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In conclusion, the leaked pink and blue skin for "Assassin's Creed: The Shadow" has ignited a lively debate within the gaming community. Whether it is a genuine leak or an elaborate hoax, the bold color choices of the alleged skin have certainly captured the imagination of fans and critics alike. As we await official confirmation from the game developers, let us continue to ponder the potential significance of the pink and blue color scheme in the context of gaming aesthetics and storytelling.
PHILIPPINE STOCKS could climb further this week on hopes of further monetary easing by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as the November inflation print was within market expectations. On Friday, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.57% or 38.37 points to close at 6,729.14, while the broader all shares index increased by 0.36% or 13.79 points to 3,790.68. Week on week, the PSEi climbed by 1.74% or 115.29 points from the 6,613.85 close on Nov. 29. “The local bourse shrugged off the slight uptick in domestic inflation, posting gains to end the week,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said in a market note. Philippine headline inflation picked up to 2.5% year on year in November from 2.3% in October, the government reported last week. Still, this was slower than 4.1% in the same month a year ago and was within the BSP’s 2.2%-3% forecast for the month. The November print also matched the median estimate in a BusinessWorld poll of 15 analysts. For this week, Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message that the market could continue to rise amid improving sentiment, placing the PSEi’s support at 6,700-6,800 and resistance at 7,000. “The market could move with an upward bias amid hopes that the BSP will further ease monetary policy. This comes as inflation is seen to remain under control based on the latest figures,” he said. The Monetary Board will hold its last review for the year on Dec. 19. The BSP has cut benchmark borrowing costs by a total of 50 basis points (bps) since kicking off its easing cycle in August, bringing its policy rate to 6%. “In addition, the local currency’s appreciation against the US dollar, if it continues, may give the market a boost,” Mr. Tantiangco added. On Friday, the peso closed at P57.735 per dollar, strengthening by 14.5 centavos from its P57.88 finish on Tuesday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed. This was the local unit’s best finish in more than six weeks or since its P57.59 close on Oct. 21. “Investors are also expected to watch out for the US’ upcoming November inflation numbers as these would give clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook,” Mr. Tantiangco said. US consumer and producer inflation data will be released on Dec. 11 (Wednesday) and Dec. 12 (Thursday), respectively. The Fed will hold its last policy meeting for the year on Dec. 17-18. Markets widely expect the US central bank to cut rates by 25 bps next week. Meanwhile, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort and 2TradeAsia.com put the PSEi’s support at 6,500 and resistance at 7,000. “Local equities, fundamentally, are in a position of strength relative to counterparts in developed markets, common headwinds notwithstanding... Forces in the short-run are likely to maintain pressure on the PSEi, which may camp south of 7,000 until yearend,” 2TradeAsia.com said. — Revin Mikhael D. OchaveZheng Qinxin, the rising star of women's tennis from China, was recently left out of the running for the prestigious WTA Player of the Year award. Instead, the honor went to the incredible Serena Sabalenka, who has had a remarkable season on the court.
Looking forward, as the year comes to a close, China's foreign trade outlook remains optimistic. With a solid foundation built on market diversification, technological innovation, improved infrastructure, and a favorable business environment, the country is well-positioned to navigate through the challenges and uncertainties of the global economy. By continuing to harness its strengths and leverage its resources, China is poised to conclude the year with a stable and promising performance in its foreign trade activities.
The song "Pian Pian" reflects the emotional journey of the two lovers, capturing the bittersweet moments of joy and sorrow that define their relationship. The gentle melody and soul-stirring vocals convey a sense of yearning and devotion, mirroring the depth of Xiao Qian and Ning Sheng's love for each other.Judge signals that contempt hearing for Rudy Giuliani over his assets might not go well for him
No. 22 Texas A&M beats Texas Tech 72-67 in 1st meeting of former conference rivals since 2012
Following a dominant Christmas Day performance against the Houston Texans , all the talk surrounding the Baltimore Ravens was about Lamar Jackson playing his way back to MVP favorite status. It shouldn't be, though. After all, the Ravens have a much bigger trophy to chase. Lost in the MVP drama between Jackson and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is that Baltimore is heating up at the exact right time. The Ravens are winners of three straight and 11 of 14 after starting 0-2, and they've taken command of the AFC North. All they need to do to clinch the division -- and the likely No. 3 seed in the playoffs -- is beat the 3-12 Cleveland Browns at home to close out their regular season. The Ravens have been battle-tested against fellow playoff teams the past two weeks, and have dominated both of them by a combined 65-19 margin of victory. The Bills are also rolling, but their defense is a major red flag with upwards of 40 points given up in two of their past three contests. They also barely squeaked by the 3-12 New England Patriots on Sunday, winning 24-21. If the Bills lose out, Baltimore could be the No. 2 seed. That's highly unlikely considering Buffalo's opponents are the 4-11 New York Jets and then the Patriots again, but the point remains that the Ravens are currently playing much better football. That will help Jackson's MVP case over Allen's, but more importantly, it makes the Ravens the biggest threat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC playoffs. That should be Baltimore's primary concern in the season's final stretch, and it very likely is despite the noise from the narrative-obsessed NFL media. The Chiefs, despite being 15-1, are vulnerable with an offense that hasn't scored more than 30 points in a game all season. It's worth noting the Ravens were an Isaiah Likely foot placement away from taking them to overtime back in Week 1. Kansas City is beatable, and the only reason it feels otherwise is because they're the back-to-back defending champions. Individual awards are great, but the bigger story is that Jackson and the Ravens are playing their way into an opportunity to do something much more impressive: win a Super Bowl.
The Irish Times view on the Legacy Act: welcome moves to undo the damageNEW YORK (AP) — With the end of 2024 around the corner, you might be reflecting on financial goals for 2025. Whether you're saving to move out of your parents' house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated, said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate for Credit Karma. “Entering a new year doesn’t erase all our financial challenges from the prior year," Alev said. “But it can really help to bring a fresh-start mentality to how you’re managing your finances.” If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they're attainable for your lifestyle. Here are some tips from experts: Think about how you currently deal with finances — what's good, what's bad, and what can improve. “Let this be the year you change your relationship with money,” said Ashley Lapato, personal finance educator for YNAB, a budgeting app. If you feel like money is a chore, that there's shame surrounding the topic of money, or like you were born being “bad at money,” it's time to change that mentality, Lapato said. To adjust your approach, Lapato recommends viewing money goals as an opportunity to imagine your desired lifestyle in the future. She recommends asking questions like, “What do my 30s look like? What do my 40s look like?” and using money as a means to get there. Liz Young Thomas, head of SoFi Investment Strategy, added that it’s key you forgive yourself for past mistakes in order to move into the new year with motivation. When setting your financial resolutions for 2025, it's important to establish the “why” of each, said Matt Watson, CEO of Origin, a financial tracking app. “If you can attach the financial goal to a bigger life goal, it’s much more motivating and more likely you’ll continue on that path,” Watson said. Whether you're saving to buy a house, pay off credit card debt or take a summer vacation, being clear about the goal can keep you motivated. Watson also recommends using a tool to help you keep track of your finances, such as an app, spreadsheet, or website. “After three years of inflation, your pay increases are likely still playing catch up to your monthly expenses, leaving you wondering where all the money is going," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. "Make that monthly budget for 2025 and resolve to track your spending against it throughout the year." McBride said that you may need to make adjustments during the year as certain expenses increase, which would require cutting back in other areas. “Calibrate your spending with your income, and any month you spend less than budgeted, transfer the difference into your savings account, ideally a high-yield savings account,” he said. “Interest rates aren’t likely to come down very fast, so you’re still going to have to put in the hard work of paying down debt, especially high-cost credit card debt, and do so with urgency,” McBride said. Start by taking stock of how much debt you have now relative to the beginning of the year. Hopefully you’ve made steady progress on paying it down, but, if you’ve gone in the other direction, McBride encourages making a game plan. That includes looking into 0% balance transfer offers. “You have more power over credit card interest rates than you think you do," said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. “Wielding that power is one of the best moves you can make in 2025.” A 0% balance transfer credit card is “a good weapon” in the fight against high card APRs, or annual percentage rates, he said. A low-interest personal loan is an option as well. You may simply be able to pick up the phone and ask for a lower interest rate. LendingTree found that a majority of people who did that in 2024 were successful, and the average reduction was more than 6 points. When planning for your financial resolutions, it’s important to consider how you’re going to make your goals sustainable for your lifestyle, said Credit Karma's Alev. “It really is a marathon, not a sprint,” Alev said. Alev recommends setting realistic, practical goals to make it easier to stick with them. For example, instead of planning to save thousands of dollars by the end of the year, start by saving $20 a paycheck. Even when your plans are achievable, there are times you'll get derailed. Maybe it’s an unexpected medical bill or an extraordinary life event. When these situations happen, Alev recommends trying not to feel defeated and working to get back on track without feeling guilty. “You can't manage what you can't see, so set a New Year’s resolution to check your credit score monthly in 2025," said Rikard Bandebo, chief economist at VantageScore. “Be sure to pay more than the minimum on your credit accounts, as that's one of the best ways to boost your credit score.” Bandebo also advises student loan borrowers to make all payments on time, as servicers will begin to report late payments starting in January, and missed payments will affect borrowers' credit scores. Automated changes, like increasing workplace 401(k) plan contributions, setting up direct deposits from paychecks into dedicated savings accounts, and arranging for monthly transfers into an IRA and/or 529 college savings accounts all add up quickly, McBride said. Your financial goals can encompass more than just managing your money better — they can also be about keeping your money safe from scams . A golden rule to protect yourself from scams is to “slow down,” said Johan Gerber, vice president of security solutions at Mastercard. “You have to slow down and talk to other people if you’re not sure (whether or not) it’s scam,” said Gerber, who recommends building an accountability system with family to keep yourself and your loved ones secure. Scammers use urgency to make people fall for their tricks, so taking your time to make any financial decision can keep you from losing money. Your financial goals don’t always have to be rooted in a dollar amount — they can also be about well-being. Finances are deeply connected with our mental health, and, to take care of our money, we also need to take care of ourselves. “I think that now more than any other year, your financial wellness should be a resolution," said Alejandra Rojas, personal finance expert and founder of The Money Mindset Hub, a mentoring platform for women entrepreneurs. "Your mental health with money should be a resolution.” To focus on your financial wellness, you can set one or two goals focusing on your relationship with money. For example, you could find ways to address and resolve financial trauma, or you could set a goal to talk more openly with loved ones about money, Rojas said. —— The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.After a series of weighty declarations, the real bottom of the property market has emerged, signaling a significant increase in market confidence. The long-awaited turnaround in the real estate sector has finally arrived, with key indicators pointing towards a much-needed recovery.
The Hawk-Eye system, which is commonly used in sports such as tennis and cricket, tracks the trajectory of the ball with high-tech cameras and software, allowing referees to make accurate decisions on close calls. While the system has been praised for its precision and reliability in many sports, its implementation in table tennis has sparked debates among players and fans. Some critics argue that the system disrupts the flow of the game and can lead to subjective interpretations of the rules, potentially favoring one player over another.The conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014, has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people. The root of the conflict lies in Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. Despite various attempts at ceasefire agreements and peace talks over the years, the conflict has persisted, with sporadic outbreaks of violence continuing to destabilize the region.Check your junk mail: Some affected by the Equifax data breach to get more money
The song "Pian Pian" reflects the emotional journey of the two lovers, capturing the bittersweet moments of joy and sorrow that define their relationship. The gentle melody and soul-stirring vocals convey a sense of yearning and devotion, mirroring the depth of Xiao Qian and Ning Sheng's love for each other.In addition to the humanitarian crisis, Syria is also facing economic challenges that threaten to further destabilize the country. The economy has been in freefall since the start of the conflict, with skyrocketing inflation, high unemployment, and a rapidly depreciating currency. The recent power shift has only served to exacerbate these problems, with businesses closing, foreign investment drying up, and basic necessities becoming increasingly scarce.
Jason Bonney (53) was refused permission to convert the garage into a two-bedroom home for his daughter and grandson by Fingal County Council in 2016 and then further refused permission when he appealed the matter to An Bord Pleanála Jason Bonney advertised the property despite being banged up Jason Bonney’s palatial pad The converted garage at the rear of Jason Bonney’s pad Inside Jason Bonney’s pad... Inside the property A bedroom A Garda cordon outside the Regency Hotel in Dublin An illegally converted bungalow at the back of Regency Hotel getaway driver Jason Bonney’s Dublin mansion has been advertised on Daft.ie at a monthly rent of €2,250. Banged-up Bonney (53) was refused permission to convert the garage into a two-bedroom home for his daughter and grandson by Fingal County Council in 2016 and then further refused permission when he appealed the matter to An Bord Pleanála. However, an advert for the property at the rear of his palatial pad in the gated community of Drumnigh Woods, Portmarnock, posted on Daft this week revealed the garage has now been fully converted. In the advert, which was subsequently removed from the site, the former shed is described as a “single-storey detached two-bedroom apartment/bungalow located near the Dart line.” Jason Bonney’s palatial pad “The property offers two bedrooms, one double, one single, a modern kitchen with gas central heating, a private back garden and front driveway.” The contact person for the property was listed on the advert as ‘Jason B’. The advert, which had been viewed more than 700 times by Wednesday night, was removed from the site on Thursday morning. Texts and calls to mobile number supplied were not returned. When the Sunday World attempted to call to the Bonney property on Thursday evening, a security guard at the gates of the millionaires’ row declined to grant us access. A former boxing coach and long-time friend of gangster Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, Bonney is currently appealing his conviction and his eight-and-a-half-year sentence for acting as a getaway driver during the Regency Hotel shooting of David Byrne. The converted garage at the rear of Jason Bonney’s pad Byrne was shot and killed in the lobby of the Regency Hotel in a gangland killing that shocked the country on February 5, 2016. Bonney, who also owns two houses and four apartments, built an impressive property portfolio worth millions from a young age, snapping up Georgian homes in the city centre and cashing-in during the boom. The former boxer had been trying to develop his home at 89 Drumnigh Woods in Portmarnock at the time of the Regency attack. The house is located in an exclusive gated estate, where Brian McFadden and his former wife Kerry Katona once lived. But just five days after the Regency attack he was refused planning permission to demolish the double garage and build a two-bed property on his grounds. Ten days later, when his BMW X5 jeep was seized, he told officers that as a result of their close attention his life was a “living hell”, his workers had left him, his son had fled the country and that the “love and light” had gone out of his home. Inside Jason Bonney’s pad... Inside the property However, despite those problems, Bonney managed to put up a fight against Fingal County Council and lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála on March 3, 2016. Days before his arrest on May 27, the planning board upheld the refusal after visiting his house earlier that month. In a report, An Bord Pleanála said that the proposed development was intended as a home for Bonney’s young daughter and her 18-month-old son, who he claimed were entitled to social housing but who would have an eight-year wait. A bedroom The report said that permission had been granted in 2015 for an extension to the side of the existing house and for the conversion of the garage into a private gym with a bathroom. And, as a condition of that grant of permission, it had specified that the garage would not be sold, rented or leased independently “in the interest of proper planning and sustainable development of the area”. Both Bonney and a co-accused Paul Murphy stood trial before the Special Criminal Court last year in a case that was heard alongside that of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch. The pair sat every day of the trial sitting next to Hutch, who was ultimately acquitted of the murder of Byrne. However, unlike Hutch, Bonney and Murphy were convicted of facilitating that murder — by providing vehicles which they used to help the hit team escape. Bonney was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after he was convicted of being the getaway driver that helped hitman Kevin ‘Flat Cap’ Murray escape following the horrific gangland murder. Murphy, meanwhile, was sentenced to nine years in prison for using his taxi to transport one of the hit team. A Garda cordon outside the Regency Hotel in Dublin In her judgment on April 17, Ms Justice Tara Burns sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley found beyond reasonable doubt that Murphy’s silver Toyota Avensis taxi and Bonney’s black BMW X5 jeep were part of a convoy of six cars that parked up at St Vincent’s GAA club grounds in Marino in north Dublin before the Regency shooting on the afternoon of February 5, 2016, and had then each transported one of the hit men from St Vincent’s GAA car park. It was the prosecution’s case that an integral part of the operation which led to Mr Byrne’s death was the means by which the tactical team escaped, which was central to the case of Bonney and Murphy. Ms Justice Burns said the court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the existence of the Hutch Criminal Organisation and that the defendants Murphy and Bonney knew of its existence when they provided access to their individual cars at St Vincent’s GAA club intending to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by the Hutches. She also said that the court was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the Regency attack, during which David Byrne was shot dead, was orchestrated by the Hutch Criminal Organisation. In pleading their innocence at the time, Murphy claimed the Toyota Avensis taxi seen in CCTV footage heading to St Vincent’s GAA and waiting for the hit team, was not his. Bonney, meanwhile, brought forward two witnesses to try and help corroborate his bizarre claim that his vehicle was being used that day by his now-deceased father. I n scathing remarks in her judgment, Ms Justice Tara Burns said the court had been lied to in the “most malevolent manner” by Jason Bonney, who had wrongly tried to implicate his father. “A dead father has been implicated in the Regency by his son’s witnesses. “That anybody thought that these lies would be accepted by the Court is quite frankly amazing,” she further added. Both men are currently imprisoned in Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison.US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people
A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok’s petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company’s challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court’s opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though its unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, it’s also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action . “He wants to save TikTok,” Rep. Michael Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said Friday during an interview on Fox Business. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits , that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. The European Union on Friday expressed similar concerns as it investigates intelligence that suggests Russia possibly abused the platform to influence the elections in Romania. “Today’s decision is an important step in blocking the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Friday. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republicans and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three denied TikTok’s petition. In the court’s ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok’s main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder, or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to “suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators — for which the company is covering legal costs — as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court’s ruling. “I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said “it’s time for ByteDance to accept” the law. To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm — the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan — would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content. RECOMMENDED • silive .com Is there a new ‘Saturday Night Live’ episode tonight (12/7/24)? Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 a.m. Could Daylight Saving Time end in the new Trump administration? Musk, Ramaswamy on board Dec. 4, 2024, 12:22 p.m. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:06 p.m. EST
In a remote forested area, a black bear known as Big Bear, or "熊大," has made headlines for an unexpected outburst of anger. The peaceful animal, who is well-loved by locals for its gentle demeanor, was caught on camera displaying aggression towards an infrared camera set up by wildlife researchers. The incident has sparked a debate on the ethics of wildlife photography and the importance of respecting animals' boundaries.
Rumours surrounding the potential sale of Manchester United's leading striker have been swirling for weeks, but the confirmation of the club's willingness to sell him has taken everyone by surprise. The player in question, whose name has not been officially disclosed by the club, is considered the linchpin of Manchester United's attacking line-up and has been instrumental in their recent successes.
Senior members of Canada's cabinet held talks Friday with US President-elect Donald Trump's nominees to lead the departments of commerce and the interior, as Ottawa works to hold off the threat of punishing tariffs. Canada's newly-appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump's commerce secretary nominee, who will also lead the country's tariff and trade agenda. Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum was also at the meeting held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Leblanc's spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau, who confirmed the participants, described the talks as "positive and productive." Trump has vowed to impose crippling 25-percent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he takes office next month. He has said they will remain in place until Canada addresses the flow of undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised retaliatory measures should Trump follow through on his pledge, raising fears of a trade war. Leblanc and Joly "outlined the measures in Canada's Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives," Comeau said in a statement. Canada's Border Plan -- estimated to cost CAN$1 billion ($694 million) -- was crafted as part of Ottawa's response to Trump's concerns. Lutnick and Burgum "agreed to relay information to President Trump," the statement said. Trudeau is facing his worst political crisis since sweeping into office in 2015. Leblanc was named finance minister earlier this month after the surprise resignation of Chrystia Freeland. In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing handouts to voters instead of preparing Canada's finances for a possible trade war. More than 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States and nearly two million Canadian jobs depend on trade. bs/ahaRemember Y2K? It was 1999 and many were sure civilization was about to end
Zelensky's decision to engage with the Biden administration on the issue of NATO membership reflects Ukraine's ongoing efforts to strengthen its ties with Western partners and enhance its security in the face of ongoing tensions with Russia. The prospect of Ukraine joining NATO has long been a contentious issue, with some officials in Ukraine and the West viewing it as a crucial step towards cementing Ukraine's place within the Euro-Atlantic community.