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KHAMGAON, India – Pork rinds. Dried squirrel. Spicy fish eggs. Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada is part anthology, part cookbook and part rebuke to readers, who may presume Indian food is largely vegetarian.
It tells of the culinary traditions of two groups of Dalits, known as Mang and Mahar. Dalits, broadly, occupy the lowest rungs of South Asia's ancient caste system and were once known as untouchables. They also form a sizable minority: around a fifth to a quarter of India's estimated 1.4 billion people.
Yet this is a rare book, perhaps the first published in English about Dalit culinary traditions by a person of Dalit caste.
There's a simple reason for that, says author Shahu Patole, a 62-year-old retired civil servant and a Dalit. "To upper-caste Hindus," Patole says, "we were not even humans. We were slaves." Dalit food, Patole says, was not considered worthy of being documented.
We spoke to Patole in his childhood home, in the hinterlands of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, on the fringes of Khamgaon village — because Dalits were once forced to build their homes away from upper-caste Hindus so they didn't pollute their spaces.
The first recipe: Blood
The book is not for the fainthearted.
The first recipe is simply titled, Blood. The method: boil blood – of any animal – until it's the color of dark chocolate and has the consistency of firm tofu. "Hot rakti tastes delicious when eaten immediately after cooking," Patole advises.
The next recipe advises readers to mash the cooked blood by hand to give it the texture of firm tofu, add spice and onions fried in animal fat. Garnish with coriander.
"How many people think about Indian food when they think about mashed blood?" asks Krishnendu Ray, professor of food studies at New York University. In a review, he described Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada "as arguably the most important cookbook to come out of South Asia."
The book, he says, "undermines this peculiar one dimensional understanding of Indian food [being] rich in spices, low in meat."
Ray says, "we know very little about Dalit cooking" because the idea of what Indians eat largely comes from upper-caste Hindus, including Brahmins, who sit at the apex of South Asia's caste hierarchy. Traditionally, they're largely vegetarian.
Ray says upper-caste Hindus dominate publishing houses that commission cookbooks and media houses that create cooking shows. In that context, Ray says the book is "dynamite that explodes the idea of Indian food from the bottom up."
Much has changed for Dalits since India won its independence more than seven decades ago. India's constitution was penned by a Dalit intellectual, known as Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar CQ. He helped enshrine quotas for Dalits in government jobs, education and legislature, although critics argue those quotas are not fairly or fully allotted. Ambedkar was also from Maharashtra, where there's a long tradition of Dalit activism. It's no coincidence that Patole's book also comes from this place, says Farha Ternikar, professor of sociology at Lemoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. "It's a result of the activism over the last few decades around trying to increase Dalit visibility, but also, Dalit culture."
Yet the Dalit community in India is among India's most marginalized and has long faced severe discrimination. They dominate industries involved in waste collection, disposing of corpses and carcasses. Even in his own village, Patole says, other residents still refuse to eat food prepared by Dalits.
Cooking like his grandmother
Food he warmly recalls his grandmother making for him, like a meat and offal stew he prepares for us on a steamy June day.
Patole heads to a market town to buy leafy greens, then trudges down a muddy road lined with butcher shops, each a hole-in-the-wall, run by Muslim men – the Indian minority dominates the butchery trade.
Patole has a favorite: a seemingly-indistinguishable closet-sized nook filled out by an enormous buffalo carcass hooked from a roof rafter, its skin hanging on a wall hook. A plastic partition offers little resistance to the buzzing flies. Patole requests rib cuts, liver, still hanging in the carcass and intestines.
The butcher hacks off the cuts, dices them on a block and pops them into a black plastic bag that hides the meat. Patole says that's partly so shoppers can conceal their caste identity – typically only lower-caste Hindus eat red meat. It is also good manners, because the sight of cut-up flesh can offend vegetarian Hindus.
It also sidesteps the danger posed by Hindu extremists.
Over the past decade, they've beaten and lynched Muslims and Dalits they suspect of carrying cow flesh – beef – an animal sacred to many Hindus. But Muslims, and Dalits, traditionally, have eaten beef.
"These shops were called 'beef hotels,'" he says, because they only sold one thing. The butcher nervously assures us he's only selling buffalo meat. Patole sighs. Buffalo doesn't taste as good as beef, he says.
Back in Patole's kitchen, he heats up a pot. He adds oil, apologizing that he couldn't source rendered animal fat, which his community traditionally used for cooking.
Patole throws in salt, turmeric, garlic and ginger. He says Dalits were traditionally too poor to use these spices. Now he buys them pre-mashed in a packet.
Patole's mother, Gunabai Patole, swishes the meat and organ cuts in water, washing off dust and grime.
The meat cuts sizzle as Patole browns them off. He speeds up the cooking time by transferring the mix into a pressure cooker. Within minutes, he presents us with a rich brown stew. Patole mops it up with a traditional flatbread made of millets that his mother freshly prepared on a griddle.
Why he wrote the book
Patole says his book was published nine years ago in his native language, Marathi, through friends he made in the publishing industry. "Few took note of it," he says of local Indian media. Then the global publishing house HarperCollins issued an English translation this summer. Still, Patole says, no other Indian publisher has approached him to make a version in any other local language, like Hindi.
But he says, his book isn't intended to educate upper-caste folk. It's to help fellow Dalits shake off "a sense of shame that they are eating something wrong."
Partly, he says, that's because the dominant Indian culture values vegetarianism as pure — and eating meat as lowly — a bias he angrily tackles in his book.
"Vegetarian groups consider themselves superior even today," he writes. He asks: How many vegetarians "sweat in the fields?" Indian vegetarians, he says, come from castes that do not do manual labor.
Patole's words can feel shocking to those in the West, where the conversation about eating meat revolves around ethics: the cruelty of animal slaughter and the environmental cost of raising animals for meat. In India, there is a different conversation, which revolves around status, caste and meat.
It's something Yashica Dutt, the author of Coming Out As Dalit, has thought about deeply. "You grow up eating a certain kind of animal, a certain type of meat or just meat in general, and you are associated with being lower caste or being impure."
Growing up, Dutt's family pretended they were upper-caste. Her mother didn't want Dutt to be raised with the stigma of being known as a Dalit of the Bhangi sub-caste, whose people were long compelled to remove excrement from latrine pits.
She says other Dalit sub-castes were expected to dispose animal carcasses, because corpses are seen as impure. Living in poverty, the same Dalits often stripped down and ate those deceased animals for sustenance. That stigma lingers, but more than that, Dutt says "because our entire being is considered impure – the food we eat is also considered impure."
So for many Dalits, their food evokes mixed feelings: comfort, but also shame. "Joy cannot be separated from the oppression that we experience," Dutt says. "It's always going to be congealed together."
Back in Patole's kitchen, he says he wants his book to raise questions for fellow Dalits: "Why were you forced to eat this sort of food in the first place?" he says, like dead animals, offal, mashed blood. But he also hopes they'll see their food traditions as a product of tenacity, survival. "You're alive today because your ancestors ate it then," he says of other Dalits. "Otherwise you'd not be here."
Patole says he's pleased to have written the book if only as a "middle finger" to upper-caste Hindus who find him, his caste and his food disgusting. "That's what we ate, still eat — and I will continue to do so."
Recipes from "Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada" by Shahu Patole
Translated by: Bhushan Korgaonkar
Wajadi (intestines)
Wajadi is not necessarily liked by everyone. Even amongst those who like it, some people prefer only the part that looks like a Turkish towel while others prefer the part that looks like a honeycomb. The preparation of wajadi depended on ingredients available in the household.
Ingredients
- Thoroughly washed and cleaned wajadi, chopped
- Salt
- Turmeric
- Ginger-garlic paste or in pieces, whatever is available (optional)
- Green coriander, chopped
Method
- Heat a pan or wok and put in the chopped wajadi. Wajadi has fat, so it does not need added fat or oil.
- Add salt and turmeric and mix. Add the ginger-garlic pieces or paste if desired.
- Cook, while stirring, for an hour and a half.
- Add as much hot water as desired and cook a little longer. For those who like it plain, the dish is ready.
- For a spicier version, add any other spices you like and cook a little longer.
- Garnish with coriander and serve.
Moholachi poli (honeycomb)
Large wild bees are extremely aggressive. Their hive is known as agyamohol. Agya means fiery and mohol means hive. No one would usually dare to touch these hives as the bee attacks are brutal and strings acutely agonizing. But people would eat the hives of smaller bees. There are two main types of smaller bees: lavangi (fiery like clove) and kagadi (thin like paper). Lavangi bees look slightly reddish. They make their hives in the open. These bees are aggressive too and sting the attackers. That's why people cover their faces and create smoke to chase off the bees before touching these hives. Kagadi bees are darker but otherwise look like lavangi bees. They are not as aggressive and so they build their hives in comparatively inaccessible locations. These bees fly away even with the smoke of regular bidis and cigarettes. There was a delicacy made from the hives of both these types of bees.
One can easily spot the three sections of the hive. A puffed-up pod attached to the branch or an external object, which stores honey, the next part below it contains eggs and larvae and the last part is work in progress. The bigger the pod, the more the honey. The first part is used for extracting honey, the second part is used as a delicacy and the third part would be given to dogs. It was said that the dogs went a bit bonkers after eating it.
Ingredients
- Honeycomb containing larvae and eggs (Editor's note: honeycomb is sold commercially in the U.S. but without the larvae and eggs)
- Oil or fat
- Onions, chopped
- Red chili powder
- Salt
Method
- Cut the honeycomb into small pieces
- Heat a little oil in a pan and fry onions till brown
- Add chili powder and salt, mix.
- Add the honeycomb pieces, saute a little. Cover and reduce heat to low.
- Let it cook for a while. Serve.
This honeycomb preparation tastes perfect with jowar bhakri. It is tasty and nutritious. It should be eaten hot as it is high in wax and protein. It gets stuck in the mouth if eaten cold, just like animal fat. This dish has a distinct "hot n' sweet" taste.
Chigur (flowers of tamarind)
Chigur or tamarind flowers were eaten, too. The tamarind tree blossoms copiously. There were usually a few trees in or near the village on common lands, which were accessible to everyone. Chigur goes well with red lentils. This sour dal tastes good.
Ingredients
- Oil
- Onions, chopped
- Red lentils
- Red chili powder or chopped green chilies
- Salt
- Chigur
Method
- Heat oil in a tava or pan
- When it is hot, add the chopped onion. Stir.
- Add the red lentils, red chili powder or green chilis and salt to taste.
- Add the chigur and saute it for a while. Sprinkle some water, cover and lower the heat. Let it cool.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/this-cookbook-is-unlike-any-other-from-india-pass-the-honeycomb-please
| 2024-12-16T07:08:01Z
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Accord Healthcare Is Granted Marketing Authorisation For IMULDOSA®, Ustekinumab Biosimilar To Stelara®
Date
12/16/2024 1:01:05 AM
(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
LONDON, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
Accord announces that the European Commission (EC has granted marketing authorisation for Imuldosa® (development code: DMB-3115), a biosimilar to
Stelara®, indicated for a range of immune medicated inflammatory diseases.
The EC approval follows a positive opinion issued on 19 October 2024 by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is applicable to all 27 European Union (EU) Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
The CHMP positive opinion is based on a comprehensive package of analytical, non-clinical, and clinical similarity data, including a multi-regional phase III clinical trial in patients with plaque psoriasis. The study confirmed therapeutic equivalence, in the primary outcome, between DMB-3115 and Stelara®, alongside a comparable safety profile.
The marketing authorisation paves the way for the launch of Imuldosa® in the EU ustekinumab market, valued at approximately €2.9 billion (US$3.18 billion) according to IQVIA MAT
June 2024
data.
Intas holds exclusive licensing rights to commercialise Imuldosa® worldwide, excluding
Japan, Korea, and certain other Asian countries. Imuldosa® was already approved by the USFDA on
October 10, 2024.
Accord Healthcare Limited (Accord) announces that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for Imuldosa® (development code: DMB-3115), a biosimilar of Stelara® (ustekinumab), marketed by Janssen Biotech Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
Ustekinumab is a human monoclonal antibody that targets the cytokines interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 which may play an important role in inflammatory and immune responses. Stelara® is indicated for range of immune medicated inflammatory diseases and has recorded global sales of
US$ 19 billion
of which US$D 3.2 billion sales coming from
Europe
as per IQVIA MAT Jun'24 data.
Joe Dunford, VP of Speciality Brands stated, "Accord is committed to becoming a significant player in the autoimmune space, and we are delighted that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for our fifth biosimilar in Europe, Imuldosa®. This approval ensures that patients have access to high-quality therapies in Europe and beyond. We remain dedicated to advancing our biosimilar pipeline, with the goal of launching 20 biosimilars by 2030.
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https://menafn.com/1108995962/Accord-Healthcare-Is-Granted-Marketing-Authorisation-For-IMULDOSA-Ustekinumab-Biosimilar-To-Stelara
| 2024-12-16T07:08:02Z
|
It Happened in India!
What happened this past week in India, told through some stunning images.
What happened this past week in India, told through some stunning images.
People carry placards calling for maintaining the sanctity of parent-teacher-student relationship as... Read More
People carry placards calling for maintaining the sanctity of parent-teacher-student relationship as stray dogs sleep on a traffic policeman’s stand maintained by Kolkata Police (KP) in Kolkata, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. Earlier this month one of the city schools was shutdown for fifteen days following mob vandalism. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Read LessA supporter of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a mask of Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, prime ministerial candidate for BJP and Gujarat's chief minister during a rally being addressed by Modi in New Delhi September 29, 2013. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS)
A woman cries for a missing relative at the site of a building that collapsed, in Mumbai, India, Sat... Read More
A woman cries for a missing relative at the site of a building that collapsed, in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013. Frantic relatives kept up a vigil at the site of the collapsed apartment building that killed more than 30 people in India’s financial capital of Mumbai as the search for survivors grew bleak on Saturday. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Read LessAn Indian child plays in a water logged street during heavy downpour in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. India's monsoon season, which runs from June to September, brings rain that is vital to agriculture.(AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A woman squats in front of others as they wait for the arrival of Miss Universe 2012 and Miss USA 20... Read More
A woman squats in front of others as they wait for the arrival of Miss Universe 2012 and Miss USA 2012 Olivia Culpo (not pictured) at a school in New Delhi September 28, 2013. The women whom Culpo came to the school to visit used to clear human waste for a living, a practice which is now banned in India, and currently are employed in cottage industries such as candle-making. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee (INDIA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)
Read LessAn artist applies paint to an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga at a workshop in New Delhi September 2... Read More
An artist applies paint to an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga at a workshop in New Delhi September 27, 2013. The Durga Puja festival will be celebrated from October 11 to 14, and is the biggest religious event for Bengali Hindus. Hindus believe that the goddess Durga symbolises power and the triumph of good over evil. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)
Read LessA girl dressed in traditional attire poses as she takes part in rehearsals for the "garba" dance ahe... Read More
A girl dressed in traditional attire poses as she takes part in rehearsals for the "garba" dance ahead of Navratri festival in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad September 29, 2013. Navratri, held in honour of Hindu Goddess Durga, is celebrated over a period of nine days where thousands of youths dance the night away in traditional costumes. Navratri starts on October 5. REUTERS/Amit Dave (INDIA - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Read LessRescue workers use a stretcher to carry a man who was rescued from the rubble at the site of a colla... Read More
Rescue workers use a stretcher to carry a man who was rescued from the rubble at the site of a collapsed residential building in Mumbai September 27, 2013. The five-storey apartment block collapsed on Friday in the Indian financial centre of Mumbai, killing at least four people and trapping scores in the latest accident to underscore shoddy building standards in Asia's third-largest economy. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: DISASTER)
Read LessA Kashmiri fisherman fishes during sunset at the Dal Lake in Srinagar, the main city of India-held Kashmir, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars over Kashmir, both claim the territory in its entirety while governing parts of it. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
ATTENTION EDITORS - VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF INJURY OR DEATH
Rescue workers recover a body fr... Read More
ATTENTION EDITORS - VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF INJURY OR DEATH
Rescue workers recover a body from debris at the site of a collapsed residential building in Mumbai September 28, 2013. The death toll from the collapse of a five-storey apartment block in India's financial capital of Mumbai climbed to 50 on Saturday and was expected to rise as more than a dozen people were feared trapped in the rubble. REUTERS/Stringer (INDIA - Tags: DISASTER) TEMPLATE OUT
Read LessLoad More
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/it-happened-in-india-104120.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:05Z
|
Karnataka HC orders: No action against vehicles without HSRP until further direction
The Karnataka High Court has ordered no action against vehicle owners without High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) until further notice. With the December 31 deadline approaching, the Transport Department will focus on awareness campaigns, as 1.44 crore old vehicles are yet to comply.
In a major relief to vehicle owners across the state, the Karnataka High Court has instructed the Transport Department not to take any action against those who have not installed High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP).
This interim decision means vehicle owners will not face strict action until the court provides further directions. The Transport Department, which was prepared to act against non-compliant vehicles, has now been asked to halt any enforcement for the time being.
Karnataka govt to raise awareness on HSRP number plates as December 31 deadline looms
The court has emphasised the importance of creating awareness among vehicle owners about HSRP rather than penalizing them. The Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) stated that they will now focus on spreading awareness about the HSRP scheme. Camps will be organized at taluk and district levels to educate people and facilitate the installation process.
The Transport Department has set December 31 as the deadline for vehicle owners to install HSRP. After this, any decision on enforcement will depend on the court’s instructions. Meanwhile, a petition regarding HSRP installation is being heard in the Karnataka High Court, which has prompted these interim measures.
Over the past one and a half years, the department has extended the HSRP installation deadline five times. So far, 56.4 lakh vehicles have been equipped with HSRP plates. However, around 1.44 crore old vehicles in the state are yet to comply.
The lack of awareness among motorists is a major hurdle. Most vehicle owners have shown little interest in installing the plates, and the department has admitted to not conducting any significant awareness campaigns until now.
Karnataka HSRP installation deadline looms: Govt warns of possible vehicle impoundment for repeat offenders
In a bid to meet the deadline, the department has decided to prioritize awareness campaigns. Officials have assured that for now, the focus will remain on educating vehicle owners about the importance of HSRP rather than penalizing them.
This development has provided much-needed relief to vehicle owners who were concerned about facing penalties.
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/karnataka-news/karnataka-hc-orders-no-action-against-vehicles-without-hsrp-until-further-direction-vkp-soklem
| 2024-12-16T07:08:06Z
|
The Uttarakhand government has pushed back the resumption of the Kedarnath Yatra by four days to time it with the start of the Navratri period. The yatra will now resume on October 5.
The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/kedarnath-yatra-restart-pushed-to-oct-5_-104271.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:07Z
|
This is CNBC's live blog covering European markets.
European markets are expected to open in mixed territory Monday, as traders gear up for the final Federal Reserve meeting of the year.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points lower at 8,292, Germany's DAX up 36 points at 20,443, France's CAC down 1 point at 7,401 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,876, according to data from IG.
The Fed's decision on Dec. 18 stateside is front and center for global markets this week, with the CME Fedwatch tool forecasting a 96% chance of a 25-basis-point cut by the central bank. Traders will be paying close attention to the updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for clues about the trajectory for interest rates.
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our >News Headlines newsletter.
In Europe Monday, investors will be keeping an eye on Berlin where a vote of confidence will take place in parliament Monday. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to call on the German parliament today to declare it has no confidence in him in order for snap polls to take place in February. The move comes after his governing coalition collapsed last month.
Data releases include flash services and manufacturing purchasing managers' index data from France and Germany.
UK manufacturers' confidence drops due to high costs, budget
Money Report
Confidence among U.K. manufacturers fell to its lowest level for a year in the fourth quarter amid intensifying cost pressures, according to a survey from trade group Make UK and advisory BDO.
Output and orders "remain positive" but sentiment "darkened markedly" from the third quarter, a period in which business confidence had jumped because of optimism about the new Labour government, Make UK and BDO found.
Since then, the announcement of Labour's flagship budget in late October is set to "add substantial extra business costs to those that companies were already facing," the survey authors wrote.
Among the key measures in the budget was an increase to the National Insurance payroll tax paid by employers, a move which has already sparked concern among wider British businesses. That brought the improvement in manufacturing confidence to a "shuddering halt," said Make UK senior economist, Fhaheen Khan.
The survey found 70% of manufacturers have seen their costs already increase by up to a fifth in the last year.
"An overlay of a turbulent geo-political landscape and talk of potential tariffs adds to future uncertainty in the short to medium term," said Richard Austin, head of manufacturing at BDO.
— Jenni Reid
Traders expect Fed to cut this week, pause in January
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut rates by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, but traders will be paying close attention to the updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for clues about what comes next.
As of Sunday night, pricing in the Fed funds futures market pointed to a 95.3% likelihood of a rate cut this week, according to the CME FedWatch tool. However, traders are also betting that the Fed will pause its rate cutting cycle in January.
That could be a welcome move for investors who are still uneasy with the path of inflation.
Logan Moulton, portfolio manager at Intelligent Wealth Solutions, said inflation appears to be "stickier" than Fed officials previously thought and that there are risks to upward pressure on inflation when the Trump administration takes office.
"Heading into 2025, I think they should at least pause," Moulton said.
— Jesse Pound
CNBC Pro: Morgan Stanley names 7 beneficiaries of Amazon AWS’ new Trainium 2 AI chip
Morgan Stanley has identified the companies that are set to benefit from Amazon's launch of its new artificial intelligence chip.
The Big Tech giant's cloud computing division Amazon Web Services launched its Trainium 2 AI chip earlier this month. AWS hopes these chips will help it diversify away from Nvidia, its primary AI chip supplier.
The investment bank said seven Taiwanese companies are set to benefit from AWS's new Trainium 2 AI chip.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Ganesh Rao
European markets: Here are the opening calls
European markets are expected to open in mixed territory Monday.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points lower at 8,292, Germany's DAX up 36 points at 20,443, France's CAC down 1 point at 7,401 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,876, according to data from IG.
Data releases include flash services and manufacturing purchasing managers' index data from France and Germany.
— Holly Ellyatt
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https://www.nbcboston.com/news/business/money-report/european-markets-head-for-mixed-open-as-traders-focus-on-fed-meeting-this-week/3578297/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:08Z
|
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday that he's picked longtime foreign policy adviser Richard Grenell to serve as an envoy for special missions, tasking him with helping the incoming administration deal with some of the toughest foreign policy challenges.
Grenell served as ambassador to Germany during Trump's first administration, special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, and did a stint as acting director of national intelligence.
He was also a contender to serve as secretary of state, but Trump opted to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
"Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea," Trump said in a posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, announcing the appointment.
Grenell during Trump's first term developed a reputation for employing a sometimes contentious approach to diplomacy that rankled allies and the foreign policy establishment in Washington. But his style was appreciated by the president-elect who sees value in blunt talk with allies.
Grenell remained close to Trump after he left office in 2021, serving at times as a key adviser on foreign policy.
He was in the room when Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September. Grenell has advocated for a peace deal that would preserve Ukraine's territory while still allowing for "autonomous regions" where Russia could remain in control.
He's also advised against expanding NATO to include Ukraine, saying — as Trump has — that the alliance shouldn't grow until current members meet the alliance's defense spending targets. Members of the transatlantic alliance have committed for years to spending 2% of their GDP on defense, but several countries still fall short of the target.
He was an early supporter of Trump's 2024 campaign and held multiple events for the Republican nominee focused on economics and national security.
Speaking at the Republican National Convention, Grenell echoed Trump's mantra that "it's time to put America first" on the global stage and argued that China and Russia saw President Joe Biden's administration as weak.
Trump raised concerns among some allies during the 2024 campaign when he said he would not defend NATO members that failed to meet defense spending targets, and warned he would "encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to alliance countries that he considered "delinquent."
Grenell has downplayed Trump's criticisms of NATO and said the only talk of leaving the alliance altogether "was really from the media."
"What we're saying is, don't come to the wedding without a gift," Grenell said.
Grenell was part of the Trump campaign's outreach to Arab American voters in Michigan, where the president-elect made gains with a traditionally Democratic constituency despite his history of banning immigration from several majority-Muslim countries. Grenell orchestrated pro-Trump events with Arab American voters, including a May meeting held in Troy, Michigan.
A U.S. spokesman at the United Nations during the George W. Bush administration, Grenell, like many other Republicans, has his own history of criticizing Trump before embracing him.
Once an adviser to GOP moderates like 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney and a supporter of gay marriage, Grenell, who is openly gay, deleted social media posts blasting Trump as "reckless" and "dangerous" once the former reality TV star became the Republican nominee in 2016.
Trump also announced Saturday that he's appointing Devin Nunes, the chief executive officer of the president-elect's Truth Social platform, to head a presidential advisory board that will keep tabs on the U.S. intelligence community.
Nunes will continue leading Trump Media & Technology Group. Trump is the company's largest shareholder.
The former California lawmaker chaired the House Intelligence Committee and was one of Trump's closest allies in Congress during the president-elect's first term.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/trump-appoints-foreign-policy-adviser-richard-grenell-as-special-missions-envoy
| 2024-12-16T07:08:08Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
The UAE is to have a prominent business presence at the 45th edition of FITUR.
MADRID, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FITUR 2025 , taking place from 22 to 26 January, organised by IFEMA MADRID , will be highlighting the strong tourism potential between Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where around ten companies will be exhibiting their tourism offers at the trade fair, mainly tour operators and Dubai's iconic Atlantis Hotel , among others.
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FITUR/IFEMA MADRID
The recovery of the Persian Gulf has been faster and stronger than that of other markets, with an economy that is growing above the OECD average and with higher spending and disposable income per consumer. Thus, the tourism sector in both territories has significant potential for developing specialised products. Spain experienced a record year for tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in 2023 with unprecedented growth in both the number of travellers and tourism expenditure.
The total number of GCC residents visiting Spain in 2023 reached 434,000, 33% more than in 2022 , with an average stay of 8.6 days.
Specifically, visitors from the UAE totalled more than 140,000 and spending grew by 37.8%, with an average spend of 2,668 euros, 26% more than in 2022.
According to industry sources, around 200,000 Spanish tourists visit Dubai every year.
In 2023, tourists from the Gulf region spent more than 1.138 billion euros in Spain, 64.7% more than in 2022, according to Turespaña estimates based on INE data (Frontur and Egatur ). These travellers are considered as "large consumers", with spending well above their European counterparts.
Connectivity with Spain is very good and airlines have increased in all the countries of the Persian Gulf, both in terms of frequency and new routes. In the forecasts for flights from the UAE between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025, capacity to Spain has grown by 33.2% , consolidating the increases in summer which are around 40%.
In 2024, FITUR attracted 9,000 companies, 152 countries and more than 250,000 visitors.
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https://menafn.com/1108995963/FITUR-2025-Will-Be-Highlighting-The-Strong-Tourism-Potential-Between-The-United-Arab-Emirates-And-Spain
| 2024-12-16T07:08:09Z
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The year 2024 is on track to be the warmest on record. According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the past ten years have been the warmest decade on record and global warming is quickly increasing climate extremes, impacts and risks. The resulting climate catastrophe is threatening human health, safety and livelihoods, and is widening pre-existing inequalities especially related to gender. Climate change is putting the health and livelihoods of women at risk while adding to the systemic inequalities faced by them.
According to the Global Gender Gap 2024 report of the World Economic Forum, climate crisis is impacting women’s reproductive health outcomes and pushing millions of women and girls into abject poverty. According to one UN estimate, women and children are 14 times more likely to be fatally impacted during extreme weather events. This is attributed to women and children having limited access to information, mobility, decision-making and resources. A 2022 UNICEF report titled “Bring in the Girls” informs that four out of five people displaced by climate change are girls and women.
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Despite these startling figures, there is little effort to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women. Women form part of the invisible work force, are expected to provide unpaid care responsibilities and have reduced access to education which are some of the factors preventing recognition of gendered vulnerabilities to climate change. Moreover, women’s participation in decisionmaking and climate leadership is wanting. Women are de facto providers and procurers of water, food and fuel wood in many regions of the world – scarcity of these resources due to climate change significantly increases their daily workload. The rising impacts of climate change are exacerbating the gender gap, making it more visible than before.
According to the ASEAN Gender Outlook 2024 report, increased droughts, unpredictable rains and rising temperatures correlate with higher rates of child marriage. These factors also become accessibility barriers to clean water and cooking fuels affecting women’s unpaid work. Climate-driven disasters are displacing more and more women and girls from their homes. This is disrupting women’s conventional support systems and putting family planning clinics, maternal healthcare and safe spaces out of their reach. The need for closing the gender gap due to increasing impacts of climate change has never been felt more. This requires innovative approaches backed by political will because past efforts in this direction have been inadequate, to say the least.
The more recent UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have also recognized this need; gender equality is fifth among the 17 UN SDGs that need to be met by 2030. However, a recent progress report on the SDGs has informed that the world is off track to achieve SDG 5 by 2030. As a result, climate change may push 158 million women and girls (16 million more than men and boys) into extreme poverty by 2050. At the current progress rate of the SDGs, it will take 137 additional years to end extreme poverty among women. There are currently 47.8 million more food-insecure women than men and the time spent by women and girls in collecting water is three times that spent by men and boys. The gender gap is far from closed.
The Unjust Climate 2024 report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns that femaleheaded households experience 8 per cent income losses due to heat stress and 3 per cent due to floods, relative to male-headed households. Far from being addressed, the pre-existing gender gap is widening due to climate change. Climate action plans and policy makers must take note of this and be gender-sensitive in their approach and implementation. Empowering women must be at the heart of climate action due to the increased vulnerabilities faced by them. Women often have unique knowledge of natural resources and resilience which makes them natural climate leaders who can drive sustainable solutions. Women and girls are not only experiencing greater hardships but are also responding to it with leadership despite societal limitations.
A 2024 report by FAO on Women-led Solutions for Drought Resilience highlights 35 global practices driven by women for mitigating drought and conserving water. Empowering women is not just about climate equity, it is a climate solution in itself. There is increasing reference to gender in the voluntary climate action submissions made by nations to the UN. What is needed along with this is an increase in women leadership at all levels of climate action and decision-making.
According to UN Women, about 35 per cent delegates at the recently concluded COP29 in Baku were women, a marginal increase of 1 percentage point from COP28. Almost 50 per cent of the world’s population is female and a similar representation in global climate negotiations must be ensured. This will create more inclusive climate strategies and will pave the way for long-term environmental resilience. (The writers are, respectively, associate professor at Jindal School of Environment & Sustainability, and a research assistant at Center for United Nations, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana.)
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https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/empower-women-in-climate-action-1503376269.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:09Z
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- A slim majority of economists — 13 out of 24 — polled by CNBC expects the Bank of Japan to stand pat after its two-day policy meeting ends on Thursday.
- The same majority predicts the central bank will raise rates in January.
- Analysts see the yen strengthening to 147.4 against the U.S. dollar by end-2025 from around 154 currently.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is likely to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged this week as it awaits greater clarity on domestic wages and spending trends as well as policy changes by the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, according to a survey of economists polled by CNBC.
A slim majority of 13 out of 24 economists, or 54%, said BOJ is likely to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.25% at the end of its two-day meeting on Thursday. The same number of economists expect the Japanese central bank to raise rates in January. The survey was conducted between Dec. 9-13.
The BOJ, which last raised rates in July, has signaled its readiness to tighten further if wage growth and prices align with its projections. In a recent media interview, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda suggested another rate hike is "nearing in the sense that economic data are on track," but he also noted risks, including wage trends next year and potential changes in U.S. economic policy.
Japanese interest rates are the lowest among developed countries due to the BOJ's longstanding policy of supporting the country's moribund economy. The policy has kept the yen weak against most major currencies, boosting exports and tourism and spurring the so-called "carry trade" when investors borrow yen to bet on higher-yielding assets. These trends could reverse as Japanese interest rates rise while central banks elsewhere begin to lower rates.
Many economists told CNBC they believe that recent data indicates Japan's economy is broadly on track to achieve the central bank's 2% inflation target, driven by wage growth. However, they noted the BOJ might prefer to wait another month to evaluate wage-driven inflation dynamics, focusing on momentum from next year's spring wage negotiations and Trump's trade and tariff policies.
The BOJ has yet to gain confidence in its outlook, according to Akira Otani of Goldman Sachs Japan. He noted the central bank lacks sufficient clarity on whether small and medium-sized enterprises can sustain wage increases, a risk flagged by the BOJ as crucial to achieving its inflation target. Japanese unions typically negotiate wage increases in the first three months of the calendar year ahead of the financial year that begins in April.
Money Report
The view that the central bank is likely to hold rates this week also gained traction after recent media reports suggested policymakers wanted more time to monitor overseas risks and gather additional clues on Japan's wage outlook.
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"The BOJ's confusing communications" now suggests a likely outcome of the central bank leaving rates unchanged to await additional information from the spring wage negotiations and U.S. policy developments, Shigeto Nagai, head of Japan Economics at Oxford Economics, said in a note last week.
Regular wages in Japan have been growing annually at a rate of 2.5% to 3%, with inflation staying above the BOJ's 2% target for 30 consecutive months. While authorities are keen to normalize monetary policy, they are also wary of raising rates too quickly following more than two decades of deflation. Indeed, Japanese household spending has declined for three straight months as of October, while factory output has been volatile.
Teppei Ino, head of Tokyo Global Markets Research at MUFG Bank, also highlighted shifting market expectations due to media reports. Overnight swap markets have significantly reduced bets on a December rate hike, assigning a 77% probability of no change as of Monday morning – much higher than the about 35% likelihood of standing pat priced in at the end of November.
"Judging from the (media) reports so far, it seems the likelihood of a rate hike being postponed has increased," Ino told CNBC on Friday.
"However, considering the current trend of yen depreciation and the upcoming FOMC meeting just before the BOJ meeting, we should keep in mind that there remains a possibility of an abrupt decision to raise rates if the USD/JPY reaches levels like 155," Ino said, referring to the Federal Open Markets Committee meeting scheduled this week.
The yen was trading around 154 to the dollar on Monday morning.
To be sure, some economists still expect the BOJ to tighten policy this week.
Nomura expects the BOJ to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, citing fundamentals such as the economy and prices being on track. However, it also acknowledged that a hike might be delayed due to uncertainties surrounding U.S. policy.
"We think the BOJ could also decide to put off any rate hike if it decides to place greater emphasis on uncertainties, including U.S. policy conduct and market trends (in the forex market in particular) during the Christmas season, when markets tend to be quiet," research analyst Kyohei Morita said in a Dec. 11 note.
The brokerage also pointed to uncertainty around the government's fiscal support for households as a potential factor that might prompt the BOJ to hold off its rate increase. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose government lacks a parliamentary majority, is currently in negotiations with opposition parties over the size of a proposed increase to the minimum annual taxable income threshold.
Currency Risks
Many analysts highlighted the Japanese yen as a key factor influencing their outlook on the BOJ's decisions.
"The most important and likely driver that could change my outlook is the yen," said Kazuo Momma, executive economist at Mizuho Research, who said the BOJ is likely to stand pat this week and raise the benchmark rate by 25 basis points in January. "Accelerated yen depreciation would upset the public and the federal government, forcing the BOJ to adopt a more aggressive stance on hiking," he said.
Jun Takazawa, Asia Economist at HSBC, emphasized risks from both directions.
"On one hand, a stronger U.S. dollar driven by fiscal, monetary, and trade policies in the U.S. could weigh on the yen and accelerate the BOJ's policy normalization process. On the other hand, a weaker yen — within limits — supports Japan's reflation efforts, so excessive yen strength could delay rate hikes."
According to CNBC's survey of 24 analysts, the yen is forecast to average 147.4 against the U.S. dollar by the end of 2025. The dollar rose 2.4% against the yen last week as traders scaled back bets on a BOJ rate hike this month.
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https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/money-report/bank-of-japan-expected-to-keep-rates-on-hold-this-week-cnbc-survey/3737179/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:11Z
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Olympia Group, owned by Panos Germanos, announced the integration of Entersoft and Softone into a single organization. The two companies together will have revenues of around 120 million euros with EBITDA exceeding 34 million euros.
The new organization is the leading provider of business software products and services in Greece, with an expanded portfolio of solutions that are used daily by more than 90,000 customers, a nationwide network of 700 partners, while employing more than 1,500 employees. It is worth noting that 2024 was an excellent year for both Entersoft and Softone, with a double-digit growth rate.
The new organization will focus on formulating a single strategy that will respond to the evolving needs of businesses. This strategy seeks to further strengthen the group’s presence in the market and consolidate its commercial superiority. It is based on the ability to implement investments with high added value, while at the same time creating more opportunities for professional development.
Common path
From the moment the two Greek IT companies joined the Olympia Group’s business umbrella, it was a given that they would follow a common path after a reasonable period. As emphasized by the shareholders, the merger of the two companies creates a leader in the business software sector in a constantly evolving digital ecosystem of Greece.
The new organization will continue to offer multiplying value for employees, partners, customers and the market, both in Greece and in other markets of Southeastern Europe (mainly in Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria).
In the last two years, in addition to the continuous development of the Group’s core products and their strengthening with new modules and subsystems, the Entersoft Group has begun investing in software development for its entry into 3 new dynamic markets in which it has not been active until now. These markets concern small and micro enterprises, the Recruitment Management software market, the rapidly growing eCommerce market. Softone Group places particular emphasis on Cloud and cutting-edge technologies, on strategic acquisitions with strong targeting, on the expanded portfolio of business software solutions, but also on the steady penetration in international markets.
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https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/1857404/entersoft-softone-merger-a-leader-in-business-software/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:11Z
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The Aussie market has made a dour start to the week’s trading, weighed down by the major miners as the iron ore price continues to fall.
The benchmark ASX 200 index fell by 46.50 points or 0.56 per cent, to finish Monday’s trading session at 8249.50 points.
It marks the fifth consecutive daily fall, with the markets hitting a fresh four-week low.
The broader All Ordinaries also fell, trading down 56.30 points or 0.66 per cent to close Monday’s trading at 8494.00 points.
Meanwhile, the Australian dollar rose slightly to 63.67 US cents, although it remains at the low end of its 63 to 69 cent range it has been trading at for most of the last 12-months.
This follows a shift from the RBA last week, which suggested rate cuts could be coming soon, only to be offset by stronger than expected domestic job figures.
Overall, 8 of 11 sectors were lower along with the S & P/ASX 200 Index.
Consumer Staples was the best performing sector, gaining 0.16 per cent in an overall negative day on the market.
Australia’s market followed slight weakness out of Wall Street, with the Dow Jones falling 0.20 per cent, while the S P 500 traded flat and the NASDAQ grew 0.12 per cent.
It was a day dominated by the minerals sector, with the major miners continuing their slide from Friday, after the iron ore price fell on expected weaker Chinese demand.
This narrative continued on Monday after China’s National Bureau of Statistics announced a number of key economic updates with the market trading down after their release.
Retail sales grew by 3 per cent in November, down to 4.8 per cent and market expectations of growth of around 4.6 per cent.
Fix asset investment, a proxy for infrastructure spending, increased by 3.3 per cent in the 11 months to November, while property investment fell 10.4 per cent over the same period.
“In the second month after government stimuluses kicked in, China’s economic growth disappointed consensus, as retail sales – a gauge for household consumption – came in materially below economists’ forecasts and industrial production and fixed asset investment have remained at roughly the same annual pace in the past 3 months,” AMP economist My Bui said.
Following the announcement Rio Tinto fell 2.06 per cent, while BHP fell 2.28 per cent.
Fortescue Metals was the worst of the major iron ore miners, down 4.26 per cent during Monday’s trading.
Other miners including Newmont down 3.5 per cent and Pilbara Minerals down 3.1 per cent.
The A-REITs sector is getting hit by a sustained flop in new data centre infrastructure DigiCo which is down 6.9 per cent in its second day of trading.
Financials and consumer staples were the rare bright spots on the market.
The big four banks were up between 0.2 and 0.75 per cent, with Westpac being the best of them now up to $32.41.
Woolworths is up 0.7 per cent, while Coles slightly rose, up 0.11 per cent.
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https://www.perthnow.com.au/business/aussie-markets-dour-start-to-trading-week-as-asx-200-extends-losses-falls-to-fresh-four-week-low-c-17102168
| 2024-12-16T07:08:11Z
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Two men were arrested in Boston on Saturday for allegedly operating a drone "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport, police said.
In a statement, the Boston Police Department said one of its officers specializing in surveillance saw there was an Unmanned Aircraft System flying near Logan International Airport.
The officer was able to track its altitude, flight history, location and the operators' location, which was a former health center on Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands.
Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, both of Massachusetts, were arrested that night and charged with trespassing, police said. Authorities said they are seeking a third suspect. Duffy and Folcik could face additional charges as the police continue their investigation.
They're working with Homeland Security, state police, the Federal Communications Commission, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the airport's air traffic control team on the investigation.
Drones can cause damage to aircraft and make pilots deviate from their course if they get too close, "putting lives and property at risk," police said.
The arrests come as a number of drone sightings have been reported across the East Coast, including in New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Though, federal authorities have said those sightings do not pose a security threat.
Boston police did not make a connection between the arrests and the reported sightings along the East Coast.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2024-12-15/2-men-were-arrested-in-boston-for-allegedly-flying-a-drone-near-the-airport
| 2024-12-16T07:08:11Z
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Rain alert: Bengaluru and 8 other districts in Karnataka to witness rainfall for 2 days
Karnataka braces for rain as a Bay of Bengal depression is set to bring showers to nine districts, including Bengaluru, over two days. Cold weather with fog persists, while erratic rainfall disrupts farmers’ plans. The Meteorological Department urges caution amid unpredictable conditions.
Bengaluru: Even before the state fully recovers from the effects of Cyclone Fengal, another weather disturbance is set to bring more rain. A new depression in the Bay of Bengal will trigger rainfall in Karnataka over the next two days.
The state is experiencing cold weather accompanied by fog in several regions. According to the Meteorological Department, light to moderate rain is likely in nine districts, including Bengaluru City, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, and Mandya. The rainy spell is expected to begin tomorrow and last for two days.
Parts of Bengaluru may experience cloudy skies throughout the day. Meanwhile, dry weather will persist in coastal Karnataka and the northern interior regions. However, occasional fog is likely in a few areas within the northern interior.
The erratic rainfall pattern continues to impact farmers across the state. While last year’s insufficient rain led to drought, this year’s rainfall refuses to let up even as December nears its end. With just a few weeks left for the new year, farmers depending on agriculture are facing challenges in planning their activities due to the unpredictable weather.
The Meteorological Department has advised people to prepare for the upcoming rainy spell while continuing to stay cautious of cold and foggy conditions in certain areas.
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/karnataka-news/rain-alert-bengaluru-and-8-other-districts-in-karnataka-to-witness-rainfall-for-2-days-vkp-sokl1l
| 2024-12-16T07:08:12Z
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Lalu Goes to Jail: Funniest Tweets
Lalu Prasad Yadav may have been sent to jail for the infamous 90's Fodder Scam, but he still continues to make us laugh. Here are the funniest tweets on his arrest.
1. Der, but No Andher
Lalu Prasad Yadav may have been sent to jail for the infamous 90's Fodder Scam, but he still continues to make us laugh. Here are the funniest tweets on his arrest.
RJD leader #LaluYadav & former Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra convicted in fodder scam.@ShahnawazBJP @SushilModi pic.twitter.com/9GhKxfd3LR
— Vivek Bansal (@Pwincevivek) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
2. Below the Belt Humour
Meanwhile Rabri Devi heaved a sigh of relief as she wouldn't have to conceive for next 4 years. #FodderScam"
— Tarun om kathuria (@tarunomkathuria) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
3. Ofcourse He Would, Everyone Else Does
RT if you think Lalu would get Chest Pain just before going to Jail. #FodderScam
— 0mar abdullah (@abdullah_0mar) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
4. Gratitude
Cattle in Bihar have declared to give 25% more milk in order to express their gratitude towards Indian Judiciary ! #FodderScam"
— Kumar Gaurav (@kanha89) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
5. Oops! Foot in the Cow's Mouth
Not making this up. RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha just said, "Our party refuses to be cowed down by this conspiracy." #FodderScam
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
6. Papa ke Purane Paap
We are no longer proud of our "Fodder" - Lalu's kids to Lalu -_- #FodderScam
— Pankaj (@godfather_90) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
7. Pappu Pass Hona Chahata Hai
UPA Govt. is acting like an Engineering Student at the night of his exams. Trying close every issue before 2014 Elections. #FodderScam
— Aladdin!! (@Alllahdin) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
8. Insert Robert Vadra Joke Here
What happened to the animals who died due to #FodderScam? - All the lands allocated to them were snatched by Robert Vadra
— Bhak Sala (@bhak_sala) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
9. Gaaye-Chaara
Lalu goes to jail.. buffaloes, cows & goats all over the world are sending friend requests to their Indian counterpart today! #FodderScam
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) September 30, 2013
__PAGEBREAK__
10. Bas, Hero Mil Jaaye
Ram Gopal Varma must make a movie on Lalu Prasad. He should name it 'The GodFodder'. #FodderScam
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) September 30, 2013
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/lalu-prasad-yadav-convicted-in-fodder-scam-funniest-tweets-104216.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:13Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global artificial intelligence (ai) chips market size is estimated to grow by USD 389.25 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 68.13% during the forecast period.
The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below-
Segmentation Overview
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Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global artificial intelligence (AI) chips market 2024-2028
Product
1.1 ASICs
1.2 GPUs
1.3 CPUs
1.4 FPGAs
End-user
2.1 Media and advertising
2.2 BFSI
2.3 IT and telecommunication
2.4 Others
Geography
3.1 North America
3.2 Europe
3.3 APAC
3.4 South America
3.5 Middle East and Africa
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1.1 Fastest growing segment:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips, specifically Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), are becoming increasingly popular in data center applications due to their superior performance and speed. ASICs are customized, non-configurable chips that offer an instruction set and libraries for local data processing, acting as an accelerator for parallel algorithms. Google's Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) is a prime example, designed for deep neural networks and already in use for Google Search and Google Street View. ASICs provide faster performance than GPUs, FPGAs, and CPUs, making them a preferred choice for data centers. TPUs have an instruction set that allows TensorFlow programs to be modified and new algorithms to be developed, making them a valuable asset for managing data effectively. The use of ASIC-based AI chips is expected to witness significant growth in the forecast period.
Analyst Review
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Market: The global AI Chips Market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing adoption of AI technologies in various industries. Deep learning and machine learning algorithms are driving the demand for AI chips, which are specialized hardware components designed to accelerate AI computations. These chips are essential for robotics, quantum computing, and advanced AI applications. The market includes CPU, FPGA, GPU, System on Chip (SoC), and Multichip Module (MCM) solutions. AI chips are finding applications in sectors like healthcare, retail, finance, automotive, autonomous vehicles, IoT devices, and more. High-performance AI chips are crucial for training generative AI models and powering supercomputers. Ethical concerns surrounding AI are also fueling the development of specific integrated circuits. Key technologies include highbandwidth memory and Trainium2 chip. The market is evolving with the shift from cloud to edge computing.
Market Overview
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Market: Overview The AI Chips Market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for advanced AI technologies such as deep learning and machine learning in various industries. AI chips are specialized hardware components designed to accelerate AI algorithms and technologies, including neural networks, quantum computing, and cognitive computing. These chips are essential for powering AI applications in robotics, computer vision, natural language processing, and other fields. The market for AI chips includes various types of hardware components, such as CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, ASICs, DSPs, and microcontrollers. Companies are investing heavily in the development of AI chip lines, including Nvidia's A100 chip, Ascend 910B chipset, and H200 chipset, to meet the growing demand for energy-efficient and high-performance AI solutions. AI applications are widespread across industries, including healthcare, retail, finance, automotive, and manufacturing. The use of AI in healthcare for health monitoring, health information access, personalized health, and treatment devices is gaining popularity, especially for the elderly population. In retail, AI is used for customer behavior analysis, inventory management, and personalized marketing. In finance, AI is used for fraud detection, risk assessment, and algorithmic trading. The automotive industry is also adopting AI technologies for autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems, and connected cars. The use of AI in manufacturing machines, smart homes, and IoT devices is increasing, leading to the growth of AI data centers and edge computing. However, ethical concerns surrounding AI and the potential for system failure or malfunctioning are major challenges for the market. The development of specific integrated chips and multichip modules is a potential solution to address these challenges. The AI Chips Market is expected to continue growing due to the increasing demand for real-time applications, low latency, and big data processing. The market is also being driven by the development of generative AI, large language models, and other advanced AI technologies. The use of AI in mobile applications, gaming consoles, and personal computers is also expected to drive market growth. In conclusion, the AI Chips Market is a rapidly growing market, driven by the increasing demand for advanced AI technologies and applications across various industries. The market is expected to continue growing due to the development of energy-efficient and high-performance AI solutions, the increasing use of AI in various industries, and the growing demand for real-time applications and low latency. However, ethical concerns and the potential for system failure or malfunctioning are major challenges that need to be addressed.
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Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!
Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
7 Customer Landscape
8
Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10
Venodr
Landscape
11
Vendor
Analysis
12
Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
SOURCE Technavio
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MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1108995964/Artificial-Intelligence-Ai-Chips-Market-Size-To-Increase-By-USD-38925-Billion-Between-2023-To-2028-Market-Segmentation-By-Product-End-User-Geography-Technavio
| 2024-12-16T07:08:15Z
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The prospect of tariffs in the new Trump administration is dividing businesses around the country.
Some are scrambling to avoid the potential import taxes or preparing to pass the cost on to their customers. Others, however, are welcoming tariffs as a defense against foreign competition.
Here's a look at how three businesses are bracing for the tariffs.
The domestic manufacturer
Mark McClelland is in the pro-tariff camp.
If you've ever sat in the bleachers to watch a high school football game, you may have come in contact with McClelland's product. His company, Tower Extrusions, manufactures bleacher seats and thousands of other aluminum products.
"Think of a big Play-Doh machine," McClelland says of the manufacturing process. "We take a log of aluminum and push it through a die in the shape of some form."
McClelland's business, based in Olney, Texas, operates eleven aluminum presses, cranking out bleachers, window frames, car parts and more.
"It's kind of one of those old-line businesses that people don't really think about, but when you look around, our product is kind of everywhere," he says.
Starting around 2010, McClelland's company and others the industry began to face increased competition from China. They fought back and won anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese aluminum products, but the import threat soon metastasized.
"What used to be just a China problem now has spread," McClelland says, with surging imports from Vietnam, Turkey, India, and Mexico. "And of course Mexico is the one I really worry about, because there's a direct route to our market."
Foreign companies now supply about 35% of the extruded aluminum products in the U.S., McClelland adds, nearly double their share from five years ago.
"They're selling at prices we can't compete with," McClelland says. "It's going to shut down our industry if we don't do something."
President-elect Donald Trump has proposed adding a tax of 10% to 20% on all imports, and McClelland is counting on those sweeping tariffs to provide a more level playing field.
He acknowledges, however, that import taxes are a double-edged sword. His company has to pay more for the raw aluminum that goes into its products now because of tariffs that Trump imposed the last time he was in the White House.
"It drove up our raw material costs by 10%, whether we imported them or not," McClelland recalls. "Even if it was produced domestically, it raises your costs 10%."
The importer
Among those business owners who face higher costs is Bobby Djavaheri.
He worries that tariffs will raise the cost of his popular air fryers and other appliances, most of which are manufactured in China.
"I don't think the American consumer understands what's at stake here," says Djavaheri, whose company, Yedi Houseware Appliances, is based in Los Angeles.
If Trump makes good on his threat to impose a 60% tariff on imports from China, he estimates that "a $130 item will turn into something way above $200."
"Americans are directly being taxed with these tariffs, not the Chinese," Djavaheri says.
Some have suggested that Trump is merely using the threat of tariffs as a bargaining chip and that import taxes are unlikely to take full effect — but Djavaheri isn't counting on that.
"I take it very seriously," he says. "We're trying to ramp up our imports prior to the president-elect getting sworn in."
Other importers are also racing to stockpile products before any tariffs take effect.
"If companies have the wherewithal to pull this product forward, to build up inventory and get their cost basis down before the new tariffs are put in, they're trying it," says Gene Seroka, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles. The port is busier than usual this time of year, unloading hundreds of thousands of shipping containers from Asia each month.
One of Djavaheri's suppliers has also considered moving his factory from China to Mexico to avoid the steepest tariffs.
But that may not necessarily work. Last month, Trump proposed slapping a 25% tariff on imports from both Mexico and Canada, two of the United States' biggest trading partners.
The discounter
Peter Elitzer is another business owner worried about the impact of tariffs.
He says even a 10% tariff would be painful for the customers who shop at his discount clothing stores. Bargain-hunters who frequent Elitzer's Label Shopper stores on the East Coast and in the Midwest are already cautious about spending money.
"They're only buying when they need to have something," Elitzer says. "So it's cold and they need a sweatshirt or jacket, they'll come out and get it. If it's too cold in the spring and they don't need to buy T-shirts, they don't buy T-shirts."
That makes Elitzer wary about filling warehouses ahead of the potential tariffs with clothes that might not sell and run the risk of falling out of fashion. He'll take his chances on imports from India, Indonesia and Cambodia, knowing that if tariffs do come, he'll have to raise prices.
"There's no question in my mind this is not going to be good news for the consumer at all," Elitzer says. "Particularly if they're trying to get inflation under control. It's the worst possible time to do that."
Most of the clothing items in his stores sell for $19.99 or below — less than he was charging a decade ago.
"The overwhelming majority of Americans don't shop in the high-end department stores," he says. "They're shopping in Walmart and they're shopping in the Label Shoppers of the world. And they're looking for value."
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/trumps-tariffs-threat-is-dividing-business-owners-across-the-country
| 2024-12-16T07:08:15Z
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- The European Central Bank struck a dovish tone last week, backed up by comments from arch-hawk Robert Holzmann on Friday.
- Money markets are continuing to price in a fall in the key ECB rate to 1.75% by September next year, with a hold beyond that.
- Questions remain over what the central bank considers its "neutral rate" and whether it could go below that to support economic growth.
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The European Central Bank delivered an expected quarter-point interest rate cut this week — and alongside the announcement came several indications that rates will swiftly move even lower early next year.
ECB President Christine Lagarde did note during her Thursday press conference that policymakers gathered in Frankfurt did not believe the fight against inflation is fully over, with services inflation still a concern.
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However, on the whole, it was the most dovish meeting of the current cycle, not least because the ECB's fresh macroeconomic projections forecasted lower rates of inflation and economic growth both this year and next.
Economists also jumped on the removal of the ECB's message that the central bank must "keep policy rates sufficiently restrictive for as long as necessary." Lagarde stressed that there were downside risks to the already-weak euro zone growth outlook, but said the inflation picture had significantly improved and included upside risks. She also said that a larger, half-point cut had been debated, and that Governing Council (GC) members unanimously voted to reduce rates.
The new ECB staff forecast, meanwhile, put average headline inflation just above target at 2.1% in 2025, with stronger price rises expected at the start of the year suggesting it could fall below target later in the year.
Money Report
The dovish shift was emphasized Friday when Austrian central bank chief Robert Holzmann — widely perceived as the ECB's arch-hawk and the only Governing Council member to vote for a rate hold rather than a cut in June — told reporters there would be no danger in cutting rates next year if the economy progresses as expected, according to Reuters.
Where is neutral?
Holzmann also said markets had a "similar assessment to the central bank's" that interest rates will fall toward a neutral level — when monetary policy is balanced between boosting and restricting growth — of around 2% next year.
The ECB cut the deposit facility — its key rate — to 3% on Thursday.
What constitutes the neutral rate has been a key point of debate in recent months, and Lagarde said Thursday that while it had not been discussed at the December meeting, staff saw it between 1.75% and 2.5%.
A further question for market participants is whether the ECB will take rates below this neutral level if inflation cools even further and the growth outlook deteriorates, as has been floated by France's central bank governor, Francois Villeroy de Galhau.
This week's messaging has broadly confirmed existing market bets on the ECB's rate-cut plan for 2025.
According to LSEG data, money markets are continuing to price in a fall in the key ECB rate to 1.75% by September next year, with a hold beyond that.
But some analysts said there was now support for rate cuts going beyond that.
Deutsche Bank economists said in a Friday note that the ECB was on course for sub-neutral rates in 2025, given the trend for weak growth and below-target inflation.
They added that their baseline outlook was for a 1.5% rate at the end of 2025 via quarter-point cuts, but that a half-point move remained possible.
Dean Turner, chief euro zone and U.K. economist at UBS Global Wealth Management, stopped his forecast at a rate of 2% in June, but said risks were now "tilted towards the ECB having to do more, not less, to support the economy in 2025" — likely to mean further cuts later in the year rather than larger moves earlier on.
However, Kamil Kovar, senior economist at Moody's Analytics, argued in a note that stubborn core inflation would continue to spur ECB caution next year.
"We think that after March, the battle over how far to lower rates will start in earnest. We have no cut in April and the last cut in June, leaving rates at 2.25%," Kovar said.
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https://www.nbcboston.com/news/business/money-report/heres-what-we-now-know-about-the-european-central-banks-rate-cut-plans/3578301/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:15Z
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This is CNBC's live blog covering European markets.
European markets are expected to open in mixed territory Monday, as traders gear up for the final Federal Reserve meeting of the year.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points lower at 8,292, Germany's DAX up 36 points at 20,443, France's CAC down 1 point at 7,401 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,876, according to data from IG.
The Fed's decision on Dec. 18 stateside is front and center for global markets this week, with the CME Fedwatch tool forecasting a 96% chance of a 25-basis-point cut by the central bank. Traders will be paying close attention to the updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for clues about the trajectory for interest rates.
In Europe Monday, investors will be keeping an eye on Berlin where a vote of confidence will take place in parliament Monday. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to call on the German parliament today to declare it has no confidence in him in order for snap polls to take place in February. The move comes after his governing coalition collapsed last month.
Data releases include flash services and manufacturing purchasing managers' index data from France and Germany.
UK manufacturers' confidence drops due to high costs, budget
Money Report
Confidence among U.K. manufacturers fell to its lowest level for a year in the fourth quarter amid intensifying cost pressures, according to a survey from trade group Make UK and advisory BDO.
Output and orders "remain positive" but sentiment "darkened markedly" from the third quarter, a period in which business confidence had jumped because of optimism about the new Labour government, Make UK and BDO found.
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Since then, the announcement of Labour's flagship budget in late October is set to "add substantial extra business costs to those that companies were already facing," the survey authors wrote.
Among the key measures in the budget was an increase to the National Insurance payroll tax paid by employers, a move which has already sparked concern among wider British businesses. That brought the improvement in manufacturing confidence to a "shuddering halt," said Make UK senior economist, Fhaheen Khan.
The survey found 70% of manufacturers have seen their costs already increase by up to a fifth in the last year.
"An overlay of a turbulent geo-political landscape and talk of potential tariffs adds to future uncertainty in the short to medium term," said Richard Austin, head of manufacturing at BDO.
— Jenni Reid
Traders expect Fed to cut this week, pause in January
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut rates by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, but traders will be paying close attention to the updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for clues about what comes next.
As of Sunday night, pricing in the Fed funds futures market pointed to a 95.3% likelihood of a rate cut this week, according to the CME FedWatch tool. However, traders are also betting that the Fed will pause its rate cutting cycle in January.
That could be a welcome move for investors who are still uneasy with the path of inflation.
Logan Moulton, portfolio manager at Intelligent Wealth Solutions, said inflation appears to be "stickier" than Fed officials previously thought and that there are risks to upward pressure on inflation when the Trump administration takes office.
"Heading into 2025, I think they should at least pause," Moulton said.
— Jesse Pound
CNBC Pro: Morgan Stanley names 7 beneficiaries of Amazon AWS’ new Trainium 2 AI chip
Morgan Stanley has identified the companies that are set to benefit from Amazon's launch of its new artificial intelligence chip.
The Big Tech giant's cloud computing division Amazon Web Services launched its Trainium 2 AI chip earlier this month. AWS hopes these chips will help it diversify away from Nvidia, its primary AI chip supplier.
The investment bank said seven Taiwanese companies are set to benefit from AWS's new Trainium 2 AI chip.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Ganesh Rao
European markets: Here are the opening calls
European markets are expected to open in mixed territory Monday.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points lower at 8,292, Germany's DAX up 36 points at 20,443, France's CAC down 1 point at 7,401 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,876, according to data from IG.
Data releases include flash services and manufacturing purchasing managers' index data from France and Germany.
— Holly Ellyatt
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https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/money-report/european-markets-head-for-mixed-open-as-traders-focus-on-fed-meeting-this-week/3737185/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:17Z
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Protecting Harmony
The ongoing deliberations in the Supreme Court regarding the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991 represent a pivotal moment for India's constitutional values.
The oil trade between Russia and India has entered a new phase, marked by the dominance of a few large trading firms and the exit of smaller intermediaries.
The oil trade between Russia and India has entered a new phase, marked by the dominance of a few large trading firms and the exit of smaller intermediaries. This transformation is a reflection of broader geopolitical and economic trends, including the impact of Western sanctions on Russia and the evolving nature of global energy markets. For India, this shift offers both opportunities and challenges as it navigates its energy security goals in an increasingly complex global environment.
Until recently, the Russian oil trade with India was characterised by a proliferation of middlemen, drawn by lucrative margins and the urgency of Russian producers to reroute supplies away from Western markets. However, rising funding costs in Russia and restricted access to Western financial systems have pushed many smaller players out. With fewer intermediaries, the trade has become more streamlined, but also more concentrated, with only a handful of dominant players managing the majority of transactions. For Indian refiners, particularly private players, this consolidation brings some advantages.
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A smaller pool of traders can lead to greater consistency in supply chains and potentially reduce logistical complexities. Moreover, Russian oil continues to offer a price advantage over alternatives from the United States or West Asia, even as discounts on Russian crude have narrowed. This cost-effectiveness remains critical for Indian refiners aiming to balance profitability with competitive pricing for domestic markets. However, this concentration also raises concerns. A trade dominated by a few firms could expose Indian buyers to supply chain vulnerabilities. Any disruption ~ whether due to financial pressures on these firms or heightened Western sanctions ~ could have an outsized impact on the availability of Russian crude.
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The ability of Russian producers to adapt, potentially reverting to multiple middlemen to skirt sanctions, adds another layer of uncertainty. This shift also opens avenues for India to renegotiate its long-term energy partnerships. By leveraging its position as a significant buyer of Russian oil, India can seek favorable terms that include stable pricing mechanisms and strategic investments in refining infrastructure. Such efforts would not only enhance energy security but also shield the economy from volatility in global oil markets. At a broader level, the evolving Russian oil trade underscores the resilience of global energy markets. Despite efforts by Western nations to restrict Russia’s oil revenues, the country has maintained robust export volumes, with India emerging as a key market. This resilience highlights the limitations of sanctions in a world where demand for affordable energy often outweighs geopolitical considerations.
For India, the priority must be to safeguard its energy security while balancing its diplomatic engagements. The government and refiners should continue to diversify their sources of crude to reduce over-reliance on any single supplier. At the same time, India must strengthen its financial and logistical mechanisms to withstand potential market disruptions. India’s ability to navigate these changes will determine not just its energy future but also its role in shaping a more stable and secure global energy order
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https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/oil-consolidation-1503376265.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:16Z
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“It is unfair to claim that banks received money from the State. They did take money, but they had previously written off claims against the Greek State with the PSI and the State returned part of it to them in order to operate. I have the feeling that the sale of the banks’ shares together with the writing off of their claims against the Greek State is more money than what the State put in to cover the PSI funds,” Lyktos Group president and honorary Piraeus Bank chairman Michalis Sallas said in an interview with Naftemporiki TV.
He spoke about the turbulent period of the crisis which cost approximately 1 trillion euros in private assets.
He referred to the 27 bank mergers carried out by Piraeus Bank and focused on the March 2013 merger of the branches of the Cypriot banks which was necessary in order to avoid creating a problem for the Greek banks.
He spoke about the beginning of the crisis with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and explained what could have been avoided if measures had been taken.
Speaking about bad loans, he pointed out that if his plan for sale and lease back had been implemented, this problem would have been definitively resolved.
The reason why this proposal did not proceed was the harsh punitive perception of the troika for Greece. He noted that the European family was not ready to support our country, however, without Europe we would have disintegrated.
He also referred to the reduction of bank branches and staff and the difficulty for many people to operate through electronic banking alone.
Another development model
“Another development model is required for the country, which must become more competitive. Tourism alone cannot solve the country’s problem. Tourism is a good tool but it is not enough,” he concluded.
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https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/1857415/sallas-to-naftemporiki-tv-it-is-unfair-to-claim-that-banks-received-money-from-the-state/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:17Z
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Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson have been urged to resolve a dispute about who pays what regarding the costs of successfully defending Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case.
Justice Michael Lee ordered settlement talks in early 2025 after telling the parties on Monday afternoon that he had hoped to resolve the spat before Christmas.
"You engaged me last advent, I really want this advent to bring it to an end," he said in a Federal Court hearing.
Justice Lee oversaw the lengthy defamation trial in late 2023, wrapping it up days before Christmas Eve.
In April, he dismissed the lawsuit and found Ten and Wilkinson did not defame Lehrmann through reports he sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.
The judge ruled that a February 2021 broadcast on The Project where Ms Higgins voiced the allegations was, on the balance of probabilities, substantially true.
Justice Lee ordered the cash-strapped 29-year-old, who has since appealed the decision, to pay $2 million in legal costs to Ten.
His full bill to Wilkinson is still being hashed out as is the amount that Ten will have to pay as her employer.
On Monday, Justice Lee heard a report had been completed by a referee hired to determine which of Wilkinson's costs were reasonable and should be covered by Ten.
However, the journalist's barrister Michael Elliott SC said her team of solicitors had been unable to put a dollar figure on the referee's findings.
"We just can't work it out," he told the court.
Ten's barrister Zoe Graus said her client would apply to either reject the report entirely or only use part of it in determining the final bill.
Justice Lee abandoned his plans to end the matter before Santa Claus arrives, instead scheduling a hearing for February 4.
He ordered that the parties enter settlement talks before that date to try to resolve the matter.
The defamation suit came after a criminal case facing Lehrmann was abandoned in 2022 due to juror misconduct with no findings made against him.
No date for the appeal hearing has been set.
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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
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https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/crime/ten-and-wilkinson-urged-to-resolve-lehrmann-costs-spat-c-17102412
| 2024-12-16T07:08:17Z
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Kerala: TDB to introduce queue-free darshan for devotees taking forest routes to Sabarimala temple
The Travancore Devaswom Board president announced special tags for devotees walking long distances via Erumeli and forest paths to Sabarimala, in collaboration with the Forest Department.
Pathanamthitta: To facilitate the devotees who have walked kilometers through the Erumeli routes and the forest path to see Ayyappa, special arrangements will soon be made, announced PS Prasanth, the President of the Travancore Devaswom. Those walking long distances will be given special tags in collaboration with the Forest Department.
Devotees can reach the Sannidhanam via the Swami Ayyappan Road from Pampa. Those wishing to take the Neelimala route can do so as well. Those who have crossed the forest area and bypassed the Sarankuthi route may enter the Sannidhanam through the Chandranandan Road.
Special arrangements will be made for the devotees coming from Pullumedu and Erumeli via designated paths, and they will wear special tags. There will be a separate queue for these tagged devotees, allowing them to proceed to the shrine for darshan.
The new facility is being set up in collaboration with the Forest Department. The Forest Department will provide special tags to the pilgrims coming via the Kanana Patha. Prasanth stated that the new system will be implemented soon.
This year, Sabarimala has witnessed a significant increase in the number of pilgrims and revenue. Over 4.5 lakh more devotees visited the shrine compared to last year. The Devaswom Board reported an additional revenue of Rs 22.7 crore during the 29 days since the temple opened.
So far this season, 22,67,956 devotees have visited Sabarimala, generating a total revenue of Rs 1,63,89,20,204. This marks an increase of over Rs 22.76 crore compared to last year. The sale of Aravana (sacred offering) has seen a remarkable surge, with revenue rising from Rs 65 crore last year to over Rs 82.5 crore this year, an increase of more than Rs 17 crore.
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/kerala-news/kerala-tdb-to-introduce-queue-free-darshan-for-devotees-taking-forest-routes-to-sabarimala-temple-anr-sokqkt
| 2024-12-16T07:08:18Z
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DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israel said Sunday it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorated over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials said new Israeli airstrikes killed over 46 people including several children.
The decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel's foreign minister has described as Ireland's "extreme anti-Israel policies." In May, Israel recalled its ambassador to Dublin after Ireland announced, along with Norway, Spain and Slovenia, it would recognize a Palestinian state.
The Irish Cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel denies it.
"We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimized," said Ireland's foreign affairs minister, Micheal Martin.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement on the embassy closure said "Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel."
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called the decision to close the embassy "deeply regrettable." He added on X: "I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law."
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill a journalist and childrenIsraeli forces continued Sunday to pound Gaza, including the largely isolated north, as the Palestinian death toll in the war approached 45,000.
A large explosion lit up the southern Gaza skyline on Sunday night. An Israeli airstrike hit a school and killed at least 16 people in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were taken. There was no immediate Israeli military statement.
In the north, an airstrike hit the Khalil Aweida school in the town of Beit Hanoun and killed at least 15 people, according to nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital where casualties were taken. The dead included two parents and their daughter and a father and his son, the hospital said.
And in Gaza City, at least 17 people including six women and five children were killed in three airstrikes that hit houses sheltering displaced people, according to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.
"We woke up to the strike. I woke up with the rubble on top of me," said a bandaged Yahia al-Yazji, who grieved for his wife and daughter. "I found my wife with her head and skull visible, and my daughter's intestines were gone. My wife was three months pregnant." His hand rested on a body wrapped in a blanket on the floor.
Israel's military in a statement said it struck a "terrorist cell" in Gaza City and a "terrorist meeting point" in the Beit Hanoun area.
Another Israeli airstrike killed a Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera, Ahmed al-Lawh, in central Gaza, a hospital and the Qatari-based TV station said.
The strike hit a point for Gaza's civil defense agency in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, Al-Awda Hospital said. Also killed were three civil defense workers including the local head of the agency, according to al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. The civil defense is Gaza's main rescue agency and operates under the Hamas-run government.
One of the bodies was covered with an orange work jacket marked "ambulance" in English.
"We, the civil defense, are carrying out humanitarian work like in any country in the world. Why are we being targeted?" said colleague Kerem Al Dalou.
Israel's military said it struck a militant command center embedded in the civil defense offices.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas and other militants from Gaza stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking well over 200 hostage.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed almost 45,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry's count does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but it says over half of the dead have been women and children.
Most of Gaza's population of over 2 million has been displaced, often multiple times. The hospitals that are still functioning say they lack medicines, fuel and other basic supplies, while aid groups warn of widespread hunger.
The head of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, told CBS on Sunday that the U.N. agency was able to get just two trucks of supplies into Gaza in November, citing insecurity there.
"We need a ceasefire, and we need it now," she said. "We can no longer sit by and just allow these people to starve to death."
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2024-12-15/israel-will-close-its-ireland-embassy-over-gaza-tensions
| 2024-12-16T07:08:18Z
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Lalu Goes to Jail: Who's Happy,Who's Sad
Here are the top reactions to the conviction of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam.
1. Lalu Remains Calm
Here are the top reactions to the conviction of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam.
While coming out from the court, Yadav appeared calm and did not take any question as his car sped away to the jail located at Hotwar on the outskirts of Ranchi, adjacent to the National Games Village.
__PAGEBREAK__
2. BJP Delighted
BJP today welcomed the conviction of RJD Chief Lalu Prasad in the fodder scam case by a special CBI court in Ranchi while Congress said that law has taken its course.
BJP leaders have begun to eye Lalu's support base, particularly the Yadavs who constitute over nine percent of Bihar's 105 million people."Our party is the only force to gain (from this development)," BJP leader Giriraj Singh asserted.
"The court has delivered a verdict taking cognisance of the free hand given to loot the treasure of Bihar, we welcome the judgment," said BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain.
Reacting to the verdict, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Today, the law has taken its own course. All those who commit corruption with impunity need to understand that law will catch up with you. I am sure it will also catch up with those who are with the government of India."
__PAGEBREAK__
3. Nitish Kumar Hides His Happiness
Being fully aware that after his conviction, Lalu is not in a position to claim to be main rival to Nitish Kumar.But he has refused to say anything on the verdict. "I don't react to court verdicts." JD-U leaders hope that Muslims, who constitute 16.5 percent of the population, will now be attracted towards their party
__PAGEBREAK__
4. Congress Pats Itself on the Back
Congress today gave a guarded response to Lalu Prasad's conviction in fodder case, saying law is same for everybody, even as it steered clear of questions on future alliance with RJD.
"It's too early to say what impact it will have on alliance in Bihar and Jharkhand. We cannot say anything on what will happen about alliance," party communication department chief Ajay Maken told reporters.
Maken's remarks are significant as there was intense speculation in the party about a future tie-up in Bihar with either Lalu Prasad's RJD, or its arch-rival JD(U), which walked out NDA in Bihar on June 16 protesting over Narendra Modi's elevation as BJP's campaign committee chief.
The party also said that law has taken its own course.
"I have respect for the judgement given by the court as law does not discriminate between person to person. Law has taken its own course. We have respect for the court," party leader Rashid Alvi said.
Union Minister Sachin Pilot said, "Law is same for everybody whether it is bureaucrats, journalists or businessmen. Law is supreme. We have faith in the judiciary and everyone must abide by it.
Party leader Rashid Alvi said he has respect for the judgement given by the court as "law does not discriminate between person to person. Law has taken its own course."
__PAGEBREAK__
5. Lalu's Son Optimistic
Soon after Lalu Prasad was convicted in a fodder scam case by the Special CBI court , his son Tejaswi Yadav told reporters that the conviction will be challenged in a higher court.
"We will appeal in higher courts, we have faith in the legal system," Tejaswi Yadav said.
"We will also go to the court of the people. The powers conspiring against us to trap our leader will get a fitting reply in the coming elections," Tejaswi Yadav said.
__PAGEBREAK__
6. Lalu's Supporters & RJD Devastated, Turn to Rabri
RJD leaders admitted that their party's future was at stake after a special court convicted its leader Lalu Prasad in the fodder scam.
At a time when the RJD was seemingly gaining ground it had lost in the state, the conviction -- and jailing -- of Lalu Prasad has come as a major setback to the party. Publicly, RJD leaders are putting up a brave face, saying the party was united. Some want Lalu Prasad's wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi to lead them.
A senior RJD leader, Veena Shahi, urged Rabri Devi to lead the party."We know there is no alternate to Lalu but his popularity will increase now among his traditional supporters," she said.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/lalu-prasad-yadav-convicted-in-fodder-scam-top-reactions-104170.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:19Z
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The United States has made "direct contact" with the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press conference in Aqaba, Jordan on Saturday.
"We've been in contact with HTS and with other parties," Blinken said, referring to the rebels who drove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power in a lightning offensive earlier this month.
Blinken referred to those discussions as "direct contact." He did not elaborate on details of the talks, but did acknowledge that the U.S. has "impressed upon everyone we've been in contact with" the importance of helping to find the missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared near Damascus 12 years ago.
Blinken's comments mark the first time a U.S. official has acknowledged contact with HTS. The Islamist group was once affiliated with al-Qaida, and while it has sought to strike a more moderate tone in recent years, the U.S. still regards it as a terrorist organization — a designation given to the group in May 2018.
Blinken, who was in Jordan meeting with leaders about Syria's future, said the U.S. and its partners "agreed on a set of shared principles to guide our support for Syria and its people going forward."
The U.S. and its partners also agreed to several factors, Blinken said, including that the transition process in the Syrian government should be "Syrian-led and Syrian-owned," citizens should have access to humanitarian aid and that the country "should not be used as a base for terrorist groups or others."
"We know that what happens inside of Syria can have powerful consequences well beyond its borders, from mass displacement to terrorism. And we know that we can't underestimate the challenges of this moment and in the weeks and months ahead," he said. "Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed and we're prepared to help them do so."
During an interview last week, the HTS leader, Ahmed al-Shara, formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohmmad al-Jolani, sought to allay concerns about Syria's future under HTS leadership.
He said fears by other countries "are unnecessary" and was hopeful that Syria "will be rebuilt."
"People are exhausted from war. So the country isn't ready for another one and it's not going to get into another one," he told Sky News. "The source of our fears was from the Iranian militias, Hezbollah and the regime which committed the massacres we are seeing today. So their removal is the solution for Syria. The current situation won't allow for a return to panic."
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/u-s-has-made-contact-with-syrian-rebel-group-hts-blinken-says
| 2024-12-16T07:08:21Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
BEIJING, Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
On December 12th, 2024, the second
Hithium Eco-Day, themed "The Freedom of Energy, The revolution of Life," was held successfully in Beijing, China. Through this event, Hithium world premiered three innovative products: the ∞Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h full-scenarios high-capacity BESS, the first specialized sodium-ion battery for utility-scale energy storage-∞Cell N162Ah, and the installation-free home microgrid system-HeroES.
∞ Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h: 4h full-scenarios high-capacity BESS, entering an era of full-scenarios customization
Continue Reading
Hithium Eco-day Product Launch
Hithium introduced the ∞Pack+ full-scenarios high-capacity energy storage platform, which features five key advantages: high-capacity, standardization, platformization, scenario-based, and maintainability. Based on this platform, Hithium launched the ∞Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h BESS. In the 2-hour BESS scenario, the battery cell is 587Ah, while in the 4-hour BESS scenario it is 1175Ah. Furthermore, both scenarios would work with Hithium BESS, which is tailored for desert applications.
Hithium redefines traditional energy storage by decoupling the system components including power, thermal management, control, fire safety, and output, shifting the integration from strong coupling to loose coupling. This innovative approach will unlock new possibilities for energy storage systems and foster a new industry ecosystem. The global delivery of ∞Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h BESS will begin in Q2 2025.
The First Specialized Sodium-ion Battery for Utility-scale Energy Storage - ∞Cell N162Ah, unveiling the era of sodium-ion batteries
Hithium believes that the sodium-ion battery industry has yet to identify large-scale scenarios and unveiled ∞Cell N162Ah, the world's first specialized sodium-ion battery for utility-scale energy storage. This product focuses on polyanionic cathode paired with hard carbon anode, incorporating advanced materials such as homogeneous high conductivity coatings, hard carbon anode and, weak bonding electrolyte formula. It achieves a cycle life of over 20,000 cycles and delivers superior performance in a wide temperature range, with high-rate capability, high round-trip efficiency, superior safety, and a state of health (SOH) of 70%. The ∞Cell N162Ah is now available for global sampling, with GWh mass production planned for Q4 2025.
The Installation-free Home Microgrid System - HeroES enables the freedom of smart and connected home energy
Hithium launched HeroES, its first installation-free home microgrid system. Comprising
the smart storage module (Storage series)
and the smart control module (SynergyBox), HeroES is tailored for home energy storage scenarios, featuring open-shelf
good, intelligentization, and modularization features. The initial installation requires only 30 minutes-10 times faster than traditional systems-while reducing installation cost to 1/3.
Furthermore, HeroES is equipped with Hithium's original intelligent algorithm, which can achieve self-evolution in energy management and improve home energy efficiency by 10%. Additionally, HeroES has a robust home microgrid capability. Different specifications of intelligent storage modules can be combined wirelessly and scalable to achieve plug-and-play, re-opening and defining a new scenario of home energy storage which bring smart and linked home microgrids to billions of families. The global delivery of HeroES is set to
begin
in Q3 2025.
Hithium's three new product launches demonstrate its commitment to developing innovative technological products that will drive growth and open new possibilities for the energy storage industry, paving the way to a new world of energy freedom. In the future, Hithium will continue to spearhead innovation in energy storage technology, facilitate comprehensive customization of energy storage solutions, drive the advancement of the energy storage industry, and establish Hithium Eco-Day as a leading event for product technology launches and communication, with the goal of building a greener future in collaboration with industry leaders and partners.
About Hithium
Founded in 2019, Hithium is a leading manufacturer of top-quality stationary energy storage products for utility-scale as well as commercial and industrial applications. With four distinct R&D centers and multiple "intelligent" production facilities, Hithium's innovations include groundbreaking safety improvements to its lithium-ion batteries as well as increases in lifecycle. With decades of cumulative experience in the field among its founders and senior executives, Hithium leverages its specialization in BESS to deliver partners and customers unique advances in energy storage. The company is headquartered in Xiamen, China, with locations in Shenzhen, Chongqing, Munich, Dubai, New York, California and Dallas. To date, Hithium has shipped 40+ GWh of BESS products (cells, systems and others), ranking as the Tier 1 BESS supplier and the top 5 global market share.
SOURCE HiTHIUM Energy Storage
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https://menafn.com/1108995966/Hithium-World-Premiers-Three-Innovative-Products-On-Its-Second-Eco-Day
| 2024-12-16T07:08:22Z
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- The European Central Bank struck a dovish tone last week, backed up by comments from arch-hawk Robert Holzmann on Friday.
- Money markets are continuing to price in a fall in the key ECB rate to 1.75% by September next year, with a hold beyond that.
- Questions remain over what the central bank considers its "neutral rate" and whether it could go below that to support economic growth.
The European Central Bank delivered an expected quarter-point interest rate cut this week — and alongside the announcement came several indications that rates will swiftly move even lower early next year.
ECB President Christine Lagarde did note during her Thursday press conference that policymakers gathered in Frankfurt did not believe the fight against inflation is fully over, with services inflation still a concern.
However, on the whole, it was the most dovish meeting of the current cycle, not least because the ECB's fresh macroeconomic projections forecasted lower rates of inflation and economic growth both this year and next.
Economists also jumped on the removal of the ECB's message that the central bank must "keep policy rates sufficiently restrictive for as long as necessary." Lagarde stressed that there were downside risks to the already-weak euro zone growth outlook, but said the inflation picture had significantly improved and included upside risks. She also said that a larger, half-point cut had been debated, and that Governing Council (GC) members unanimously voted to reduce rates.
The new ECB staff forecast, meanwhile, put average headline inflation just above target at 2.1% in 2025, with stronger price rises expected at the start of the year suggesting it could fall below target later in the year.
Money Report
The dovish shift was emphasized Friday when Austrian central bank chief Robert Holzmann — widely perceived as the ECB's arch-hawk and the only Governing Council member to vote for a rate hold rather than a cut in June — told reporters there would be no danger in cutting rates next year if the economy progresses as expected, according to Reuters.
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Where is neutral?
Holzmann also said markets had a "similar assessment to the central bank's" that interest rates will fall toward a neutral level — when monetary policy is balanced between boosting and restricting growth — of around 2% next year.
The ECB cut the deposit facility — its key rate — to 3% on Thursday.
What constitutes the neutral rate has been a key point of debate in recent months, and Lagarde said Thursday that while it had not been discussed at the December meeting, staff saw it between 1.75% and 2.5%.
A further question for market participants is whether the ECB will take rates below this neutral level if inflation cools even further and the growth outlook deteriorates, as has been floated by France's central bank governor, Francois Villeroy de Galhau.
This week's messaging has broadly confirmed existing market bets on the ECB's rate-cut plan for 2025.
According to LSEG data, money markets are continuing to price in a fall in the key ECB rate to 1.75% by September next year, with a hold beyond that.
But some analysts said there was now support for rate cuts going beyond that.
Deutsche Bank economists said in a Friday note that the ECB was on course for sub-neutral rates in 2025, given the trend for weak growth and below-target inflation.
They added that their baseline outlook was for a 1.5% rate at the end of 2025 via quarter-point cuts, but that a half-point move remained possible.
Dean Turner, chief euro zone and U.K. economist at UBS Global Wealth Management, stopped his forecast at a rate of 2% in June, but said risks were now "tilted towards the ECB having to do more, not less, to support the economy in 2025" — likely to mean further cuts later in the year rather than larger moves earlier on.
However, Kamil Kovar, senior economist at Moody's Analytics, argued in a note that stubborn core inflation would continue to spur ECB caution next year.
"We think that after March, the battle over how far to lower rates will start in earnest. We have no cut in April and the last cut in June, leaving rates at 2.25%," Kovar said.
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https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/money-report/heres-what-we-now-know-about-the-european-central-banks-rate-cut-plans/3737196/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:23Z
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The 2023 Social Responsibility Performance Report of Hellas Gold shows a total economic value of 343.9 million euros, and the strengthening of both local and national growth.
According to the company, 236.4 million euros were allocated to contractors and service providers, while 24.8 million euros were returned to the Greek State, underlining the positive and multi-level impact of such a large-scale investment.
The company implemented an extensive program of social projects and actions, strengthening the economic, social and environmental development of the wider region.
In this context, Hellas Gold carried out 146 social investment actions in 2023, with a total value of 1.73 million euros, to support the local community and create long-term opportunities for future generations.
1,738 direct and indirect jobs
In terms of employment, at the end of 2023, Hellas Gold supported a total of 1,738 direct and indirect jobs, the majority of which came in local communities, of which 12.3% were held by women.
In addition, it continued to invest in maintaining a safe working environment with investments of 2.5 million euros in health and safety equipment and systems, while digital transformation and optimization of the operating model contributed to the return of 5.1 million euros in productivity bonuses to employees for 2023.
In 2024, the significant increase in employment continued at the Skouries project under development, which is constantly creating numerous new jobs, further strengthening the local economy. At the same time, it allocated 4.6 million euros in environmental protection actions and investments and received the highest AAA rating for the Olympias mine, in 14 out of the 30 benchmark indicators of the international standard “Towards Sustainable Mining – TSM” for sustainable mining activity from the Mining Companies Association of Canada.
All of the above initiatives are a continuation of a series of social investments worth over 28 million euros, which the company implemented in the past decade to support the local community, having committed to a long-term social investment program of 80 million dollars over a 25-year period.
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https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/1857418/hellas-gold-total-economic-value-of-343-9-million-euros/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:23Z
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- Russia's central bank is expected to carry out a mammoth rate hike later this week as inflation continues to soar in the war-focused economy.
- Russia's consumer price index continues to rise rose despite repeated rate hikes by the central bank in an effort to tame rampant price rises.
- The consumer price index rose to 8.9% in November, compared to the same month in the previous year, and up from 8.5% in October.
- A weaker ruble — following new U.S. sanctions — has fueled inflationary pressures.
Russia's central bank is expected to carry out a mammoth rate hike later this week as inflation continues to soar in the war-focused economy.
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Russia's consumer price index continues to rise despite repeated rate hikes by the central bank designed to tame the rampant price rises. The consumer price index hit 8.9% in November compared to the same month in the previous year, up from 8.5% in October, driven principally by rising food prices.
A weaker ruble — following new U.S. sanctions in November — has also fueled inflation, driving up the cost of imports into Russia, a country whose economy has been hit hard following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Russian food prices are soaring — but no one dares blame Putin and the war
Russia tries to stem panic over the plummeting ruble, as the central bank is forced to intervene
Economists now expect Russia's central bank, the CBR, to hike rates by 200 basis points at its meeting on Dec. 20 — taking the country's key interest rate to 23%.
"The renewed acceleration in Russian inflation to 8.9% year-on-year in November, and likelihood of further increases in the coming months, argue strongly in favour of another large interest rate hike from the central bank," Liam Peach, senior Emerging Markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a note last week.
Money Report
Prices are set to continue to rise, he added, with inflation likely to rise "far above" 9.0% year-on-year by the end of 2025.
"With firms’ price expectations also hitting new highs recently, there’s a clear argument that the central bank is losing the battle against inflation and that it will be forced to hike rates sharply again ... A 200 basis point rate hike is the base case in our view, but there are arguments in favour of a larger hike," Peach said.
Price rises
The central bank enacted a 200 basis point rate hike at its last meeting in October, warning that inflation was running "considerably above" its summer forecast and that inflation expectations continue to increase.
"Growth in domestic demand is significantly outstripping the capabilities to expand the supply of goods and services," the CBR said in a statement.
Russian consumers have been hit especially hard as basic foodstuffs, such as butter, eggs, sunflower oil and vegetables, have seen high double-digit price increases as demand outstrips supply.
Russia's war against Ukraine has also caused labor and supply shortages which have pushed up wage and production costs — and these costs have ultimately been passed on to consumers. The government, however, blames the high cost of living on sanctions imposed on Russia by "unfriendly" countries. For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied swapping "butter for guns."
The International Monetary Fund predicts Russia will log 3.6% growth in 2024 before a deceleration next year, when 1.3% growth is forecast. The "sharp slowdown," the IMF said, was envisaged "as private consumption and investment slow amid reduced tightness in the labor market and slower wage growth."
Weak ruble
While Russia has looked to evade the pain of sanctions with import substitution and oil and gas exports to countries willing to accept them, international penalties are hurting.
The Russian ruble fell sharply against the dollar in November, weakening to 114 against the greenback — its lowest level since March 2022 — after another round of U.S. sanctions targeted Russia's third-largest bank Gazprombank. The measures are aimed at preventing the bank — which the U.S. Treasury said acts as a conduit for Russia to purchase military materials and pay Russian soldiers — from handling any energy-related transactions that involve the U.S. financial system.
The ruble's sharp move lower prompted the central bank to intervene to prop up the currency, with the CBR saying it would halt foreign purchases on the domestic currency market for the rest of the year "in order to reduce the volatility of financial markets."
Putin commented on the situation last month, insisting that the situation is under control.
"There are absolutely no grounds for panic," Putin told reporters, news agency RIA Novosti reported.
"As for the fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate, this is connected not only with inflation processes, it is also connected with payments to the budget, it is connected with oil prices. There are many factors of a seasonal nature," he added, in comments translated by Google.
The ruble has strengthened in recent weeks but remains down around 3% against the dollar over the past month. It was last trading at 103 against the greenback Monday.
There's little that Russia's central bank can do to tackle inflation— and the ruble's deterioration — while the war continues, according to analysts Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr.
"The fundamental reasons for the ruble's weakness have not gone anywhere, and the dynamic of Russia's trade flows means the currency is destined to falter and inflation to rise," they noted in analysis for Carnegie Politika.
"As the Russian economy slows despite significant state spending, the dynamics of the ruble exchange rate suggest the country is heading for stagflation (a toxic combination of slow growth and rising prices)," they said.
"The root cause is the war and ensuing Western sanctions and militarization of Russia's economy. The country's financial authorities don't have the power to solve this problem — and they're even afraid to speak about it publicly."
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https://www.nbcboston.com/news/business/money-report/russia-braced-for-mammoth-rate-hike-amid-fears-its-losing-the-battle-against-inflation/3578300/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:22Z
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A cult burger restaurant which has run for years west of Sydney is shutting down for good after the shock death of the family business’ patriarch.
Penrith’s Downtown Brooklyn on Sunday revealed the popular eatery would stop trading on December 22 following the death of “Big Poppa” last week.
The High St burger joint - which first opened as Big Poppa’s Burger Bar on Penrith’s High St in 2016 - has run for eight years.
In a touching statement, the owners paid tribute to Big Poppa as the “heart and soul” of Downtown Brooklyn.
“He may have delivered your food during the Covid days, greeted you with a warm smile as you walked in, seated you at your table, or shared one of his legendary chinwags while you waited,” the business owners said.
“His kindness, humor, and larger-than-life personality touched everyone who walked through our doors.”
In their statement, the owners said they had made the “incredibly tough” decision to stop trading in a week - announcing they would close for December 20 for Big Poppa’s funeral, then shut for good two days later.
“To our amazing burger lovers: thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” their statement continued.
“Your support has meant everything to us, and you’ve been the reason we’ve kept going, even during the toughest times.
“You’re more than customers to us—you’re part of our DB family.”
The burger joint has been a popular staple in Penrith for years, but has also courted controversy.
In early 2021, the restaurant accused activists against Australia Day of being “influencers” who latch onto “trending issues for the clout and likes”.
Owner Chris O’Shea eventually backed down after a fierce online backlash while apologising in a video posted to their social media.
“To the entire Indigenous community that has been offended … please take this as my sincerest apologies as to how the post was construed,” Mr O’Shea posted.
“I will cop the hate, cop the flack, and cop the damages that will still continue as most will say this is back pedalling.
“This was never meant to be a hateful or racist post.”
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https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/downtown-brooklyn-in-western-sydney-announces-sudden-closure-after-shock-death-of-business-patriarch-c-17102065
| 2024-12-16T07:08:24Z
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Man run over by car and killed in Kerala's Pathanamthitta as part of gang war, police identify 3 suspects
A 24-year-old man, Ambadi, was killed in a gang war-related incident in Pathanamthitta's Ranni, with three accused identified: Ajoy, Sreekuttan, and Aravind.
Pathanamthitta: A young man, Ambadi (24), was killed in a gruesome incident in Mandamaruthi in Pathanamthitta's Ranni, last night. The police have launched an investigation into the matter, which is believed to be a result of an ongoing gang war.
According to the police, the incident occurred when two groups clashed in front of a Beverages Corporation outlet in Ranni. The argument escalated, and the groups returned in two cars, converging at Mandamaruthi.
When Ambadi, a native of Chethonkara, got out of one of the cars, the opposing gang deliberately hit him with their vehicle. The car then ran over Ambadi, resulting in his death.
The police have identified three accused in the case: Ajoy, Sreekuttan, and Aravind. After committing the crime, the accused abandoned their car and fled the scene.
Initially, it was believed to be an accidental death. However, further investigation revealed that it was part of a gang war.
According to eyewitnesses, a dispute broke out between two groups in front of a Beverages Corporation outlet. After some time, the groups came back to Mandamaruthi and Ambadi was deliberately hit by a car, and the vehicle then ran over him, resulting in his death.
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/kerala-news/man-run-over-by-car-and-killed-in-kerala-s-pathanamthitta-as-part-of-gang-war-police-identify-3-suspects-dmn-soko74
| 2024-12-16T07:08:24Z
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Oil Consolidation
The oil trade between Russia and India has entered a new phase, marked by the dominance of a few large trading firms and the exit of smaller intermediaries.
The ongoing deliberations in the Supreme Court regarding the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991 represent a pivotal moment for India’s constitutional values.
The ongoing deliberations in the Supreme Court regarding the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991 represent a pivotal moment for India’s constitutional values. Enacted at a time of deep political and communal unrest, the Act was designed to preserve the religious harmony of the nation by freezing the status of all religious structures as they stood on 15 August 1947. It sought to shield the country from retrospective claims over religious sites, which could exacerbate societal tensions.
Today, as this legislation faces legal challenges, the stakes for India’s secular fabric could not be higher. The crux of the current debate lies in balancing individual rights with collective peace. Petitioners argue that the Act restricts their fundamental right to legal recourse for reclaiming religious sites. However, the broader intent of the law ~ to avoid reopening historical grievances that could reignite communal strife ~ cannot be overlooked. The judiciary’s role in upholding this delicate balance is critical. By intervening to halt new suits and restrict actions in ongoing cases, the Supreme Court has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that these sensitive issues do not spiral into further conflict.
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The reluctance of the Centre to file a timely response in the case, despite repeated notices from the court, adds a layer of complexity to the matter. This delay raises questions about the government’s stance on an issue that touches on the core principles of India’s secularism. The absence of a clear position risks undermining the collective effort to maintain communal harmony, leaving the judiciary to shoulder a disproportionate share of responsibility in resolving this contentious matter. At the heart of the debate is the risk of allowing judicial mechanisms to be co-opted by political or communal agendas. Recent instances of court-ordered surveys at religious sites, which have led to violence and unrest, underscore the potential for misuse of legal avenues.
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These events highlight the importance of preserving the status quo and preventing subordinate courts from bypassing the larger constitutional framework set by the Supreme Court. It is also crucial to recognise the precedent this case could set for future legal disputes. If the Act is undermined, it may embolden fringe elements to weaponise historical narratives for political or communal gains, jeopardising India’s fragile social equilibrium. A reaffirmation of the law would send a strong message that the nation’s progress cannot be derailed by revisiting the wounds of the past. The Places of Worship Act is not just a legal instrument but a symbol of India’s commitment to secularism and coexistence.
Striking it down could open a Pandora’s box of claims, creating a legal and social quagmire. Upholding it, on the other hand, would reaffirm the nation’s dedication to fostering unity amid diversity. As the Supreme Court continues its deliberations, its decisions will have far-reaching consequences for India’s constitutional ethos. By prioritising peace and inclusivity, the judiciary can ensure that the past does not overshadow the nation’s collective future.
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https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/protecting-harmony-1503376267.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:24Z
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SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Some things are easier to learn when you're a kid, like an instrument or a sport. NPR's Avery Keatley visited a gymnastics class outside of Washington, D.C., to find out why it's important to keep learning new things, no matter your age.
AVERY KEATLEY, BYLINE: On a dark, rainy Tuesday night, the Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center in Arlington, Virginia, is brightly lit and absolutely buzzing. The gymnastics floor is mobbed with kids wearing bright leotards, taking turns on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor. It is loud as the kids tumble across the floor and parents wait in the bleachers overlooking the gymnasium. But as the kids' classes begin winding down, a different group files in.
GAELEN WOOD: (Inaudible) forward rolls, so arms up.
ERIN WEISENBERGER: This is the worst one because it really hurts your head. When I was a kid, this didn't hurt, but it really gives me a headache doing it. I don't know why.
KEATLEY: That's 32-year-old Erin Weisenberger. She's warming up doing somersaults across the gymnastics floor along with the rest of her class. It's a group of nearly all women ranging in age from their late 20s to their early 40s, and they're all here trying something a little different.
WOOD: So we're going to learn something new today.
KEATLEY: They're part of an adult beginner gymnastics class. It's a bit of a rarity in the gymnastics world, where most classes are geared towards kids and teens.
WOOD: And if you're lefty, you're going to jump, land on your right foot, extend your left foot into your lunge.
KEATLEY: That's Coach Gaelen Wood. Tonight, they're learning how to power hurdle. It's a move that helps generate momentum for tumbling, and the footwork is a little complicated.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: So think about jumping off of two feet and just land on your right foot.
WEISENBERGER: Just land on my right foot. Just land on my right foot.
(LAUGHTER)
KEATLEY: While Erin tries to master the power hurdle, classmate Shateela Winters has a simpler goal in mind.
SHATEELA WINTERS: So my goal is to not injure myself. I have a bad back amongst other things. But if I could pick the dream thing that I had learned to do, if I could just do one back handspring, I'd be incredibly happy.
WOOD: Awesome.
KEATLEY: After warming up on the floor, the class files over to a trampoline that stretches almost halfway across the gym.
WOOD: All right, we're going to straddle jumps. So remember, either straddle jumps can go out to the side or straddle jumps can come up in front of you, OK?
KEATLEY: Gymnastics program supervisor Alex Asante-Dean says that for adult beginners, breaking out of their normal patterns of movement, like jumping really high in the air on a trampoline, can be uncomfortable.
ALEX ASANTE-DEAN: When we start, some of the things are really jarring 'cause you're moving your body in ways that hasn't been done before.
KEATLEY: And it's not just physical movements.
ASANTE-DEAN: When we get older and we have, you know, routines that we're used to, gets hard to break those habits.
KEATLEY: That's an observation backed up by research.
RACHEL WU: Adults might have a more fixed mindset in terms of thinking, if I'm not good at something now, I'm never going to be good at it.
KEATLEY: Rachel Wu is an associate professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside. She studies the way children learn and how those patterns might help adults learn too. She says that in some ways, learning is easier as an adult. Adults generally grasp concepts more quickly. They're less distracted, and they have better motor control than kids. But learning as an adult requires time, money and quality teachers, which can all be harder to find. She also says adults are often convinced they simply lack a talent for something.
WU: I've never been good at languages, or I've never been good at art, or I don't have a musical ear or something like that - that kind of, like, very fixed mindset. So you're either born with some talent or you're not.
KEATLEY: But continuing to learn as an adult has serious brain benefits.
WU: You will increase a lot of different types of cognitive abilities - your attention, memory. You have existing neurons that can be strengthened and existing pathways between neurons that can be strengthened as well.
KEATLEY: She says physical activities can be especially helpful in growing new neurons, which help the brain remain healthy and flexible later in life. Community can also play a big role in supporting adult learning.
WU: Learning new stuff is really hard, and if you're doing it with other people, it may be less depressing (laughter) in some ways because those people can help hold you accountable. You can see through how other people are struggling that you're not the only one struggling.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: There you go. Yes. Pull, pull, pull, pull, pull. Good.
KEATLEY: Back in the gym, the class is practicing on the uneven bars.
WEISENBERGER: The Olympians make it look so smooth and so easy and just like a walk in the park. But it is not (laughter).
KEATLEY: Erin Weisenberger says that even though class is challenging, she gets a lot out of it.
WEISENBERGER: Just proud of myself for trying something that I thought I would be really bad at.
KEATLEY: Coach Gaelen Wood says that for him, seeing adult students achieve something new is one of the best parts of the class.
WOOD: I love when people are nervous of something, and they finally take that step forward, and they're like, I can do this.
KEATLEY: As class winds down, one of those moments unfolds as Erin successfully pulls herself all the way over the uneven bar for the first time.
WEISENBERGER: I did it.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: There you go. Yay.
KEATLEY: Avery Keatley, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2024-12-15/learning-as-an-adult-can-be-hard-its-even-harder-on-a-balance-beam
| 2024-12-16T07:08:25Z
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Former Rajasthan Minister Babulal Nagar who is charged with rape is in for more trouble as a video has emerged allegedly showing his close associate trying to bribe and threaten the complainant and her family into taking back the case.
The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/mins-aide-offers-bribe-to-rape-victim-104238.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:26Z
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‘Tis the season for rapacious gift guides, viral Spotify memes and ubiquitous year-end retrospectives. To celebrate, our Saturday editions look a bit different this month: I’m bringing you the very best links of the year, as (arbitrarily and subjectively) chosen by me and three very special guests.
Last week, we kicked things off with an eclectic digital treasure trove from Matt Muir of Web Curios. This week, I’ve invited Dan Toller from The Electric Typewriter — an extraordinary compilation of longform journalism, new and old — to share his favorite reads of 2024.
Dan is a translator and curator living in Cologne, Germany, who has been collecting and recommending stand-out articles and essays since 2011. Over the past 13 years, he’s built out a truly exhaustive online compendium that’s beloved by both readers and journalism educators (… yours truly included).
Dan’s picks draw from anthologies of classic and contemporary writing — such as the “Best American” series and Nieman Storyboard’s “Why’s This So Good” — as well as more obscure finds he discovers while poking around the internet’s “forgotten corners.” Personally, I’ve been following TETW since at least 2013, and I consider the project a major inspiration for what I’ve tried to do with reading guides this year. So I’m delighted to share Dan’s favorite reads of 2024 with you, from a great essay about doomscrolling to a (literal) deep dive on the world of underwater internet cables.
Be sure to check out the brand new (!!) Electric Typewriter Substack for more picks like these. And now, without further ado, Dan’s links …
Dan Toller’s favorite links of 2024
“The Trillion-Gallon Question,” by Christopher Cox for The New York Times Magazine. Apocalyptic scenarios seem to lend themselves to great journalism. This one is a fascinating mix of historical sleuthing, our chronic inability to grapple with climate science, epic engineering and hapless bureaucracy. My favorite read about an epic, inevitable disaster since Kathryn Schultz’s amazing 2015 classic, “The Really Big One.” Her 2024 article about solar flares is great, too — I only left it out of my top 10 to avoid this becoming a complete doomsday fest.
“How Soon Might the Atlantic Ocean Break?,” by Sandra Upson for Wired. While we’re on the subject of Armageddon: If you’ve never heard of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and feel like scaring yourself shitless, then this white-knuckle explainer on ocean currents and climate tipping points is for you. The article does a great job of making the awe-inspiring magnitude of the forces at play here tangible.
“Fear as a Game,” by Elisa Gabbert for The Believer. Which leads us nicely to my next pick — a beautifully constructed meditation on the psychology of fear, and why we go to such extraordinary lengths to scare the hell out of ourselves. This really made me think about a subject that I hadn’t really considered before — my favorite kind of essay.
“The Cloud Under the Sea,” by Josh Dzieza for The Verge. From the consistently excellent Verge, this fascinating trip through the world of global internet infrastructure felt like a 2020s remake of Neal Stephenson’s 1996 masterpiece “Mother Earth Mother Board.” A high-stakes adventure at sea, with lots of background about a subject that has a profound impact on us all, plus plenty of mind-bending technical details.
“The Contingency Contingent,” by Leigh Claire La Berge for n+1. This is one I discovered through Links I Would Gchat You. [Editor’s note: This one was also v. popular with Links readers!!] Disturbingly familiar to anyone who has worked in the corporate world, this brilliant memoir about a fake job in Y2K preparedness is an instant classic.
“The New Pornographers,” by Roxane Gay for Bitter Southerner. Whenever I see Roxane Gay’s name, I know I’m in for a great read. Her writing immediately grabs you and won’t let go. This essay about doomscrolling on TikTok is no exception, and is easily my favorite of the many that have explored the horrors of the algorithmic internet over recent years. Substack, take note! (Or should that be … Notes?)
“I Want To Ignore Beauty Culture. But I’ll Never Get Anywhere If I Don’t Look a Certain Way,” from the “Ask Ugly” column by Jessica DeFino for The Guardian. Over the last year, “Ask Ugly” has artfully tackled loads of thorny beauty questions — from plastic surgery and ageing to pubic hair and big feet. This one stuck out because it answers a question that so many people ask themselves in one form or another. I have two daughters, and when they get sucked into the twisted vortex of beauty culture, this is exactly what I want them to read.
“Like a Cheese Grater Raking Across My Nipple,” by Niamh Campbell for The Guardian. A searing personal essay about the culture of shame around breastfeeding — yet another thing that makes having kids more difficult than it needs to be. The piece is so well written that I’d be recommending it even if my family hadn’t had an eerily similar experience. This Atlantic essay about the challenges facing parents in the U.S. is worth a read too.
“What If the Robots Were Very Nice While They Took Over the World?,” by Virginia Heffernan for Wired. Virginia Heffernan is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. Her deep dive into the technical and geopolitical complexity of chip manufacturing was one of the best things I read last year, and this look at AI and the game Diplomacy is just as good, if on a much smaller scale. It teases out some of the fascinating subtleties in the interaction between machine learning and human emotion, and offers an intriguing glimpse into our fast approaching AI-powered future.
“My Taste Is Basic. So What?” by Samantha Irby for Harper’s Bazaar. This is so simple and smart, it reminds me of Chuck Klosterman at his best. Before I ruin it by trying to dissect it, just take my word for it and click through.
In case you missed it
Wasn’t that great?? I personally missed the Samantha Irby essay, but will now be deploying the defense “I like it!” with reckless abandon. Again, please check out The Electric Typewriter for more pieces like these ones. And while you’re reading those, perhaps you’d also like to revisit last year’s most popular Links Originals. For the month of December, I’m using this section to count down the 12 posts that you all read most in 2024. We did Numbers 10-12 last week — here’s the next trio.
9. Fun fact: This lengthy reported essay was initially commissioned by a major American magazine, but I published it here after my editor ghosted me. Loving that freelance life, baby!!
8. A comprehensive explainer of Gamergate on its 10th anniversary: what it was, who it hurt and how it might’ve influenced just about everything.
7. I interviewed the journalist Elle Reeve about her reporting on white nationalists and the extremist internet, also for our August series on Gamergate and its impact.
Thank you, as always, to the paid subscribers who make this work possible. It takes many, many hours to produce both the weekly link round-up and the dozens of pieces of original reporting and analysis that I’ve published this year. If you appreciate this work and would like to contribute directly to the sustainability and success of this little project, you can do so here — with my gratitude! xx
That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for another guest next weekend. I’ll be back with my favorite links of the year later in December.
Warmest virtual AND holiday regards,
Caitlin
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https://linksiwouldgchatyou.substack.com/p/the-best-links-of-2024-part-2
| 2024-12-16T07:08:27Z
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Seven members of the terror outfit SIMI escaped from the Khandwa jail in Madhya Pradesh. The police have claimed to have arrested one of them while six are still on the run.
The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/mp-7-simi-operatives-flee-from-jail-104298.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:27Z
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(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Australian capital will be the sixth gateway in Australia for the airlines, enhancing connectivity and travel options for business, leisure and government sector customers
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways is set to re-launch daily flights to Canberra, the capital city of Australia, driving connectivity and increased competition for the benefit of Canberrans and Australian customers.
The daily flights to Canberra will operate via Melbourne to the airline's hub, Hamad International Airport, in Doha, which has consistently been voted the World's Best Airport, as well as offering travellers a world-class stopover experience with seamless connections to more than 170 destinations across the Qatar Airways global network.
The flights, commencing in December 2025, will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring the airline's award-winning Q-suite Business Class cabin and complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi for all passengers.
Qatar Airways ceased operations to Canberra during the global pandemic, making this announcement a significant milestone for the airline as it reconnects to the city, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the surrounding regions.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said:“We are delighted to be able to serve Canberra once again. The nation's capital, the political heart of Australia, rightly expects to be served by a range of international airlines, and I am proud that we are able to play our part in that. Whether travelling for business, government services or leisure, our commitment to Australia, and to Canberra, is one that we know will bring much needed healthy competition to the market and greater choice for passengers.”
Canberra Airport CEO, Stephen Byron, highlighted the significance of the recommencement of services, highlighting its importance for the region.“The return of Qatar Airways marks an exciting and pivotal moment for Canberra and our surrounding regions. This service not only provides over a million residents access to a global network spanning more than 170 destinations but also invites the world to rediscover Canberra's unique cultural, educational, and tourism offerings," he said.
“We believe that providing a greater choice of carriers and destinations not only makes prices more competitive but also opens up boundless opportunities for our community, connecting our city to the rest of the world.
“These opportunities are not just about enhancing connectivity; they're about strengthening business connections, driving economic development, and creating jobs, as well as fostering tourism and attracting international students to our vibrant city.”
ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr said the announcement that Qatar will resume international flights out of Canberra (via Melbourne) is great news going into a big five years for tourism.
He said:“It's a timely boost to our local tourism industry with aviation access being the biggest driver to growth in the sector and it's great news for Canberrans wanting to travel overseas, particularly to Europe, the United Kingdom and the Middle East.”
“Qatar Airways' return will benefit the whole Canberra region, providing tourism, trade, investment and a range of business opportunities. It will also make an important contribution towards the Government's goal of growing our tourism economy to AU$5 billion in visitor expenditure by 2030.”
The announcement comes on top of the launch of sales of Virgin Australia's new services from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne (Melbourne flights will be on sale on January 2025 and will commence in December 2025) to over 100 destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, operated on Qatar Airways aircraft.
The Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia partnership, pending final regulatory approval, positions Virgin Australia to strongly compete in the international travel market, delivering increased competition, improved connectivity, and enhanced customer choice.
This announcement is another example of the increased benefits of the partnership. Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty members will have maximised earning and redemption opportunities on the Canberra services, and eligible passengers will also enjoy reciprocal lounge benefits.
Qatar Airways is continuing to work closely with Virgin Australia to progress the remaining regulatory approvals on the proposed partnership.
The flights are on sale now.
MENAFN16122024000063011010ID1108995967
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https://menafn.com/1108995967/Qatar-Airways-To-Resume-Daily-Flights-To-Canberra
| 2024-12-16T07:08:28Z
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SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Fear was central to President Bashar al-Assad's control over Syria. For many Syrians, it didn't feel safe to express dissent anywhere. Even a whispered word against the government spoken at home was often enough for someone to disappear into a network of dozens of prisons where torture was routine. Since the fall of Assad's regime, many families have been searching, trying to find answers about their missing loved ones who vanished in places like this. NPR's Ruth Sherlock and Jawad Rizkallah visited one of these feared intelligence branches.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).
JAWAD RIZKALLAH, BYLINE: He's saying this is the dirtiest place in Syria.
RUTH SHERLOCK, BYLINE: Palm trees growing on either side to the entrance way, the torn picture of Bashar al-Assad - we go inside what used to be the Assad regime's state security complex. It's huge, and the rebels who now control it take us to prison branch 85.
RIZKALLAH: Here, nobody was allowed to come in.
SHERLOCK: This is a grim place. These are the solitary cells. No light - there's only a blacked out grate for air, leading to the outside world, but no window.
RIZKALLAH: Oh, look.
SHERLOCK: Oh, my gosh. Somebody's marked lines on the wall in rows to keep track of how many days they've been in here. One, two, three, four, eight weeks - someone was here for eight weeks in this cell, 1 meter wide by about 2 meters long. Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).
SHERLOCK: These intelligence branches were places of torture and terror in Syria. In branch 85, we're told, both Syrians and foreigners were held. There's even been claims that Austin Tice, the American journalist who disappeared in 2012, may have spent time here.
Hey, guys. There's English here. Somebody's turned these walls into a classroom - I see you, for you, listen to me, look at me, go away, miss you.
Last week, when opposition militias took Damascus from the regime, one of the first things they did was free the prisoners. Here, everything has been abandoned, left exactly as it was, including the art prisoners etched into the walls.
Somebody's drawn a beautiful picture of a house. It looks like a log cabin somewhere in mountains and a tree beside it and a forest in the background and a bridge over a river in the foreground. They've tried to make - there's a waterfall. They've tried to make this beautiful.
UNIDENTIFIED GUARD: (Non-English language spoken).
SHERLOCK: A guard breaks down in tears as he tells me if you're in prison and you don't know how to draw, you'll be driven to madness. He remembers how his cousin was jailed.
UNIDENTIFIED GUARD: (Non-English language spoken).
RIZKALLAH: And he told them everything that he went through there. And now when he's here and he's looking at everything, he's remembering everything his cousin told him.
SHERLOCK: The guard tells us that when they arrived, they found people dead.
RIZKALLAH: There were bodies, the corpses that were found here, and they took them to the hospital. And they're still in the morgue for people if they want to come check if their families are.
SHERLOCK: And there are so many thousands of families searching all across Syria, over 100,000 missing, a conservative estimate by rights groups. They come to places like this to search for threads of their loved ones' existence.
This is just one prison in a network of prisons that are all over the city. We know about the big ones - Sednaya, where thousands of people disappeared. But there's also these. Across the capitol, there's branch after branch, security branch after security branch after security branch.
The regime was meticulous in its brutality. Bureaucrats and intelligence officials kept detailed notes of every person detained, of every interrogation, of the torture applied and of every execution.
RIZKALLAH: Ruth.
SHERLOCK: Yeah?
RIZKALLAH: Come.
SHERLOCK: Coming, coming.
RIZKALLAH: The papers are still here. We still have papers.
SHERLOCK: These documents could provide families with the answers about what happened to their loved ones. They are valuable evidence of crimes, and the guards say we have to go and get permission to see them. We make our way outside.
Gosh, you just feel relief coming back out into the fresh air. You can't imagine what it must have been like to be held there, not knowing when you'd get out.
We walk away on a road that runs above the dungeon prison that holds so many secrets, many of which will be revealed, and many more will lie in darkness. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Damascus. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/we-head-inside-a-feared-intelligence-branch-after-the-fall-of-assad-regime-in-syria
| 2024-12-16T07:08:28Z
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- Russia's central bank is expected to carry out a mammoth rate hike later this week as inflation continues to soar in the war-focused economy.
- Russia's consumer price index continues to rise rose despite repeated rate hikes by the central bank in an effort to tame rampant price rises.
- The consumer price index rose to 8.9% in November, compared to the same month in the previous year, and up from 8.5% in October.
- A weaker ruble — following new U.S. sanctions — has fueled inflationary pressures.
Russia's central bank is expected to carry out a mammoth rate hike later this week as inflation continues to soar in the war-focused economy.
Russia's consumer price index continues to rise despite repeated rate hikes by the central bank designed to tame the rampant price rises. The consumer price index hit 8.9% in November compared to the same month in the previous year, up from 8.5% in October, driven principally by rising food prices.
A weaker ruble — following new U.S. sanctions in November — has also fueled inflation, driving up the cost of imports into Russia, a country whose economy has been hit hard following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Read more
Russian food prices are soaring — but no one dares blame Putin and the war
Russia tries to stem panic over the plummeting ruble, as the central bank is forced to intervene
Economists now expect Russia's central bank, the CBR, to hike rates by 200 basis points at its meeting on Dec. 20 — taking the country's key interest rate to 23%.
"The renewed acceleration in Russian inflation to 8.9% year-on-year in November, and likelihood of further increases in the coming months, argue strongly in favour of another large interest rate hike from the central bank," Liam Peach, senior Emerging Markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a note last week.
Money Report
Prices are set to continue to rise, he added, with inflation likely to rise "far above" 9.0% year-on-year by the end of 2025.
"With firms’ price expectations also hitting new highs recently, there’s a clear argument that the central bank is losing the battle against inflation and that it will be forced to hike rates sharply again ... A 200 basis point rate hike is the base case in our view, but there are arguments in favour of a larger hike," Peach said.
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Price rises
The central bank enacted a 200 basis point rate hike at its last meeting in October, warning that inflation was running "considerably above" its summer forecast and that inflation expectations continue to increase.
"Growth in domestic demand is significantly outstripping the capabilities to expand the supply of goods and services," the CBR said in a statement.
Russian consumers have been hit especially hard as basic foodstuffs, such as butter, eggs, sunflower oil and vegetables, have seen high double-digit price increases as demand outstrips supply.
Russia's war against Ukraine has also caused labor and supply shortages which have pushed up wage and production costs — and these costs have ultimately been passed on to consumers. The government, however, blames the high cost of living on sanctions imposed on Russia by "unfriendly" countries. For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied swapping "butter for guns."
The International Monetary Fund predicts Russia will log 3.6% growth in 2024 before a deceleration next year, when 1.3% growth is forecast. The "sharp slowdown," the IMF said, was envisaged "as private consumption and investment slow amid reduced tightness in the labor market and slower wage growth."
Weak ruble
While Russia has looked to evade the pain of sanctions with import substitution and oil and gas exports to countries willing to accept them, international penalties are hurting.
The Russian ruble fell sharply against the dollar in November, weakening to 114 against the greenback — its lowest level since March 2022 — after another round of U.S. sanctions targeted Russia's third-largest bank Gazprombank. The measures are aimed at preventing the bank — which the U.S. Treasury said acts as a conduit for Russia to purchase military materials and pay Russian soldiers — from handling any energy-related transactions that involve the U.S. financial system.
The ruble's sharp move lower prompted the central bank to intervene to prop up the currency, with the CBR saying it would halt foreign purchases on the domestic currency market for the rest of the year "in order to reduce the volatility of financial markets."
Putin commented on the situation last month, insisting that the situation is under control.
"There are absolutely no grounds for panic," Putin told reporters, news agency RIA Novosti reported.
"As for the fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate, this is connected not only with inflation processes, it is also connected with payments to the budget, it is connected with oil prices. There are many factors of a seasonal nature," he added, in comments translated by Google.
The ruble has strengthened in recent weeks but remains down around 3% against the dollar over the past month. It was last trading at 103 against the greenback Monday.
There's little that Russia's central bank can do to tackle inflation— and the ruble's deterioration — while the war continues, according to analysts Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr.
"The fundamental reasons for the ruble's weakness have not gone anywhere, and the dynamic of Russia's trade flows means the currency is destined to falter and inflation to rise," they noted in analysis for Carnegie Politika.
"As the Russian economy slows despite significant state spending, the dynamics of the ruble exchange rate suggest the country is heading for stagflation (a toxic combination of slow growth and rising prices)," they said.
"The root cause is the war and ensuing Western sanctions and militarization of Russia's economy. The country's financial authorities don't have the power to solve this problem — and they're even afraid to speak about it publicly."
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https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/money-report/russia-braced-for-mammoth-rate-hike-amid-fears-its-losing-the-battle-against-inflation/3737195/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:29Z
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Greece passed the 2025 budget – a budget with almost zero deficits, strong primary surpluses, high growth rates, unemployment below 10%, inflation close to the 2% target – at a time when many European Union countries are facing an excessive deficit procedure and amidst global economic uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions, political instability in France and Germany, and the election of Donald Trump in the US.
“We are moving forward in 2025 with four priorities: fiscal prudence and seriousness, cutting taxes while reducing tax evasion, supporting growth and extroversion, strengthening social policy,” Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis said.
“The problem is de-escalating and estimates show that inflation is being limited internationally. Wage increases, both in 2025 as shown in the budget, and in the following years, will make the daily lives of households better. The difficult part of the crisis is behind us. This is not being addressed internationally with magic formulas, but with solid and responsible policies,” emphasized Hatzidakis.
In the 2025 budget, it is estimated that tax revenues will increase further, reaching 69.2 billion euros, higher by 2.4 billion euros compared to the current year.
This assumption is based on economic growth, increased private consumption and inflation, while it does not take into account any additional revenues from measures against tax evasion, which will appear in early autumn.
The government aims at revenues of 2.5 billion euros from the fight against tax evasion by the end of the four-year period.
The 2025 budget foresees, among others, 2.3% growth versus 2.2% in 2024 and 2.3% in 2023, GDP at 247.5 billion euros versus 237 billion in 2024 and 225.2 billion in 2023, primary surplus at 6.0% as well as 13 tax cuts.
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https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/1857435/greek-parliament-passes-2025-budget-tax-reliefs-and-income-support-measures/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:29Z
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TV journalist Lisa Wilkinson will have to wait until next year to learn how much of her $1.8m legal bill Network 10 needs to cough up after a judge cleared her of defaming Bruce Lehrmann.
Justice Michael Lee dismissed Lerhmann’s high-stakes lawsuit earlier this year after finding, on the balance of probabilities, he had raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.
He has appealed the decision.
Lehrmann sued Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, claiming he had been defamed in an interview with Ms Higgins on The Project in which she said she was raped by a colleague.
Following the bruising loss, the former Liberal staffer was ordered to fork up $2m for the failed suit, though Justice Lee noted there was not “any real likelihood” he would be able to pay it.
Ms Wilkinson is separately seeking about $1.8m from Network 10 after she sought outside legal representation, with a referee appointed to determine what costs are subject to indemnity.
Despite the report being compiled, lawyers for both Network 10 and Ms Wilkinson said there were still “issues of principle” stopping them from agreeing on a final figure owed by 10.
Ms Wilkinson’s lawyer, Michael Elliott SC, noted multiple issues, including rates for work, and called for a supplementary report by the referee, who was to determine “reasonable” costs.
He called for the matter to be adjourned, sparing a fierce response by Justice Lee who said he “couldn’t have made any clearer to the parties that I wanted to be concluded before Christmas”.
“I made it clear, I wanted to deal with this today. I want to ensure I conclude my involvement with this matter if at all possible,” Justice Lee told Wilkinson’s barrister, Mr Elliot.
He later added: “I really want this advent to bring it to an end, I don’t want see 2025 to see my involvement with it unless it is necessary I be involved … I’m not dragging this out any longer”.
Justice Lee said that the result of the application could be to defer the matter for “some time”, as he was going on leave for Christmas before starting a significant case involving Star Casino.
Ultimately, Justice Lee agreed to relist the matter in February, noting that he was “not going to sit here and do the arithmetic” and that Mr Elliot was not prepared for legal argument.
Justice Lee earlier said he would be “very interested” if either party could, after Monday’s hearing, “put forward an offer of compromise as to the total amount they are willing to take”.
The court was told at least nine elements of the referees report were in dispute between the parties, including the rate applied for work carried out by Wilkinson’s lawyer after May, 2023.
Other issues were the “standard of reasonable necessity”, preparation of defence costs, costs associated with the applicants extension or time application, and costs outside court hearing.
Costs associated with the closing submissions on the truth defence and court attendance on days Network 10 ran its truth defence, and discount in relation to pre-trial, were also in issues.
A court was previously told Network 10 was willing to stump up $558,000 to Ms Wilkinson for her legal fees, with an independent referee brought in to determine the final amount.
Ms Wilkinson was represented in court by high-profile defamation barrister Sue Sue Chrysanthou SC, who she elected to hire outside of the legal defence team employed by Network 10.
Ms Wilkinson had sought some $1.8m, significantly lower than the amount Network 10 agreed to pay, with the referee to examine the extent of the former The Project host’s costs.
It comes as Lehrmann is set to return to court in August, 2025 to appeal Justice Lee’s finding, after an “unnamed” senior counsel was set to be briefed in the high-profile matter.
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https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/judge-slams-delay-in-lisa-wilkinson-18m-legal-fight-after-lehrmann-lawsuit-c-17102607
| 2024-12-16T07:08:30Z
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What’s Next For Super Micro Stock As Nasdaq 100 Index Exit Confirmed: Retail Bearishness Increases
Super Micro was added to the Nasdaq 100 Index in late July amid the stock’s rally, which took it to a high of $122.90 on March 8.
Super Micro Computer, Inc. ($SMCI) shares are in the spotlight on Monday as the Nasdaq announced late Friday that the company will be removed from the prestigious Nasdaq 100 Index, which comprises 100 of the top non-financial tech companies.
The move is part of the index’s annual reconstitution and will become effective before the market opens on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.
Brief Stay
Super Micro was added to the Nasdaq 100 Index in late July amid the stock’s rally, which took it to a high of $122.90 on March 8. The rally was stoked by the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, which was taking a firm grip and benefited Super Micro. The San Jose, California-based company manufactures AI servers and boasts customers like Nvidia Corp. ($NVDA).
The red-hot rally cooled off, but the setback started in late August when the company announced a delay in filing its annual report for the fiscal year 2024 on Form 10-K, and short-seller Hindenburg said it found “fresh evidence of accounting manipulation.”
The weakness aggravated after Super Micro’s then-auditor Ernst & Young (EY) resigned in late October, citing concerns about accounting practices and internal controls. The company also delayed the filing of its September quarter report on Form 10-Q.
The stock fell as low as $17.25 in mid-November, a far cry from the triple-digit levels it traded early in the year.
Super Micro took remedial measures by appointing an independent committee to look into the concerns raised by EY, appointed BDO as its new auditor and also submitted a plan to the Nasdaq to avoid delisting from the exchange in the wake of the delays in the filing of the financial reports.
Later, the independent committee appointed by the board’s audit committee gave a clean chit to the company.
Stock Drop
Amid these developments, the company’s market capitalization fell from a peak of over $67 billion to a trough of $10.5 billion, before staging a modest recovery to $21.24 billion.
With Super Micro’s market capitalization among the lowest of the Nasdaq 100 companies and the lingering uncertainty about its ability to regain compliance, a Nasdaq 100 exit was speculated last week. After starting the week firmer, encouraged by the announcement that the Nasdaq granted an extension until Feb. 25, 2025, for filing the delayed financial reports, the stock fell in all four remaining sessions.
Super Micro shares ended Friday’s session down 3.90% to $36.45 and fell an incremental 6.45% to $34.10 in after-hours trading. A report regarding a potential private investment in public equity did little to assuage investor concerns on Friday. Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said the company has tapped Evercore ISI to raise equity and debt capital.
Thanks to the front-end loaded gains for the year, the stock is still up over 28%.
Look Ahead..
Super Micro stock trajectory in the near term hinges on the company meeting the late-February deadline for filing its annual and quarterly reports.
A successful capital raise to shore up its finances could also be a near-term positive.
On the downside, the stock could find support around the $32-$33 area. Further down, it has support in the $29-$30 region. The stock faces resistance around its 50-day simple moving average around the $36.9 level.
Chart Courtesy of TradingViewOn Stocktwits, sentiment toward the stock remained ‘bearish’ (40/100), with trader chatter also remaining subdued.
SMCI sentiment and message volume December 15, 2024, as of 10:44 pm ET | Source: StocktwitsRetailers raised the possibility of the stock dropping to $28 this week.
Another Stocktwits user said news of a further dilution in capital and the Nasdaq-100 exit are not good signs.
For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<
|
https://newsable.asianetnews.com/markets/what-s-next-for-super-micro-stock-as-nasdaq-100-index-exit-confirmed-retail-bearishness-increases-soknd7
| 2024-12-16T07:08:30Z
|
- Michael Hastings is chair of SOAS University of London and professor of leadership at Utah State University.
- He urged business leaders to "grab" the issue of forced migration and help refugees and asylum seekers gain access to education and work.
- Hastings, a House of Lords Peer in the U.K., said the British government needs to work out where migrants who cross the channel in small boats are coming from and invest in peacemaking.
Hiring, educating, and housing refugees and asylum seekers is the "next big challenge" for businesses, according to a longtime leadership professor and UNICEF vice president.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
"The big, ugly elephant in the room is migration. Over 120 million people now have migrated from one place they lived in to another place they're existing in, often as refugees or as migrants seeking asylum or trying to get established this movement of people," said Michael Hastings, referring to U.N. figures on forcibly displaced people.
Hastings urged business leaders to "grab" the issue and ask themselves: "How are we going to provide education and employment, legal services, establishment and housing, dignity for the young prospects, for women?" he said, speaking to CNBC's Tania Bryer.
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our >News Headlines newsletter.
Low- and middle-income countries host 75% of the world's refugees, and around two-thirds of refugees live in poverty, according to the European Commission.
Hastings has advocated for underrepresented groups throughout his career, and his current roles include chairman of SOAS University of London (formerly the School of Oriental and African Studies) and professor of leadership at Utah State University.
Hastings praised business leaders for taking on the challenge of climate change by reducing their carbon emissions and use of single-use plastics, but said they needed to go further. "The corporate world is missing the next big challenge. Yes, climate is a big deal. We've grabbed it, but migration is the next big thing. We need to grab that one too," he said.
Money Report
Around the world, most refugees (73%) come from five countries: Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela, according to the European Commission, leaving their homes because of conflict, violence or disasters such as floods.
"People are losing their lives, desperate to find another future," Hastings said, describing people trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, the Mexico-U.S. border and the English Channel.
Hastings, who is a House of Lords peer in the U.K., said the British government needs to work out where migrants who cross the channel in small boats are coming from.
"You've got to ask, why are they coming here?" he said. "Let's go back to the source of the supply and genuinely invest in prospects and futures in peacemaking," he said. "This is a European-wide problem. It's a North American problem. It's a development world problem."
Having previously taken on corporate social responsibility and citizenship roles in organizations such as the BBC and KPMG, Hastings is known for a focus on leadership with a purpose. "If somebody has a purpose that drives their thinking and therefore their action, it'll drive your spending, it'll drive your time, it'll drive your emotional commitments. My purpose is to speak up for the poor and to bend the power of the prosperous to the potential of the poor," he said.
Hastings described the role of a leader as "a servant" rather than "a controller." "A leader, more than anything else, has got to be a vulnerable person who knows that the real purpose of a leader is to empower other people to rise," he said.
|
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/business/money-report/the-next-big-thing-for-business-to-tackle-forced-migration-says-leadership-professor/3578304/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:30Z
|
S. Korea’s joint investigation team will summon the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, multiple media outlets reported on Monday.
The team was scheduled to deliver a summons to the presidential office, asking Yoon to appear for questioning on December 18 as part of its probe into Yoon’s martial law imposition, Xinhua news agency reported.
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The team is composed of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation (NOI) and the Defence Ministry’s investigation headquarters.
The second motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Saturday and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power is suspended.
Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of December 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on an insurrection charge and became the first sitting president to be banned from leaving the country.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, has reportedly failed to obey a summons from prosecutors investigating him on charges including insurrection as he faces impeachment after declaring martial law.
Yoon, who was sent a summons on Wednesday requesting him to appear for questioning at 10 a.m. local time on Sunday, did not show up, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Yoon and other senior officials are being investigated on possible charges of insurrection, abuse of authority and obstructing people from exercising their rights.
Yonhap news agency said prosecutors — who are also seeking arrest warrants for senior military officials, including the head of the army special warfare command and the chief of the capital defence command — plan to issue another summons for the President.
The President’s reported failure to appear came a day after South Korean MPs voted to impeach him over the unsuccessful attempt to declare martial law almost two weeks ago that plunged the country into some of its worst political turmoil in decades.
In a late-night emergency television address to the nation on December 3, Yoon announced he was imposing martial law, accusing the opposition of paralysing the government with “anti-state activities”.
The imposition of martial law — the first of its kind in more than four decades — lasted only six hours, and hundreds of troops and police officers sent by Yoon to the National Assembly withdrew after the President’s decree was overturned. No major violence occurred.
Yoon’s powers have been suspended until the constitutional court decides whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. If Yoon is dismissed, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.
The court will meet to begin considering the case on Monday and has up to 180 days to issue a ruling. But observers say a ruling could come faster. In the case of parliamentary impeachments of past presidents, Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and Park Geun-hye in 2016, the court spent 63 days and 91 days respectively before determining to reinstate Roh and dismiss Park.
South Korea’s main opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, has offered to work with the government to ease the political tumult as officials seek to reassure allies and markets after the impeachment vote.
Lee, who leads the Democratic Party and who has led the political offensive against Yoon’s embattled government, is seen as the frontrunner to replace him. Lee has urged the constitutional court to rule swiftly on Yoon’s impeachment and proposed a special council for cooperation between the government and Parliament.
The Opposition leader told a televised news conference that a rapid ruling was the only way to “minimise national confusion and the suffering of people”.
Lee also proposed a national council where the government and the National Assembly would work together to stabilise state affairs and said his party would not seek to impeach the Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, a Yoon appointee who is serving as Acting President.
“The Democratic Party will actively cooperate with all parties to stabilise state affairs and restore international trust,” Lee said.
“The National Assembly and government will work together to quickly resolve the crisis that has swept across South Korea.”
On assuming his role as acting leader, Han ordered the military to bolster its security posture against North Korea. He asked the Foreign Minister to inform other countries that South Korea’s main external policies would remain unchanged, and the Finance Minister to work to minimise potential negative impacts on the economy from the political turmoil.
On Sunday, Han had a phone call with the US President, Joe Biden, in which they discussed the political situation in South Korea and regional security challenges including North Korea’s nuclear programme. Biden expressed his appreciation for the resiliency of democracy in South Korea and reaffirmed “the ironclad commitment” of the US, according to both governments.
Opposition parties have accused Yoon of rebellion, saying a President in South Korea is allowed to declare martial law only during wartime or similar emergencies and would have no right to suspend Parliament’s operations even in those cases.
Yoon has rejected the charges and vowed to “fight to the end”. He said the deployment of troops to the National Assembly was aimed at issuing a warning to the Democratic Party, which he called an “anti-state force” that abused its control of Parliament by holding up the government’s budget bill for next year and repeatedly pushing to impeach top officials.
Law enforcement institutions are investigating possible rebellion and other allegations. They have arrested Yoon’s Defence Minister and police chief and two other high-level figures.
Yoon has immunity from most criminal prosecution as President, but that does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. He has been banned from leaving South Korea, but observers doubt that authorities will detain him because of the potential for clashes with his presidential security service.
|
https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/s-koreas-joint-investigation-team-to-summon-president-yoon-over-insurrection-charge-1503376272.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:31Z
|
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Two important food holidays are meeting up this year. December 25 is both Christmas and also the first night of Hanukkah.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: Well, we did not want to miss the opportunity to explore the potential for a feast for all. And to help us imagine what to prepare, we have called on Sarah Lohman, who's a food historian and writer. Sarah has put together a menu for us, and my only regret here is that this is a remote interview and I cannot eat it all right now. So that being said, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, Sarah.
SARAH LOHMAN: Hi, Scott. Thank you.
DETROW: When you first realized the alignment here, what was your first thought?
LOHMAN: OK, first thought was, of course, fry everything.
DETROW: Yeah.
LOHMAN: I mean, maybe it's obvious, maybe it's my first thought, but I was like, let's fry things that have never been fried before. Let's make it the Iowa State Fair up in here.
DETROW: (Laughter).
LOHMAN: OK, so the fun part of this project for me was I got to reach out to my community. And I started talking to my friend Leah Koenig, who is the author of the recent cookbook "Portico," which is about Roman Jewish culture. And she pointed out to me that latke, the traditional Hanukkah fried potato pancake - they really aren't that old in terms of Judaism. The practice originates with German Jews in the late 18th century. So that's like a drop in the bucket of the multiple-thousand-year history. So that's when I said, OK, well, is there another direction we can go here?
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: So you have put together a menu. And before we go into it, tell me...
LOHMAN: Feast.
DETROW: A feast - important correction.
LOHMAN: (Laughter) I think.
DETROW: Tell me what you ended up organizing it around. What were the central thoughts? What were you trying to bring together?
LOHMAN: Well, I also happen to know a lot of people who are Christian or specifically Catholic and Jewish from populations around the world. And I think particularly in America, we can get sort of lost the idea of Christian as being a majority faith here, whereas in most of the world, it is a minority faith. And so I decided to put together a multicourse menu that looks at regions that have traditional, historical Christian and Jewish populations and look at where their food intersects and differentiates. I really believe that, like, cooking can be an act of learning; eating can be an act of education. And so I wanted to use this moment, this party, this feast, this festival to make space for the understanding of the long histories of these faiths throughout the world.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: That being said, let's get going. Tell us what the first course is.
LOHMAN: OK, so for the first course, we're going to go to China, which does have a historical Jewish population. No one's quite sure when they came, but they came into the area around Kaifeng, which is in Henan, which - not Hunan, Henan, which is a northern Chinese province. And it's difficult to trace dishes from Jewish ancestry there. There's maybe only about 1,000 Kaifeng Jews today. But one we know of is a Kaifeng noodle-blanketed carp. And it's a whole fish that's wok fried, and it's served with a sauce made from vinegar, rice wine, ginger and scallions. And then you top it with crispy fried noodles.
But if you're not up for frying a whole fish, which not everybody is, I would recommend ordering in some Henanese cuisine. Soup dumplings, or xiaolongbao, are from the Henan area. But don't get the pork ones. Get ones made with lamb or chicken and vegetables, or you could also order in some hui mian (ph), which are wide wheat noodles. I should note in this whole menu, I decided to avoid pork, shellfish, and I didn't serve meat and dairy so that anyone can come to your house for this party of any religious background and be able to eat the food.
DETROW: All right, so walk me through the last main dish.
LOHMAN: OK, so last main dish, we're going to go to Ethiopia. And I think, you know, this might be - sound like a simple answer, but the national dish of Ethiopia is dora wat, which is a chicken stew, and it's dark meat chicken, slow cooked with hard boiled eggs, garlic ginger, onions, tomato, and you finish the top with a sprinkle of black cardamom. So I also love the connections, the spice connections and flavor connections made through these dishes. Now, dora wat is sort of the Coptic Christian name for it, but it's also known as sanbat wat in Ethiopian Jewish communities. And sanbat means Shabbat. So a lot of these two aren't necessarily Hanukkah dishes. Actually, the Ethiopian Jews didn't traditionally celebrate Hanukkah in Ethiopia. But now over 100,000 Ethiopian Jews have moved to Israel and another thousand are here in America too. So they've moved in the cultures that celebrate Hanukkah. And definitely, you should make it with injera, too.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: So assuming there's any room left at all after all of these dishes so far, I know you've put a lot of thought into a very important holiday item, and that is desserts.
LOHMAN: Oh, my gosh, of course. I mean, but there is always room for dessert.
DETROW: (Laughter).
LOHMAN: So I've got two ideas here. One is cassola, which is from my original person who gave me this idea, Leah Koenig. It's a cheesecake that was created by Roman Jews, and it actually descends from this idea of pancake-making on Hanukkah. Hanukkah, you know, oil, things that are fried and things that are dairy are sort of traditional Hanukkah foods. Cassola was originally made on stove tops, like a really thick pancake. Now it's baked, and now it's actually crossed over that it's a favorite served by Roman Catholics on Christmas. So it's a ricotta cheesecake made with cinnamon, vanilla and raisins.
Now, for some people, having dairy after meat is OK, but for some people, it's not. So if you want to stick to a menu that's kosher friendly, I'd also recommend bolo menino. Bolo menino is named after the Christ child, and it's a cake made in Macao, which is governed somewhat by China, but not totally, so they have more religious freedom. And many people there are also Portuguese descendants, as well. So this is a cake made with crumbled cookies, coconut and pine nuts that is always served on Christmas in Macao.
DETROW: You know, I think a lot of people listening might be taking notes and thinking, I want to do this. And I think there might be a lot of people listening who are thinking, like, oh, my gosh, this sounds so overwhelming.
LOHMAN: (Laughter).
DETROW: What do you say to somebody who, like, loves the idea, but when it comes to, especially, like, a multicourse meal, just kind of gets intimidated?
LOHMAN: You know, there is always a potluck. There's always divvying this up. Or, you know, hey, if you love throwing a party like me, make the whole thing. But if not, just make the one dish that appeals to you. I think that food is always better with a story. And I love the idea of using this December 25 to reflect on these cultures throughout the world. And sometimes they're often difficult stories, too.
DETROW: Yeah. You know, we're talking about learning about different cultures, as this menus together. But, you know, I think for a lot of people, a holiday is also about kind of leaning into your heritage - right? - your family story - right? - in terms of food.
LOHMAN: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And I think that we can't forget that many of these cultures that I talked about today also exist within America. These communities are here. And I think for all of us during this holiday season, this is often a time where we connect to our own ancestry. I'm sure that there are people listening right now thinking about the recipes that they're going to make that have been passed down through their families and that really are labors of love that make this feel like a special and important time of year.
DETROW: Absolutely.
LOHMAN: It's religion, but it's celebration, it's family, it's ancestry, too.
DETROW: And all of this is kind of very American, right? Like, you've put together a meal that touches on a dozen different countries and cultures.
LOHMAN: Yeah, but they can all be found here, absolutely.
DETROW: Yeah.
LOHMAN: And to me, I think that that's the most powerful and beautiful thing about America, our diversity. We can be a little hard to govern sometime. We're an unruly lot. But just how many different people become American too, I think that's really the most wonderful thing about living here and celebrating the holidays here.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: That is food historian Sarah Lohman. Her most recent book is just out in paper, "Endangered Eating: America's Vanishing Foods." Thank you so much for taking up the challenge and crafting a Christmas Hanukkah feast for us.
LOHMAN: Oh, my gosh, my pleasure. Now the real challenge is I'm going to have to sit down and make all of this.
DETROW: I think there's no question now. Thank you.
LOHMAN: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2024-12-15/what-to-cook-on-hanumas-chrismukah
| 2024-12-16T07:08:31Z
|
Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid slammed Gujarat Chief and Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for undermining Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while he is abroad.
The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/narendra-modi-undermined-pm-khurshid-104137.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:33Z
|
Qatar Central Bank Announces Two Days Off For National Day
Date
12/16/2024 1:02:38 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula online
Doha, Qatar: On the occassion of Qatar National Day celebrated annually on December 18, Qatar Central bank announced that Wednesday, December 18 and Thursday, December 19, 2024 will be official holidays for banking and financial institutions.
Read Also
Qatar announces cancellation of National Day Parade
Amiri Diwan announces Qatar National Day holiday
It added that these organisations will resume work on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
MENAFN16122024000063011010ID1108995968
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MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995968/Qatar-Central-Bank-Announces-Two-Days-Off-For-National-Day
| 2024-12-16T07:08:35Z
|
- Michael Hastings is chair of SOAS University of London and professor of leadership at Utah State University.
- He urged business leaders to "grab" the issue of forced migration and help refugees and asylum seekers gain access to education and work.
- Hastings, a House of Lords Peer in the U.K., said the British government needs to work out where migrants who cross the channel in small boats are coming from and invest in peacemaking.
Hiring, educating, and housing refugees and asylum seekers is the "next big challenge" for businesses, according to a longtime leadership professor and UNICEF vice president.
"The big, ugly elephant in the room is migration. Over 120 million people now have migrated from one place they lived in to another place they're existing in, often as refugees or as migrants seeking asylum or trying to get established this movement of people," said Michael Hastings, referring to U.N. figures on forcibly displaced people.
Hastings urged business leaders to "grab" the issue and ask themselves: "How are we going to provide education and employment, legal services, establishment and housing, dignity for the young prospects, for women?" he said, speaking to CNBC's Tania Bryer.
Low- and middle-income countries host 75% of the world's refugees, and around two-thirds of refugees live in poverty, according to the European Commission.
Hastings has advocated for underrepresented groups throughout his career, and his current roles include chairman of SOAS University of London (formerly the School of Oriental and African Studies) and professor of leadership at Utah State University.
Hastings praised business leaders for taking on the challenge of climate change by reducing their carbon emissions and use of single-use plastics, but said they needed to go further. "The corporate world is missing the next big challenge. Yes, climate is a big deal. We've grabbed it, but migration is the next big thing. We need to grab that one too," he said.
Money Report
Around the world, most refugees (73%) come from five countries: Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela, according to the European Commission, leaving their homes because of conflict, violence or disasters such as floods.
"People are losing their lives, desperate to find another future," Hastings said, describing people trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, the Mexico-U.S. border and the English Channel.
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. >Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
Hastings, who is a House of Lords peer in the U.K., said the British government needs to work out where migrants who cross the channel in small boats are coming from.
"You've got to ask, why are they coming here?" he said. "Let's go back to the source of the supply and genuinely invest in prospects and futures in peacemaking," he said. "This is a European-wide problem. It's a North American problem. It's a development world problem."
Having previously taken on corporate social responsibility and citizenship roles in organizations such as the BBC and KPMG, Hastings is known for a focus on leadership with a purpose. "If somebody has a purpose that drives their thinking and therefore their action, it'll drive your spending, it'll drive your time, it'll drive your emotional commitments. My purpose is to speak up for the poor and to bend the power of the prosperous to the potential of the poor," he said.
Hastings described the role of a leader as "a servant" rather than "a controller." "A leader, more than anything else, has got to be a vulnerable person who knows that the real purpose of a leader is to empower other people to rise," he said.
|
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/money-report/the-next-big-thing-for-business-to-tackle-forced-migration-says-leadership-professor/3737203/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:35Z
|
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Two important food holidays are meeting up this year. December 25 is both Christmas and also the first night of Hanukkah.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: Well, we did not want to miss the opportunity to explore the potential for a feast for all. And to help us imagine what to prepare, we have called on Sarah Lohman, who's a food historian and writer. Sarah has put together a menu for us, and my only regret here is that this is a remote interview and I cannot eat it all right now. So that being said, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, Sarah.
SARAH LOHMAN: Hi, Scott. Thank you.
DETROW: When you first realized the alignment here, what was your first thought?
LOHMAN: OK, first thought was, of course, fry everything.
DETROW: Yeah.
LOHMAN: I mean, maybe it's obvious, maybe it's my first thought, but I was like, let's fry things that have never been fried before. Let's make it the Iowa State Fair up in here.
DETROW: (Laughter).
LOHMAN: OK, so the fun part of this project for me was I got to reach out to my community. And I started talking to my friend Leah Koenig, who is the author of the recent cookbook "Portico," which is about Roman Jewish culture. And she pointed out to me that latke, the traditional Hanukkah fried potato pancake - they really aren't that old in terms of Judaism. The practice originates with German Jews in the late 18th century. So that's like a drop in the bucket of the multiple-thousand-year history. So that's when I said, OK, well, is there another direction we can go here?
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: So you have put together a menu. And before we go into it, tell me...
LOHMAN: Feast.
DETROW: A feast - important correction.
LOHMAN: (Laughter) I think.
DETROW: Tell me what you ended up organizing it around. What were the central thoughts? What were you trying to bring together?
LOHMAN: Well, I also happen to know a lot of people who are Christian or specifically Catholic and Jewish from populations around the world. And I think particularly in America, we can get sort of lost the idea of Christian as being a majority faith here, whereas in most of the world, it is a minority faith. And so I decided to put together a multicourse menu that looks at regions that have traditional, historical Christian and Jewish populations and look at where their food intersects and differentiates. I really believe that, like, cooking can be an act of learning; eating can be an act of education. And so I wanted to use this moment, this party, this feast, this festival to make space for the understanding of the long histories of these faiths throughout the world.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: That being said, let's get going. Tell us what the first course is.
LOHMAN: OK, so for the first course, we're going to go to China, which does have a historical Jewish population. No one's quite sure when they came, but they came into the area around Kaifeng, which is in Henan, which - not Hunan, Henan, which is a northern Chinese province. And it's difficult to trace dishes from Jewish ancestry there. There's maybe only about 1,000 Kaifeng Jews today. But one we know of is a Kaifeng noodle-blanketed carp. And it's a whole fish that's wok fried, and it's served with a sauce made from vinegar, rice wine, ginger and scallions. And then you top it with crispy fried noodles.
But if you're not up for frying a whole fish, which not everybody is, I would recommend ordering in some Henanese cuisine. Soup dumplings, or xiaolongbao, are from the Henan area. But don't get the pork ones. Get ones made with lamb or chicken and vegetables, or you could also order in some hui mian (ph), which are wide wheat noodles. I should note in this whole menu, I decided to avoid pork, shellfish, and I didn't serve meat and dairy so that anyone can come to your house for this party of any religious background and be able to eat the food.
DETROW: All right, so walk me through the last main dish.
LOHMAN: OK, so last main dish, we're going to go to Ethiopia. And I think, you know, this might be - sound like a simple answer, but the national dish of Ethiopia is dora wat, which is a chicken stew, and it's dark meat chicken, slow cooked with hard boiled eggs, garlic ginger, onions, tomato, and you finish the top with a sprinkle of black cardamom. So I also love the connections, the spice connections and flavor connections made through these dishes. Now, dora wat is sort of the Coptic Christian name for it, but it's also known as sanbat wat in Ethiopian Jewish communities. And sanbat means Shabbat. So a lot of these two aren't necessarily Hanukkah dishes. Actually, the Ethiopian Jews didn't traditionally celebrate Hanukkah in Ethiopia. But now over 100,000 Ethiopian Jews have moved to Israel and another thousand are here in America too. So they've moved in the cultures that celebrate Hanukkah. And definitely, you should make it with injera, too.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: So assuming there's any room left at all after all of these dishes so far, I know you've put a lot of thought into a very important holiday item, and that is desserts.
LOHMAN: Oh, my gosh, of course. I mean, but there is always room for dessert.
DETROW: (Laughter).
LOHMAN: So I've got two ideas here. One is cassola, which is from my original person who gave me this idea, Leah Koenig. It's a cheesecake that was created by Roman Jews, and it actually descends from this idea of pancake-making on Hanukkah. Hanukkah, you know, oil, things that are fried and things that are dairy are sort of traditional Hanukkah foods. Cassola was originally made on stove tops, like a really thick pancake. Now it's baked, and now it's actually crossed over that it's a favorite served by Roman Catholics on Christmas. So it's a ricotta cheesecake made with cinnamon, vanilla and raisins.
Now, for some people, having dairy after meat is OK, but for some people, it's not. So if you want to stick to a menu that's kosher friendly, I'd also recommend bolo menino. Bolo menino is named after the Christ child, and it's a cake made in Macao, which is governed somewhat by China, but not totally, so they have more religious freedom. And many people there are also Portuguese descendants, as well. So this is a cake made with crumbled cookies, coconut and pine nuts that is always served on Christmas in Macao.
DETROW: You know, I think a lot of people listening might be taking notes and thinking, I want to do this. And I think there might be a lot of people listening who are thinking, like, oh, my gosh, this sounds so overwhelming.
LOHMAN: (Laughter).
DETROW: What do you say to somebody who, like, loves the idea, but when it comes to, especially, like, a multicourse meal, just kind of gets intimidated?
LOHMAN: You know, there is always a potluck. There's always divvying this up. Or, you know, hey, if you love throwing a party like me, make the whole thing. But if not, just make the one dish that appeals to you. I think that food is always better with a story. And I love the idea of using this December 25 to reflect on these cultures throughout the world. And sometimes they're often difficult stories, too.
DETROW: Yeah. You know, we're talking about learning about different cultures, as this menus together. But, you know, I think for a lot of people, a holiday is also about kind of leaning into your heritage - right? - your family story - right? - in terms of food.
LOHMAN: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And I think that we can't forget that many of these cultures that I talked about today also exist within America. These communities are here. And I think for all of us during this holiday season, this is often a time where we connect to our own ancestry. I'm sure that there are people listening right now thinking about the recipes that they're going to make that have been passed down through their families and that really are labors of love that make this feel like a special and important time of year.
DETROW: Absolutely.
LOHMAN: It's religion, but it's celebration, it's family, it's ancestry, too.
DETROW: And all of this is kind of very American, right? Like, you've put together a meal that touches on a dozen different countries and cultures.
LOHMAN: Yeah, but they can all be found here, absolutely.
DETROW: Yeah.
LOHMAN: And to me, I think that that's the most powerful and beautiful thing about America, our diversity. We can be a little hard to govern sometime. We're an unruly lot. But just how many different people become American too, I think that's really the most wonderful thing about living here and celebrating the holidays here.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: That is food historian Sarah Lohman. Her most recent book is just out in paper, "Endangered Eating: America's Vanishing Foods." Thank you so much for taking up the challenge and crafting a Christmas Hanukkah feast for us.
LOHMAN: Oh, my gosh, my pleasure. Now the real challenge is I'm going to have to sit down and make all of this.
DETROW: I think there's no question now. Thank you.
LOHMAN: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/what-to-cook-on-hanumas-chrismukah
| 2024-12-16T07:08:35Z
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Women and children are being turned away from shelters with no funding committed to address a feared spike in domestic violence deaths over the summer.
No More anti-domestic violence campaigner Charlie King said Christmas was a challenging time for the sector.
"We worry every Christmas period …. this season is supposed to be joy and goodwill but if anything, we use this as a marker every year to see whether our prevention is working," she said.
Northern Territory Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence Robyn Cahill said everyone needed to "stand up" and "prevent" the scourge of domestic violence continuing, but stopped short of committing funds for critical services.
"One of the really challenging things that's happened over the past few years is we have seen so much of this behaviour in our community - the attacks against women in particular - that to a degree, we've become immune to it," she told reporters on Monday.
"We're reminding people that when they see an incident of violence in the streets, or if they hear something that's occurring in their community, that they need to reach out."
After a 16-day public awareness campaign to reduce domestic violence, Ms Cahill said the summer period was traditionally one of the worst for victims.
"We've taken the opportunity to remind our community that as we lead into the Christmas holiday season, this is potentially one of the worst periods we'll face for an increase in domestic, family and sexual violence incidents," she said.
Despite the feared spike, Ms Cahill ruled out further funding for homelessness services and domestic and family violence shelters.
Instead, she committed to sending people back to remote communities.
"We're making sure that there is good support in the network, ideally the best place for people to be at their home," she said.
"So we're working with those community groups … to get them home."
The Country Liberal Party made an election commitment in August to provide $180 million in family and domestic violence funding but has since said it would audit the sector.
Nine Aboriginal women have been killed by domestic violence in the NT since June, according to the territory coroner.
Co-chair of the NT Aboriginal Advisory Board on domestic, family and sexual violence Lauren Peric said the government must invest in frontline services, including crisis shelters.
"Levels of domestic violence are at their worst in this country at the moment," she said.
Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women's Shelter reports showed "multiple families" trying to escape domestic violence were being turned away every week, Ms Peric said.
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https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/spike-in-demand-for-dv-services-feared-during-summer-c-17102205
| 2024-12-16T07:08:36Z
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Allu Arjun to Rajkummar Rao: 10 highest grossing actors of 2024
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/shortvideos/allu-arjun-to-rajkummar-rao-10-highest-grossing-actors-of-2024-atg-soklov
| 2024-12-16T07:08:36Z
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A woman was arrested in Iran after she posted a video of herself singing without a hijab on YouTube, even though the Iranian parliament passed a new, stricter law on women's modesty that rights groups have criticized.
Parastoo Ahmadi posted a 27-minute video of her concert performance Wednesday, in which she sang in a sleeveless dress with her hair down accompanied by four male musicians. In the caption, she described it as an "imaginary concert" and invited the audience to "imagine this beautiful homeland" in Iran.
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The performance was recorded in a caravanserai, the name for the roadside inns historically built along the Silk Road to provide merchants and travelers with places to rest as they trekked the ancient trade route spanning North Africa to Central Asia. Ahmadi wrote that it was "where history and our myths intertwine."
"I am Parastoo, a girl who wants to sing for the people I love," the caption said. "This is a right I could not ignore; singing for the land I love passionately."
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Milad Panahipour, an Iranian lawyer, told The Associated Press that Ahmadi was arrested Saturday over the performance. He said he was unaware of the charges, the arresting agency or the location of her detention.
Iran's judiciary confirmed that a case has been opened into Ahmadi's performance but did not specify the charges. The statement, released by the state-run Mehr News Agency, also said Ahmadi was released after an interview with authorities.
"The Mazandaran Police Information Center announced that Ms. Parastoo Ahmadi attended a briefing session after posting a video deemed contrary to cultural norms and values," the agency said. "She has been asked to appear before judicial authorities."
U.S. & World
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Norway-based organization, said it got a report that two of the men performing with her — Sohail Faghih-Nassiri and Ehsan Beyraghdar — were also arrested.
Iran's hijab laws tighten
The hard-line regimes that have reigned since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution have passed laws saying women must be veiled in the presence of men, though women have resisted the rules both domestically and abroad.
Conflict over the issue drew international outrage once again in 2022 when a young woman named Mahsa Amini, 22, was arrested outside a subway station in Tehran and accused of failing to properly wear a hijab. She was dead just three days later.
Iran's government denied wrongdoing, claiming that Amini died of pre-existing medical conditions. Human rights groups, however, have cast doubt on that, and a United Nations fact-finding mission asserted she was killed “as a result of beatings” by Iranian authorities.
Her death drew rage throughout Iran, drawing women out to protest in droves despite violent crackdowns by authorities.
The authorities who enforce the modesty laws, often called the morality police, have eased public confrontations with women over veiling since President Masoud Pezeshkian was elected this year. Pezeshkian campaigned as a reformist who opposed such types of morality police patrols.
But enforcement has not stopped altogether, according to locals who have said the police are now instructed to issue warnings rather than take immediate action. So-called anti-unveiling clinics have also been established, where women are encouraged to follow the hijab laws through "therapy."
Despite Pezeshkian's reformist approach, the parliament pushed even harsher laws about women's veiling this year.
The Hijab and Chastity Law was originally submitted by former President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in May, and it was ultimately passed in September, according to Human Rights Watch. Enforcement will go into effect for a three-year trial period, which the rights organization said will dramatically increase the punishments for women who do not comply.
The new law extends the enforcement into online spaces, increases fines for violations depending on frequency, institutes a travel ban for offenders and includes long-term imprisonment as punishment, Human Rights Watch reported. Fines alone could be detrimental for many Iranians as the country's economy has struggled under the weight of years of sanctions and regional conflict.
The U.N. Human Rights Council's experts on Friday called for the law to be repealed, describing it as a "comprehensive system of gender-based persecution."
Pezeshkian himself criticized the law this month as difficult to enforce in both a statement on X and an interview on state television.
“We should not do anything that disrupts the unity and solidarity of society,” Pezeshkian said. “We need to have dialogue and engage in discussions about this issue.”
This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here:
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https://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/singer-in-iran-arrested-after-performing-on-youtube-without-a-hijab/3578291/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:37Z
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Australia, USA, New Zealand, Germany, England, Poland and the Netherlands are among 24 countries that have confirmed their participation in the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup, to be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium and Noida Indoor Stadium from January 13-19, 2025.
A total of 24 countries from all six continents will have 41 international teams in the week-long mega event, said Sudhanshu Mittal, president of Kho Kho Federation of India, who is also chairman of the World Cup organising committee.
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As many as 21 men and 20 women teams from Europe, Oceania, Asia, Africa, North America and the South American continents will compete for the world title, which will be held on a league-cum-knockout basis, he added.
He said that 615 players and 125 support staff will take part in the global event. Each team will comprise 15 players, one coach, one manager, and international technical officials.
The USA is the sole team from North America to take part in the championship, while England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland will represent Europe. USA will send only men’s team while England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland will send both men’s and women’s teams.
Australia and New Zealand will represent Oceania, while Argentina, Brazil and Peru will represent South America. Australia will send both men’s and women’s teams, while New Zealand will be represented by a women’s team only.
Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda will represent Africa. Kenya and South Africa will send both men’s and women’s teams while Ghana will send a men’s team and Uganda will send a women’s team only. Argentina and Brazil will be represented by only men’s teams, while Peru will send both men’s and women’s teams.
India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka teams have confirmed their participation from Asia. Among Asian countries, Indonesia will send only the women’s team, while all other countries will send both the men’s and women’s teams.
Mittal said that all teams have shared their scheduled arrivals. Sri Lanka will arrive on January 10, while all other teams will arrive on January 11 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
He said that host country India will provide accommodation, catering, and transport facilities to the participating teams during the entire World Cup championship.
Technical Officials from overseas will assist the host country in main ground operations like refereeing, scoring, compilation, time clock, etc, he added.
The necessary technical arrangements, including installation of video scoreboards, poles, etc., are being made, and a number of volunteers, both sports-specific and general, have been identified and trained for the mega event, Mittal added.
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https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/24-countries-confirm-participation-for-inaugural-kho-kho-world-cup-2-1503376158.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:39Z
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A trial court remanded six people, arrested in connection with the murder of 24-year-old NRI student Anmol Sarna after a party on the night of September 17, in 14-day judicial custody.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/nri-death-6-sent-to-judicial-custody-104270.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:40Z
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In his second game at Chase Center as a visitor Sunday, Dallas guard Klay Thompson looked like his vintage self in the Mavericks' 143-133 win against his former Warriors team.
Afterward, Thompson was asked if things felt "more normal" this time around, without the fanfare and emotions of his much-anticipated initial return.
"No question," Klay responded in his postgame interview on the Dallas broadcast. "It still warms my heart to see all of the No. 11 jerseys. It still makes me incredibly grateful for the time I did have here. Legendary stuff. But now it's time to do some legendary stuff in Dallas, and I truly believe in this team."
"Makes me incredibly grateful."
— NBA (@NBA) December 16, 2024
Klay still feels the love from Warriors fans after his 2nd return to The Bay ❤️ pic.twitter.com/iLcSEFnb15
Thompson finished with 29 points and seven 3-pointers -- both season highs -- back at his old shooting grounds in Chase Center.
"I felt great," Thompson explained. "I have had a great history of shooting the ball well here, so I try to tap into that every time I come back."
When the Warriors and Mavericks faced off back in November, Thompson also had a good shooting night with 22 points and six 3-pointers. There was plenty of celebration surrounding his return, too, including captain's hats for fans in attendance and an emotional pregame video tribute.
Golden State Warriors
Yet, in classic Klay fashion, he still was rather upset Sunday, lamenting postgame to ex-teammate Gary Payton II about how badly he wanted to score 30 points.
"Man, I wanted that 30 -- 30 sounds so much better," Thompson voiced. "But that's life. We'll take the win."
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Thompson won't have the opportunity to reach that benchmark at Chase Center until Feb. 23, when Dallas will wrap up its season series against Golden State in a Sunday afternoon matinee.
The Warriors, on the other hand, will hope to have fixed their porous defense by then.
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https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/nba/golden-state-warriors/klay-thompson-chase-center-dallas-mavericks-return/3737197/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:41Z
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Local author Terry H. Irwin will discuss his research and writing of his book "Sgt. Dinwiddie's War: B-17s, POWs and the Belgian Underground in World War II" from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson.
Sgt. Don Dinwiddie served as radioman of the B-17 bomber GI Sheets, which was shot down over Belgium in January 1944. Sgt. Dinwiddie evaded capture for nearly four months with the help of the Belgian underground before being betrayed and handed over to the Germans.
For more information, call (573) 243-8141 or email jacksonmainlibrary@rrlmo.org.
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For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
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https://www.semissourian.com/news/author-to-discuss-book-sgt-dinwiddies-war-at-jackson-library-2982651/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:41Z
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(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Minister of transport H E sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani yesterday laid the foundation stone for an electric bus assembly plant at Um Alhoul Free Zone, in collaboration between Mowasalat (Karwa), Yutong and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ).
The groundbreaking ceremony began with the signing of an Enhanced Multilateral Framework Agreement by CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, Mowasalat (Karwa) CEO Ahmad Hassan Al Obaidly, and CEO of Yutong Middle East Shen Hui, to establish an integrated e-bus plant at Um Al Houl Free Zone, in cooperation between Karwa, Yutong, and QFZ.
Minister of Transport H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (third right) and other officials at the agreement signing ceremony yesterday.
The project aims at establishing a production hub for EU-standard electric buses on an area of nearly 53,000 square metres. The construction is set to be complete by the end of 2025. By then, the facility will have begun producing electric city buses, metro feeder buses, school buses, and more, with an initial output capacity of 300 buses a year. Over time, the facility will scale up to meet both local demand and the growing needs of international markets across the MENA region and Europe.
This greenfield plant, equipped with state-of-the-art welding, painting, assembly, and testing workshops, will utilise cutting-edge electro-mobility technologies, ensuring efficient and sustainable production processes. The plant is expected to be a pioneer project in delivering experience and industry localisation. The project is leveraging the advanced capabilities of both Mowasalat and Yutong, and expanding Yutong's manufacturing footprint in the free zones in Qatar.
On this occasion, the Minister of Transport said that founding an e-bus assembly plant is a major event in terms of supporting the MoT's efforts of providing ecofriendly transportation solutions with best global operation systems, in step with the goals of the 3rd Qatar National Development Strategy (NDS3), which focuses on sustainable development and advanced technologies, leading to the full realisation of the QNV 2030.
He added that the plant will contribute to achieving the MoT's strategy of public bus system electrification by 100% by 2030, ensuring less carbon emissions and better quality of life.
Mowasalat (Karwa) Chairman H E Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Ibrahim Al Mohannadi said,“As part of our commitment to developing sustainable transportation and our success in achieving 73% electrification in the public bus fleet, this initiative reflects our dedication to localising innovative technologies in Qatar. Through the establishment of this new facility, we reaffirm our leadership in eco-friendly transportation, effectively contributing to achieving a fully electric public transport sector by 2030, in alignment with Qatar's vision for a more sustainable future.”
The QFZ CEO said,“Today's groundbreaking for the electric bus assembly plant at Um Alhoul Free Zone, and signing of the enhanced multilateral framework agreement, mark a significant step in Qatar's ongoing efforts to foster industrial and transportation innovation and sustainable development.”
In light of this collaboration, Peng Xu, Managing Director of Yutong International, said,“Yutong is proud to partner with Qatar in this transformative project. The establishment of this facility symbolises our dedication to delivering world-class technology and localised solutions to support regional green mobility goals.”
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https://menafn.com/1108995969/Foundation-Laid-For-Electric-Bus-Plant-At-Um-Alhoul-Free-Zone-Production-From-Next-Year
| 2024-12-16T07:08:41Z
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SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
When you find success with a project, it can be daunting to try something new. But the comedian Ilana Glazer welcomes that kind of risk. Glazer co-created "Broad City" with Abbi Jacobson, and it was a huge hit. But the two decided to end the show two seasons before their contract ran out. Glazer told NPR's Rachel Martin that part of knowing what to do next is knowing when something should end. And that gamble to move on has paid off for Glazer. Earlier this year, Glazer cowrote and costarred in the movie "Babes." And this Friday, they have a new standup special coming out on Hulu called "Human Magic." Glazer spoke to Rachel Martin on Wild Card, the interview show where guests choose the questions they answer from a deck of cards. And a note, Glazer talks about sex and drug use in this conversation.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)
RACHEL MARTIN: First three cards - one, two or three.
ILANA GLAZER: I'm going to go with three.
MARTIN: Three - what was your form of rebelling as a teenager?
GLAZER: Oh, my goodness. This - you cracked right in, Rachel Martin.
MARTIN: (Laughter) I did?
GLAZER: You cracked right in. You know why? - because...
MARTIN: (Inaudible) what?
GLAZER: I mean, this is just playing three strings on a guitar for me. This is a whole chord, which is that I didn't quite rebel very much as a child or a teenager. I was very good and was focused on, I guess, goodness and achieving, and my rebellion came - honestly, like, I was not secure in it until, like, the past few years, my rebelling, like, literally against my parents. L-O-L, I'm 37 years old.
MARTIN: Wow.
GLAZER: But of course, I had some rebellion. And I guess it finally came in the form of having sex and smoking weed (laughter) in my, like, senior year of high school. It was like...
MARTIN: I mean, that's pretty, you know, by-the-book, definitional...
GLAZER: Yeah, standard...
MARTIN: ...Of rebelling as a teenager. Yeah, yeah.
GLAZER: ...I would honestly say patriotic.
MARTIN: (Laugher).
GLAZER: So, you know, like, finally, it came - as well as myself. But it was a late - I'm a late bloomer. And then I feel like, really, becoming a parent, I'm like, oh, I don't care. You know what I mean? I don't care about being accepted. Like, as long as I'm focused on fulfilling my needs of myself and my family and my child, then the rest of it - you know, I can be unlikable or not fulfilling the, you know, supportive role or appearance of supportive role that I was hoping to fill before or actually filling, you know? I have found the limits of how limited parenting makes the rest of your life really helpful. It has forced me...
MARTIN: Yeah, yeah.
GLAZER: ...To draw lines that I never wanted to draw before. I wanted to be everything for everybody.
MARTIN: Yeah.
GLAZER: And it's, like, so important to my health and my kid's health, but also, like, who you put out into the world. It's really important for the - it's actually - serves the world at large to give it the healthiest kid I can. So it's been, like, such a helpful reorganization.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MARTIN: OK, we got three more cards. We're going to keep going - one, two or three.
GLAZER: No. 1, please.
MARTIN: How comfortable are you with being alone?
GLAZER: I'm going to buck the binary with this answer and say...
MARTIN: Buck it, Ilana.
GLAZER: I'm going to say increasingly.
MARTIN: Yeah.
GLAZER: Ooh, is your mind blown by all my therapy, Rachel Martin?
(LAUGHTER)
GLAZER: But that is the accurate answer - increasingly. Hoo (ph), but it's tough. I really feed off people. I love people. I love intellectual intercourse. I love connecting and engaging. But I'm increasingly comfortable alone. And also, like, having such a high-needs, tiny individual needing me so often, it's, like, much more contrasted as a relief to be a little alone.
MARTIN: Yeah. Yeah. But I am someone who very - I, like, crave alone time.
GLAZER: Cool.
MARTIN: And so yeah, then - yeah, it's complicated.
GLAZER: Are you tall?
MARTIN: I don't know. Am I?
GLAZER: How tall are you?
MARTIN: Five - I mean, I think I'm 5'7". My husband insists that I'm 5'6" and three-quarters.
GLAZER: Oh, copy that. You know, I don't know if it's changed, but in the early 2000s in those toxic days, I was a teenager at that time. And the toxic messaging I got, for some reason, I know that modeling, you have to be 5'7". So it's like, you're model height, babe, OK?
MARTIN: Wait, how does it - is this just random interstitial, or does this...
GLAZER: I don't know. I just feel like - like, craving alone time and being, like, walking, like, so tall...
MARTIN: And being a model?
GLAZER: ...Being a model and, like, gliding through the streets of D.C.
MARTIN: Yeah, that's what I do.
GLAZER: Like, popping your collar and, like, not wanting the bottom half of your face to you seen - I'm just like, yeah, she likes to be alone. I'm, like, short, and I'm like, hey, everybody. Anybody want to hear a joke? You know, I don't know.
(LAUGHTER)
GLAZER: I just wanted to - I just want to picture it. I'm trying to picture it (ph).
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MARTIN: One, two or three.
GLAZER: Three.
MARTIN: Are you good at knowing when something should end?
GLAZER: Yes.
MARTIN: Yeah?
GLAZER: Yeah. Yeah, I am.
MARTIN: Have you always been that way?
GLAZER: Yes. Yes, I have. "Broad City" - I was, like, a big - you know, we had signed our contract of seven seasons. And then, you know, we both came to it, and - Abbi and I. But - and it was - Comedy Central was like, huh? But I was like - you know, and we were, like, ambivalent and unsure. But, like, it just - I think that's - yeah, that's something I would say is elegant about me, knowing when things are at their end.
MARTIN: Yeah. That's a admirable quality because it's not the same for everybody, and especially if you have - if you've got something good going on, and there are people telling you it's good, just keep going.
GLAZER: Yeah.
MARTIN: It's good. And to be able to have something internally that tells you, nah, I think I'm going to stop now.
GLAZER: Yeah. And, like, being able to trust that I am generative beyond this moment, whether it's a creative project or anything, you know, but that I am secure, that I will keep generating new layers and, like, do without thinking. That was something that - the experience of pregnancy was so incredible. I'm such an overthinker and a planner. Creating a person without thinking about it was - I was like, I'm not even thinking about this, and my body knows what to do. And, like, you know, we get a scrape, and the skin grows back. And it's just like...
MARTIN: Yeah.
GLAZER: ...Just trusting in - I don't know. I was a drummer for many years. I miss it. And I love...
MARTIN: You were?
GLAZER: Yes, and I just loved percussion. For a time, I was like, I'm going to be an orchestra percussionist. Can you imagine me, like, on a timpani, like, (vocalizing)?
MARTIN: Yes.
GLAZER: And it's like, I think it's, like, a rhythm thing. You know what I mean?
MARTIN: Yeah.
GLAZER: It's like a larger scale rhythm thing of, like, this is over.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MARTIN: Ilana Glazer - you can see their new standup special out December 20 on Hulu. It's called "Human Magic." It is indeed magical, as are you, Ilana. Thank you so much for doing this.
GLAZER: Thank you, Rachel. This was such a pleasure. Thank you so much for having me.
DETROW: You can hear more of that conversation with Ilana Glazer by following the Wild Card podcast. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/wildcard-with-ilana-glazer
| 2024-12-16T07:08:42Z
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As a severe heatwave continues to sear parts of northern WA amid a bushfire in the Wheatbelt, and a flood warning for the Pilbara, Perth’s seeming escape from the extreme weather will be short-lived.
Residents in communities near Northam have been warned it is too late to leave as an out-of-control bushfire rages in WA’s Wheatbelt region.
On Monday morning a flood warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for the De Grey River catchment with minor flooding occurring in Marble Bar, Ripon Hills Road, Nullagine and Tumbinna Pool.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises people in affected areas to prepare for the possible need to relocate equipment and livestock.
A severe heatwave in the Kimberley and Gascoyne Districts has been moving south since Saturday and is expected to develop into an extreme heatwave later in the week.
Kununurra, Kalumburu, Mount Magnet and Wyndham will likely be impacted by the heatwave in the coming days.
Perth began the week with a relatively cool partly cloudy Monday at a maximum of 25C but temperatures will shoot up to 35C on Tuesday and reach a high for the week with 39C on Sunday.
Heavy rainfall over the past few days in the Pilbara region has led to the closure of roads and Karijini National Park.
On Friday, Marble Bar Primary School principal Adeline Monaghan posted a video online showing her difficulty driving through the Coongan River crossing.
“There was a short window to make the exit from Marble Bar so we took it. I had to get my teaching staff out. With the guidance of police and other experienced drivers, we were able to navigate the crossing safely,” Ms Monaghan said.
“This decision was not made lightly, but it was a necessary step to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone involved.”
Less than 24 hours later, WA Police deemed Coongan River “too dangerous to cross”.
A woman, aged in her 70s, had to be rescued on Saturday afternoon after she became stranded while driving across flood waters on Marble Bar Road, about 40km from the town. DFES confirmed she was in “good health” and personnel had managed to recover her car from the waters.
For the latest updates, check Emergency WA, contact local authorities, and check the Main Roads Travel Map.
Perth forecast
Monday: 25C, partly cloudy.
Tuesday: 35C, sunny.
Wednesday: 32C, sunny.
Thursday: 30C, sunny.
Friday: 34C, sunny.
Saturday: 36C, sunny.
Sunday: 39C, sunny.
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https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/weather/wa-weather-cool-start-to-week-for-perth-short-lived-as-temperatures-soar-to-39c-heatwaves-flooding-in-north-c-17101286
| 2024-12-16T07:08:42Z
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Getting married in 2025? Check best dates, auspicious Muhrats
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/shortvideos/getting-married-in-2025-check-best-dates-auspicious-muhrats-from-january-to-december-sokq9a
| 2024-12-16T07:08:43Z
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In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old boy studying in Class 7 was allegedly burnt alive by two men over an argument in Punjab. The boy succumbed to his injuries and was 'declared brought' dead by the hospital.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/punjab-12yearold-burnt-alive-by-2-men-104272.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:46Z
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Zakir Hussain no more: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy mourns
Tabla legend Zakir Hussain, known for his global influence on Indian classical music, passes away at 73, leaving behind an enduring legacy.
The 75th State Weightlifting Championship was conducted at Konnagar. 170 participants, including state and national-level men and women from Hooghly, Howrah, Burdwan, and South 24-Parganas, participated in the event.
The 75th State Weightlifting Championship was conducted at Konnagar. 170 participants, including state and national-level men and women from Hooghly, Howrah, Burdwan, and South 24-Parganas, participated in the event.
The state chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has allocated a fund of five lakhs to encourage weightlifting in the state. Mr. Ranjit Bhattacharya, the Vice President of the Indian Weightlifting Association, was present on the occasion. He expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her initiative to encourage weightlifting among students and youth. He emphasised the need to divert attention from excessive smartphone usage towards sports and games.
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He advocated for making sports and games mandatory in school curricula, as it not only promotes good health but also opens doors to promising careers for talented athletes. Government and non-government institutions are increasingly recognising the potential of sportspersons and offering them job opportunities. The performance of the participants in the 75th State Weightlifting Championship at Konnagar was highly encouraging.
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https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/75th-state-weightlifting-championship-at-konnagar-1503376244.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:46Z
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SAN FRANCISCO – Klay Thompson’s second visit to Chase Center wasn’t as emotional as it was the first time he came back, but the five-time NBA All-Star still got caught up in the moment as he walked off the court at the end of the game.
One of the cornerstones in the Warriors’ four NBA championship runs from 2015-22, Thompson was cheered by several thousand Golden State fans after the Mavericks slapped the Warriors 143-133 on Sunday night.
Wildly popular when he wore a Warriors uniform, Thompson is still revered in these parts and he took some time to soak it all in. He signed a few autographs then blared out lyrics from an E-40 song as he skipped happily down the tunnel toward the Dallas locker room.
“I love shooting at Chase,” Thompson said. “I’ve been lucky enough to set records here and have incredible memories, so I try to tap into that every time I’m back. It was just as fun as the first time I came back, especially seeing all the No. 11 jerseys and seeing the young fans and seeing how much of an impact I was able to have while I was here.
“Makes me incredibly proud of what I was able to do.”
Unlike when Thompson first came back to San Francisco in a Mavericks uniform a month ago, the atmosphere was a bit more subdued inside Chase Center on Sunday. Fans cheered for him during pregame introductions, but that was about as far as it got.
There was no welcoming committee crowd of 400 employees who wore captain hats like there was Nov. 12, when the Warriors spoiled Thompson’s homecoming to the Bay Area with a 120-117 victory.
Golden State Warriors
It still was a special night anyway.
Thompson poured in a season-high 29 points to go with five rebounds and four assists. The former Splash Brother rained down seven threes, matching Stephen Curry for most in the game, and shot 9 of 14 overall to finish plus-21.
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RINSE & REPEAT 🔁 pic.twitter.com/kzye9p1A2Q
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 16, 2024
It was a much-needed victory for the Mavericks. Sitting in fourth place in the crowded Western Conference, Dallas had lost seven of its previous nine before gouging Golden State at Chase.
“Klay played great down the stretch,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He also got us off to a good start. Klay set some good screens; Klay came down and made some big shots for us. Also I thought his play-making was good, too.
“Being a veteran, being in a big-game situation, he handled it like he always has. He played great for us.”
Kidd felt Thompson handled the magnitude of the night perfectly.
“There’s still emotion here coming back here, winning championships and being in a lot of battles with those guys on the other side,” Kidd said. “Just his confidence to be able to make big shots in the rhythm of the offense, and defensively he was big for us. Just his comfort level, understanding playing with [Luka Dončić] and [Kyrie Irving], it takes time, but you can see that he’s getting comfortable.”
Thompson certainly was comfortable putting up shots at Chase. The night got even better for him as he looked around and saw a few familiar faces.
Leaving town with a win is just icing on the cake.
“I just wanted to take that moment for myself because because I spent a lot of days here, especially when I couldn’t play,” Thompson said. “To see [Warriors director of sports medicine and performance] Rick Celebrini, that made me happy again. To take in the crowd and the arena, I just took that moment for myself because I worked so hard to get back to this, to feeling like this, that I feel like I owed myself a second just to soak it all in.”
Before his big night at Chase, Thompson took a little time for a trip back in time. He drove by his old neighborhood, had dinner at a friend’s house in Oakland, took a ride through downtown and made his way past Oracle Arena where he got his NBA start.
“It was very surreal because I was 21 years old when I came here,” Thompson said. “To see the city and the towns, always special and so many good memories.”
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https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/nba/golden-state-warriors/klay-thompson-chase-center-dallas-mavericks/3737188/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:47Z
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The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/sonia-gandhi-aggressively-defends-pm-104208.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:47Z
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I took our van to the shop to have the tires rotated and the alignment checked. Tested and repaired, the van was back on the road. But, unfortunately, a few weeks went by, and the van was out of alignment again.
After incorrectly thinking and foolishly asking if she had run into a curb or a giant squirrel, I took it back to the same shop. They probably thought the same thing about the squirrel, then gladly took my money and repaired the van.
After a few weeks later, when I drove the van, I discovered it was out of alignment again. Unfortunately, because I suffer from insert-foot-in-mouth disease, my wife did not tell me she suspected something was wrong. So I went to a different shop. They diagnosed that the van would not stay in alignment because the piece that holds the wheel on the car was broken.
I was furious, scared and relieved all at the exact moment. Furious because the other shop did not see the issue. I was scared that something horrible could have happened to my family. My wife and my children were driving around in a van where the wheel could have just taken off on its own at any point in time. But I was relieved that this shop found the problem and was able to repair it. The van was repaired and safely moving down the street with all the wheels moving in the same direction.
I thought about this van when preparing for an upcoming sermon. Paul, writing to a church in the ancient city of Corinth, addresses them as, "the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together..." [Emphasis added.] In his three-part introduction, he reminds them whose they are, what is happening to them and who they should be.
Part of the reason the church was plagued with issues was that who they were and how they were living was not aligning with whom they belonged. Faith that makes a difference in everyday life is aligned under God. His rule, in which He desires the best for you, defines who you are and demands how you live. Aligning yourself under him leads to the life you have been looking for. But, when you are out of alignment, as you have probably already experienced, the wheels will fall off.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
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https://www.semissourian.com/features/alignment-is-the-key-2910790/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:47Z
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(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Several Ambassadors have extended their congratulations to the Qatari leadership, and people of Qatar commending Qatar's achievements and the robust bilateral relations between their countries and Qatar on the occasion of Qatar National Day (QND).
The Ambassadors shared their congratulatory messages with The Peninsula on the occasion.
US Ambassador to Qatar H E Timmy Davis
On this Qatar National Day, I am the luckiest American Ambassador in the world; lucky to be serving my country among the great people of Qatar.
The United States and Qatar have a deep history, spanning five decades, and we continue to deepen our ties year after year. We continue to work together to bring the regional conflict to an end, which is a testament to Qatar's indispensable role as a mediator. Last month, we welcomed Qatar to the United States' Visa Waiver Program, allowing for seamless travel for business and tourism between our countries.
This made Qatar the first Arab country to be admitted to the program. I want the Qatari people to know that the United States values your partnership and sees Qatar as an indispensable ally and friend. Together, we will continue to foster unbreakable bonds and deepen our cooperation. I take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful Qatar National Day!
Australian Ambassador to Qatar H E Shane Flanagan
On this joyous occasion of Qatar National Day, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on behalf of Australia. As I attended the wonderful cultural events at Darb Al Saai last week and witnessed Qatari singing, music, art and cultural performances, I was reminded of the many similarities between our people.
This day is a celebration of the nation's cultural heritage, rich history, and the progress Qatar has made in shaping a brighter future for its people. I thank you for Qatar's hospitality and for sharing its culture and history with all those who call Qatar home.
Australia and Qatar enjoy a strong and enduring friendship built on mutual respect.
Over the years, our two nations have collaborated in variety of fields, including trade, education, and cultural exchange. These partnerships are a testament to the bonds of friendship and understanding that continue to grow between us and we were honoured to receive a visit this year by H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. This was the first visit to Australia by a Qatari Prime Minister and we hope to continue to elevate the level of our engagement.
As Qatar commemorates this special day, we admire Qatar's achievements in areas such as innovation, energy, sports, global diplomacy and many other fields.
The determination of people of Qatar is inspiring, and its contributions on the world stage reflect the strength of the nation. We are thankful for the role Qatar continues to play as a trusted mediator in many global disputes.
Qatar's commitment to this demanding role demonstrates the priority Qatar attaches to achieving peace, and we are appreciative for Qatar's continued work in this space.
In Australia, we take pride in our multicultural society, including a small but vibrant Qatari community which enriches our nation with their traditions, values, and talents, fostering even closer connections between our countries.
I thank Qatar for valuing our Australian community here in the same way, and for always treating our Australian history and culture with respect.
As you celebrate the National Day, please know that your Australian friends share in your pride and happiness.
May this day be filled with joy, unity, and the hope of an even more prosperous future for Qatar.
British Ambassador to Qatar H E Neerav Patel
My warmest wishes to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and all Qataris on the National Day. The UK is delighted to share in the celebration of Qatar's many accomplishments, its thriving culture, traditions and customs, and its bright future. We are proud friends, and we look forward to even closer solidarity and cooperation in the coming years. On a personal level, my family and I complete our first year in Doha, we are delighted to call Qatar our home.
Happy National Day!
Swedish Ambassador to Qatar H E Gautam Bhattacharyya
On the occasion of Qatar National Day 2024, on behalf of the Kingdom of Sweden, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to the leadership, citizens, and residents of this remarkable nation.
This special day is a celebration of Qatar's steadfast commitment to progress, unity, and prosperity under the visionary leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Qatar's achievements in nation-building are a source of admiration for the international community. From its impressive advancements in infrastructure and sustainable development to its robust education and healthcare systems.
Qatar continues to set benchmarks for excellence. Its unwavering commitment to sports is remarkable, as the nation has firmly established itself as a global sporting hub. Equally commendable is the nation's growing prominence in international diplomacy, where its efforts in fostering peace and dialogue have earned global respect and trust.
This year has been particularly significant for Sweden-Qatar relations, marking a high point in our partnership. The historic visit of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Stockholm in September this year underscored the strong ties between our nations.
This was followed by high-level visits from Sweden to Qatar, including those of the Defence Minister, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
These exchanges have deepened our collaboration across sectors and strengthened the foundation of our bilateral relations. Sweden remains a committed and reliable partner to Qatar across the board; from technology and innovation to environmental and social sustainability.
As Qatar celebrates this momentous day, we wish its people - citizens and residents alike - good health, happiness, and continued success. May Qatar's journey of progress and its contributions to global peace and development continue to inspire the world. Happy National Day, Qatar.
MENAFN16122024000063011010ID1108995970
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https://menafn.com/1108995970/Envoys-Speak-Of-Robust-Ties-With-Qatar-On-QND
| 2024-12-16T07:08:48Z
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Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain — who united musicians from diverse cultures and by doing so, shaped modern world music — died on Sunday in San Francisco. He was 73.
In a statement, his family said the cause of death was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
"His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time," his family added.
Hussain's career spanned over five decades, during which he was revered as both a national treasure in India and admired worldwide.
He defied genres and collaborated with an impressive range of musicians, including jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, bluegrass artists Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck, as well as rockstars George Harrison and Van Morrison. His versatility earned him the rare distinction of performing twice on NPR's Tiny Desk — once in 2010 and then in 2023.
"You know, you come from India and you say, 'OK, I'm representing a 3,000-year-old history,' so you think you're gonna teach the world about rhythms and drums and so on," he told NPR in 2015. "And then you arrive here. You suddenly realize that you know nothing. You're just one little dot in the painting that is the music of the universe."
Beyond his performances, Hussain was admired for his passion to teaching Indian drumming, further spreading appreciation for the art form.
Hussain often said that his musical journey began soon after he was born in Bombay. In the 2015 NPR interview, he recalled a tradition where a father whispers a prayer into his newborn son's ear. Instead, his father chose to sing him rhythms.
"My mother was very upset and said, 'Why are you doing this?' And he said, 'Because this is my prayer,'" Hussain said.
He told NPR that it was his father's dream for him to carry on the tradition of being an Indian classical musician. His father, Alla Rakha, was considered one of the world's greatest player's of tabla, a centuries-old Indian hand drum. His father taught Hussain how to play the tabla when he was 7 years old.
But his father also introduced Hussain to music from around the world, which is how Hussain fell in love with rock and Western music.
"I was the only kid on the block who was walking down the street with a boombox on my shoulder, playing as loud as I could 'Light My Fire,'" Hussain recalled.
In 1970, at 19, Hussain traveled to the U.S. where he spent the following years working with rockstars like George Harrison, Van Morrison and Mickey Hart, the drummer from The Grateful Dead. He also played with jazz musician John Handy.
In 1973, Hussain formed the Indian jazz fusion band Shakti with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. With its melodic and rhythm instruments, the band helped American listeners appreciate sounds and instruments beyond Western music.
In 2024, Hussain became the first musician from India to receive three Grammy awards in the same year after Shakti won Best Global Music Album, and Hussain's collaboration with Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck featuring Rakesh Chaurasia won Best Global Music Performance and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
Hussain told NPR in 2015 that throughout the course of his career, he has found similarities between rhythmists around the world — regardless of approach or style.
"We were all on the same wavelength, the same quest, looking for perfection, which we will never find. But that didn't matter because it's all about the journey — not the goal," he said.
NPR's Felix Contreras contributed reporting.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knkx.org/2024-12-15/zakir-hussain-legendary-tabla-virtuoso-who-defied-genres-dies-at-73
| 2024-12-16T07:08:48Z
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HCL, SBI to CAMS: Top 10 Stocks with high return potential for 2025
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/shortvideos/hcl-sbi-icici-bank-top-10-stocks-with-high-return-potential-for-2025-nti-sokosv
| 2024-12-16T07:08:49Z
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The Ironman 70.3 World Championship 2024 concluded on Sunday in the North Island city of Taupo, New Zealand.
This marks the first time the event has been held in New Zealand. The race covered a total distance of 70.3 miles, including a 1.9-kilometre swim, a 90-kilometre bike ride, and a 21.1-kilometre run, attracting thousands of participants from around the globe, Xinhua news agency reported.
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In the men’s race, Belgium’s Jelle Geens demonstrated exceptional all-around strength, crossing the finish line in three hours, 32 minutes and nine seconds to win the event.
Buoyed by the enthusiastic support of his home crowd, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde secured second place with a time of 3:33:22. France’s Leo Bergere finished third in 3:35:08.
American athlete Taylor Knibb won the gold medal in the women’s race in 3:57:34. Britain’s Kat Matthews took second place in 3:58:49, while Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle finished third with 4:03:01.
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https://www.thestatesman.com/world/belgium-new-zealand-athletes-win-2024-ironman-70-3-world-championship-1503376166.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:53Z
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Attendees at Friday, Feb. 3's Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee braved frigid temperatures to step back in time to hear about a vital period in Southeast Missouri history.
In remarks titled "Flood Control and Drainage", W. Dustin Boatwright, executive vice president of Cape Girardeau-headquartered Little River Drainage District, described for a crowd gathered at Century Casino Event Center the district's historic impact.
"[The district] runs from south of Cape Girardeau down to the Arkansas line," said Boatwright, a third-generation district employee whose father and grandfather were dragline operators on the project.
"That area makes up about 5% of Missouri and is responsible for about 30% of the commodities of the state — just to give a snapshot of how successful this project has been."
Boatwright said the project was built between 1914 and 1928, transforming what was colloquially referred to as "Swampeast Missouri" into some of the richest and most productive agricultural land in the nation.
"What these folks did 100 years back in the time frame in which they did it would be very difficult to do today," he said, adding the total $9.3 million price tag of a century ago would likely cost $180 million to $200 million today.
Little River Drainage District is made up of parts of seven Missouri counties: Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Stoddard, Dunklin, Scott, New Madrid and Pemiscot, with 1,000 miles of ditches and 300 miles of levees.
"In terms of reliability and productivity, agriculture-wise, this area is a mecca and is as good as it gets," Boatwright said.
Frank Nickell of Cape Girardeau's Kellerman Foundation, in a previous article for the Southeast Missourian, said if the district didn't exist and if the project's ditches were not maintained today, "most of the area would revert back to a swamp."
Land that was at one time covered 95% in water and trees now is largely cleared, creating some of the more fertile and tillable U.S. land to be found anywhere, the historian added.
Those so inclined may get a glimpse of what the region looked like before Little River Drainage District by visiting 15,000-acre Mingo National Wildlife refuge near Puxico, Missouri, Nickell said.
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https://www.semissourian.com/news/century-old-engineering-marvel-revisited-at-cape-girardeau-chambers-first-friday-coffee-2982652/
| 2024-12-16T07:08:54Z
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'Don't Detain Innocent Muslim Youth'
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today asked all Chief Ministers to ensure that no innocent Muslim youth is wrongfully detained in the name of terror.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today asked all Chief Ministers to ensure that no innocent Muslim youth is wrongfully detained in the name of terror.
In a letter to Chief Ministers, Shinde said Central government has been receiving various representations on alleged harassment of innocent Muslim youth by law enforcement agencies.
"Some of the minority youth have started feeling that they are deliberately targeted and deprived their basis rights," he wrote.
The Home Minister emphasised that the government is committed to its core principle of combating terrorism in every form and manifestation.
"Government has to ensure that no innocent person is subjected to undue harassment," he told the Chief Ministers.
Shinde asked the state governments to constitute special courts in consultation with concerned high court for trial of terror-related cases, appoint special public prosecutors for trial of these cases and give priority to terror cases over other pending cases.
The Home Minister said law enforcement agencies should be satisfied with regard to communal and social harmony while ensuring zero tolerance for terrorism.
"Strict and prompt action against erring police officers where there is malafide arrests of any member of minority community, wrongfully arrested, person should not only be released immediately but they should be suitably compensated and rehabilitated to join the mainstream," he said.
In May, the central government has set up the 39 special courts under the NIA Act to take up terror-related cases.
Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan had also written to Shinde expressing concern over "wrong arrests" of Muslim youths in different parts of the country in terror cases.
Apprising the Home Ministry of the concerns expressed by various Muslim bodies that the "draconian" provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act can be misused against minorities, Khan had proposed setting up of special courts to ensure speedy trial of all terror cases.
Fully backing the Minority Affairs Minister's suggestion of setting up of special courts, Shinde wrote back to him saying, "You have my assurance that this will happen".
PTI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/sushil-kumar-shinde-asks-cms-not-to-wrongfully-detain-muslim-youth-104183.html
| 2024-12-16T07:08:54Z
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Al Misnad Hosts Oman's Ambassador
Date
12/16/2024 1:02:39 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
QNA
Minister of State for International Cooperation H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met with Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Qatar H E Sayyid Ammar bin Abdullah bin Sultan Albusaidi. The two sides discussed relations between the two countries. Separately, the Minister of State for International Cooperation met yesterday with Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Qatar H E Andrii Kuzmenko. Discussion during the meeting dealt with cooperation between the two countries.
MENAFN16122024000063011010ID1108995971
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https://menafn.com/1108995971/Al-Misnad-Hosts-Omans-Ambassador
| 2024-12-16T07:08:54Z
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(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Honouring the legacy of iconic Egyptian novelist, writer, literary critic, and professor Radwa Ashour, Qatar Foundation and the University of Granada have launched the annual Radwa Ashour Award for Arabic Literature.
The award was launched on December 13, 2024 at the historic Al Madrassa Al Youssufia in Granada, Spain. The Radwa Ashour Award for Arabic Literature is open exclusively to writers who create in Arabic, emphasising Qatar Foundation's (QF) commitment to promoting the Arabic language and Arab-Islamic cultural heritage.
H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, said:“Throughout history's most challenging times, humanity has turned to literature – its enduring mirror.
“Great literature, therefore, transcends its artistic form to become essential – a vessel of memory, resistance, and hope.”
The Radwa Ashour Award for Arabic Literature is designed as a writing residency retreat, and will be awarded annually to two exceptional Arabic-language writers. Writers are selected based on the literary merit of their work and the promise of their proposed writing projects. A distinguished panel of Radwa Ashour's literary circle of authors, critics, and literary scholars will oversee the selection process.
Radwa Ashour's son, poet Tamim Al Barghouti, emphasized the enduring power of literature, saying:“We shall go on, beyond death itself, armies turn our homes to museums of death, with our bodies being their twisted art, but language, prose and poetry, and art in all forms, survive the tanks and start the world anew.
“This is but a small step to offer writers a moment's peace while they prepare themselves for their daily battles.”
The two recipients of the award will be based in Granada for an extended residency, offering uninterrupted time for writing, research, and creative development. During their stay, they will also engage with local cultural and literary communities through lectures, workshops, and public readings, fostering cultural exchange and creative collaboration.
Jose Miguel Vilchez, Arabist and Professor of Art History at the University of Granada, reflected on the award's purpose, saying:“This award aims to encourage literary creation in the Arabic language – a universal language, and also one of the languages of Spain.
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https://menafn.com/1108995972/QF-University-Of-Granada-Establish-Radwa-Ashour-Award-For-Arabic-Literature
| 2024-12-16T07:08:55Z
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Deborah Krishnadasan is Washington’s newest legislator.
Krishnadasan, a Gig Harbor Democrat, was appointed by the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners and the Pierce County Council to fill the vacancy left by former state Sen. Emily Randall, who was elected to Congress in November.
Once she’s sworn in, Krishnadasan, a local education advocate, will represent the 26th Legislative District, which covers Kitsap and Pierce Counties.
Because the district touches two counties, both governments had to approve the appointment. The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners has three members, and the Pierce County Council has seven members. To ensure each county has an equal say, every vote from a Pierce County Council member equaled three-sevenths of a vote.
According to state law, the appointed replacement for a state legislator must be in the same party as the lawmaker who is leaving.
Krishnadasan served six years on the Peninsula School District Board of Directors, including two as its president. She helped the district pass the first school bond in 16 years. She is also the founder of Stand Up for Peninsula Schools, a volunteer-led school advocacy group.
Before her work in education, she worked at Microsoft.
The seat will be on the ballot in a special election next November, and the winner of that election will serve through 2026.
One Republican is already running for the seat.
Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, announced her candidacy last week. Caldier, who’s served in the House since 2014, said the seat is critical for Republicans to prevent Democrats from gaining a two-thirds supermajority in the state Senate.
“Bringing balance to Washington government means making sure all voices are heard,” Caldier said. “That isn’t happening in Olympia right now. I will work every day in the Senate to hold the majority accountable to all the people.”
Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence.
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https://www.knkx.org/government/2024-12-15/gig-harbor-education-leader-to-become-was-newest-democratic-state-senator
| 2024-12-16T07:08:55Z
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© Brighteon.com All Rights Reserved. All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Brighteon is not responsible for comments and content uploaded by our users.
© Brighteon.com All Rights Reserved. All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Brighteon is not responsible for comments and content uploaded by our users.
© Brighteon.com All Rights Reserved. All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Brighteon is not responsible for comments and content uploaded by our users.
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https://www.brighteon.com/channels/brigittealig/home
| 2024-12-16T07:08:56Z
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed holding a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump, during which he reaffirmed his country’s ‘determination’ to continue acting against Iran and its armed proxies, CNN reported.
Netanyahu said in the video message that he had a “very friendly, very warm, and very important conversation” on Saturday (local time) and told about the need for Israel to “complete its victory.”
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The leaders also spoke of the need to bring home the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Hamas carried out a massive terror attack on Israel on October 7 killing over 1200 people and holding over 250 as hostages. Around 100 of them are still believed to be in captivity in Gaza.
Israel launched a strong counter-offensive targeting Hamas units in Gaza in an operation that has killed over 45,000 Palestinians.
“I discussed all of this again last night with my friend, US President-elect Donald Trump,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“It was a very friendly, very warm and very important conversation. We spoke about the need to complete Israel’s victory, and we also spoke at length about the efforts we are making to free our hostages,” he said as quoted by CNN.
Netanyahu said that Israel continues to “work tirelessly to bring our hostages home, both the living and the dead. And I add, the less we talk about it, the better, and so with God’s help, we will succeed.”
On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister took to social media platform X and strongly affirmed that they would “change” the Middle East.
“I said we would change the Middle East and this is what is happening. Syria is not the same Syria. Lebanon is not the same Lebanon. Gaza is not the same Gaza. Iran is not the same Iran,” Netanyahu said in a post on X.
“We are committed to preventing Hezbollah from rearming,” he said. “This is an ongoing test for Israel, we must meet it – and we will meet it. I say to Hezbollah and Iran in no uncertain terms – to prevent you from harming us, we will continue to act against you as much as necessary, in every arena and at all times,” as per Times of Israel.
Since the rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the over two-decades-long Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8, Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes across Syria and carried out a land incursion that stretches past the occupied Golan Heights into a previously demilitarized buffer zone, as reported by The Washington Post.
The Israeli army swiftly took control of the abandoned army positions, and air attacks have decimated most of Syria’s military capabilities.
Netanyahu reiterated that recent airstrikes against Syrian military sites were carried out to ensure that the weapons would not be used against Israel in the future. Israel also hit arms supply routes to Hezbollah, he said, acording to Times of Israel.
“We have no interest in a conflict with Syria,” Netanyahu said. “We will determine Israel’s policy toward Syria according to the emerging reality on the ground.”
Netanyahu has said that Israel has “no intention of interfering” in Syria’s internal affairs, but also warned to take “necessary” measures if the current regime allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria or transfers weapons to Hezbollah.
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https://www.thestatesman.com/world/netanyahu-confirms-holding-very-warm-phone-call-with-trump-on-israels-need-to-complete-its-victory-1503376224.html
| 2024-12-16T07:09:00Z
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Spinny Announces Its First \'Sweet December\' Campaign Winner
Date
12/16/2024 1:06:14 AM
(MENAFN- ForPressRelease)
Bangalore, 16th December 2024: Spinny recently marked its three-year partnership with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. To celebrate this collaboration, built on shared values of trust, transparency, and customer satisfaction, Spinny launched its \"Sweet December\" campaign. The campaign promises an exciting opportunity for three lucky customers to receive 100% money back for their Spinny car and meet the Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar.
The first of the three lucky customers is Mr. Santosh MR from Bengaluru, who now owns his dream car, a Volkswagen Polo. As part of his reward for winning the lucky draw, Santosh received a full refund on his purchase and had the unforgettable experience of meeting Sachin Tendulkar in person.
This initiative reinforces Spinny\'s commitment to delighting its customers and building lasting relationships. With two more winners yet to be announced, the \"Sweet December\" campaign continues to create excitement among car buyers, while embodying the joy and aspirations of the festive season.
The campaign continues to celebrate the spirit of the season with exciting surprises for lucky winners. Spinny will soon announce the other two lucky buyers on the 21st and 31st of December.
About Spinny: Founded in 2015, Spinny is a full-stack used-car retailing platform that aims to bring about transparency and trust in the car buying and selling process for India. Spinny operates across the entire value chain of pre-owned cars, embedding superior technology and processes to deliver a simple and delightful car-buying and selling experience to customers. As a testimony of Spinny\'s commitment to transparency, accountability, and quality, each car on its platform comes with a 200-point inspection checklist, a 5-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee, and a 1-year after-sales warranty. Every Spinny car is handpicked and comes with a clean history. On average, only 1 out of 20 cars pass through Spinny\'s 200-parameter inspection checklist. All Spinny cars are listed on the website () where a customer can view the assortment of cars available for sale and filter them based on his or her requirements.
Company :-Adfactors PR
User :- Shagun Pahwa
Email :...
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https://menafn.com/1108995975/Spinny-Announces-Its-First-Sweet-December-Campaign-Winner
| 2024-12-16T07:09:01Z
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Colonel found guilty of sexual harassment in trial seen as a milestone
A former Army battalion commander has been found guilty in a military court of sexually harassing a subordinate, one of the first cases of its kind brought after an overhaul of the military’s legal system that established sexual harassment as a criminal offense.
The officer, Lt. Col. Herman West of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a female officer in his command, making unwanted comments and touching her inappropriately. He faced additional charges over his treatment of other female officers at the base.
A court-martial judge found him guilty Friday of sexual harassment, conduct unbecoming of an officer and maltreatment. West, who had been removed from his leadership role in the battalion as a result of the case, was fined more than $92,000 and received a written reprimand in his personnel file. The conviction is considered to be a felony-level offense.
According to court documents, West used sexually suggestive language when talking with the officer in his command. The documents also said that he had unbuttoned his pants in front of her, in addition to the inappropriate touching.
During a Friday afternoon sentencing hearing, West apologized to the victims. According to a local television station in Washington, he looked directly at the female officer at the center of the case and said, “My actions were despicable.” He added, “You’ve done nothing wrong.” The woman’s name has not been publicly released.
Criminalizing sexual harassment in the military was part of a broader set of changes mandated by a bipartisan law passed by Congress in 2021, the largest overhaul in generations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. (Previously, the military’s legal system did not specifically include sexual harassment as an offense, and prosecutors had to rely on other misconduct charges to bring criminal cases.) The changes also stripped commanders’ authority to decide whether to pursue charges in sexual abuse cases and other serious crimes, transferring that responsibility to specialized prosecutors.
Those changes capped nearly two decades of efforts led by female lawmakers and survivors’ groups to address the pervasive problem of assault and harassment in the military. A recent report from the Department of Defense found that about 7% of active-duty women experienced unwanted sexual contact, and about 25% reported sexual harassment in the previous year.
The movement gained momentum following the killing of Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year-old Army specialist at the Fort Cavazos base in Texas, who was murdered after trying to report sexual harassment by another soldier.
Ryan Guilds, a lawyer for the women in the case against West, said the verdict sent a clear message that sexual harassment is a real, harmful crime that undermines the Army’s core values. However, he said the conviction could not undo the damage done to the women and their careers.
“The environment these officers endured is something no one should have to experience,” he said.
But Jason Wareham, who represented West, said the punishment was excessive. He said he believed the case was referred to a general court-martial, the military’s highest trial court, instead of an administrative discipline process because his client is Black.
“I think it’s trauma on all sides,” Wareham said. “He’s now going forward with a felony-level conviction for something that, in the civilian world, would be treated as a human resources-level offense.”
Asked about Wareham’s assertion that race was a significant factor in the result, Guilds said that the military and society overall needed to grapple with issues of race and the equal application of the law.
“But in the end,” he said, “there is only one person responsible for the crimes and conviction here – and that is Lt. Col. West.”
Wareham said West planned to leave the Army.
Advocacy groups working to end sexual violence in the military called the verdict a “critical milestone,” as the case was one of the first to be brought under the updated military justice code.
Elisa Cardnell, president of the Service Women’s Action Network, a group that supports women in the military, including former members, said the revisions in the 2021 law are challenging the culture of “men will be men, boys will be boys.”
“Sexual assault and harassment does a disservice to everyone in the military,” she said. “The mindset that no one is above the law, and that these cases should be prosecuted, will hopefully prevent some of these cases from happening in the future.”
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/dec/15/colonel-found-guilty-of-sexual-harassment-in-trial/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:02Z
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Here's a collection curated by The Associated Press' entertainment journalists of what's arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.
Movies
- Shaunak Sen's "All That Breathes", one of the more transfixing and beautiful documentaries of the past year, is about a pair of brothers in New Dehli who make a makeshift clinic to mend and heal the birds of prey that are increasingly falling to Earth in the pollution-choked Indian capital. The film, nominated for best documentary at the Academy Awards, is a stirring and poetic portrait of ecological urban rescue that begins streaming on HBO Max on Tuesday. (It also premieres on HBO on Tuesday.) Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud may be amateurs, but they've saved some 20,000 birds.
- With Valentine's Day fast approaching, the rom-coms cometh. Two notable ones are on tap this week: "Your Place or Mine" on Netflix and "Somebody I Used to Know" on Prime Video. Aline Brosh McKenna's "Your Place or Mine", debuting Friday, stars Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher as longtime friends who swap houses for a week. Dave Franco's "Somebody I Used to Know" is his second film as director and fourth collaboration with his wife, Alison Brie. Brie stars as a young woman who while visiting her hometown reunites with an old flame (Jay Ellis).
- Just half a year after the death of NBA great Bill Russell, a new Netflix documentary reflects on the life and legacy of one of the best basketball players of all time. Sam Pollard, the veteran documentarian of "MLK/FBI", directs "Bill Russell: Legend" (streaming Wednesday), a two-part film featuring interviews with Russell taped before his death, as well as Steph Curry, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Chris Paul. The film illuminates both Russell's on-court accomplishments, including 11 championship titles with the Boston Celtics, and his off-the-court activism.
— AP film writer Jake Coyle
"Raven" by Kelela, left, and "This Is Why" by Paramore.Warp/Atlantic via AP "Raven" by Kelela, left, and "This Is Why" by Paramore.Warp/Atlantic via AP Music
- Paramore's "This Is Why" will arrive Friday and marks the first album from Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro since 2017's "After Laughter". The trio says the album summarizes "the rollercoaster of being alive in 2022," and the singles seem to hint at a funkier, indie rock approach, including the terrific, jangly title cut. The band's third single, "C'est Comme Ca", (which translates roughly into the expression "That's just how it is") contains the spicy lyrics: "I hate to admit getting better is boring/But the high cost of chaos/Who can afford it?"
- Kelela's second full-length album, "Raven", arrives Friday with the new seductive single, "Contact". A mix of '90s house, electronic and R&B, "Contact" is a super sexy chill way to get ready for a right out and later the feel of sweaty, super cool bodies swaying. One music writer calls her music "the soundtrack to a night drive home as you watch the rain patter on your window, reflecting on how it could have all been different." The songwriter describes her new album as a "15 track deep-dive into facets of dance music that have always excited me."
— Entertainment writer Mark Kennedy
Television
- A new Lifetime movie called "Black Girl Missing" is inspired by true instances of missing women of color who don't get the same attention or spotlight from the authorities and media that a missing white woman does. Garcelle Beauvais executive produces and stars as a woman whose missing daughter is dismissed as a runaway, as news of a missing white girl stirs up a media frenzy. "Black Girl Missing" debuted Saturday.
- MGM+ (formerly known as EPIX) is out with a new documentary that premiered Sunday about Jack Roland Murphy — also known as "Murf the Surf". Murf was an infamous thief, who was also known for his elaborate, tall tales, stole the Star of India sapphire — plus other jewels — from New York's Museum of Natural History in 1964. To date, it's the largest jewel theft in the city's history. Murf went on to be convicted of murder and then sentenced to life in prison, plus additional time added later for other crimes but was paroled in 1986. The four-part series looks at Murphy's life, crimes and how a criminal was able to captivate both the media and public.
— Alicia Rancilio
Video games
- The Harry Potter universe is going through rough times, with a series of poorly received "Fantastic Beasts" films and an ongoing controversy over creator J.K. Rowling's comments against transgender people. Warner Bros. Games is hoping to turn around its fortunes with Hogwarts Legacy, an ambitious open-world adventure set at the school of magic in the 1800s. Players can create their own protagonist, a witch or wizard who "holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart" — as if the Potterverse doesn't have enough agita already. You can pick up your wand Friday on the PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S or PC.
— Lou Kesten
Catch up on AP's entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.
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https://www.semissourian.com/entertainment/new-this-week-your-place-or-mine-all-that-breathes-paramore-album-2982675/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:03Z
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Tejaswi Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, said that the party will file an appeal in the High Court against conviction of RJD chief in fodder scam case.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/will-appeal-against-conviction-of-lalu-104168.html
| 2024-12-16T07:09:07Z
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India did world a favour by buying Russian oil: Hardeep Puri
“India did the entire world a favour by buying Russian oil because if we had not done so, the global oil prices would have skyrocketed to $200/barrel,” the minister said on X on Thursday.
Two Russian oil tankers with 29 crew members on board were damaged in the Kerch Strait near the Black Sea due to bad weather conditions, TASS reported Sunday.
Two Russian oil tankers with 29 crew members on board were damaged in the Kerch Strait near the Black Sea due to bad weather conditions, TASS reported Sunday.
Tass reported that the damaged “Volgoneft-212” and “Volgoneft-239” tankers each carried more than four tonnes of fuel oil, adding that oil spills have been registered, according to water transport authorities, Xinhua news agency reported.
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Rescue and evacuation of the crew members are underway, the report said.
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https://www.thestatesman.com/world/two-russian-oil-tankers-with-29-on-board-damaged-due-to-bad-weather-1503376169.html
| 2024-12-16T07:09:08Z
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‘Please remove all signs of Jewish or Zionist identity like kippahs [skullcaps] and jewelry, including Magen David necklaces and hostage solidarity pins, turn your bags inside out so that no Israel-related logos are visible, and exit the synagogue through the back door in groups of ten people at controlled intervals.”
These were the instructions issued by the Sydney Police to 200 Australian Jews at the end of a grand gathering last Wednesday in the Sydney Great Synagogue, celebrating the centenary of The Technion: Israel Institute of Technology.
On the street outside, 100 loud and angry people had gathered to protest “genocide” in Gaza, the Technion’s role in supporting Israel’s military industries, and its ties to Australian academic institutions. And they came to demonstrate against me, too, the Technion event keynote speaker, whom they labeled a “war-hawk.”
The police were fearful. Afraid of the protesters. They detained one Jew who tried to fly an Israeli flag across the street from the anti-Israel radicals. They arrested none of the radicals, nor made any attempt to move them away from the synagogue front and back exits, even though they had no protest permit. And then they asked the Jews to meekly skunk out of the shul while hiding their identity.
“Turn your Technion tote bags inside out!” they ordered.
This groveling, gutless, and perverted Sydney Police approach to Jews and their attackers jibes with the Australian government’s approach to Israel and Palestinians. It has savaged Israel at the UN and other international forums while assigning little responsibility to Hamas or Fatah.
It is clear to me that the cascading slide away from Israel by the Labor Party government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong has provided a tailwind to the increasingly violent and progressively more openly antisemitic street riots.
Anti-Israel policies
PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu is right when he says that Australia’s government has motivated antisemitic crimes with anti-Israel policies. The two cannot be separated.
Every single Australian Jew I met over my ten-day visit Down Under feels this in their bones. Israel and Australian Jews have been abandoned by the Australian government to radical hordes: skunked, shut out, and shunted aside.
Australia even has moved to delegitimize and disqualify Israeli politicians. Two weeks ago, former justice minister Ayelet Shaked was barred from entering the large island nation, where she was slated to address a conference organized by the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC).
Why was she denied a visa? Because she might “incite discord in the Australian community” by objecting to the “two-state solution,” the Albanese government said. How outrageous; how revealing of Albanese government obnoxiousness.(I spoke at AIJAC in Melbourne last week and focused on Iran. That, and the fact that I am not as prominent as Shaked, kept me out of trouble with Australian authorities, I guess.)
And sure enough, just days after Australia dissed Shaked, it again condemned Israel at the UN (supporting a demand to “evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory”), and 36 hours after the insidious Sydney incident, a Melbourne shul was firebombed and gutted – just down the street from the home of my hosts.
THE AUSTRALIAN government took its time admitting that this was terrorism, at first suggesting that leftover paint ignited the fire even though video footage captured three masked arsonists in action.
Eventually, Canberra mealy-mouthed condemnation of the attack while doubling down on its criticism of Israel. It did not dare expressly suggest that the Satmar-style, non-Zionist Hassidic Jews who frequented that synagogue complex were fair game for bigotry because of the State of Israel’s “crimes” (this would have been quite ironic), but some Australian Labor Party figures came close to hinting at that.
Confronted by a storm of criticism, Albanese showed up in a shul on Shabbat morning in far-away Perth, almost without warning. There, he was reportedly surprised to hear the rabbi intone the usual blessing for the Commonwealth Crown and the leaders of Australia. He didn’t seem to know that Australian Jews are patriots. Maybe he didn’t realize that they are equal citizens either, deserving of protection and even respect.
Increase in antisemitic incidents
The situation is so bad – a rise of more than 300% in antisemitic incidents over the past year – that the Simon Wiesenthal Center has issued a travel advisory for Jews or Israelis considering travel to Australia.
“In failing to act against the demonization of Jews, Israel and Zionism on the streets of Australian cities, the Australian government has allowed violence against Jews and Israelis to be normalized. Moreover, authorities have failed to take necessary measures to protect Jewish communities from increasingly belligerent and violent targeting by Islamists and other extremists.”
Under pressure, the Albanese government belatedly this week announced additional security funding for Jewish institutions, which the Australian Jewish Association dismissed as an attempt to buy off the Jewish community without truly addressing the causes of antisemitism.
Albanese also hurriedly declared the formation of a “Special Operation Avalite for Antisemitism” task force. (Avalite is a randomized database used by the Federal Police.) One hopes that this is intended to counter antisemitism rather than spawn or excuse it, although with the Albanese government, that is not at all certain.
BUT ALL is not lost. There are energetic non-Jewish supporters of Israel in Australia, including political party leaders who are likely to replace the current crop of fair-weather friends next year. There are also ethnic community figures and healthy-minded thinkers and writers who have rallied to the side of Israel and the local Jewish communities.
I was privileged to meet one of these heroes, the Australian Aboriginal activist Nova Peris. A double-gold Australian Olympic champion and former Member of Parliament who is lionized and recognized by everyone in the country, she has become one of Israel’s most outspoken defenders.
Speaking at the same pro-Israel events I did, Nova electrified listeners with her discourse on proud Aboriginal identity and indigenous claims to ancestral lands, making an explicit comparison between the struggle of her First Nations communities and the struggle of the Jewish People for respect and for reclamation of its ancient homeland, Israel.
Peris was horrified by the infamous protest just two days after October 7 outside the Sydney Opera House, where a mob chanted “F--- the Jews” and burned an Israeli flag.
No one was arrested at the protest and no one has yet been charged, but guess what? A Jewish man with an Israeli flag at the scene was arrested “for his own safety,” according to police.
LISTEN TO Nova Peris: “As an Aboriginal woman from Kakadu, I know what it means to fight for land and identity. I see you, Jewish people, standing resilient in the land of your ancestors – a land where your history is woven into every stone, from the remnants of Solomon’s Temple to the echoes of Masada,” she said.
“I believe you when you say Israel is your birthright; you are not colonizers, but you are a people who have endured exile, Diaspora, and withstood every effort against you of those who have tried to erase your identity. You have reclaimed your heritage, revived your language, and continued to live with unwavering pride,” Peris said.
“I see you, descendants of David, who faced Goliath with courage and determination. Just like David, you faced insurmountable challenges and prevailed. Your history reminds us that all that strength comes not just from right but from purpose, faith, and resilience.
“I see you, Jewish people, embodying the values of Tikkun Olam – the call to repair the world. Through your technological innovations, medical breakthroughs, and humanitarian efforts, you have shown an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. I see you. I believe you.”
Nova will receive an award from the president of the Technion at its board of governor’s meetings here in Israel next June – deservedly so.
It is heartening to know that in these darks days when the Mideast is melting down, when support for Israel in some circles is melting away, and when Diaspora Jews are told to melt into ghettos and be invisible – there are good people who bravely and unapologetically stand with us.
And Australian Jews should also take heart from the knowledge that, despite all detractors, Israel is resilient and intends to win its wars decisively. Jews Down Under must be resilient, too, and resist all attempts to nullify them.
The writer is executive director and senior fellow at the Jerusalem-based Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy. He was coordinator of the Israeli government’s Global Forum Against Antisemitism under the leadership of Natan Sharansky in the Prime Minister’s Office. The views expressed here are his own. His diplomatic, defense, political, and Jewish world columns over the past 27 years can be found at davidmweinberg.com.
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https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-833249
| 2024-12-16T07:09:09Z
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FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EARTH-SHATTERING KABOOMS:
In 1981, Israel destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq, preventing the world's worst weapons from being used by Saddam Hussein.
Today, Israel is destroying chemical and strategic weapons in Syria, preventing the world's worst weapons from being used by jihadist rebels.… pic.twitter.com/lC8SdFbYoG
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 15, 2024
UPDATE: I mean, I did say earth-shattering kabooms.
WATCH⚡️
An absolutely monstrous explosion in Northwestern Syria near Tartus on a munitions depot. This explosion was so large that it registered as 3.0 earthquake on seismic sensors in the area. Brought to you by the Israeli Air Force.
Via @inside_IL_intel pic.twitter.com/CnV8qGR66L
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 15, 2024
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https://instapundit.com/690584/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:09Z
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HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. -- Two abducted children who had been missing from Missouri for almost a year were found in a central Florida grocery store with their non-custodial mother, who was taken into police custody, authorities said.
Kristi Gilley was arrested Wednesday on an out-of-state fugitive warrant. Court records show Gilley, 36, remained in jail Sunday.
High Springs police officers found Gilley and the two children in a Winn Dixie supermarket after running a routine vehicle tag check that indicated the vehicle's owner was a fugitive, the High Springs Police Department said in a news release. High Springs is about 22 miles northwest of Gainesville, Florida.
The children had been missing from Clay County, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, since March.
The High Springs Police Department said the children were turned over to the Florida Department of Children and Families and would be reunited with family members in Missouri.
Gilley's court-appointed lawyer from the local public defender's office didn't respond to an emailed inquiry Sunday.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
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https://www.semissourian.com/news/2-abducted-missouri-children-found-in-a-florida-supermarket-2982676/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:10Z
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Dave Boling: The Seahawks won’t be contenders until they improve their interior offensive line
SEATTLE – A proud NFC rivalry, loaded with drama, controversy and antipathy – the setup promised a game with postseason relevance.
Instead, it turned into a brutal gut-punch of reality for the Seattle Seahawks, clearly exposed as a team that had won eight games by beating seven opponents with records of .500 or below.
Facing the Green Bay Packers at home was the chance for validation against a quality team. With a win, the Seahawks were doubly likely to make the playoffs than they would with a loss.
Such anticlimax, then, when the Seahawks fell 30-13 to the 10-4 Packers.
When the story of this season is written, this loss could be the major plot point. The opportunity was squandered for a number of reasons, the largest and most fundamental was the continued malfeasance by the offensive line.
The Seahawk defense gave up 20 points in the first half but toughened up in the second half, allowing them to close to 23-16 in the fourth quarter.
The offense, though, was never able to protect quarterback Geno Smith – to the point that one of his three sacks led to a knee injury that sidelined him.
His replacement, Sam Howell, was sacked four more times.
The extent of Smith’s injury was uncertain after the game.
This again was evidence of the prevalent misconception of the Seahawks’ front office, that interior line players may be purchased cheaply on the market and can be replaced without great search.
And when they have drafted them, the results have been very spotty.
Because of injuries, a retirement, and the fact that some players haven’t ripened, the line featured rookies at center (Jalen Sundell) and right guard (Sataoa Laumea) for most of the game. Sundell was an undrafted free agent and Laumea a sixth-rounder.
The Hawks slipped to 8-6, ending a four-game win-streak. The outcome allowed the L.A. Rams to match their record, with a tiebreaker win over the Seahawks already on the books.
Beside that, the Hawks next play the 11-2 Vikings at Lumen Field, while the Rams face a much easier docket of opponents in the final three games.
Coach Mike Macdonald said: “All our goals are still ahead of us.”
In the division, sure. But how far are the Hawks away from conference contention? Let’s say it would probably take three pro-level interior linemen to get them there.
The absence of pass protection was the most obvious shortcoming, but their 80 yards of rushing amounted to very little aside from Zach Charbonnet’s 24-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Which, in fairness, was facilitated by good blocks from Sundell and Laumea.
But the total offensive output amounted to 3.7 yards gained per play, while their five penalties amounted to 108 yards given up to the Packers – gifts by some costly pass-interference calls.
Some comparisons: The Hawks’ defense registered no sacks and just six quarterback hits, compared to Green Bay’s seven sacks, 12 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for losses.
Games against Green Bay have such a rich history. The Jon Ryan touchdown pass on a fake field goal. The Jermaine Kearse reception. The Hail/Fail Mary by Golden Tate.
This game will be remembered for nothing but the futility.
Humbling, too, that so many Packers fans were in Lumen Field that the crowd’s chants of “Go, Pack, go,” in the first half caused the Seahawks to go to a silent count – on their home field.
Late in the game, the defense seemed to regain its form. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV (nine tackles and a forced fumble) said it’s impossible to rally back from the deficit caused by such a slow start.
Yes, especially when the line is chronically unable to block the opponent.
Until those shortcomings are corrected, the Seahawks will struggle to stay in contention.
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https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/dec/15/dave-boling-the-seahawks-wont-be-contenders-until-/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:12Z
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Pushpa 2 Box office collection Day 11: Allu Arjun's film earns THIS
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/shortvideos/pushpa-2-box-office-collection-day-11-allu-arjun-s-film-earns-this-surpasses-kgf-atg-sokmee
| 2024-12-16T07:09:14Z
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RSS Volunteers in PICS
Take a look at the the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Volunteers.
Take a look at the the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Volunteers.
A young Hindu Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteer yawns during marching practise before the upcoming Hindi New Year in Allahabad April 7, 2013. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a right wing Hindu nationalist group volunteer organisation.
Volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force,... Read More
Volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force, perform yoga during a vista by their chief Mohan Bhagwat in Jammu, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. The RSS is parent organization of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Read LessVolunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force,... Read More
Volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force, perform yoga during a vista by their chief Mohan Bhagwat in Jammu, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. The RSS is parent organization of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Read LessVolunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force, listen to their chief Mohan Bhagwat in Jammu, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. The RSS is parent organization of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force,... Read More
Volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force, perform yoga during a vista by their chief Mohan Bhagwat in Jammu, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. The RSS is parent organization of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Read LessHindu Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers march during a practise for the upcoming Hindi New Year in Allahabad April 7, 2013. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a right wing Hindu nationalist group volunteer organisation.
Young volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), participate in a march to mark the
Vikram Samvat New Year in Allahabad, India, Sunday, April 7, 2013. According to the Hindu calendar Vikram Samvat, the New Year shall commence on April 11, 2013.
Volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or the National Volunteers Force, gather during a vista by their chief Mohan Bhagwat in Jammu, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. The RSS is parent organization of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
In this Sunday, April 7, 2013 photo, a young Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) vol... Read More
In this Sunday, April 7, 2013 photo, a young Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteer plays the bugle or the trumpet, marking the Vikram Samvat in Allahabad, India. Vikram Samvat, the beginning of a new year in the Hindu calendar, will start April 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Read LessYoung volunteers of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), play drums as they march to mark the Vikram Samvat New Year in Allahabad, India, Sunday, April 7, 2013. According to the Hindu calendar Vikram Samvat, the New Year shall commence on April 11, 2013.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/more-from-india/a-look-at-rashtriya-swayamsevak-sangh-volunteers-104148.html
| 2024-12-16T07:09:14Z
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Serbian officials installed homegrown spyware on the phones of dozens of journalists and activists, Amnesty International said in a report released on Monday, citing digital forensic evidence and testimony from activists who said they were hacked in recent months.
In two cases, software provided by Israeli surveillance company Cellebrite DI Ltd CLBT.O was used to unlock phones prior to infection, the report said.
The Serbian spyware, dubbed “NoviSpy” by Amnesty, then took covert screenshots of mobile devices, copied contacts, and uploaded them to a government-controlled server, the report said.
“In multiple cases, activists and a journalist reported signs of suspicious activity on their mobile phones directly following interviews with Serbian police and security authorities,” Amnesty said.
Serbia’s interior ministry, foreign ministry and intelligence agency BIA did not respond to requests for comment made on Dec. 12.
Cellebrite products are widely used by law enforcement, including the FBI, to unlock smartphones and scour them for evidence. Cellebrite Chief Marketing Officer David Gee said it was investigating the Amnesty allegations.
“Should those accusations be accurate, that could potentially be in violation of our end user license agreement,” Gee told Reuters. If that were the case, Gee said, Cellebrite could suspend the use of its technology by Serbian authorities.
Putting surveillance software on devices “is absolutely not what we do”, Gee said. He added that Cellebrite had begun contacting Serbian officials but declined to provide further details.
Forensic experts
One of the activists featured by Amnesty in the report said they had noticed the contacts on their phone had been exported immediately after a meeting with the BIA.
The activist told Reuters they showed their phone to digital forensic experts, who discovered the NoviSpy spyware had exported their contacts and sent private photos from their device to a BIA-controlled server.
According to Amnesty, Serbia received phone-cracking devices from Cellebrite as part of a broader package of assistance designed to help Serbia meet the requirements for integration into the European Union.
That package, which was funded by the Norwegian government and administered by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), was provided to the Serbian interior ministry from 2017 to 2021 in order to help Serbia fight organized crime, the report said.
The Norwegian government temporarily ceased delivery of Cellebrite devices to Serbia in 2018, Amnesty said. The Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade also raised concerns about the program, the report added, but UNOPS eventually delivered the devices in June 2019.
“The claims made in the report are alarming and, if correct, unacceptable,” Norway’s deputy foreign minister, Maria Varteressian, told Reuters. “We will meet Serbian authorities as well as UNOPS later this month to get further information on the matter.”
“We expect UNOPS to investigate the allegations,” she added.
UNOPS said in a statement it welcomed Amnesty's report and said the agency had in the years since 2017 "further enhanced mechanisms to assess and mitigate potential adverse effects." The agency did not elaborate on those measures.
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https://www.jpost.com/international/article-833619
| 2024-12-16T07:09:15Z
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OKAY. I’M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS. AFTER THE LAST FOUR YEARS I’M NOT GIVING ANY CONSEQUENCE TO AN ALIEN INVASION. NO, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THIS PLOT IS ALREADY TOO CRAZY: Pilots Report Mysterious Lights ‘Moving at Extreme Speeds’ Across Oregon.
InstaPundit is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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https://instapundit.com/690592/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:15Z
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Current, Former Defense Intelligence Chiefs Detained In South Korea
Date
12/16/2024 1:10:10 AM
(MENAFN- UkrinForm) South Korean Police on Sunday arrested the current and former chiefs of the Defense Intelligence Command in the ongoing probe into martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol.
That's according to a statement by the special investigation team, Ukrinform reports, referring to
Yonhap .
Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho, the current commander, and Noh Sang-won, former leader of the command, are suspected to have taken part in the plot to impose martial law in the country.
Moon's troops arrived at the National Election Commission's office in Gwacheon on Dec. 3 just two minutes after the president's announcement, drawing suspicions that he had known about the plan to declare martial law beforehand or had been part of the preparation.
Read also: Russia intends to supply fighter jets to North
Korea - ISW
Noh, a close aide to former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, is under suspicions that he had been involved in Yoon's preparation for martial law decree as a civilian.
The main opposition party has argued that Noh had drafted the military decree released shortly after Yoon's announcement, and that the former commander had discussed follow-up action with Kim after martial law was lifted.
Police have 48 hours for questioning and no formal warrants with the court are applied or the court declines to issue them within that period, both shall be released from custody.
Read also: Zelensky confirms first DPRK military deaths in Russia to Japanese news agency
As reported earlier,
North Korean troops deployed in Russia have been assigned to the Russian military at the platoon level, highly likely to be used as "cannon fodder" in high-risk areas, South Korea's defense chief said.
MENAFN16122024000193011044ID1108995979
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https://menafn.com/1108995979/Current-Former-Defense-Intelligence-Chiefs-Detained-In-South-Korea
| 2024-12-16T07:09:15Z
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'I'm not good enough': Pep Guardiola questions his ability as Man City suffer 8th defeat in 11 matches (WATCH)
Pep Guardiola has publicly questioned his ability to reverse Manchester City’s alarming slump after his side succumbed to a 2-1 derby defeat against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola has publicly questioned his ability to reverse Manchester City’s alarming slump after his side succumbed to a 2-1 derby defeat against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The loss marked City’s eighth in their last 11 matches across all competitions, a dismal run that has left fans and pundits questioning the club's trajectory.
Despite signing a contract extension just last month, the 53-year-old manager did not shy away from responsibility for his team’s struggles. Reflecting on a disastrous two-minute spell in the second half that handed United victory, Guardiola candidly admitted, "I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough. It’s as simple as that. I don’t have a defence. I’m the boss, I don’t find a solution, to find a way to talk to them."
City had taken the lead through Josko Gvardiol’s first-half goal, but a late penalty and defensive errors allowed United to snatch all three points. Guardiola acknowledged that anxiety and a lack of composure have crept into his team’s performances.
"This is a big club and when you lose eight something is wrong. You are 3-0 against Feyenoord and draw… you think it’s because of the injuries? No. Football is about emotion. We’re more anxious with and without the ball. The worst thing is not to have composure and calm. What does it give you? Momentum and confidence. I said many times, relax. I’m not good enough to let the players feel it. I want it desperately," he added.
City’s woeful run of form has seen them win just once in 11 outings, a solitary victory against Nottingham Forest, with losses mounting against domestic and European opponents alike. Recent defensive collapses, including blowing a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League, have further highlighted the team’s vulnerabilities.
Guardiola conceded that the team's trademark fluidity has been missing. "This year it happens many times unfortunately. We gave away many things. We are not nice in the way we played. Before it's so fluid, now we're struggling for different reasons. A lot of defeats. We put everything in and the game was almost closed. They had more possession first half but nothing special. We give away two goals, very difficult," Guardiola said.
"It is what it is. What can I say? We can not blame this player or that one, it's not that. It's the season, a tough season. We didn't play our best. We are not our best and we struggle a bit. I think in nine years it wasn't the toughest defeat. Champions League defeats harder. But at the moment, we need results to lift our mood. It's getting worse and worse. I have to find the solution. So far I didn't find it and this is the truth," the Man City boss added.
Adding to the blunt self-reflection was midfielder Bernardo Silva, who offered a scathing critique of City’s late-game decision-making. "At this level a game or two is unlucky. We can’t say this is lucky or unlucky — 11 games it’s not about that," he said.
"Today in the last minutes we played like Under 15s. Minute 87 in a derby, winning 1-0 and our corner ends in a penalty for them. If we make these stupid decisions with three or four minutes to go you deserve to pay for that. We have to do better individually and collectively because it’s not the standards of Manchester City," Silva added.
With upcoming fixtures in both the Premier League and Champions League, City’s ability to halt their downward spiral will be under intense scrutiny as they fight to regain their dominance in English football.
- Bernardo Silva
- Champions League
- Football
- Guardiola criticism
- Josko Gvardiol
- Manchester City
- Manchester City standards
- Manchester United
- Pep Guardiola
- Premier League
- contract extension
- defensive errors
- derby defeat
- football anxiety
- lack of composure
- late-game mistakes
- losing streak
- managerial responsibility
- poor form
- team confidence
- team struggles
- tough season
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/sports/football-i-m-not-good-enough-pep-guardiola-questions-his-ability-as-man-city-suffer-8th-defeat-in-11-matches-watch-snt-sokoqj
| 2024-12-16T07:09:20Z
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NBA Looks to Alter Finals Format
The NBA competition committee has voted to recommend the club owners change the NBA finals schedule, a move that could come as soon as next year, ESPN reported.
The NBA competition committee has voted to recommend the club owners change the NBA finals schedule, a move that could come as soon as next year, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Citing unnamed sources, ESPN's website reported that the owners are expected to return to the 2-2-1-1-1 format for hosting games in the best-of-seven championship series, scrapping the 2-3-2 format used since 1985.
The switch is expected to be adopted at the next NBA owners meeting in October and could be used for next June's finals of the upcoming campaign.
Supporters of the move say the current format diminishes some of the edge for the higher seed, although it does ease travel issues for teams.
The Miami Heat won a second NBA in a row last June by capturing games six and seven at home, but were only the fourth club in 29 years to achieve that distinction.
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/basketball/nba-looks-to-alter-finals-format-104154.html
| 2024-12-16T07:09:20Z
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Business
Motilal Oswal recommends buying HCL Tech shares with a one-year target price of ₹2,300, potentially yielding a 19% return.
Motilal Oswal picks SBI as another stock, setting a one-year target price of ₹1,000, about 17% higher than the current price.
Motilal Oswal advises holding CAMS shares for a year, with a target price of ₹6,000, potentially offering a 15% return.
Motilal Oswal is bullish on Amber Enterprises, recommending a buy with a one-year target price of ₹7,350, a 28% upside.
Motilal Oswal suggests investing in Cummins India with a target price of ₹4,300, anticipating a return of around 19%.
Axis Direct recommends buying UltraTech Cement for the next 15 days, with a target price of ₹12,940 and a stop-loss at ₹11,800.
Axis Direct recommends buying Siemens for 15 days, with a target of ₹8,385 and a stop-loss at ₹7,785.
Axis Direct suggests investing in ICICI Bank for 15 days, with a target of ₹1,429 and a stop-loss at ₹1,313.
Axis Direct recommends buying Aries Agro for 15 days, with a target of ₹430 and a stop-loss at ₹370.
Axis Direct suggests investing in Indo Amines for 15 days, with a target of ₹219 and a stop-loss at ₹189.90.
Investing in the stock market is subject to risks. Consult your market expert before investing.
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https://newsable.asianetnews.com/webstories/business/hcl-sbi-icici-bank-top-10-stocks-with-high-return-potential-for-2025-nti-sokn35
| 2024-12-16T07:09:21Z
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Waltz Comments On Orbán's Christmas Truce Proposals
Date
12/16/2024 1:10:11 AM
(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The future national security adviser to the Donald trump administration in the U.S., Mike Waltz, said the team could consider proposals by the Hungarian prime Minister for a "Christmas truce", stopping short of any details of the matter.
Waltz spoke with CBS News , Ukrinform reports.
"Orbán has regular engagement with the Russians, and he clearly has a good relationship with President Trump, and I would hope the entire world would want to see some type of cessation to the slaughter that is happening in eastern Ukraine," Mike Waltz said in response to a question about the idea of a "Christmas truce" put forward by the Hungarian government head.
"We need to stop the fighting. And if that is some type of ceasefire as a first step, again, we'll take a hard look at what that means," he noted, adding that until Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, the team will remain in coordination with the current administration.
Read also: Zelensky: Recognizing temporarily occupied areas as Russian would mean forgiving Russia
Waltz avoided commenting on the details of the offer and the answer about the future policy of the Trump administration toward Ukraine.
At the same time, Waltz noted that since the election in November, European allies, including President Zelensky of Ukraine, have been discussing the framework of finding ways to end the ongoing conflict.
It should be recalled that on December 11, Orbán said Hungary had proposed to Ukraine to establish a ceasefire and a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war on Christmas eve, adding that President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly rejected the idea.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky , commenting on Orbán's phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin, emphasized that no talks about the war being waged by Russia can be held without Ukraine.
Photo: Getty Images
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https://menafn.com/1108995980/Waltz-Comments-On-Orba%CC%81ns-Christmas-Truce-Proposals
| 2024-12-16T07:09:22Z
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Eastern Washington OC Jim Chapin leaves for same job at Central Michigan
The Eastern Washington football team will be looking for a new offensive coordinator.
Jim Chapin, who guided the Eagles’ top-10 offense this season, is leaving his position at Eastern for the same role at Central Michigan, which is a member of the FBS Mid-America Conference.
The news was first reported by footballscoop.com Sunday morning and was confirmed by The Spokesman-Review.
Chapin is joining the Chippewas staff under new head coach Matt Drinkall, who was on the staff at Army each of the last six seasons.
Chapin is originally from Troy, Michigan, a Detroit suburb that is about a two -hour drive from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. Chapin is also a 2009 graduate of the University of Michigan.
For the last three years Chapin was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Eagles, and he developed a reputation as a level-headed and adaptable coach.
“He’s grown a ton from 2022 until now and it’s been evident,” EWU head coach Aaron Best said after the Eagles’ season-ending loss at Northern Arizona in November. “He uses his personnel better, probably, than anybody I’ve been around.”
The Eagles had one of the most effective and efficient offenses in the FCS this season, amassing 442 yards per game, sixth most in the subdivision. They relied on a run-heavy approach, especially after injuries sidelined No. 2 and No. 3 receivers Nolan Ulm and Miles Williams. Their rushing average of 229.2 yards per game ranked fifth nationally.
“His attention to detail is unbelievable,” EWU wide receivers coach Jeff McDaniels said in September. “It doesn’t matter if it is a Tuesday offensive unity meeting in February or getting ready for a game plan. He is so process-oriented.”
Chapin’s departure comes less than a week after EWU starting quarterback Kekoa Visperas entered the transfer portal, as did a handful of other contributors on offense such as tight ends Jett Carpenter and JP Murphy.
The Eagles also graduated five starters on the offensive line and All-America wide receiver Efton Chism III, who set a single-season program record with 120 receptions last season.
Chapin is the latest in a line of former Eastern Washington coordinators who went on to roles in the FBS. Pat McCann, who preceded Chapin on an interim basis, left Cheney three years ago to be the wide receivers coach at Fresno State.
Ian Shoemaker, who preceded McCann, followed his three-year stint at Eastern (from 2019 to 2021) with two seasons at Hawaii as offensive coordinator. Stanford head coach Troy Taylor also spent a year as Eastern’s offensive coordinator in 2016.
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https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/dec/15/eastern-washington-oc-jim-chapin-leaves-for-same-j/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:22Z
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CLT20 Preview: Royals Face Otago
Rajasthan Royals would look to grab the top spot in the table when they square off against Otago Volts on Tuesday.
Jaipur: Having sealed their place in the semifinals, Rajasthan Royals would look to grab the top spot in the table when they square off against Otago Volts in their final Group match of the Champions League Twenty20, here on Tuesday.
By finishing atop the table Royals will not only avoid playing rampaging Chennai Super Kings in the semifinals but also they will get to play their last-four stage match at home, where they have an incredible 11-match winning streak.
Stakes are much higher for the Kiwi side as a win tomorrow would ensure their passage in the last-four stage. They are currently placed second in the group with 12 points from three matches and could knock out IPL champions Mumbai Indians if they win here.
The match between the Volts and Mumbai was washed away putting the reigning IPL champions in quandary.
Mumbai have six points from three matches and are likely to win their last match against Perth Scorchers at Delhi on Wednesday. If Otago lose against Rajasthan Royals and Mumabi win, the two sides' fate would depend on Net run-rate.
Rajasthan Royals' thumping nine-wicket victory against Perth Scorchers has again proved that they are master of the conditions here. Despite skipper Rahul Dravid failing in previous two matches their batting looks solid with Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Shane Watson, Stuart Binny and Brad Hodge all being in good touch and playing their roles to perfection.
The bowling also looks healthy and with Kevon Cooper among the wickets they have more options and variety at their disposal.
On the other hand Otago Volts are also a confident lot with a 15 match winning streak and the show of nerves in the thrilling victory over Highveld Lions the previous night has resulted in more self belief.
Their never-say-die attitude and attacking strategy has helped them qualify for the main event and their impressive victories against Perth Scorchers and Highveld Lions has sounded a warning bell.
PTI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/clt20-preview-royals-face-otago-104203.html
| 2024-12-16T07:09:26Z
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Entertainment
Nayanthara had a bubbly baby image during her initial film days.
Nayanthara faced body shaming during the filming of Ghajini.
Nayanthara surprised everyone with her slim appearance in Billa.
Nayanthara's diet is the reason behind her maintaining a fit physique for 18 years.
Consuming nutritious foods and vegetables contributes to Nayanthara's youthful look.
Nayanthara avoids sugary drinks and outside food.
Tender coconut plays a vital role in Nayanthara's diet. She drinks it daily.
Nayanthara drinks a daily smoothie made with coconut milk, cardamom, and cloves.
Along with her diet, Nayanthara maintains a daily workout routine and has a home gym.
Nayanthara mostly eats home-cooked, nutritious meals.
Pushpa 2 Box office collection Day 11: Allu Arjun's film earns THIS
Allu Arjun to Rajkummar Rao: 10 highest grossing actors of 2024
(PHOTOS) Dhanashree Verma shares glamorous pictures on Instagram
Zakir Hussain: Grammy to Padma Shri; achievements of the Tabla maestro
|
https://newsable.asianetnews.com/webstories/entertainment/photos-nayanthara-s-diet-and-fitness-secrets-out-rba-sokltj
| 2024-12-16T07:09:27Z
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During Corsica Visit, Pope Refers To Ukraine, Russia Peoples As Cousins
Date
12/16/2024 1:10:11 AM
(MENAFN- UkrinForm) In a prayer voiced during a visit to Corsica, Pope Francis referred to the peoples of Ukraine and Russia peoples as "cousins".
This was reported by Vatican News , Ukrinform reports.
"They are brothers, cousins. Let them come to an understanding! War is always a defeat. Peace to the whole world!" the publication quoted the head of the Catholic Church as saying.
Read also: Ukrainian bishop elevated to Catholic Church Cardinal
It is noted that Pope Francis said these words during a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the "long-awaited peace for the Ukrainian people and the Russian people".
As Ukrinform reported earlier, during his visit to Corsica, Pope Francis urged Catholics not to contrast religious culture with secular culture.
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https://menafn.com/1108995981/During-Corsica-Visit-Pope-Refers-To-Ukraine-Russia-Peoples-As-Cousins
| 2024-12-16T07:09:28Z
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Elon Musk put $277 million into the election, and he is $200 billion richer this year
Elon Musk’s net worth has climbed by more than $200 billion in 2024, a massive increase in the same year that the world’s richest person spent at least $277 million backing Donald Trump and other Republican candidates.
The bulk of the increase, more than $170 billion, has come since Election Day.
Trump’s election sent stock in electric automaker Tesla, a company central to Musk’s wealth and where he is CEO, soaring. Shares were trading at prices around 70% higher on Friday than on Election Day.
As of Friday, Musk’s fortune was about $442 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That estimate includes a pay package from Tesla worth more than $50 billion that is held up in court after a Delaware judge ruled to strike it down in January and upheld her decision this month. Tesla has pledged to appeal.
Trump has indicated he will be friendly to businesses and investors of all kinds when he returns to office. Musk’s empire is poised to especially benefit from the president-elect’s promised cuts to regulation – and potentially also overt favors to the tech billionaire, who has become a loyal political lieutenant.
Trump picked Musk to co-chair a nongovernmental advisory group on cuts to federal spending and regulation known as the “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, potentially allowing the tech entrepreneur to shape policies that affect his businesses. Musk did not respond to a request for comment.
“Elon Musk is a once in a generation business leader and our federal bureaucracy will certainly benefit from his ideas and efficiency,” said Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Trump-Vance Transition. He described Musk and Trump as “great friends and brilliant leaders working together to Make America Great Again.”
Musk launched his entrepreneurial career in 1995 when he abandoned a graduate program at Stanford to found a startup later called Zip2 that created online city guides. It was sold for about $300 million in 1999.
He went on to co-found an online banking company, X.com, that merged with another startup to create PayPal. Auction site eBay acquired PayPal in 2002 for $1.5 billion.
Musk went on to pivot into the more physical ventures that have come to define him, most prominently Tesla and rocket-maker SpaceX , but also brain interface developer Neuralink and tunnel construction startup the Boring Company.
The huge success of Tesla and SpaceX catapulted him to the rank of world’s richest person – and arguably the United States’ most successful immigrant.
“Elon stuck his neck out, he made a big bet – and he was right,” said Gene Munster, managing partner at investment firm Deepwater Asset Management.
The fortunes of Tesla, the jewel in Musk’s portfolio, are entangled with federal regulation. The billionaire has staked the company’s future on self-driving vehicles and taken the largely unique approach of trying to enable cars bought by consumers to drive themselves without supervision – a concept for which there is not yet a well-established regulatory regime.
Musk said in a July earnings call that regulators are “morally obligated” to clear the path for autonomous vehicles if a company can prove a reliable safety record.
Federal approval for Tesla’s Cybercab, an autonomous vehicle the company hopes to deploy by around 2027, is now seen as more likely due to Trump’s promises to cut regulation and his close relationship with Musk.
Musk also said in October he would use the future “Department of Government Efficiency” to help create a federal approval process for autonomous vehicles. On Friday, Reuters reported that Trump’s transition team had recommended axing a federal reporting requirement for crashes involving vehicles with driver-assistance features – a policy that it said Tesla opposes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has used that public data in investigations and recalls into the company’s technology. Removing the reporting requirement could ease the scrutiny on Tesla and autonomous vehicle makers.
Dan Ives, an analyst at financial firm Wedbush Securities, wrote last month that “Trump will fast track the autonomous and AI initiatives in our view over the next 12 to 18 months.” That would be a “game changer” for Tesla, he said.
Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at auto industry ratings and research provider Edmunds, said that significant uncertainty remains for the company’s work on autonomous driving but that the regulatory outlook now appeared clearer. “I imagine that things will go in Tesla’s direction – at least for the next four years,” she said.
Musk’s assets also include significant shares in four private companies where he is an executive or owner: SpaceX, Neuralink, social media company X and artificial intelligence developer xAI.
SpaceX and Neuralink also operate in heavily regulated industries that could benefit from Musk’s role on the efficiency commission and his desire to ease regulations across the federal government. The rocket maker has become essential to the U.S. space program and could benefit from policy changes made by Trump or his pick to lead NASA, billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman.
Isaacman has twice orbited the planet on private SpaceX flights including a September mission that saw him perform the first spacewalk by a private citizen. The company recently completed a tender offer that made it the world’s most valuable private start-up, Bloomberg reported, adding roughly $50 billion to Musk’s net worth.
The performance of Musk’s social media platform has been less robust. Fidelity recently put the value of one of its stakes in X around 70% lower than when it was purchased, highlighting the challenges the social network faced before the election. After Musk purchased the platform, then known as Twitter, some advertising clients fled following his loosening of content moderation.
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the second-largest investor in X after Musk, previously told the Washington Post that he didn’t believe the company had lost any value. He cited X’s investment in artificial intelligence development through xAI, which Musk launched as a rival to ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.
The Trump transition has said it will ensure those involved with the DOGE group Musk was picked to co-chair are compliant with legal guidelines on conflicts of interest.
Democrats in Congress said the combination of Musk’s election spending, expectations that Trump will create policies favorable to the tech mogul and the recent increase in Musk’s net worth could ethically compromise the incoming administration.
“There is an outrageous and urgent conflict of interest for Elon Musk, a billionaire with business interests like Tesla, but also covering a wide range of industries, to be given any responsibility for corporate welfare disguised as government efficiency,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said.
“Dismantling safety rules and oversight concerning self-driving vehicles simply drives up the stock price and undermines safety – with benefits to him and shareholders but not to drivers and others on the road.”
Blumenthal said Musk recently lobbied Republicans on Capitol Hill to clear a regulatory pathway for autonomy, the issue that later sent Tesla’s stock price soaring.
Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., a longtime critic of Tesla’s approach to advanced driver-assistance features, said on X earlier this month that Musk is “already getting a return on his investment in Trump.”
In a statement to the Post, Markey said that relaxing rules for self-driving cars would “turn our public roads into one big testing facility for a company owned by the world’s richest man.”
“I will do everything in my power to make sure Elon Musk doesn’t get to recklessly bend the rules to line his pockets,” Markey said.
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Clara Ence Morse contributed to this report.
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https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/dec/15/elon-musk-put-277-million-into-the-election-and-he/
| 2024-12-16T07:09:32Z
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