flight bound for the Russian spa town of Mineranlye Vody took off from Baku on December 27 but then abruptly headed back after receiving a flight information notice that Russian airspace it was due to fly through was closed . Azerbaijan Airlines later said it is suspending flights to several Russian cities, including Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Grozny, and Makhachkala. Speculation has swirled around the tragedy, with some experts pointing to holes seen in the plane's tail section as a possible sign that it could have come under fire from Russian air-defense systems engaged in thwarting Ukrainian drone attacks. White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on December 27 that the United States has seen signs suggesting that the jet could have been hit by Russian air defense systems. U.S. experts "have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems," he said. Kirby added that Washington has “offered our assistance...should they need it" to the ongoing investigation being conducted by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Evidence, yet to be corroborated by authorities, includes footage from inside the plane before the crash, images of the hole-pocked tail section after the crash, a survivor's comments, and accounts indicating there was a suspected drone attack around the time the plane apparently tried to land in Grozny. Reuters quoted an Azerbaijani source familiar with the investigation as saying results indicated the plane was hit by a Pantsir-S air-defense system, a self-propelled antiaircraft gun and missile system designed by Russia. It was not immediately clear where the black box would be examined. The process can be highly technical, and not all countries have the resources to undertake such work. Gulag Aslanli, a leader of Azerbaijan's opposition Musavat party, told RFE/RL that an international commission was needed to investigate the incident. "Russia cannot be allowed there," he said. "If the black box is going to be taken to Russia and examined there, I will look at its outcome with suspicion." Officials said it typically takes about two weeks to fully assess a black box, although various conditions can alter that time frame. Commenting on unconfirmed reports that the plane may have been shot down by a missile, Kazakh Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbaev said it was "not possible" to say what may have damaged the aircraft until the investigation is finished. "Real experts are looking at all this, and they will make their conclusions. Neither Kazakhstan, Russia, nor Azerbaijan, of course, is interested in hiding information, so it will be brought to the public," Ashimbaev said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a similar comment, reiterating Moscow's previous stance on the deadly incident. "An investigation is under way, and until the conclusions of the investigation, we do not consider we have the right to make any comments and we will not do so," Peskov told reporters on December 27. Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Russian officials as saying the plane, commissioned in 2013, had passed a maintenance check in October and that the pilot had "vast experience" with more than 15,000 flying hours. Azerbaijan Airlines President Samir Rzayev also told reporters the plane had been fully serviced in October and that there was no sign of technical malfunction. But he said it was too early to determine a cause: "The plane has been found with a black box. After detailed research, all aspects will be clear." The airline suspended flights along the route of the crash pending completion of the investigation. Azerbaijan's Prosecutor-General's Office said that "all possible scenarios are being examined." As the first seven survivors arrived back in the country on December 26, Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning. Burials of four of those who lost their lives were conducted during the day, with additional funerals expected in the coming hours and days. Officials in Baku said the wounded arrived on a special flight arranged by Azerbaijan's Emergency Affairs Ministry and that the injured, many with severe burn wounds, were accompanied by medical professionals. Ayhan Solomon, Azerbaijan’s chief consul in Aqtau, told reporters that 26 of those killed were Azerbaijani citizens. He said 16 Azerbaijani citizens survived. “Of those, 10 to 12 are in good condition and others remain critically stable,” he added. Azerbaijan Airlines' supervisory board said on December 26 that the families of those killed will be compensated with 40,000 manats ($23,460), while those injured would receive 20,000 manats ($11,730). Along with the 42 Azerbaijani citizens, those aboard Flight J2-8243 were listed as 16 Russian nationals, six from Kazakhstan, and three Kyrgyz citizens, officials said. The survivors include nine Russian citizens, who were flown to Moscow on December 26 by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. Three of the Russian survivors were in critical condition, according to Russian health authorities. KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said “several” North Korean soldiers – badly wounded in fighting alongside Russian forces – have died after being captured by Ukrainian troops on the battlefield and he accused Moscow of having little regard for their survival. Zelenskiy, echoing earlier remarks by U.S. officials, said soldiers sent to Russia by Pyongyang are suffering major losses in fighting in Russia's Kursk region. The Ukrainian leader accused Moscow and North Korean “enforcers” of leaving the soldiers unprotected in battle and even executing fighters to prevent them from being captured alive. He did not provide evidence to back up the claims and they could not independently be verified. The North Korean military has suffered “many losses. A great deal. And we can see that the Russian military and the North Korean enforcers have no interest in the survival of these Koreans at all,” he said in a video address on December 27. “Everything is arranged in a way that makes it impossible for us to capture the Koreans as prisoners – their own people are executing them. There are such cases. And the Russians send them into assaults with minimal protection.” He said Ukrainian soldiers had managed to take some prisoners. "But they were very seriously wounded and could not be saved.” The remarks came after South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said that a North Korean fighter had died of wounds suffered before his capture by Ukrainian special operations troops in the Kursk region. "We have confirmed through an allied intelligence agency that a North Korean soldier who was captured on the 26th died a little while ago due to serious injuries," the news release said. On December 26, the Ukrainian news outlet Militarnyi said a soldier believed to be North Korean had been captured by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces in the Kursk region. A photo of a captured soldier, who is believed to have been injured, also was previously shared on Telegram. The photo has not been independently verified. Details about the soldier's condition and status are not known. Last month Pyongyang ratified a "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement with Russia, cementing a deal that paved the way for its soldiers to fight on Russian soil against Ukraine. Western sources estimate that 12,000 North Korean troops are in the Kursk region, parts of which are occupied by Ukrainian forces amid ongoing pitched battles. U.S. Response White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on December 27 that North Korean forces are suffering heavy casualties on the front lines, adding that some 1,000 of their troops have been killed or wounded in the Kursk region over the past week. "It is clear that Russian and North Korean military leaders are treating these troops as expendable and ordering them on hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses," Kirby said. Kirby said also U.S. President Joe Biden would likely approve another package of military aid for Kyiv in the coming days as he bids to bolster Ukraine’s forces before leaving office on January 20. U.S. officials later told reporters that a new package of military assistance worth $1.25 billion is scheduled to be announced on December 30. North Korean Losses Zelenskiy on December 23 said more than 3,000 troops, or about a quarter of the North Korean special forces sent to Russia, had been killed or injured, though he couched his statement by saying the data was preliminary. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported on a lower figure, saying on December 19 that about 1,100 North Korean special forces have been killed or injured in Russia since entering the fray against Ukraine. On December 15, Skhemy (Schemes), an investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, received photos from Ukrainian military sources purportedly showing the bodies of dead soldiers in Kursk, including what was said to be North Korean fighters. RFE/RL has not been able to independently verify the claims. Russia has not commented on the report. North Korean military support is coming at a critical time in the war. Russia is seeking to overpower an undermanned and under-resourced Ukrainian infantry and gain territory before its own manpower and resources become constrained. Russia has lost more than 600,000 soldiers in the nearly three-year war, the Pentagon said in early October. It has burned through so much war material that it is struggling to replace its artillery and missile needs amid sweeping Western sanctions. Now nearly two-thirds of the mortars and shells Russia launches at Ukraine come from North Korea, the Wall Street Journal reported , citing Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian Army officer. And every third ballistic missile was made in North Korea, Ukrainian officials said. The European Commission said a cargo ship suspected of having deliberately damaged power and Internet cables in the Baltic Sea is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," prompting the EU to threaten new sanctions against Moscow. "We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe’s critical infrastructure," the commission said in a statement on December 26. "The suspected vessel is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia’s war budget. We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet," the statement added. The statement added that "in response to these incidents, we are strengthening efforts to protect undersea cables, including enhanced information exchange, new detection technologies, as well as in undersea repair capabilities, and international cooperation." The remarks come after two fiber-optic cables owned by Finnish operator Elisa linking Finland and Estonia were broken on December 25. A third link between the two countries -- owned by China's Citic -- was damaged, authorities said. An Internet cable running between Finland and Germany belonging to Finnish group Cinia was also believed to have been severed, according to officials. Investigators said the damage could have been caused by the ship intentionally dragging its anchor. Finnish authorities on December 26 boarded and took command of the Cook Islands-registered Eagle S oil tanker in the Baltic Sea as part of the investigation. The Finnish customs service said the Eagle S is believed to belong to Russia's so-called “shadow fleet” of old, uninsured oil vessels used to bypass Western sanctions and maintain a source of revenue. The poor condition of these ships has also raised concerns about environmental disasters. Finnish President Alexander Stubb also suggested the cargo has Russian links and that his country is closely monitoring the situation. "It is necessary to be able to prevent the risks posed by ships belonging to the Russian shadow fleet," Stubb wrote on X . EU foreign ministers on December 16 adopted a package of sanctions against Moscow targeting tankers transporting Russian oil as the bloc looked to curb the circumvention of previous measures aimed at hindering Kremlin's ability to wage war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, NATO chief Mark Rutte said on December 26 that the alliance is ready to help Finland and Estonia as they launch their probe into the possible "sabotage." "Spoke with [Estonian Prime Minister] Kristen Michal about reported possible sabotage of Baltic Sea cables,” he wrote on X. “NATO stands in solidarity with Allies and condemns any attacks on critical infrastructure. We are following investigations by Estonia and Finland, and we stand ready to provide further support." Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 26 that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is ready to offer a “platform” for possible peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv to end the war in Ukraine. Putin told the media Fico said during a recent meeting that "if there are any negotiations, [the Slovaks] would be happy to provide their country as a platform." Most terms suggested so far by Putin have been deemed unacceptable to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Fico is one of the few European leaders Putin has stayed friendly with since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting criticism of the Slovak leader by Zelenskiy and many Western leaders. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here . Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian is scheduled to travel to Russia on January 17, state-controlled media in Iran and Russia reported on December 26. Quoting Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali, Iran's Tasnim news agency said that “the president will visit Russia on January 17 and a cooperation agreement between the two countries will be signed during the visit." Russia and Iran both are under severe financial sanctions imposed by Western nations and have stepped up bilateral cooperation on many fronts in recent years. The West has accused Iran of providing weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine. Tehran has denied the allegations despite evidence widespread use of Iranian-made drones in the war. SARAJEVO -- Bosnia-Herzegovina’s security minister has been arrested on charges of money-laundering, abuse of office, and accepting bribes, the Balkan nation’s prosecutor’s office said. The minister, Nenad Nesic, was among seven people arrested on similar charges, the office said on December 26. The charges stem from an investigation by the Bosnian state prosecutor and the Interior Ministry of Bosnia's ethnic-Serb entity, Republika Srpska, into suspected corruption at the Roads of RS (Putevi RS) public company, where Nesic was general manager from 2016 to 2020. The company's current general manager, Milan Dakic, was also among those arrested, prosecutors said. The company did not immediately comment. Nesic, 46, has been Bosnia’s security minister since 2022. When asked by reporters about the case as he was entering an East Sarajevo police station, Nesic said only that "I continue to fight for Republika Srpska," according to Reuters. Nesic is president of the Democratic People's Alliance (DNS), which is in a coalition with Milorad Dodik's Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD). Dodik, who is president of Republika Srpska, claimed on social media that this was an "unacceptable procedure" and a "persecution of cadres" from the Bosnian government. The pro-Russia Dodik is under sanctions imposed by the United States and Britain for his efforts to undermine the Dayton agreements that ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war. He is currently facing trial himself on charges he failed to comply with the decisions of international High Representative Christian Schmidt. Ethnic Serb lawmakers this week said Dodik's trial was political and based on illegal decisions by the high representative. They claimed that the court was unconstitutional because it was set up by Schmidt and not by the Dayton agreement. Since the Dayton peace accords were put into effect, the country has consisted of a Bosniak-Croat federation and the mostly ethnic Serb Republika Srpska under a weak central government, where Nesic holds the security portfolio. Israel carried out large-scale air strikes on the main airport in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on December 26 as it steps up attacks on the Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in what Tehran called a “violation” of peace and security. Huthi rebels said three people were killed and 14 were injured or missing following the Israeli attacks on the airport and other sites in Yemen, including port facilities. "Fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes on military targets belonging to the Huthi terrorist regime on the western coast and inland Yemen," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The attacks followed recent rocket launches by the Huthi fighters against the Tel Aviv area, although little damage was reported. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli strikes on Yemen, calling them "aggressions" that it claimed were "a clear violation of international peace and security." It said they represented "an undeniable crime against the heroic and noble people of Yemen," who had "not spared any effort to support the oppressed people of Palestine." The Israeli military has said air strikes in Yemen are targeting Huthi sites that have been used to receive Iranian weapons, which are then often transported to other Tehran-linked groups in the Mideast -- mainly Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, while Hezbollah has also been deemed a terrorist group by Washington. The EU blacklists its military arm but not its political wing. The U.S. State Department designated the Huthis as a terrorist group at the start of this year. Hamas and Hezbollah have been severely weakened following massive Israeli military strikes on their respective sites in Gaza and Lebanon, and most of their leaders have been killed in Israel's military response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes would continue against the Huthi rebels, who have also targeted shipping in the Red Sea, claiming they are in solidarity of Hamas fighters in Gaza. "We are determined to cut this branch of terrorism from the Iranian axis of evil. We will continue until the job is done," Netanyahu said in a video statement. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -- head of the World Health Organization who was at the Sanaa airport during the Israeli attack -- said he was safe but that "one of our plane's crew members was injured.” A Pakistani military court has sentenced 60 people to prison terms ranging between two and 10 years over violent protests that erupted after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2023, the army’s media wing said on December 26. The defendants, who included a relative of Khan as well as two retired military officers, were sentenced in connection with attacks on military facilities. Twenty-five other people were sentenced on the same charges on December 21. They have the right to appeal the sentences, the military’s media wing said in a statement. Protests erupted across Pakistan in May 2023 when Khan was arrested during his court appearance on corruption charges that he and his supporters deny. Thousands of Khan’s supporters ransacked military facilities and stormed government buildings. Several people were killed, and dozens were injured in the unrest. At least 1,400 protesters, including leaders of Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party were arrested following the riots. But only 105 of those detained faced military trials. PTI condemned the sentencing, and said the court had violated the defendants’ rights. The United States expressed deep concern about the sentences, while Britain said that trying civilians in military courts "lacks transparency, independent scrutiny, and undermines the right to a fair trial.” The European Union said the sentences are "inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.” Kazakh experts are due to arrive on December 27 to examine the crash site and black box of the ill-fated Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet, as speculation – and evidence – mounted suggesting that a Russian air defense missile may have inadvertently struck the craft. Even as the probe intensifies, countries with victims aboard the plane – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan -- continue to mourn their dead and treat the injured among the 67 passengers and crew who were aboard when the Embraer 190 aircraft fell from the sky on December 25. The plane went down on a scheduled flight from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya region after it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing near the city of Aqtau in western Kazakhstan, killing 38 and injuring 29, many with severe burns suffered in the flaming crash. Speculation swirled around the tragedy, with some experts pointing to holes seen in the plane’s tail section as a possible sign that it could have come under fire from Russian air defense systems engaged in thwarting Ukrainian drone attacks. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told news agencies that indications suggest a Russian antiaircraft system struck the airliner, although the official provided no details. Canada expressed concerns about reports that Russian air defenses may have caused the crash. "We call on Russia to allow for an open and transparent investigation into the incident and to accept its findings," the Canadian Global Affairs office said on X. Evidence, yet to be corroborated by authorities, includes footage from inside the plane before the crash, images of the planes hole-pocked tail section after the crash, a survivor’s comments, and accounts indicating that there was a suspected drone attack around the time the plane apparently tried to land in Grozny. Reuters quoted an Azerbaijani source familiar with the investigation as saying results indicated the plane was hit by a Pantsir-S air defense system, a self-propelled antiaircraft gun and missile system designed by Russia. It was not immediately clear where the black box would be examined. The process can be highly technical, and not all countries have the resources to undertake such work. Gulag Aslanli, a leader of Azerbaijan's opposition Musavat movement, told RFE/RL that an international commission was needed to investigate the incident. "Russia cannot be allowed there," he said. "If the black box is going to be taken to Russia and examined there, I will look at its outcome with suspicion." Talgat Lastaev, Kazakhstan's vice minister of transport, told RFE/RL that experts are scheduled to arrive at the site on December 27 to assess the next steps regarding the black box. Officials said it typically takes about two weeks to fully assess a black box, although various conditions can alter that time frame. Commenting on unconfirmed reports that the plane may have been shot down by a missile, Kazakh Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbaev said it was “not possible” to say what may have damaged the aircraft until the investigation is finished. "Real experts are looking at all this and they will make their conclusions. Neither Kazakhstan, Russia, nor Azerbaijan, of course, is interested in hiding information, it will be brought to the public," Ashimbaev said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a similar comment, saying: "We need to await the end of the investigation.” It was “wrong” to speculate before the investigators gave their findings, Peskov added. Russia's Interfax news agency quoted officials as saying the plane, commissioned in 2013, had passed a maintenance check in October and that the pilot had "vast experience," with more than 15,000 flying hours. Azerbaijan Airlines President Samir Rzayev also told reporters the plane had been fully serviced in October and that there was no sign of technical malfunction. But he said it was too early to determine a cause: "The plane has been found with a black box. After detailed research, all aspects will be clear." The airline suspended flights along the route of the crash pending completion of the investigation. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also said it was too early to determine a cause but at one point had suggested bad weather could have contributed to the crash. The office of Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General said that "all possible scenarios are being examined." As the first seven survivors arrived back in the country on December 26, Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning. Burials of four of those who lost their lives were conducted during the day, with additional funerals expected in the coming hours and days. National flags were flown at half-mast across Azerbaijan, and signals were sounded from vehicles, ships, and trains as the nation observed a moment of silence at noon to honor the victims of the plane crash. Officials in Baku said the wounded arrived on a special flight arranged by Azerbaijan's Emergency Affairs Ministry and that the injured were accompanied by medical professionals. There was no immediate word on the condition of the injured, who were among 29 survivors from the crash, many of whom suffered severe burn wounds. Ayhan Solomon, Azerbaijan’s chief consul in Aqtau, told reporters that 26 of those killed were Azerbaijani citizens. He said initial reports indicate that 16 Azerbaijani citizens survived. “Of those, 10 to 12 are in good condition and others remain critically stable,” he added. Azerbaijan Airlines' supervisory board said on December 26 that the families of those killed will be compensated with 40,000 manats ($23,460), while those injured would receive 20,000 manats ($11,730). Along with the 42 Azerbaijani citizens, those aboard Flight J2-8243 were listed as 16 Russian nationals, six from Kazakhstan, and three Kyrgyz citizens, officials said. The survivors include nine Russian citizens, who were flown to Moscow on December 26 by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. Three of the Russian survivors were in critical condition, according to Russian health authorities. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev -- who is in charge of a special government commission to investigate the incident -- said many of those who died in the crash were not immediately identifiable due to massive burns suffered. Bozymbaev said the 29 survivors had injuries ranging from moderate to severe, with many also suffering from major burns. According to Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry, the injured included at least two children and 11 people had been placed in intensive care. The United States and European Union on December 25 condemned plans by ethnic-Serb leaders in Bosnia-Herzegovina to block efforts for closer European integration for the Western Balkan nation. Lawmakers in the country’s ethnic-Serb entity, Republika Srpska, late on December 24 ordered Serb representatives in state institutions to block decision-making actions and law changes needed for the country's further integration into the EU. In response, the embassies of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, along with the EU delegation in Bosnia, in a joint statement condemned the Serb parliament's acts as "a serious threat to the country's constitutional order." "At a time when formal opening of EU accession negotiations has never been so close, a return to political blockades would have negative consequences for all citizens, a majority of whom support EU accession," the statement said. The Republika Srpska parliament announced the actions in response to the trial of regional leader Milorad Dodik, who is under U.S. and British sanctions for actions that Western governments allege are aimed at the eventual secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dodik is on trial in a long-delayed, ongoing process on charges he failed to comply with the decisions of the High Representative in Bosnia. He faces up to five years in prison and a ban on participating in politics if convicted. Ethnic Serb lawmakers said Dodik's trial was political and based on illegal decisions by international High Representative Christian Schmidt. They claimed that the court was unconstitutional because it was set up by Schmidt and not by the Dayton agreement. Since the Dayton peace accords that ended the 1992-95 Bosnian War, the country has consisted of a Bosniak-Croat federation and the mostly ethnic Serb Republika Srpska under a weak central government. Dodik, who is friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has often made somewhat contradictory comments about his entity's place in Bosnia. He has denied it has ever pursued a policy of secession or disputed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia under the Dayton agreement. He has said, however, that Republika Srpska "has the right to a political fight for its status” under the Dayton accords. He has also called for the “disassociation” of Republika Srpska from Bosnia -- which Washington called “secession by another name.” PRISTINA -- A special panel in Kosovo overturned a decision by the election commission that had barred the country's largest ethnic-Serbian party from participating in upcoming elections due to its strong links with Belgrade. "The Central Election Commission (CEC) is ordered to certify the political entity Serbian List and the candidates of this political entity...for the elections for the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo to be held on February 9, 2025," the Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) said on December 25. The ruling stated that the party had fulfilled all obligations required regarding the political filings and was therefore entitled to be certified. On December 23, the CEC said when it announced its decision not to certify Serbian List that its main reason was the party's nationalistic stance and close ties to Serbia. Some commission members noted that Serbian List leader Zlatan Elek has never referred to Kosovo as independent and continues to call it Serbia's autonomous province of Kosovo. The CEC also said that Serbian List has close ties with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other Serb leaders who also refuse to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has close ties to Russia and has refused to join international sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, although Vucic has attempted to balance relations with the West and has continued to press Belgrade's desires to join the European Union. Elek on December 24 said he planned to appeal the order and said he was confident it would be overturned. The Serbian List -- which described the CEC decision as an attempt "to eliminate" it from the electoral process -- welcomed the latest ruling. The party said the CEC is now obliged to act on the PZAP decision but added it remains to be seen whether the commission will "continue to violate its own law and regulations and act on direct political pressure from the authorities in Pristina." The February parliamentary elections are expected to be a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti, whose party came to power in 2021 in a landslide in the Western-backed Balkan nation. Prior to the ECAP ruling, political analyst Albert Krasniqi of the Demokraci+ NGO told RFE/RL that the CEC decision is part of the preelection campaign being conducted by Kurti’s Self-Determination party (Vetevendosje). He forecast that Serbian List would appeal the decision and predicted it would be successful in getting it reversed. “All this noise will last at most four days, and I am sure that the ECAP will reverse this decision of the CEC and will oblige the CEC to certify Serbian List,” Krasniqi said. Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade still considers Kosovo a province of Serbia and has a major influence on the ethnic Serbian minority living there. Authorities declared a region-wide state of emergency in Russia's Krasnodar region, warning that oil was still washing up on the coastline following a December 15 incident involving two Volgoneft tankers carrying thousands of tons of low-quality heavy fuel oil. "Initially, according to the calculations of scientists and specialists, the bulk of fuel oil should have remained at the bottom of the Black Sea, which would allow it to be collected in water. But the weather dictates its own conditions -- the air warms up and oil products rise to the top. As a result, they are brought to our beaches," regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on December 25. Dozens of kilometers of Black Sea coastline in the southern Russian region have been covered in heavy fuel after the two oil tankers were badly damaged during a storm in the Kerch Strait. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here . If North Korea’s elite troops were expecting an easy campaign against Ukrainian forces entrenched in Russia’s Kursk region, they faced a harsh reality on the ground. About 1,100 North Korean special forces have been killed or injured in Russia since entering the fray against Ukraine a few weeks ago, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported on December 19. A general was reportedly among those killed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on December 23 put the figure even higher, at more than 3,000, or about a quarter of the North Korean special forces sent to Russia, though he couched his statement by saying the data was preliminary. RFE/RL could not confirm either of the reported numbers. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though, doesn’t seem to be fazed by the rapid losses. The authoritarian leader is reportedly doubling down in his support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in exchange for critical supplies of oil, cash, and military technology. Zelenskiy said on December 23 that North Korea may send more troops and weapons to the front. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff seconded that forecast, saying Pyongyang is preparing to rotate or supply additional forces to Russia. North Korean military support is coming at a critical time in the war. Russia is seeking to overpower an undermanned and under-resourced Ukrainian infantry and gain territory before its own manpower and resources become constrained. Russia has lost more than 600,000 soldiers in the nearly three-year war, the Pentagon said in early October. It has burned through so much war material that it is struggling to replace its artillery and missile needs amid sweeping Western sanctions. Now nearly two-thirds of the mortars and shells Russia launches at Ukraine come from North Korea, the Wall Street Journal reported , citing Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian Army officer. And every third ballistic missile was made in North Korea, Ukrainian officials said. Pyongyang is ramping up arms production to meet Russia’s growing need, experts said. Trench Warfare Russian troops are now gaining ground in Ukraine’s east at the fastest pace since the start of the war. Kyiv carried out a surprise incursion into the Kursk region in August, seizing a swath of Russian territory in the hope of drawing enemy forces away from eastern Ukraine. That hasn’t materialized, thanks in part to the supply of North Korean troops. The arrival of the North Korean troops in Russia in October was initially seen as an act of desperation on the part of Putin, who has had to significantly bump up salaries to attract new recruits. However, The New York Times reported on December 23, citing U.S. officials, that it was North Korea who approached Russia with the offer of troops and Putin accepted. It is unclear when Kim made the offer. Putin traveled to Pyongyang to meet Kim in June. During the summit, the two leaders agreed on a strategic treaty that includes a mutual defense provision. Putin signed the treaty into law in November. The supply of troops to Russia can help Kim evade sweeping sanctions on technology and materials for military use. North Korea was hit with international sanctions after conducting its first nuclear test in 2006. Pyongyang hasn’t been engaged in a hot war in decades. Thus, its miliary brass and troops – which number more than 1 million -- have no combat experience. The deployment in Russia's war with Ukraine is a way for Kim and his military to acquire some. However, Kim’s troops are ill-prepared for the type of trench warfare with widespread use of drones and missiles they are facing in Kursk, experts say. Hyunseung Lee, a North Korean who spent 3 1/2 years with an artillery and reconnaissance battalion in the early 2000s before defecting, told RFE/RL last month that Kim’s troops "don't really train with that equipment." He said they cannot master drones and the high-tech equipment in such a short period of time. Videos circulating on social media show Ukrainian kamikaze drones striking and killing North Korean soldiers in Kursk’s snow-covered fields. Commenting on the videos in a December 19 tweet , Lee called it a “sad predictable outcome.” Modern warfare technology is not the only issue leading to large-scale deaths of North Koreans, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Washington-based research firm said North Korean soldiers were struggling to communicate and coordinate with Russian forces due to language barriers. Perhaps more importantly, North Koreans are now conducting the initial attack in open territory on Ukrainian positions, ISW said. Some military experts cynically call such fighting tactics “meat assaults” because they result in a large loss of life among the attackers. Yevhen Yerin, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence service, told the AFP news agency on December 24 that Russia’s use of North Korean troops has not had a major impact on the battlefield. “It is not such a significant number of personnel," he said, adding that they use tactics that are "primitive, linked, frankly speaking, more to the times of the Second World War."Plane Crash Kills 179 In Worst Airline Disaster In S KoreaVikings hang on in thriller to set up showdown; Giants break drought... but at a big cost - NFL WrapSerena Williams’ incredible success was not only down to her technical prowess but also her strong mentality. Her former coach, Rennae Stubbs, can attest to it, claiming that no one holds a “grudge for revenge” more than the American star, a view Serena agrees with. In a conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin from the New York Times, Williams reflected on Stubbs’ comments, admitting that this mindset extended beyond the tennis court. “That’s across everything that I do,” she added . The former World No.1 stated that it worked well for her because she made it a personal mission to never repeat her mistakes. Serena believes every loss has taught her a new lesson, helping her shape into the person she is today. Despite not having coached Serena for a long time, Stubbs was able to identify this trait in her pupil. Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis podcast last month, the 53-year-old Australian said that Novak Djokovic is the closest to this particular mentality in the men’s game. Stubbs, who coached Serena in her final Grand Slam (2022 US Open), covered a wide range of topics on the podcast, including the American’s standout victory over Maria Sharapova at the 2012 Olympics. The 53-year-old labeled it as the “greatest match” she had ever seen of Serena. Williams recorded one of the most dominant runs in Olympic history Williams was in the form of her life during the 2012 season, particularly on the grass court. She won Wimbledon, dropping merely two sets in the tournament. However, she found a way to elevate her game even more during the Olympics merely a month later. During the 2012 London Games, Serena dominated the competition without dropping a single set. None of the six opponents won more than three games in any set or more than five games in an entire match. She saved her best for the final, recording a 6-0, 6-1 win over Sharapova. “The greatest match I ever saw Serena Williams play, and I saw her play a lot of great tennis, was the finals of the Olympics in London against Sharapova,” Stubbs spoke about the match. Beating the five-time Grand Slam champion is no small feat, but doing so while losing only one game in the gold medal match is truly remarkable. It’s not surprising that Stubbs picked this game over all the other matches Serena has played!

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Marvel Rivals' Wolverine Design Is Certainly a Choice - IGN Daily Fix In today's Daily Fix:Marvel Rivals' roster keeps on growing, and we now have a first look at Wolverine via a new trailer. The fan-favorite mutant's new design, however, is raising some eyebrows for its lack of iconic mask and overall younger look. But purists shouldn't fret, as his more recognizable outfits will likely be coming in a season pass or other (likely paid) DLC. In other news, The PlayStation 5 just got a console software update which allows you to choose a new start-up animation and menu theme. This is part of Sony's celebration of the PlayStation's 30th anniversary, and now you can wax nostalgic while your modern PS5 boots up to the sound of the PS1's start-up animation. And finally, a trailer has leaked for a cancelled James Bond game, and no this isn't related to the upcoming Project 007 from IO interactive—it's a Lego game!8bet casino 。

Minor league pitchers Luis Moreno, Alejandro Crisostomo suspended after positive drug testsNonePowell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or political outcome. Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook summit, Powell addressed a question about President-elect Donald Trump’s numerous public criticisms of the Fed and of Powell himself. During the election campaign, Trump had insisted that as president, he should have a “say” in the Fed’s interest rate policies. Despite Trump’s comments, the Fed chair said he was confident of widespread support in Congress for maintaining the central bank’s independence. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to the millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk early Wednesday swiftly became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans. He had worked at the company for 20 years. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation package made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Trump nominates cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chair President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins is the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner. Trump calls Atkins a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. The SEC oversees U.S. securities markets and investments. If confirmed next year by the new Republican-led Senate, Atkins would replace Gary Gensler, who's been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Atkins was widely considered the most conservative SEC member during his tenure and known to have a strong free-market bent. Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there? It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history. Experts say it could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success — keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia’s new law was approved by its Parliament last week. It's an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. The ban won’t go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That’s not clear, nor will it be easy. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes The District of Columbia is alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city. The district says the online retailer still charged residents of two ZIP codes millions of dollars for a service that provides speedy deliveries. The complaint filed on Wednesday in District of Columbia Superior Court revolves around Amazon’s Prime membership service. The lawsuit alleges Amazon in mid-2022 imposed what it called a delivery “exclusion” on the two low-income ZIP codes. An Amazon spokesperson says the company made the change based on concerns about driver safety. The spokesperson says claims that Amazon's business practices are discriminatory are “categorically false.” Biden says 'Africa is the future' as he pledges millions more on the last day of Angola visit LOBITO, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden has pledged another $600 million for an ambitious multi-country rail project in Africa as one of the final foreign policy moves of his administration. He told African leaders Wednesday that the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long. But not anymore. Africa is the future.” Biden used the third and final day of his visit to Angola to showcase the Lobito Corridor railway. The U.S. and allies are investing heavily to refurbish train lines in Zambia, Congo and Angola in a region rich in critical minerals to counter China's influence. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. US senators grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags A U.S. Senate subcommittee is taking aim at airlines and their growing use of fees for things like early boarding and better seats. Members of the Senate Permanent on Investigations say airlines have raised billions of dollars by imposing fees that are getting hard to understand and even harder to avoid paying. The senators and the Biden administration call them “junk fees,” and they say the extra charges are making travel less affordable. Some senators expressed frustration during a hearing on Wednesday hearing when airline executives couldn't explain how they set various fees. Airlines say fees let consumers pay for things they want, like more legroom, and avoid paying for things they don't want. OpenAI's Sam Altman 'not that worried' about rival Elon Musk's influence in the Trump administration OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is locked in a legal dispute with rival Elon Musk. But he says he is not that worried about Musk’s influence in the incoming Trump administration. Altman told a New York Times conference Wednesday that he may turn out to be wrong but he believes strongly that Musk will do the right thing and won't use his political power to hurt competitors. Musk was an early OpenAI investor and board member. He sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that it betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.

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The state and civil sectors are gearing up to implement the Marriage Equality Bill, which is set to become law next month. The bill was endorsed by His Majesty the King and published in the Royal Gazette on Sept 24, making Thailand the third country or territory in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to recognise same-sex marriage. The bill will become law 120 days after it was published in the Royal Gazette, which means same-sex couples will be able to start registering their marriages on Jan 22 next year. Yesterday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, along with the Social Development and Human Security, Interior, Justice, and Culture ministries and Bangkok Pride organisation, held an event called "Marriage Equality Day" to provide an update on Thailand's readiness to implement the Marriage Equality Bill. Kannapong Pipatmontrikul, the director of the General Registration Office of the Interior Ministry, said that a committee had been formed to make adjustments to the marriage registration system to allow same-sex people to register their marriages at local district offices across Thailand. He said that the committee has also amended the wording of some regulations to better reflect the spirit of the Marriage Equality Bill, such as replacing references to specific genders to "individuals", and switching out references to husbands and wives in favour of "married couples". "We are waiting for the Interior Minister to approve the amendments," Mr Kannapong said. Once approved, the registration system will be modified to reflect the changes, and a trial run will be organised to check the system's readiness, he said, before adding staff who are involved in marriage registrations will be retrained to improve their knowledge of the new law and system. He said once the bill becomes law, same-sex couples can register their marriages at any district office across the country. Those who want to register their marriage must be at least 18 years old, but parents' and/or guardians' consent will still be required if the applicants are younger than 20. Kerdchoke Kasemwongjit, Justice Ministry's Inspector-General, said the ministry will review other bills to guarantee that same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples to establish a family, such as the surrogacy bill, nationalities bill and gender recognition bill.

Silvia Pinal is dead. Per Variety , the star of Luis Buñuel’s Viridana and The Exterminating Angel , known as the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema’s “last diva,” died on November 28. She was 93. “Your absence will hurt me forever, but every memory of you will give me the strength to move forward, and as long as you live in my heart, I will always be able to feel that you are still with me,” Pinal’s official Instagram posted . “I will love you forever, mom.” Pinal is perhaps best known to American audiences through her collaborations with director Luis Buñuel. She starred in 1961’s Viridiana , 1962’s The Exterminating Angel , and the 1965 short Simon Of The Desert . The controversial Palm D’or winner, Viridiana sees Pinal plays an aspiring nun who is raped before her final vows and excommunicated from the convent. The film was banned in Spain and denounced by the Catholic Church, but it is now considered one of the best Spanish films ever made . Buñuel and Pinal reteamed for the class satire The Exterminating Angel , one of the director’s most enduring and influential films, with its presence felt in horror and reality TV. “A friend of mine made a clever point: Buñuel invented reality shows with The Exterminating Angel ,” Pinal told Criterion . “What is The Exterminating Angel if not a reality show about people who can’t leave the room?” Born on September 12, 1931, in Guaymas, Sonora, Silvia Pinal Hidalgo began studying acting at the Nacional de las Bellas Artes at 14. After making her debut as an extra in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream , she began acting in soaps on the Mexican radio station XEQ. In 1949, Pinal made her screen acting debut in El Pecado De Laura and appeared in three more movies that year, including Bamba and La Mujer Que Yo Perdí . By 1952, she had won an Ariel Award, the Mexican film industry’s Oscars, for Best Supporting Actress in A Place Closer To Heaven . Before the decade ended, she would win three more Ariels for Best Actress for Un Extraño En El Escalera , Locura Pasional , and La Dulce Enemiga . The Ariel Awards presented her with a Special Golden Ariel in 2008. Despite having over 100 screen credits, Pinal only appeared in Hollywood once, opposite Burt Reynolds in Samuel Fuller’s Shark . Aside from being considered a pioneer of musical theater in Mexico , she became a political figure as the wife of Governor Tulio Gómez, her fourth and final husband, serving as First Lady for much of the ’80s. In 1991, as a member of the Industrial Revolutionary Party, she was elected to the Chamber of Duties in Mexico City. Between 1997 and 2000, she served as a senator. Pinal is survived by her two daughters and her son. Her third daughter, Viridiana, died in a car accident in 1982.

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BRAINERD — A proposed 2025 4% levy increase will be presented to Brainerd residents during the City Council’s truth in taxation hearing Dec. 2. This number is a reduction from the preliminary 8% levy increase approved in September and could still change before a final levy is approved. Discussion surrounding funding for the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport and how that would impact the levy continued during the council’s meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 ADVERTISEMENT Council member Gabe Johnson, chair of the Personnel and Finance Committee, told the council of a couple of recent proposed changes to the budget. The committee’s proposal would have reduced the levy increase to 4.75% over 2024. It included a $100,000 reduction in the capital budget and a $100,000 reduction in the Park Board’s facility funding request each year. There was also a $10,000 reduction in funds budgeted for street tree replacement. Monday’s proposal also included $125,000 for an airport levy, which is an increase from the previously approved levy of $1,000. Council member Jeff Czeczok proposed the $1,000 in September as opposed to the airport’s request of $225,000. An earlier issue regarded Brainerd’s request not to have double taxation on Brainerd residents, who paid into both the city and county levies for the airport. A year ago, then Crow Wing County Administrator Tim Houle said the city of Brainerd represents 6% of the total tax base in Crow Wing County. That means that of the $157,000 the county planned to levy for the airport in 2024, $9,420 will come from Brainerd residents. “While we cannot exclude them from our levy, we could agree to increasing our levy by that amount and let the city decrease their levy by that amount and, in essence, we would leave the city residents whole on the issue of being taxed twice,” Houle wrote. In November 2023, the County Board authorized the increase of its 2024 levy by $9,420, while Brainerd reduced its levy by the same amount. The county reported that remedy, once it was set last year, continues going forward. At that time, the County Board also agreed to continue talks with city officials about the long-term ownership of the airport. The county noted there were also other areas for discussion, such as staff support, it was willing to undertake. One option — raised at the time of the double taxation discussion in 2023 at the County Board — was for the county to take full ownership of the airport. Brainerd City Council members at that time said they weren’t necessarily opposed to the idea but were looking for more information . The city approached Crow Wing County earlier this year about having the county take over sole ownership of the airport, but a letter from county staff said it was not an issue they wanted to pursue. In August, Crow Wing County Commissioner Steve Barrows said he did not support the ownership change — neither did Airport Director Steve Wright nor Brainerd City Council member airport liaison Kevin Stunek. ADVERTISEMENT As the airport is jointly owned by the city and the county, there is an ownership agreement between the two entities, though the agreement does not specifically state how much each entity must levy for airport operations each year. In 1947, Brainerd resident Walter Wieland urged the City of Brainerd, in conjunction with Crow Wing County, to develop an Airport Commission in an effort to own and operate an airport. The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport website notes an application was made and money from local, state and federal sources combined to create the airport, previously known as the Brainerd Crow Wing County Municipal Airport. Reached by phone Wednesday night, Barrows, who is the county liaison to the airport commission, said the county was willing to talk about ownership but it was already late in the game for the 2025 budget process. The county adopted its preliminary tax levy on Sept. 24. A discussion with the Federal Aviation Administration listed an 18-24 month time period to remove Brainerd from the ownership agreement, Barrows said. He said the county didn’t walk away, but said no changes in 2024. He said they are willing to talk about 2026 if the city initiates that conversation. Barrows said it seems Brainerd officials felt it was doable for the county to come up with another $150,000 after they were already deep into staff work for the 2025 budget. “There is a year to work on it,” Barrows said. “Now is the time for them to come back to have these discussions. ... This is not a thing that can happen overnight with the snap of a finger. We know they want out. ... Let’s do a planful approach to their exit.” Barrows said the county has represented itself professionally in this process. ADVERTISEMENT In September, Czeczok said the biggest issue for him is the levy, as the airport is an asset to the entire region — not just Brainerd or even Crow Wing County. The county taking over the entire or at least the majority of the levy, Czeczok said, would give relief to Brainerd taxpayers. The whole point is transferring ownership to the county, he added, was so Brainerd would not have to levy at all for the airport. Council members discussed a $150,000 airport levy at a meeting in September, marginally increasing it from the $146,080 levy in 2024. The motion for the amount failed, though, with Mayor Dave Badeaux breaking the 3-3 tie, with one council member absent. The $125,000 proposed Monday night started at that $150,000 mark but deducted $25,000 to account for the finance and human resources work performed by city staff at the airport each year. Czeczok was not in favor of the increase, saying the $1,000 airport levy was all about fairness to Brainerd taxpayers. The county has the ability to administer the entire levy, he said, and it’s not the city’s responsibility to match what the county does. Barrows said present and past Brainerd City Councils, not the County Board, decided to contribute financially and at what level in support of the airport that is in shared ownership. “Our negotiation is simple,” Czeczok said. “We say we’re going to give $1,000, and we do that. And the next year, the county said, OK, they’re only going to pay 1,000 bucks. Are we going to have the airport get the operating levy they need to operate, or are we going to sit here and play patty cake and go back and forth because somebody’s got a petty issue? ... Petty politics is all we see happening here, and I’m looking out for our taxpayers.” Council President Kelly Bevans said he agreed with Czeczok. The double taxation of Brainerd taxpayers, he said, is something the city can fix right now. ADVERTISEMENT “The additional tragedy is not only the double taxation but the fact that we made a proposal in writing to the county to discuss this,” Bevans said. “... And it appears they’re not interested in even discussing the administration of the levy.” As much as he said the $125,000 might be necessary to run the airport, Bevans said it should not fall on Brainerd taxpayers. The motion to approve the Personnel and Finance Committee’s proposal, including the $125,000 for the airport, failed 5-2, with Tiffany Stenglein and Kara Terry the only ones in support. A subsequent motion for only the capital and streets portion of the recommendation passed 6-1, with Terry in opposition. The airport levy back at $1,000, Johnson suggested presenting a 4% levy increase to residents during the public hearing in December. He said he did not know what the exact number would be with the $124,000 airport levy reduction from the proposal but figured 4% would allow the council to further reduce the levy if needed. Czeczok said he liked 4%. The motion to present 4% at the public hearing passed 6-1, with Terry opposed. The council’s public hearing on the final levy will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at City Hall. The council must pass the final levy before the end of the year. ADVERTISEMENT Managing Editor Renee Richardson assisted with this story. THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa .Large UN Aid Convoy 'Violently Looted' After Entering Gaza - Somehow Israel Is Being Blamed

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Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviserSan Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that the team has ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy for Sunday's playoff rematch against the Green Bay Packers. Purdy has been managing a shoulder injury sustained during this past Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks, significantly limiting his participation in practice throughout the week. Earlier in the week, there was optimism that Purdy would be ready for the Week 12 matchup after he reported shoulder soreness to the team on Monday. However, concerns grew as the week progressed, with Purdy struggling to take the field alongside his teammates during practice sessions. With Purdy out, veteran quarterback Brandon Allen will step in for his first start with the 49ers and his first since 2021. He has been with the team for the last two seasons. Purdy has started all 10 games this season, amassing 2,613 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. His absence will be a significant setback for a 49ers team striving to turn their season around and get back in the NFC West race. Defensive end Nick Bosa (hip/oblique) and cornerback Charvarius Ward have also been ruled out. This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

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g7bet online casino WASHINGTON , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night, Future Caucus held its seventh annual awards at the Arlo Washington DC, in recognition of lawmakers and activists who embody the organization's mission to transcend toxic polarization. The award honors Gen Z and millennial leaders actively advancing bipartisan policies that address critical issues facing Americans. "The young leaders we honor tonight are not only persevering through systemic and personal obstacles, but excelling," said Future Caucus president and CEO Layla Zaidane . "They're showing us what's possible when the work of governing is rooted in empathy and collaboration rather than division, and how good, inclusive policy also turns out to be pretty good politics." The 2024 Rising Star Award was presented to two lawmakers: State Asm. Alex Bores (D-NY-73) and State Rep. Tory Blew (R-KS-112) , now Sen.-elect for the state's 33rd Senate District. Both serve as co-chairs of their respective State Future Caucus . "I'm honored to receive this award for work that prioritizes delivering results for New Yorkers," said Bores. "Creating a more effective, responsive state government requires everyone, and I'm proud of what we have achieved together to modernize New York's services and protect our democracy." "It's an honor to receive this recognition for bipartisan work that has been my focus from day one," said Blew. "At its core, this role is about listening and finding common ground that serves Kansans across the board, especially the young people who will define our future. I'm grateful to Future Caucus for championing this collaborative vision." Future Caucus presented the Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award to Pennsylvania Future Caucus co-chairs State Rep. Justin Fleming (D-PA-105) and State Rep. Thomas Kutz (R-PA-87) . " Pennsylvania's young people and families are facing challenges that demand bipartisan solutions," said Fleming. "This award is a testament to the work we've done as a caucus and as colleagues, to bring together a diverse set of voices and put real, impactful legislation into action for our communities." "Pennsylvanians are facing challenges that require common sense solutions," said Kutz, who accepted the award in absentia. "Pragmatic legislators must come together to address rising inflation, the cost of housing and child care, and the rising costs of higher education. I'm honored to work alongside colleagues in Harrisburg who are equally committed to addressing these issues. This award is a testament to the bipartisan work we have taken on this session, and I'm eager to continue that work in the upcoming legislative session." The organization also presented its Generational Changemaker Award to activist and actor Sophia Bush , for her efforts to promote voter education and civic engagement, and to businesswoman and socialite Paris Hilton , for her commitment to criminal justice reform and accountability for youth residential facilities. "What makes this gathering so significant—and what makes the work of Future Caucus so vital—is the understanding that democracy is bigger than any one candidate, or the outcome of any single election," said Bush. "It's a commitment that, if honored and fought for, transcends wins and losses, uniting us around the shared responsibility to protect and strengthen our democratic institutions. And that is a commitment I believe in." "I'm accepting this award as a survivor and advocate, and more importantly, as a voice for every child suffering in silence. I've turned my pain into purpose by fighting for policy change, from passing 10 state laws to introducing the federal bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act and testifying on behalf of foster youth in Congress," said Hilton, who accepted the award by video. "I'm so proud to stand with all the amazing lawmakers in this community who are dedicated to changing the world. I'm confident that together, we'll make groundbreaking progress in creating a world where everyone is supported, protected, and empowered." Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) gave the evening's keynote address . As a Delaware state senator, McBride was founding co-chair of the Delaware Future Caucus. "The promise of our Constitution is only possible when we respect our differences and solve our disagreements through conversation and collaboration," said McBride. "We know that the divisions and nastiness that we too often see nationally must not—and does not have to—be our new normal. A different kind of politics is possible: a politics of hope, not of hate; of grace, not of grievance; and of progress, not of pettiness. That is our charge as the next generation of Future Caucus leaders." Future Caucus is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers young elected officials in Congress and state legislatures to bridge the partisan divide. By supporting innovative policymaking and fostering collaboration, we help Gen Z and millennial leaders drive positive change and promote a political culture rooted in empathy and solutions. To learn more, visit www.futurecaucus.org . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/young-republican-and-democratic-lawmakers-and-activists-receive-political-bridge-building-award-302313634.html SOURCE Future CaucusThe London Knights Booster Club (LKBC) is ready to break an OHL record for most teddy bears tossed onto the ice. “I think we’re going to hit from that 4,000 mark just within the club,” said Sav Neth, president or the LKBC. During every bus and beach trip, as well as BBQ the club hosted this past year, they asked their members to bring a stuffed animal in anticipation of this year’s Teddy Bear Toss game. Neth, known as the Knights Super Fan, knows how the importance of the game and its donations for underprivileged children in the city. “When I was a child, we went to a place and the Salvation Army provided me with a teddy bear,” said Neth. “I was just given that hope and the inspiration. When I was young, my mom was a single mother of five children, and I gave her that teddy bear. In my mid-forties, she passed away and she had that bear ever since, so it's definitely meaningful.” When the bears are thrown onto the ice, they will be counted, sorted, and delivered by the Salvation Army. The London Knights Booster Club has collected more than 4,000 stuffed animals for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game at Canada Life Place on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “This year we're serving over 6,000 children,” said Nancy Kerr, executive director of Salvation Army London. “Every little piece of toy we get, some of the bears are big, some of them are small, and it goes a long way to helping us make sure that the children get something under the tree.” The Knights are encouraging fans to bring a new stuffed animal to Wednesday’s game at Canada Life Place. Their goal is to surpass their own OHL record achieved last year of 11,924. “It's a fun game to be a part of and one of the first games to sell out,” said Alex Brown, Knights’ director of marketing. “We had almost 12,000 bears last year and hoping for more this year.” A year ago, it was defenceman Jared Woolley who made history when he opened the scoring. Nancy Kerr, executive director of London’s Salvation Army seen on Dec. 3, 2024, says they will service 6,000 children with stuffed animals collected during this year’s Teddy Bear Toss. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “I think everyone wants to score that goal and doing that and it being my first career goal, I thought it was pretty fun,” said Woolley. He added that it has become an internal competition in the dressing room, as everyone wants the one who makes the bears rain down. “Everybody's chirping and saying that they're going to score it, so everyone's giving each other a hard time about it,” added Woolley. “I think everyone just wants to be the one to bring them down for sure.” No matter who scores London’s first goal Wednesday, Neth knows from personal experience, it is a very special night for those donating and those receiving. “It is such a remarkable thing that this fan base, and this community is doing to help the Salvation Army,” said Neth. “It’s great giving and be able to receive and hopefully inspire those kids to have something to hug or something to hold that might not have anything for Christmas.” Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 19 Of The Best Stocking Stuffers For Teenagers 13 Of The Best Self-Care Gifts You Can Find On Amazon Canada The Ultimate 2024 Holiday Gift Guide For People Who Love Working Out Home Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Our Guide To The Best Electric Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Hydroponic Gardens In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts Here Are All The Gift Wrapping Supplies You Should Order Before The Holidays 17 Sweet Treats And Snacks That Make Great Stocking Stuffers 15 Gifts That'll Pry Their Eyes Away From Screens For A Bit Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 40% Off For Cyber Monday London Top Stories 'A real gamut': LHSC highlights number of serious seasonal injuries ahead of the holiday season Tire shops 'spinning' with winter tire changeover demand Mayor worried about flooding following conservation dam decision 'We can’t wait for perfection': Local advocates respond to AG’s criticism of province’s plan to fight homelessness and addiction Charges laid after 'shelter in place' in Tillsonburg 'Hopefully inspire those kids': London Knights Booster Club collects thousands of stuffed animals for Teddy Bear Toss game Nearly $300,000 worth of drugs seized in Oxford County, Kitchener School closures and bus cancellations, more squalls expected Tuesday morning CTVNews.ca Top Stories Mexico president says Canada has a 'very serious' fentanyl problem Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues. 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Barrie Snow-clearing efforts stalled due to tractor-trailers stuck on many roads along Highway 11 Snow-clearing efforts continue on secondary roads that remain closed along Highway 11 on Tuesday. Woman dies in two-vehicle crash on Highway 118 in Haliburton An 87-year-old woman has died following a collision on Highway 118 in Haliburton County on Monday afternoon. Crown pushes for 6-year sentence for supervisor convicted in fatal crash case Victim impact statements were read in a Barrie courtroom on Tuesday ahead of sentencing for a man convicted of criminal negligence causing the death of a dump truck driver four years ago. Windsor Survey raises concerns about cannabis-impaired driving in Ontario A recent survey conducted by CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) highlights an increase in cannabis use among Ontario drivers, sparking some concern about impaired driving. 'Times are tough and we're feeling the stretch': Still time to give this Giving Tuesday Dec. 3 is Giving Tuesday and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation (CKHAF) is calling on the community for support to help purchase a new fluoroscopy machine for Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). Leamington man facing several firearms charges Essex County OPP have charged a 42-year-old man with firearms-related offences following the execution of a warrant in Leamington. Northern Ontario Man severely injured saving his wife from a polar bear attack in the Far North A man was severely injured Tuesday morning when he leaped onto a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled in the Far North community of Fort Severn. Insults on social media lead to real-life assault in northern Ont. A Mississauga First Nation woman has been charged with assault after she took offence to comments about her on social media. Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches. Sault Ste. Marie Shooting on Manitoulin Island leads to attempted murder charges Two people have been charged – one with attempted murder – following a shooting in Wikwemikong last week. Insults on social media lead to real-life assault in northern Ont. A Mississauga First Nation woman has been charged with assault after she took offence to comments about her on social media. Snow squall warning in the Sault, heaviest snowfall expected tonight Sault Ste. Marie's run of severe winter weather will continue Tuesday, with Environment Canada issuing another snow squall warning. 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Gibbons man charged with child pornography offences A 23-year-old Alberta man has been charged in connection with a 10-month-long child pornography investigation. Regina Regulations around foreign ownership of Sask. farmland need better enforcement, auditor finds The Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan is recommending that the province improve its system of monitoring sales of farmland to foreign entities. Formal expectations needed for answering 911 calls: Sask. auditor reports The Provincial Auditor assessed the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s (SPSA) 911 call taking and dispatching processes for fire emergencies, focusing on the Provincial Emergency Communications Centre. Attempted murder charge laid after home invasion, series of hit and runs in Regina Two people in Regina are facing a list of charges following a series of alleged acts that include a home invasion, multiple collisions and attempted murder. Saskatoon Major power outage hits much of Saskatoon's west side A large power outage is affecting much of Saskatoon’s west side and portions of the east side of the city on Tuesday afternoon. Saskatoon city council raises property taxes 4.96% next year Saskatoon city councillors approved a municipal budget that will raise property taxes 4.96 per cent in 2025. Teenage girl among two killed in Saskatchewan First Nation house fire Vancouver BC SPCA to rescue up to 30 stray cats from one Kamloops home The BC SPCA is warning of the consequences of feeding stray cats after a person accidentally lured over 25 felines to their home in Kamloops, B.C. BREAKING | New Vancouver Art Gallery plan scrapped, board seeks new design The Vancouver Art Gallery has decided to start all over again and shelve plans for a new nine-level tower made of wood and glass, CTV News has learned. Taylor Swift fans flock to BC Place, days before Eras Tour lands in Vancouver Security fencing is going up around BC Place stadium in preparation for the final days of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour this weekend, while dozens of Swifties gather near by to feel the vibe and "breathe the same air as Taylor Swift." Vancouver Island Canadian military drones enter production, though Arctic modifications will be required Canada's first combat drones have now entered production, though the remotely piloted aircraft will require years of testing and significant modifications before the first units are delivered in 2028. Taylor Swift fans flock to BC Place, days before Eras Tour lands in Vancouver Security fencing is going up around BC Place stadium in preparation for the final days of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour this weekend, while dozens of Swifties gather near by to feel the vibe and "breathe the same air as Taylor Swift." Coroners inquest set for B.C. woman with Down Syndrome who starved to death The BC Coroners Service will hold an inquest into the death of Florence Girard, a 54-year-old woman with Down syndrome who died of starvation in 2018. Stay ConnectedFLORENCE — Texas Department of Public Safety will graduate 130 recruits next week following 29 weeks of rigorous physical, mental and situational training, part of which occurred just 20 miles south of Killeen. Class B-2024, which began May 20, is about to complete the rigorous six-month course. Last week, officials held a joint field training exercise at the DPS Tactical Training Center in Florence in Williamson County. “We provide a quality of training which is excellent,” said the facility’s Assistant Chief of Training Derek Prestridge. “Our intensive program and in-resident training brings value to our academy and a level of excellence that is a part of the core value of this organization.” Texas Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief of Training Lt. Derek Prestridge explains some of the strategies taught at the training center near Florence. The in-resident training allows recruits to experience the physical challenges of being away from family members and friends. One instructor said the arrangements inside the building where recruits stay are not like hotel accommodations. Recruits sleep on cots, or on the floor, or periodically wherever they can catch a nap. The reasoning behind this type of training is to see how recruits deal with mental and emotional situations which may be brought on by uncomfortable accommodations or the lack of adequate sleep, rest and daily schedule. For a portion of the physical training, there are 16 stations set up throughout the 200-acre training area. The training center has a three-mile track used to teach vehicle dynamics, coned skill courses, a road course, pursuit and emergency response tactics. There are three towers which give instructors the ability to run all electrical signs, lights, gates, security cameras and for visual observation. The Texas DPS training facility near Florence is home to 130 recruits who reside there during the last week of skills training The driving course is designed to teach precision driving skills within the urban environment, skid control and high-speed pursuit skills. The course is also used to teach crash investigation techniques. Included on the course: a paved level surface which, when wet, offers a slick surface to practice driving in those conditions in order to prepare for real-life situations. On Thursday, instructors had set up several exercises which would simulate conditions similar to a traffic stop. The first exercise involved a civilian vehicle which appeared to be broken down on the side of a road. Recruits are given no more information than that as they drive toward the vehicle, stop and attempt to survey the situation. The recruit attempts to make contact with a man who is under the hood of the vehicle by shouting out. In this case, the man yells back at the recruit to go away. As the recruit steps closer to the man’s vehicle it appears he has a gun and begins to shoot at the recruit. The recruit returns fire, appearing to have hit the man who falls to the ground, and is still. The recruit moves to the rear of the DPS vehicle, while using the radio to notify a dispatcher that help is needed and the important details of the stop. This all happens very quickly, in a matter of minutes. After the role-play is complete, instructors who have shadowed the recruit and watched from a close proximity, give the recruit feedback. These drills are run several times throughout the training period in many different circumstances. Another exercise involved a situation in which another trooper might be using excessive force. The recruit is told he is being called to assist in the take-down of a criminal, but when the recruit approaches, the original trooper appears to be using a baton to hit his suspect in the back of the head with excessive force. In this case, the recruit had to quickly assess the scene, determine the severity of the troopers actions and decide how to assist. One recruit used his own strength to pull the offending trooper off the suspect while assessing whether or not the trooper was in control of himself and his actions. Then, in an instant, the recruit apprehended the suspect and called dispatch to alert them of the situation. Another recruit was set up at the same station a few minutes later to test their assessment and action taken. This time, after pulling the trooper from the suspect, the recruit pushed the offending trooper to the ground and proceeded to handcuff him. When asked why by his instructors later, the recruit said the trooper appeared to continue his bad behavior even after the recruit arrived and told him to stop. These two exercises had very different endings and neither were wrong, according to instructor Lt. Michael Monaghan. “In the second case, the recruit felt they might be in danger, due to the aggressive demeanor of the trooper,” Monaghan said. “This is all part of the training and could happen out in the real world.” In this first exercise, the recruit in the gray shirt has pulled over to assess the situation of a car with a raised hood on the side of the road. The suspect is seen pulling a weapon from his pants and the recruit must call on her training to follow through with the stop. In another exercise, recruits were tested at an intersection where the driver of a vehicle sped past and the task was to make a traffic stop. It was all going along well, until the other driver decided to speed away from the stop taking some twisting turns and leaving the roadway. After pursuing the driver with sirens, lights and a PA call to pull over, the driver slowed down again. Before the recruit could stop his vehicle, the driver of the other car was off again, finally coming to a stop several hundred yards in front of the recruit. By this time, a second DPS vehicle had joined the pursuit as back up. The remainder of the stop consisted of giving the suspect directions as the recruits from both vehicles trained their guns on him. There was a series of commands given in order to subdue the driver, check the vehicle for other passengers and calm the situation down. In this exercise, there were several options open to the recruits to complete the test. “If an instructor believes additional training is needed, recruits will circle back through the situations that gave them difficulty,” Monaghan said. “The purpose of this is to help recruits feel at ease with their decisions and to develop the confidence to make snap decisions and follow-through in a safe manner.” Monaghan also pointed out that on every stop there are so many variables that they couldn’t possibly set them all up. He also said that the academy brings in experts in their field to assist in some of the scenarios. There are emerging threats that come up and the training needs to stay ahead and up to date with the latest methods, technology and strategies. The mission of the DPS’s Training Operations Division is to prepare law enforcement leaders and peace officers to meet 21st Century demands and challenges. The division develops a wide variety of world-class training and education programs and delivers them to public safety professionals within the department and throughout the state. Recruits, in the gray shirts, hold a suspect at gunpoint and verbally instruct him on how to proceed during this traffic stop exercise. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to recruiting and training a diverse workforce that reflect our values of integrity, excellence, accountability and teamwork,” Prestridge said. The rigorous recruit training includes the basic peace officer course, which exceeds mandatory licensing requirements established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Trooper trainees are educated by experts on criminal and traffic law enforcement, crash investigation, crisis intervention, use of force, emergency casualty care, criminal investigations, communications, cultural diversity, fitness and wellness and many other areas, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the job of a highway patrol trooper anywhere in Texas. “The Texas DPS is the premier law enforcement agency in the state, as well as one of the finest in the nation,” according to the state’s website. In order to meet the many challenges facing law enforcement today, the department operates a world-class training program. Law Enforcement Education educates and trains recruits, troopers, agents, and other law enforcement officers across the state. Students study tactical vehicle operation, firearms, use of force, effective report writing, communications skills, and first aid, as well as other topics. Physical training and arrest and control tactics training are also core elements of the program. At the end of training, recruits are taken to DPS headquarters in Austin and given a chance to prepare for graduation. The annual DPS Legacy Run took place on Friday. The four-mile run went from the DPS Fallen Officers Memorial at DPS headquarters to the Peace Officers Memorial at the Texas State Capitol. First implemented in 2008, recruits and instructors have said it is a way to mark the end of the 30-week training academy. According to the DPS website, trooper trainees are accompanied by their instructors, members of DPS leadership and often times DPS retirees. Before leaving the Training Center, Prestridge talked about the relationship DPS has with legislators in Austin. “Our training brings value to the state,” Prestridge said. “We have the ear of legislators and have worked with them to help equip our facilities and provide state-of-the art technology. The way we invest in our personnel makes this a law enforcement agency of excellence.”

The TV presenter and journalist joined thousands of farmers in London on Tuesday to protest against agricultural inheritance tax changes. Jeremy Clarkson has backpedalled on his previous comments about why he bought his farm, saying he thought it would be a “better PR story if I said I bought it to avoid paying tax”. The TV presenter and journalist defied doctors’ orders by joining thousands of farmers in London on Tuesday to protest against agricultural inheritance tax changes. The 64-year-old, who fronts Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm, which documents the trials of farming on his land in Oxfordshire, wrote in a post on the Top Gear website in 2010: “I have bought a farm. There are many sensible reasons for this: Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The government doesn’t get any of my money when I die. And the price of the food that I grow can only go up.” Clarkson also told the Times in 2021 that avoiding inheritance tax was “the critical thing” in his decision to buy land. Addressing the claim in a new interview with The Times, the former Top Gear presenter said: “I never did admit why I really bought it.” The fan of game bird shooting added: “I wanted to have a shoot – I was very naive. I just thought it would be a better PR story if I said I bought it to avoid paying tax.” Clarkson was among the thousands who took to the streets this week to protest over the changes in the recent Budget to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million and he addressed the crowds at the march in central London. He told the newspaper he is not happy to be the public face of the movement, saying: “It should be led by farmers.” The presenter said he does not consider himself a farmer because there are “so many basic jobs” which he cannot do, but he feels his role is to “report on farming”. Earlier this month, it was confirmed Clarkson’s Farm, which has attracted huge attention to his Diddly Squat farm shop, had been renewed for a fifth series. Asked whether the issue behind the tax protest is that rural poverty is hidden, Clarkson agreed and said his programme was not helping to address the situation. “One of the problems we have on the show is we’re not showing the poverty either, because obviously on Diddly Squat there isn’t any poverty”, he said. “But trust me, there is absolute poverty. I’m surrounded by farmers. I’m not going out for dinner with James Dyson. “It’s people with 200 acres, 400 acres. Way past Rachel Reeves’s threshold. They are f*****.” The newspaper columnist also presents Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on ITV. The Grand Tour, his motoring show with former Top Gear colleagues Richard Hammond and James May, ended in September. Discussing whether he might move into politics, Clarkson said: “I’d be a terrible political leader, hopeless. “I’m a journalist at heart, I prefer throwing rocks at people than having them thrown at me.” However, he said he would be “100% behind any escalation” after the farmers’ march. Clarkson revealed last month he had undergone a heart procedure to have stents fitted after experiencing a “sudden deterioration” in his health which brought on symptoms of being “clammy”, a “tightness” in his chest and “pins and needles” in his left arm. He said in a Sunday Times column that one of his arteries was “completely blocked and the second of three was heading that way” and doctors said he was perhaps “days away” from becoming very ill. Asked if he is thinking about retiring, the Doncaster-born celebrity said: “Probably not. It depends when you die, I always think. “You’d be surprised, us Northerners are made of strong stuff.”Josh Jacobs injury update: Packers RB heads to locker room with cramps

OnlyFans Model Ava Louise Flashes Chest at NFL Game After Client RequestFollowing the crushing defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, state unit Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday accused the BJP of conspiring with the Election Commission to "murder the spirit of democracy". In an interview with IANS, Patole said that the election results shocked everyone as the public had decided to oust the Mahayuti government and bring the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to power. He also talked about MVA's electoral prospects in future elections, rumblings within MVA, RSS chief's statement on fertility rate and more. Were the Maharashtra election results shocking for Congress? Where do you think the party failed? Nana Patole: More than us, the public of Maharashtra is shocked. This is because the public was against the Mahayuti and they had decided to replace the government in the state. BJP won the elections by deceit. It has conspired with the Election Commission to murder the spirit of democracy. The coordination of the Congress was good. We were organisationally good and we had selected good candidates from among the people.The way the Election Commission committed the sin of increasing 76 lakh votes at night... we have started seeking answers for it. A delegation of the Congress had gone to the Election Commission. We have asked them some questions. We have not received a written answer yet. After the written answer, we will take a further decision on this. Mahayuti won the Assembly elections easily. What do you have to say about this? Nana Patole: We are a political party. After the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the people here are quite surprised. The people are against the sins committed by Mahayuti. The people had made up their minds to oust Mahayuti from Maharashtra.When BJP people from Delhi used to come to the elections, the people here did not support them. People did not go to their meetings. The farmers were angry with Mahayuti. The common man was angry with inflation, the youth was angry because of unemployment. How did this government come after all this?In a democracy, BJP has even ended the right to vote of the people. The Election Commission and the BJP together are working to kill the democracy of this country in broad daylight. This feeling is in the minds of the people. The Congress party will work to protect the feelings of the people and the Constitution. ALSO READ: Iran-Israel Tensions Source Of Concern, Says EAM Jaishankar At Manama Dialogue In Bahrain If the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had announced the CM's face before the elections, do you think the results would have been different? Nana Patole: I don't want to go back now. But the rigging that has been done by the Election Commission is not good for our democracy. Congress will fight that battle. The ECI is stopping people from conducting mock polls. Some people were detained. Was that treason? I have the right to check whether my vote is correct or not. But the government is taking action by filing cases against people. Was the EVM really rigged? What is your take? Nana Patole: I don't want to comment on what someone's opinion may be. In a democracy, no leader is bigger. In a democracy, the public is bigger. There is distrust in the minds of the public. Today, the common man is saying that his vote is not safe. Such a system has been provided in our Constitution, and the Election Commission should conduct elections through ballot papers. The whole truth should come before the people.Our party's high command has taken this into consideration, and hence, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge has also tabled a demand to conduct the elections in ballot paper. I think planning to deal with this issue has also started. Will Congress contest alone after the defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections? It is the role of Congress to take all the parties of the alliance together. If someone does not want to stay together, that is their issue. The leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) are free to make decisions because some of their party leaders make contradictory statements. Congress believes in taking everyone along. BJP wants to end the Constitution. Congress will never let this happen. We will continue to fight our battle. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), part of the INDIA bloc, is contesting the elections alone in Delhi and Congress is contesting alone. What do you think of this? Nana Patole: Every party can make their own decisions. No one has any problem with this. All this happens in a democracy. Rahul Gandhi always raises the issue of Veer Savarkar. Do you back his claims of the latter betraying the nation by apologising to the British? Nana Patole: This is not the issue of Rahul Gandhi. Media tries to divert attention from the main topics of the nation and tries to raise baseless issues of the past. Efforts are being made to divert people's attention from today's issues by creating stories from history. China has occupied our border. This is not discussed in Parliament. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress want there should be a discussion on inflation, unemployment and farmers in Parliament. We do not discuss what Veer Savarkar was. What do you think of the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh? Nana Patole: Instead of Bangladesh, we should discuss what is happening in Manipur. Today, the people of the nation itself are not safe. There is talk of discussing the Bangladesh issue. But why is the government running away from discussing Manipur?I want to say that the situation prevailing in the country, people are not feeling safe. Women are being tortured, they are being burnt alive. Should the government not discuss this issue? Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has compared the situation in Sambhal and Bangladesh and has said that the attackers of both places have "same DNA." What is your take on this? Nana Patole: Yogi Adityanath is responsible for maintaining the law and order of Uttar Pradesh as the Chief Minister of the state. He is not able to control the law and order here and then talks about Bangladesh. People like them have no right to stay in that post. They are sitting on this post after taking oath on the Constitution. These people cannot talk about religion.During the Maharashtra elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath raised slogans like 'Ek hai to safe hai' and 'Batenge to katenge'. Did your party members not get the invitation for the oath-taking ceremony? Nana Patole: We did not receive any invitation. This is not called a swearing-in ceremony. The public is saying that the coronation has taken place. That was not a swearing-in ceremony at Azad Maidan. It was a coronation ceremony of the BJP. The atmosphere was like a coronation. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's 'Benami' (unlawful) properties have been released, now that he has formed an alliance with the Mahayuti, have been released. What do you have to say about this? Nana Patole: I want to ask a question... PM Modi used to say, 'Na khaunga na khane dunga' (I will neither engage in corruption, nor will I allow anyone else to do so). If this is benami property, then deposit it with the government. How is this property being given to Ajit Pawar?Money is being collected from common people by bringing GST law. Today, the people of the country know where the money is being given after looting the common man. BJP has committed the sin of giving benami property to Ajit Pawar. We will take this to the public. Your alliance partner Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi has ditched you. What do you have to say about this? Nana Patole: We will hold talks with Abu Azmi and his party and will try to understand his stance. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has advocated for a fertility rate above 2.1. How do you see this? Nana Patole: This call lies with the family. Mohan Bhagwat has not been married. I think he should marry. Instead of advising people, he should lead the way. It is the mother's right to decide the number of children she wants to have. It is not for the RSS or BJP to decide. Inflation has made life a living hell and they want people to have more children? Many people, especially the women, have rejected this. ALSO READ: South Africa: Wife Of Indian-Origin Businessman Charged With Plotting His Kidnapping, Demanded Crores In Ransom Will you contest the Municipal Corporation elections alone or with the MVA? Nana Patole: We will decide after the announcement of the elections. SS (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has said that if you had not resigned from the post of party president, then government would not have fallen two and a half years back. What do you think of this? Nana Patole: It is good that he is realising the influence I have. You do not have the numbers that anyone from your party becomes the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. How do you see this? Nana Patole: We will fight for the public. We believe we will work with dedication. Many leaders from your party did not take the oath as a member of the Assembly. What is the reason behind this? Nana Patole: After the government came to power in Maharashtra, enthusiasm was not visible among the people. The public said that this government has not come to power with our votes. People are making this allegation. If we did not vote for this candidate, then how did he get so many votes? We are the representatives who provide justice to the public. Today we thought that we would not take oath. The voice of the public should reach the Election Commission. We will take the voice of the public to the Election Commission. What will you say about law and order in Maharashtra? Nana Patole: Devendra Fadnavis has seven and a half years of experience. The Home Department will remain with him. We have told him that the law and order here is bad. We will seek answers from the new government on the issue of law and order. BJP is accused of eliminating regional parties. What will you say? Nana Patole: BJP's National President J.P. Nadda has said that we will eliminate all regional parties. His intention is that no one should be left in the democratic system. What do you have to say on stash of cash being found on the seat of Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha? Nana Patole: CCTV footage shows who has kept the money on the table. He sat at his table for three minutes. After that, he left. It is being said that he had a stash of Rs 500. Instead of making an issue of this, it is better that authorities have a look at the CCTV footage. (Except header, this copy has not been edited by Jagran English. Source: IANS)What's next for Matt Gaetz: 5 possibilities

Progressivism and the murder of a health insurance CEO

Half of Australians live with chronic health conditions, over a third forced to leave their jobs as a resultAFP – Six men linked to Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba face trial from tomorrow, accused of blackmail, attempted extortion of millions of euros and holding the player at gunpoint. The case at the Paris criminal court has shocked the French football world – all the more so because the perpetrators include three childhood friends and Pogba’s own brother Mathias. The development comes as Pogba battles professional woes, as Juventus this month cancelled his contract following his suspension until March 2025 for doping. In total, the group are accused of attempting to squeeze EUR13 million (USD13.5 million) out of the player. Mathias was himself the one to go public in the case, publishing a video on social networks in August 2022 in French, Italian, English and Spanish. He promised revelations about his younger brother that were “likely to be explosive” while remaining vague about the details. In a subsequent clip, Mathias accused his younger brother of casting an evil spell on his France teammate Kylian Mbappe. Paul Pogba’s lawyers and his agent Rafaela Pimenta said in a statement later in August 2022 that the videos “came on top of threats and attempts at extortion as part of a criminal gang” against their client. He had already filed criminal complaints in Italy and France in July that year. Pogba told French investigators that he had in March 2022 been “tricked by childhood friends” from the neighbourhood in Roissy-en-Brie outside Paris where he and Mathias grew up. He accused them of snatching him before he was held at gunpoint by two hooded men with assault rifles, demanding EUR13 million for “services rendered” – blaming the footballer for failing to help them financially since his professional success. Pogba said at the time that he had paid them only EUR100,000. The footballer said he had also been pressured at the France national team’s training centre in Clairefontaine, at one of his homes in Manchester, and at Juventus’ training ground. Pogba added that he had also paid a bill of more than EUR57,000 that the same friends had racked up at the Adidas store on Paris’ glitzy Champs-Elysees avenue.

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Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughingNew Caledonia’s Union Calédonienne, one of the main and oldest components of the pro-independence movement, has at the weekend elected Emmanuel Tjibaou as its new president. The election was one of the main items of the agenda of UC’s Congress, which was held in the small village of Mia (near Canala, East Coast of the main island of Grande Terre). Tjibaou, 48, was the only candidate for the position. Tjibaou’s election on Sunday comes as UC’s former leader, Daniel Goa, 71, announced last week he did not intend to seek another mandate, partly for health reasons, after leading the party for the past 12 years. Goa told his pro-independence supporters this was a “heavy burden” his successor will now have to carry. He also said there was a need to work on political awareness and training for the younger generations. He said the youths’ heavy involvement in the recent riots, not necessarily within the UC’s political framework, was partly caused by “all these years during which we did not train (UC) political commissioners” on the ground. “This has been completely neglected,” he told local media at the weekend, saying this was his mea culpa. After the riots started, there was a perception that calls coming from all political parties, including UC, were no longer heeded and that, somehow, the whole insurrection had gotten out of control. “Now we need to open (UC) to the youth. Now we got the message they have sent us”, he said. Tjibaou was also elected earlier this year as one of New Caledonia’s two representatives within the French National Assembly (Lower House). Tjibaou’s rise to the helm of UC comes as New Caledonia’s whole pro-independence movement is deeply divided. Last week, two of the main components of the 40-year-old FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), the more moderate UPM (Progressist Union in Melanesia) and PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party), reiterated they wished to distance themselves from the Front. They said they did not recognise themselves anymore in the way the UC has been operating since last year and more recently since insurrectional riots broke out in May 2024, causing extensive damage and 13 dead. UPM and PALIKA did not take part in the most recent FLNKS Congress, late August 2024, which, among other resolutions, appointed Christian Téin as its new President. Téin is the leader of a UC-created CCAT (Field Action Coordinating Cell) which, since October 2023, has been tasked to organise protests, marches and demonstrations. Initially organised peacefully, they later degenerated into the riots and destruction that broke out in May 2024. Téin is currently jailed in Mulhouse (North-east of France) following his arrest in June and pending his trial. Emmanuel Tjibaou is perceived as a man of dialogue and moderation and his election at the head of UC could also signal a gradual softening of the party’s hard-line stance, which could contribute to a more united approach from New Caledonia’s whole pro-independence movement. The development comes as New Caledonia, post-riot, faces a whole array of challenges. These include the French territory’s reconstruction and the necessary multi-billion Euro assistance from France, but also crucial political talks that are likely to start in December between all political parties and the French government in order to map out the political future. The talks (between pro-independence, anti-independence parties and the French State) are scheduled in such a way that all parties manage to reach a comprehensive and inclusive political agreement no later than March 2025. Over the past few days, earlier this month, from Paris to Nouméa, several references have been made with regards to what shape New Caledonia’s future status could take. Such wordings as “shared sovereignty”, “independence in partnership”, “independence-association” and, more recently, from the also divided pro-France camp, an “internal federalism” (Le Rassemblement-LR party) or a “territorial federation” (Les Loyalistes). After this, heavy campaigning will follow to prepare for crucial provincial elections to be held no later than November 2025. Tjibaou is the son of charismatic pro-independence leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, who signed the Matignon-Oudinot agreements with pro-France leader Jacques Lafleur and the French government in 1988, to end half a decade of a quasi civil war. One year later, in 1989, he was shot dead by a hard-line pro-independence militant. -RNZ

HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70More Indian states and companies offer period leave

The Toronto Transit Commission will continue to accept tokens, tickets and day passes until the end of May next year, reversing a contentious decision to stop accepting the legacy fares . The change was made this week after TTC chair Jamaal Myers put forward a motion at Tuesday’s TTC board meeting to continue accepting the legacy fares until June 1. “Our customers bought this in good faith,” Myers said at the meeting. “They paid money for it ... I think it’s only fair and reasonable just to give customers the opportunity to spend the tickets that they paid for.” The motion, which was adopted by the board, also includes a provision that gives Wheel-Trans riders until Dec. 31, 2025 to use the fares, a decision made because they potentially use the TTC less frequently than other riders. The TTC said it wants to get rid of the legacy fares in order to streamline payments across the system. The Eglinton Crosstown and Finch LRTs will not accept tickets or tokens when they open. Less than one per cent of riders pay with tickets and tokens, according to the TTC, which stopped selling them near the end of 2019. Third-party retailers sold them . But many riders were surprised by the transit commission’s announcement in October that it intended to discontinue the fares as of Jan. 1, although the TTC said at Tuesday’s meeting that it had announced the possibility of phasing out tickets and tokens as early as 2019, and had handed out information pamphlets about the change to customers as well as posted information on social media. At the board meeting, a number of speakers complained about the lack of a trade-in program and the lack of time the TTC gave riders to use the legacy fares, both of which could have contributed to a windfall for the transit agency of $24 million, the value of tokens and tickets still in circulation. The transit advocate group TTCriders was one of a number of community organizations that signed an the TTC to let transit user exchange tokens and tickets for single-use Presto tickets. Rev. Maria Christina Conlon of the Davenport Perth Community Ministry, a United Church in Toronto’s west end, told the Star she put her name to the petition because she’d heard from several individuals who were concerned about using the tokens and tickets that the ministry had given them before Jan. 1. “If they stop accepting them or using them, where did the money go?” said Conlon, adding it would have been “another blow for people that need transportation.” Conlon said one man had saved 100 tokens, which represented a sizable sum for anyone who is helped by her ministry, which she said includes people working multiple jobs or on social assistance. Tickets have been used since the TTC came into existence in 1921. Tokens were introduced in 1954, the year that the TTC opened Canada’s first subway, the Yonge line, in 1954.FLORENCE — Texas Department of Public Safety will graduate 130 recruits next week following 29 weeks of rigorous physical, mental and situational training, part of which occurred just 20 miles south of Killeen. Class B-2024, which began May 20, is about to complete the rigorous six-month course. Last week, officials held a joint field training exercise at the DPS Tactical Training Center in Florence in Williamson County. “We provide a quality of training which is excellent,” said the facility’s Assistant Chief of Training Derek Prestridge. “Our intensive program and in-resident training brings value to our academy and a level of excellence that is a part of the core value of this organization.” Texas Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief of Training Lt. Derek Prestridge explains some of the strategies taught at the training center near Florence. The in-resident training allows recruits to experience the physical challenges of being away from family members and friends. One instructor said the arrangements inside the building where recruits stay are not like hotel accommodations. Recruits sleep on cots, or on the floor, or periodically wherever they can catch a nap. The reasoning behind this type of training is to see how recruits deal with mental and emotional situations which may be brought on by uncomfortable accommodations or the lack of adequate sleep, rest and daily schedule. For a portion of the physical training, there are 16 stations set up throughout the 200-acre training area. The training center has a three-mile track used to teach vehicle dynamics, coned skill courses, a road course, pursuit and emergency response tactics. There are three towers which give instructors the ability to run all electrical signs, lights, gates, security cameras and for visual observation. The Texas DPS training facility near Florence is home to 130 recruits who reside there during the last week of skills training The driving course is designed to teach precision driving skills within the urban environment, skid control and high-speed pursuit skills. The course is also used to teach crash investigation techniques. Included on the course: a paved level surface which, when wet, offers a slick surface to practice driving in those conditions in order to prepare for real-life situations. On Thursday, instructors had set up several exercises which would simulate conditions similar to a traffic stop. The first exercise involved a civilian vehicle which appeared to be broken down on the side of a road. Recruits are given no more information than that as they drive toward the vehicle, stop and attempt to survey the situation. The recruit attempts to make contact with a man who is under the hood of the vehicle by shouting out. In this case, the man yells back at the recruit to go away. As the recruit steps closer to the man’s vehicle it appears he has a gun and begins to shoot at the recruit. The recruit returns fire, appearing to have hit the man who falls to the ground, and is still. The recruit moves to the rear of the DPS vehicle, while using the radio to notify a dispatcher that help is needed and the important details of the stop. This all happens very quickly, in a matter of minutes. After the role-play is complete, instructors who have shadowed the recruit and watched from a close proximity, give the recruit feedback. These drills are run several times throughout the training period in many different circumstances. Another exercise involved a situation in which another trooper might be using excessive force. The recruit is told he is being called to assist in the take-down of a criminal, but when the recruit approaches, the original trooper appears to be using a baton to hit his suspect in the back of the head with excessive force. In this case, the recruit had to quickly assess the scene, determine the severity of the troopers actions and decide how to assist. One recruit used his own strength to pull the offending trooper off the suspect while assessing whether or not the trooper was in control of himself and his actions. Then, in an instant, the recruit apprehended the suspect and called dispatch to alert them of the situation. Another recruit was set up at the same station a few minutes later to test their assessment and action taken. This time, after pulling the trooper from the suspect, the recruit pushed the offending trooper to the ground and proceeded to handcuff him. When asked why by his instructors later, the recruit said the trooper appeared to continue his bad behavior even after the recruit arrived and told him to stop. These two exercises had very different endings and neither were wrong, according to instructor Lt. Michael Monaghan. “In the second case, the recruit felt they might be in danger, due to the aggressive demeanor of the trooper,” Monaghan said. “This is all part of the training and could happen out in the real world.” In this first exercise, the recruit in the gray shirt has pulled over to assess the situation of a car with a raised hood on the side of the road. The suspect is seen pulling a weapon from his pants and the recruit must call on her training to follow through with the stop. In another exercise, recruits were tested at an intersection where the driver of a vehicle sped past and the task was to make a traffic stop. It was all going along well, until the other driver decided to speed away from the stop taking some twisting turns and leaving the roadway. After pursuing the driver with sirens, lights and a PA call to pull over, the driver slowed down again. Before the recruit could stop his vehicle, the driver of the other car was off again, finally coming to a stop several hundred yards in front of the recruit. By this time, a second DPS vehicle had joined the pursuit as back up. The remainder of the stop consisted of giving the suspect directions as the recruits from both vehicles trained their guns on him. There was a series of commands given in order to subdue the driver, check the vehicle for other passengers and calm the situation down. In this exercise, there were several options open to the recruits to complete the test. “If an instructor believes additional training is needed, recruits will circle back through the situations that gave them difficulty,” Monaghan said. “The purpose of this is to help recruits feel at ease with their decisions and to develop the confidence to make snap decisions and follow-through in a safe manner.” Monaghan also pointed out that on every stop there are so many variables that they couldn’t possibly set them all up. He also said that the academy brings in experts in their field to assist in some of the scenarios. There are emerging threats that come up and the training needs to stay ahead and up to date with the latest methods, technology and strategies. The mission of the DPS’s Training Operations Division is to prepare law enforcement leaders and peace officers to meet 21st Century demands and challenges. The division develops a wide variety of world-class training and education programs and delivers them to public safety professionals within the department and throughout the state. Recruits, in the gray shirts, hold a suspect at gunpoint and verbally instruct him on how to proceed during this traffic stop exercise. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to recruiting and training a diverse workforce that reflect our values of integrity, excellence, accountability and teamwork,” Prestridge said. The rigorous recruit training includes the basic peace officer course, which exceeds mandatory licensing requirements established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Trooper trainees are educated by experts on criminal and traffic law enforcement, crash investigation, crisis intervention, use of force, emergency casualty care, criminal investigations, communications, cultural diversity, fitness and wellness and many other areas, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the job of a highway patrol trooper anywhere in Texas. “The Texas DPS is the premier law enforcement agency in the state, as well as one of the finest in the nation,” according to the state’s website. In order to meet the many challenges facing law enforcement today, the department operates a world-class training program. Law Enforcement Education educates and trains recruits, troopers, agents, and other law enforcement officers across the state. Students study tactical vehicle operation, firearms, use of force, effective report writing, communications skills, and first aid, as well as other topics. Physical training and arrest and control tactics training are also core elements of the program. At the end of training, recruits are taken to DPS headquarters in Austin and given a chance to prepare for graduation. The annual DPS Legacy Run took place on Friday. The four-mile run went from the DPS Fallen Officers Memorial at DPS headquarters to the Peace Officers Memorial at the Texas State Capitol. First implemented in 2008, recruits and instructors have said it is a way to mark the end of the 30-week training academy. According to the DPS website, trooper trainees are accompanied by their instructors, members of DPS leadership and often times DPS retirees. Before leaving the Training Center, Prestridge talked about the relationship DPS has with legislators in Austin. “Our training brings value to the state,” Prestridge said. “We have the ear of legislators and have worked with them to help equip our facilities and provide state-of-the art technology. The way we invest in our personnel makes this a law enforcement agency of excellence.”

A judge has once again rejected Musk's multi-billion-dollar Tesla pay package. Now what? DETROIT (AP) — For a second time, a Delaware judge has nullified a pay package that Tesla had awarded its CEO, Elon Musk, that once was valued at $56 billion. On Monday, Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick turned aside a request from Musk’s lawyers to reverse a ruling she announced in January that had thrown out the compensation plan. The judge ruled then that Musk effectively controlled Tesla’s board and had engineered the outsize pay package during sham negotiations. Lawyers for a Tesla shareholder who sued to block the pay package contended that shareholders who had voted for the 10-year plan in 2018 had been given misleading and incomplete information. US job openings rose last month, though hiring slowed, in mixed picture for labor market WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of job postings in the United States rebounded in October from a 3 1/2 year low in September, a sign that businesses are still seeking workers even though hiring has cooled. Openings rose 5% to 7.7 million from 7.4 million in September. The increase suggests that job gains could pick up in the coming months. Still, the latest figure is down significantly from 8.7 million job postings a year ago. Last month, job openings rose sharply in professional and business services, a category that includes engineers, managers, and accountants, as well as in the restaurant and hotel and information technology industries. Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp., and he’s pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump said during the campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a Monday night statement. President Joe Biden also opposes Nippon Steel’s purchase of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. A secretive U.S. committee is reviewing the transaction for national security concerns, and federal law gives the president the power to block the transaction. Nippon Steel is pledging to invest in U.S. Steel’s factories and strengthen the American steel industry. China bans exports to US of gallium, germanium, antimony in response to chip sanctions BANGKOK (AP) — China has announced a ban on exports to the United States of gallium, germanium and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced the move after the Washington expanded its list of Chinese companies subject to export controls on computer chip-making equipment, software and high-bandwidth memory chips. Such chips are needed for advanced applications. Beijing earlier had required exporters to apply for licenses to send strategically important materials such as gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S. The 140 companies newly included in the U.S. so-called “entity list” subject to export controls are nearly all based in China. Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs Small businesses are bracing for stiff tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has proposed as one of his first actions when he takes office. Trump has proposed importers pay a 25% tax on products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. This means small businesses may end up paying more for goods and services. Small business owners say they’re waiting to see what final form the tariffs take, but are bracing for higher costs that they may in turn need to pass on to consumers. A top Fed official leans toward December rate cut but says it depends on economic data WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Federal Reserve official says he is leaning toward supporting an interest rate cut when the Fed meets in two weeks but that evidence of persistent inflation before then could cause him to change that view. Speaking at George Washington University, Christopher Waller, a key member of the Fed’s Board of Governors, said he was confident that inflation is headed lower and that the central bank will likely keep reducing its key rate, which affects many consumer and business loans. But he noted that there’s a risk that inflation “may be getting stuck above” the Fed’s 2% target, which would support an argument for keeping the Fed’s rate unchanged this month. US closes investigation into E. coli outbreak linked to onions in McDonald's Quarter Pounders The federal government has closed its investigation into an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers after determining there is no longer a safety risk. The outbreak began in late October and sickened at least 104 people in 14 states, including 34 who were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One person in Colorado died and four people developed a potentially life-threatening kidney disease complication. The FDA linked the outbreak to yellow onions distributed by California-based Taylor Farms and served raw on Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and other states. McDonald’s briefly pulled Quarter Pounders from one-fifth of its U.S. restaurants. Melinda French Gates plans to match $1M in GivingTuesday gifts to groups that support women NEW YORK (AP) — Melinda French Gates is offering to match up to $1 million in gifts to two nonprofit organizations to help spur donations on GivingTuesday. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, GivingTuesday has become a major annual fundraising day for nonprofits. Through her organization Pivotal Ventures, French Gates will match up to $500,000 in donations to the Vote Mama Foundation and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. In an interview with The Associated Press, she said, “It’s a great time to remind people that we’re better off when we give something back and we all have something to give back." Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more records NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records after a quiet day of trading. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, on Tuesday to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. The South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he’ll lift it. Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughing HOUSTON (AP) — Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in corporate fraud and greed in America after it went bankrupt in 2001, is coming back. But the infamous company's return seems to be an elaborate joke. If its return is comedic, some former Enron employees who lost everything in the company’s collapse aren’t laughing. They're angry at a publicity stunt they say minimizes what they went through. Enron was once the nation’s seventh-largest company, but it went bankrupt amid massive accounting fraud. On Monday, a company representing itself as Enron announced it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” But a paper trail of legal documents points to the comeback being parody and performance art.NoneSecond Cup at Montreal Jewish hospital shut down over alleged Nazi saluteElon Musk calls Trudeau ‘insufferable’ after remark on Kamala Harris defeat

Carson Beck completed 20 of 31 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns as No. 10 Georgia pummeled UMass 59-21 on Saturday in Athens, Ga. Nate Frazier ran for career highs of 136 yards and three touchdowns, while Arian Smith caught three passes for 110 yards and a score as the Bulldogs (9-2) won their second straight game and 30th straight at home, dating back to 2019. AJ Hairston completed 7 of 16 passes for 121 yards and a score for the Minutemen (2-9), who dropped their third straight. Jalen John ran for 107 yards and a score and Jakobie Keeney-James caught three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Peyton Woodring kicked a 53-yard field goal to extend Georgia's lead to 31-14 on the first drive of the third quarter. But UMass wasted little time responding, as Hairston hit Keeney-James for a 75-yard touchdown to get the deficit down to 10. Georgia then finished its sixth straight drive with a score, as Frazier's 9-yard run up the middle gave the Bulldogs a 38-21 lead at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter. After UMass punted, Georgia played add-on in its next possession, with Frazier scoring from 15 yards out with 1:39 left in the third to lead 45-21. Frazier stamped his career day with his third touchdown run, a 2-yarder with 6:33 left, before Georgia capped the scoring with Chris Cole's 28-yard fumble return with 3:28 remaining. UMass took the game's opening drive 75 yards down the field -- aided by Ahmad Haston's 38-yard run -- and scored on CJ Hester's 1-yard run with 9:15 left. Georgia answered on its ensuing drive, as Beck's 17-yard passing touchdown to Oscar Delp tied the game at the 5:05 mark of the first quarter. Following a short punt by UMass, Beck connected with Smith for 49 yards, and a roughing-the-passer penalty put the ball at Minutemen's 14-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-4 from the 8-yard line, Beck found Cash Jones for a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead with 10:30 left in the second quarter. On UMass' next play from scrimmage, Raylen Wilson recovered John's fumble on the Minutemen's 28-yard line. Three plays later, Beck connected with Dominic Lovett for a 15-yard touchdown with 8:56 remaining. UMass then scored after a 14-play, 75-yard drive, finished off with John's 3-yard rushing score with 1:55 left in the first half. Georgia answered quickly, as Beck's 20-yard pass to Cole Speer set up a 34-yard touchdown pass to Smith with 43 seconds remaining, giving the Bulldogs a 28-14 halftime lead. --Field Level MediaIs Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughing

Enerpac Tool Group Schedules First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Earnings Release and Conference CallBy Jade Macmillan for the ABC When Robert F Kennedy Jr was running as an independent candidate at this year's US election, he attracted a series of bizarre headlines. "RFK Jr says doctors found a dead worm in his brain," screamed The New York Times . "RFK Jr admits to dumping a dead bear in Central Park," said NPR . "Feds open probe into RFK Jr for allegedly decapitating a dead whale," reported Fox News . The 70-year-old had been seen as a potential spoiler in a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. But by the time Kamala Harris replaced the president on the Democratic ticket, his campaign had faltered and was running out of money . Opinion polls suggested he could still draw votes away from Trump, however, in what was then expected to be a very close contest. And despite having previously described RFK Jr as the "most radical left candidate in the race", the now president-elect sought - and received - his endorsement. That support has now been rewarded with the promise of a major new job; Trump has nominated RFK Jr to be his secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It is a sprawling federal agency tasked with overseeing everything from vaccines to Medicare to food safety. So what exactly does RFK Jr mean when he promises to "Make America Healthy Again"? And why are some public health experts so alarmed? A 'dangerous' record on vaccines RFK Jr is part of one of America's most famous political dynasties. He is named after his father, former US attorney-general Robert F Kennedy, and is the nephew of former president John F Kennedy. He made his own mark as an environmental lawyer, focusing on issues such as water pollution. But it is his vaccine activism that is generating the most attention now that he is in line for a role in Trump's second-term administration . RFK Jr has promoted disproven claims, including that childhood vaccines cause autism. He has also been accused of fuelling vaccine scepticism in Samoa ahead of a deadly measles outbreak that killed 83 people there in 2019. Vaccination rates had fallen after two babies died the previous year from incorrectly mixed and administered mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) shots. RFK Jr visited the Pacific nation several months before the outbreak, writing later that the trip was organised by a local vaccination critic. He has since denied bearing any responsibility for the measles outbreak in Samoa, telling a documentary that he "never told anybody not to vaccinate". "I didn't, you know, go there for any reason to do with that," he said. But Helen Petousis-Harris, a New Zealand-based vaccinologist who worked to try to rebuild confidence in Samoa's vaccination programme , said RFK Jr weakened an "already fragile trust". "A person who has the status of RFK Jr just I guess further amplifies what those local anti-vaccine advocates had been saying," she said. "And there's a big price to pay, isn't there? I mean, these were children's lives." RFK Jr has rejected the assertion that he is an "anti-vaxxer" and he insisted shortly after Trump's election victory that if vaccines were "working for somebody, I'm not going to take them away". "I'm going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them," he told NBC News. Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, points out control over vaccines in the US resides with the states, not the federal government. But he argues RFK Jr could try to change which vaccines can be accessed free of charge under health insurance. And he believes he will do "everything in his power to foment distrust in them". "I've never seen a darker day for public health than I have since the election," he said. "I just call this simply a poke in the eye of science." RFK Jr's position on vaccines is partly behind a split in his famous family. His cousin and outgoing US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy recently described his views as "dangerous". "I grew up with him so I've known all this for a long time and others are just getting to know him," she told the National Press Club in Canberra. An overhaul of America's eating habits Along with what he says will be a crackdown on big pharma, RFK Jr is promising to overhaul America's food system. He has called for new limits on food additives and dyes, highlighting differences between the artificial colours used in American-made breakfast cereals and those used in the same products produced in Canada. "It's literally poisoning our kids," he told Fox News in September. He has also pledged to remove ultra-processed foods from school lunches as part of an effort to end what he describes as the "chronic disease epidemic". "President Trump has told me that he wants to see measurable, concrete results within two years in terms of a measurable diminishment in chronic disease among America's kids," he told NBC earlier this month. Some of RFK Jr's stances on nutrition have found support across a broad political spectrum in the US. Author Michael Pollan, who has spent decades advocating for healthier eating, told Politico he agreed with many of RFK Jr's criticisms of the US food system . "The way we're eating is the biggest threat to public health," he said. But he added that he did not support RFK Jr's nomination. "I think he's completely unfit and that's because of his stance on vaccines," he said. Richard Besser, a former acting director of the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) under Barack Obama, believes there is merit in some of the goals RFK Jr is pursuing. But he also does not support his appointment as DHHS secretary. "One of the challenges very frequently with people who are big spreaders of misinformation is that some of what they spread is good," Dr Besser said. "If we had a secretary who said, 'Let's take on childhood nutrition,' that's great. "But you want to make sure that they're coming in and saying, 'Let's bring in the best and the brightest around this topic,' ... not pulling in ideas that may not be based on science, may be based on fear or misleading information." The 'MAHA' movement RFK Jr has called for fluoride to be removed from public drinking water, warned against seed oils, and criticised what he has called the "aggressive suppression" by federal regulators of unpasteurised milk and psychedelics. He has attracted a social media following under the hashtag "Make America Healthy Again", or "MAHA", a spin on Trump's famous slogan. "How it feels knowing RFK Jr is about to go head to head with the food and pharmacy industries," one TikTok user posted alongside the #crunchymom hashtag. RFK Jr has also recently been linked to controversial Australian personality Pete Evans. An advocacy group founded by RFK Jr is publishing a children's cookbook with the former celebrity chef who has previously been accused of spreading medical misinformation. Professor Gostin said there had long been some level of scepticism towards American public health institutions, but that distrust increased dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic. "I think perhaps science and public health lacked the necessary humility during the pandemic, and that's part of the problem," he said. "But the solution isn't to tear down science and evidence, because we have no alternative." 'Pretty wild ideas' RFK Jr's appointment will need to be confirmed by the Senate, and while Republicans are set to take control of the chamber, that does not guarantee approval. Trump's pick for attorney-general, Matt Gaetz, recently withdrew his name from consideration after senators demanded to see the detail of sexual misconduct allegations against him. "The end of the Matt Gaetz nomination could play out in the form of the Senate willing now to confirm whoever is put in front of them," said Sara Rosenbaum, professor emirata at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health. "Although, interestingly, the Senate was sort of able to ward [Gaetz's appointment] off before it came to an actual 'no'. "So whether this, in fact, means that they are still rigourous and moving through the candidates in a meaningful way, considering the candidates in a meaningful way, remains to be seen." If he is confirmed, the president-elect has joked he will let RFK Jr "go wild for a little while". "Then I'm going to have to maybe rein him back," Trump said in the lead-up to the election. "Because he's got some pretty wild ideas but most of them are really good, I think." - ABC

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qbet casino Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9. Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday praised Carter for his significant contributions to international peace through the Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal treaties. “President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency,” Guterres said in a statement. "He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations. “President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity,” Guterres said. King Charles III joined leaders from around the world in issuing their condolences and sharing their reflections on the former president. “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter," the king said in a public statement. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977." President Joe Biden broke from his family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands to remember Carter, recalling his predecessor as a role model and friend. America and the world lost a “remarkable leader” with Carter’s death, Biden said, adding that he had spoken to several of the former president's children and was working with them to formalize memorial arrangements in Washington. Speaking for roughly 10 minutes, Biden remembered Carter as a humanitarian and statesman, someone he couldn't imagine walking past a person in need without trying to help them. He represented “the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away,” Biden said. The president repeatedly praised Carter's “simple decency” and his values, saying some will see him as a man of honesty and humility from a bygone era. “I don’t believe it’s a bygone era. I see a man not only of our time, but for all times,” Biden said. “To know his core, you need to know he never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.” Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on X that Carter's significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel "will remain etched in the annals of history.” He went on to say Carter's “humanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.” Carter will be remembered as “one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity,” el-Sissi said. President Joe Biden will speak about Carter Sunday evening. The president will make his address from a hotel in St. Croix, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is on a holiday vacation with his family. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the great love stories and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history. The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.” They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn. She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians. He says their four years in Washington were just one period of putting their values into action and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.” As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.Daily Post Nigeria Notorious motorcycle snatcher Hassan Abdul finally arrested in Kogi Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Metro Notorious motorcycle snatcher Hassan Abdul finally arrested in Kogi Published on November 23, 2024 By John Akinfehinwa A 25-year-old notorious motorcycle thief who had over the months been declared wanted and identified as Hassan Abdul has been arrested by the Kogi State Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN while attempting to steal a motorcycle at the GSM Village in Lokoja. Parading the suspect on Saturday, the Lokoja Commander of VGN, Hassan Yusuf, revealed that Hassan Abdul is a member of a syndicate that specialises in motorcycle theft and is based in Ayingba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. The suspect, who confessed to the crime while speaking to journalists, said: “My name is Hassan Abdul. I am 25, Igala by tribe, from Ayingba in Dekina Local Government of Kogi State. I have a master key, which I use to open any type of motorcycle. “My operational base includes Computer Village, Zenith Bank, First Bank and Old Market Lokoja. I sold all the motorcycles I stole to one Kabiru, who resides behind Our Ladies in Ayingba, Dekina Local Government. “My comrade in crime was a guy called Ogbe before he was arrested. We both have stolen several motorcycles within the Lokoja metropolis. Unfortunately for him, he is currently in Koton Karfe Correctional Centre.” Speaking to journalists, the chairman of the Association of Phone Technicians And Accessories Dealers, Kogi State, Salihu Abubakar, while commending the bravery and swift action of the members of Vigilante Group of Nigeria in arresting the prime suspect, urged the public, especially customers, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities for a safer and more secure business environment for all. He appealed to the appropriate authorities on the need to bring all criminals to justice, including Hassan Abdul, whom he described as a “notorious motorcycle snatcher.” Related Topics: Hassan Abdul kogi Don't Miss Police recover eight unexploded ordnance in Maiduguri You may like Stop the illegalities in Kogi – Aggrieved aspirant urges PDP NWC WAEC blacklists 13 schools, 14 supervisors over alleged malpractices in Kogi We will go after landlords harbouring Yahoo Boys – Kogi Govt vows Illegal mining fueling insecurity in Kogi – Lawmakers Maternal, child deaths: NPC to conduct survey in Kogi communities Our clampdown on illegal petrol stations will never stop – NMDPRA boss Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdMotorists play petrol-price lotto as stations pump up prices in big cities

Tombstone of law: US senator suggests invasion of Holland to protect wanted criminalsThe final week of the NFL season is almost here. With the playoff field nearly solidified across the board, the league will head back out for one final week of the regular season. The NFL dropped its schedule for the last weekend of the season on Sunday night. There are no “Thursday Night Football” or “Monday Night Football” games in Week 18, so the season will be officially over on Jan. 5. All eyes next week will be on the massive NFC North showdown between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. That game, which will end the week on "Sunday Night Football," will determine who wins the division and takes the No. 1 seed in the division. The loser of that game will instead take the No. 5 seed in the NFC and have to travel for their first playoff game. It marks the second time in the last three seasons that the Lions get the final game of the regular season. In the AFC, things are largely locked up. The Kansas City Chiefs have secured the top seed in the division, and the Buffalo Bills have the second seed. The final spot in the playoffs, however, will come down to a three-way race between the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. The Broncos are in the best position among that group, as they just have to beat the Chiefs next weekend to earn their first playoff berth since their Super Bowl 50 run. Here’s a look at the schedule for the final week of the 2024 regular season: 4:30 p.m. | Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens | ABC/ESPN 8 p.m. | Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers | ABC/ESPN 1 p.m. | Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons | CBS 1 p.m. | Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans | CBS 1 p.m. | Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots | CBS 1 p.m. | New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles | CBS 1 p.m. | Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys | FOX 1 p.m. | Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers | FOX 1 p.m. | Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts | FOX 1 p.m. | New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | FOX 4:25 p.m. | Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos | CBS 4:25 p.m. | Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders | CBS 4:25 p.m. | Miami Dolphins at New York Jets | FOX 4:25 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams | FOX 4:25 p.m. | San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals | FOX 7:20 p.m. | Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions | NBC

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Australians will have to cough up more than $400 for a decade-long passport from next year. Due to annual indexation, the cost of a 10-year passport for Australians aged over 16 will rise to $412 from January 1, an increase of $14 on the current fee. The new year's price hike is the second passport fee rise in six months after the Albanese government imposed a 15 per cent increase on July 1, outside of standard indexation. Australia was this year confirmed as having the world's most expensive passport, with the cost soaring by $104 since 2022 when Labor was returned to office. The fee for a five-year passport, which is available to children under 16 and Australians aged over 75, will rise from $201 to $208 from January 1. The fee for an emergency passport and replacement passport will climb from $250 to $259. Australians wanting a 10 or five-year passport issued outside the country also face an overseas processing surcharge. The Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom has the overseas surcharge set at $184 for over 18s for a 10-year passport from January 1, bringing the total cost to $596. Shadow foreign minister Simon Birmingham said that under the Labor government "Australians are paying record sums for the privilege of a passport that should be a basic entitlement not an expensive luxury". "This over the top revenue raising on a government issued document is just another demonstration of how Australians are being made to pay for Labor's out of control spending," he said. But Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts pointed to the fact that indexation had been "the case under successive governments over many years". A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said passports have "a high level of technological sophistication, backed by rigorous anti-fraud measures, which ensures its integrity", with Australians having visa-free access to more than 180 nations. Meanwhile, Australians arriving in the United Kingdom from January 8 will also need to have an electronic travel authorisation , which will cost £10 (about AU$20).

Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Britain, Germany, France, Italy and several other European countries said Monday they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians, a day after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad. While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Austria signalled it would soon deport refugees back to Syria. Far-right politicians elsewhere made similar demands, including in Germany -- home to Europe's largest Syrian community -- at a time when immigration has become a hot-button issue across the continent. Alice Weidel, of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, reacted with disdain to Sunday's mass rallies by jubilant Syrians celebrating Assad's downfall. "Anyone in Germany who celebrates 'free Syria' evidently no longer has any reason to flee," she wrote on X. "They should return to Syria immediately." World leaders and Syrians abroad watched in disbelief at the weekend as Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus, ending Assad's brutal rule while also sparking new uncertainty. A German foreign ministry spokesman pointed out that "the fact that the Assad regime has been ended is unfortunately no guarantee of peaceful developments" in the future. Germany has taken in almost one million Syrians, with most arriving in 2015-16 under ex-chancellor Angela Merkel. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said many Syrian refugees "now finally have hope of returning to their Syrian homeland" but cautioned that "the situation in Syria is currently very unclear". The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had imposed a freeze on decisions for ongoing asylum procedures "until the situation is clearer". She added that "concrete possibilities of return cannot yet be predicted and it would be unprofessional to speculate in such a volatile situation". Rights group Amnesty International slammed Germany's freeze on asylum decisions, stressing that for now "the human rights situation in the country is completely unclear". The head of the UN refugee agency also cautioned that "patience and vigilance" were needed on the issue of refugee returns. - 'Repatriation and deportation' - In Austria, where about 100,000 Syrians live, conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer instructed the interior ministry "to suspend all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and to review all asylum grants". Interior Minister Gerhard Karner added he had "instructed the ministry to prepare an orderly repatriation and deportation programme to Syria". "The political situation in Syria has changed fundamentally and, above all, rapidly in recent days," the ministry said, adding it is "currently monitoring and analysing the new situation". The French interior ministry said it too would put asylum requests from Syrians on hold, with authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway announcing similar moves. Britain's interior ministry said it was taking the same measure "whilst we assess the current situation". The Italian government said late Monday after a cabinet meeting that it too was suspending asylum request "in line with other European partners." The leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats, a coalition partner in the government, said residence permits for Syrian refugees should now be "reviewed". "Destructive Islamist forces are behind the change of power" in Syria, wrote their leader Jimmie Akesson on X. "I see that groups are happy about this development here in Sweden. You should see it as a good opportunity to go home." In Greece, a government spokesman voiced hope that Assad's fall will eventually allow "the safe return of Syrian refugees" to their country, but without announcing concrete measures. - 'Populist and irresponsible' - In Germany, the debate gained momentum as the country heads towards February elections. Achim Brotel, president of a grouping of German communes, called for border controls to stop fleeing Assad loyalists reaching Germany. The centre-right opposition CDU suggested that rejected Syrian asylum-seekers should now lose so-called subsidiary protection. "If the reason for protection no longer applies, then refugees will have to return to their home country," CDU legislator Thorsten Frei told Welt TV. CDU MP Jens Spahn suggested that Berlin charter flights to Syria and offer 1,000 euros ($1,057) to "anyone who wants to return". A member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats criticised the debate as "populist and irresponsible". Greens party deputy Anton Hofreiter also said "it is completely unclear what will happen next in Syria" and deportation talk was "completely out of place". Many Syrians in Germany have watched the events in their home country with great joy but prefer to wait and see before deciding whether to return. "We want to go back to Syria," said Mahmoud Zaml, 25, who works in an Arabic pastry shop in Berlin, adding that he hopes to help "rebuild" his country. "But we have to wait a bit now," he told AFP. "We have to see what happens and if it is really 100 percent safe, then we will go back to Syria." burs-fz/rlp/phz/gv/giv Originally published as European countries suspend Syrian asylum decisions after Assad's fall More related stories Breaking News Major 2GB change after Hadley’s shock exit The radio presenter dropped the major announcement while speaking on air, after his shock retirement last month. Read more Work Worker crushed to death by recycling truck WorkSafe has launched an investigation after a man died after becoming entangled and crushed by a recycling truck while emptying bins. Read more

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