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‘Gene & Gilda’ is a touching, tragic Hollywood love story on N.J. stage | ReviewYear in pictures: February 2024
Yuletide: Nigerian gov announces 2-week holiday for workers, gives major reasonCaptains of industry and other stakeholders must take advantage of the economic stability brought by the Second Republic’s policies to grow their operations and accelerate economic growth in the coming new year, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said in his Christmas message. He said consumers should buy products made in Zimbabwe to boost the operations of local companies and consequently create more jobs. In his statement, Minister Ndlovu saluted businesses, development partners, the private sector, ministry development agencies and consumers for their contributions to economic growth this year. “The new year presents an opportunity to address challenges in industrial growth while optimising on the strong macro-economic stability we have experienced in the last few months to drive industrial growth going forward,” he said. “I equally encourage your support for the inter-ministerial taskforce on business malpractice in combating counterfeiting and smuggling which enables us to give sanity to our business environment while enhancing consumer protection. “As you celebrate this festive season, please support local initiatives through the Buy Zimbabwe and local content strategy,” Minister Ndlovu implored the nation. His statement comes as Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe national chairman Mr Tafadzwa Musarara yesterday said the milling industry had supplied all essential grain-based products to the market for the festive season and that there will be no shortages. Mr Musarara said despite 2024 being a challenging year marked by drought and grain imports, the milling sector rose to the occasion and delivered products that exceeded demand by 38,9 percent. The stock levels meant that prices would be stable as they could only be pushed up by profiteering retailers when there were shortages. With all maize in stock reserved for Government food schemes, millers had to import their entire supply except for what they had contracted with the farmers. Some of the products that have been supplied to the market were maize meal,rice, flour, salt and other essentials. “The surplus supply has stabilised prices, making these commodities accessible to all, in both formal and informal retail outlets,” he said. “Moving forward, we remain committed to supporting local agriculture through contract farming and exploring additional source markets to maintain affordability.” Mr Musarara thanked the Government for its private sector-led approach to achieving national food security. “The Government’s policies align with international best practices and have enabled us to adapt effectively to these challenges,” he said. The Government has implemented a number of measures to stabilise the economy including strengthening the foreign exchange market that has seen the stability of the local currency, the ZiG, against the US dollar and other currencies, even on the parallel market. A crackdown against smuggling through the country’s borders has also been launched, amid startling revelations the country may be losing an estimated US$1 billion annually in revenue through smuggling. Through partnerships with private investors, a number of electricity generating projects, especially in the coal sector, have been initiated and are expected to ease power shortages the country has been experiencing this year by the end of next year. This will enable Zesa to release more electricity to the manufacturing sector. Minister Ndlovu said they are focusing on strengthening collaboration with the private sector and invited all stakeholders to engage actively with the Ministry. The Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan 2024-2025 had been launched to promote industrial development as the country strives to be an upper-middle income society by 2030. The plan seeks to address challenges hindering the growth of the manufacturing and commercial sectors, including issues such as competitiveness, the cost of doing business, promotion of links with small and medium enterprises, innovation and research. The Ministry was allocated ZiG509 million for the implementation of the plan in the 2025 National Budget. Nqobile Bhebhe, Bulawayo Bureau The Government is undertaking a comprehensive review of existing policies and regulations to facilitate the effective implementation of the parole system and establish community correctional centres. The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, in partnership with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS), are working to implement the system that [...] Trust Freddy and Obey Musiwa Harare was busy yesterday, as shoppers flocked to shops for last-minute Christmas shopping, while hundreds of travellers headed to rural areas to reunite with loved ones. The city centre was flooded with people rushing to buy last-minute Christmas goodies, clothes, and get stylish haircuts, with salons and beauty parlours also [...] Ivan Zhakata Herald Correspondent The Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe (ALCOZ) has received an early Christmas gift in the form of a donation of groceries and personal care items from Premier Corporate Gifts, bringing joy to many. The donation, handed over during a small ceremony in Chitungwiza, included cooking oil, maize meal, rice, flour, spaghetti, [...]The common murre, a large black-and-white seabird native to northern waters, has become far less common in Alaska over the past decade due to the impacts of climate change. A study published Thursday in Science reveals that a record-breaking marine heat wave in the northeast Pacific from 2014 to 2016 triggered a catastrophic population collapse, wiping out four million birds — about half the species in the region. Strikingly, they have shown little signs of rebounding, suggesting long-term shifts in the food web that have locked the ecosystem into a troubling new equilibrium. “There’s a lot of talk about declines of species that are tied to changes in temperature, but in this case, it was not a long term result,” lead author Heather Renner of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge told AFP. “To our knowledge, this is the largest mortality event of any wildlife species reported during the modern era,” she and her colleagues emphasized in their paper. The finding triggers “alarm bells,” Renner said in an interview, as human-caused climate change makes heat waves more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting. – Emaciated Carcasses – With their dapper, tuxedoed look, common murres are sometimes called the “penguins of the north.” Their slender wings power them across vast distances in search of food and make them expert divers. But even these hardy seabirds were no match for an unprecedented environmental catastrophe. The largest marine heat wave ever recorded began in the late fall of 2014, spanning a massive swath of the northeast Pacific Ocean from California to Alaska. It persisted for over two years, leaving devastation in its wake. During this time, some 62,000 emaciated murres washed ashore along the North American Pacific coastline — dead or dying from starvation. Experts point to two key reasons for the bird deaths: elevated ocean temperatures reduced both the quality and quantity of phytoplankton, impacting fish like herring, sardines, and anchovies — the mainstay of the murre diet. At the same time, warmer waters increased the energy demands of larger fish, such as salmon and Pacific cod, which compete with murres for the same prey. “We knew then it was a big deal, but unfortunately, we couldn’t really quantify the effects,” explained Renner. For years after the event, breeding colonies failed to produce chicks, complicating efforts to assess the full impact. Earlier estimates pegged the number of deaths at around a million, but a more robust analysis — drawing on data from 13 murre colonies — revealed the toll was four times higher. “It is just so much worse than we thought it was,” Renner said of the new findings. – Climate winners and losers – The marine heat wave didn’t just impact common murres. Pacific cod stocks collapsed, king salmon populations dwindled, and as many as 7,000 humpback whales perished. Yet the crisis created an uneven playing field: some species emerged unscathed, while others even thrived. Thick-billed murres, which often share nesting cliffs with common murres, were largely unaffected, possibly due to their more adaptable diet, Renner noted. For common murres, however, the fallout lingers. Despite nearly a decade since the heat wave, their numbers show no sign of bouncing back — and the losses may well be permanent. Part of the reason lies in the long-term decline of some of their prey. Another factor is murres’ survival strategy relies on numbers: they aggregate in massive colonies to protect their eggs from opportunistic predators like eagles and gulls. With their populations slashed, these birds have lost their critical safety buffer. Still, Renner offered a glimmer of hope. While addressing global warming is essential for curbing long-term climate change, conservation efforts can make a difference in the short term, she said. Removing invasive species like foxes and rats from murre nesting islands could also provide the beleaguered birds with a fighting chance. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.
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Opposition to move impeachment motion against HC judge in Rajya Sabha todayTyne and Wear Metro iPhone tickets hope as Nexus urged to finally make Pop card upgradeAn award Justin Baldoni recently received for "advocating on behalf of women and girls" was rescinded, in the midst of Blake Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit against him . The actor was initially honored with the Voices of Solidarity Award on December 9 by Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women leaders. On Monday, December 23, the organization released a statement on their website that they were taking back the award. "The Voices of Solidarity Award honors remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls. On Dec. 9, 2024, we recognized Justin Baldoni with this award. On Saturday, Dec. 21, we learned through news reports about a lawsuit brought by Blake Lively against Mr. Baldoni, his publicists, and others that is disturbing and alleges abhorrent conduct ," Vital Voices said. Justin Baldoni's PR and legal team claim texts in Blake Lively's lawsuit lack 'critical context' Justin Baldoni allegedly shared intimate details of his wife on set of It Ends With Us "The communications among Mr. Baldoni and his publicists included in the lawsuit — and the PR effort they indicate — are, alone, contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award. We have notified Mr. Baldoni that we have rescinded this award," they added. This comes as Blake filed a complaint against Justin accusing him of sexual harassment as well as a toxic work environment on the set of It Ends With Us and a targeted smear campaign against her on social media after the film's release to damage her reputation. Blake alleged that Justin's actions caused her and her family "severe emotional harm." Justin has denied the allegations and his lawyer Bryan Freedman said Blake's lawsuit was "shameful" and full of "categorically false accusations." Before the lawsuit, there had been rumors during the promo tour of the film that Justin and Blake did not get along on set. The rumors increased when Blake and Justin were not publicly seen doing press together and stayed away from each other at the New York City premiere. The two starred as leads and romantic love interests in the film adaption of Colleen Hoover's book of the same name. Justin was also the director. Following the news of Blake's lawsuit, Justin's talent agency, WME, dropped him. The Gossip Girl alum has also been met with support from Colleen, Amber Heard, Amy Schumer, Paul Feig, Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Ricci and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars (America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn). DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans didn’t need to see what Baltimore’s Derrick Henry is doing this season to be reminded of just how dangerous he can be. He ran all over the Texans for years while playing in the AFC South for the Tennessee Titans. Henry and the Ravens (10-5) visit AFC South champion Houston (9-6) on Wednesday, looking for a win to keep their AFC North title chances alive. Baltimore has clinched a playoff berth for a third straight season but needs wins in its last two games and one loss by the Steelers to capture the division. Henry, who ranks second in the NFL with 1,636 yards rushing, has had some of his greatest success against the Texans. Four of the 30-year-old’s six career 200-yard rushing games have been against Houston, including a career-high 250 in the season finale in the 2020 season to surpass 2,000 yards. “You talk about fast, explosive, physical — he’s looking probably the best he’s looked in his career,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s found that fountain of youth ... he’s a great player. It’s fun to see guys rebound and bounce back the way that he’s done this year.” Dealing with Henry along with all the challenges that quarterback Lamar Jackson presents makes the top-ranked Ravens one of Houston’s more difficult matchups. “You talk about MVP, (Jackson’s) definitely the MVP in my mind just for what he’s doing not only in the run game but also throwing the football,” Ryans said. “The accuracy, the decision-making, like, he’s playing unbelievable ball right now, so it’s going to be a really tough challenge for us this week.” Another challenge for the Texans is moving on after Tank Dell sustained a season-ending knee injury in Saturday’s loss to Kansas City. His injury is another blow to a receiving group that already was without star Stefon Diggs, who tore his ACL in Week 8. “The position we’re in, it’s not a lot of times where you can sulk in your feelings for very long,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “You’ve got to just keep rolling. I think that’s a testament to just life in general. Everybody has stuff on their plate. Everybody is going through something. And just because we’re in this position, doesn’t mean you get to feel sorry for yourself.” Houston will rely on Stroud to keep the passing game rolling despite the loss of Dell, who ranks second on the team with 667 yards receiving. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh has been impressed with Stroud’s growth in Year 2 and knows that dealing with him will be difficult for his team, which ranks 31st in the NFL by allowing 254.9 yards passing a game. “He’s just a supertalented guy... he’s surrounded with some good weapons, and he gets the ball out quick,” Harbaugh said. “He handles pressure well, he can move, he’s athletic, scrambles and makes plays.” Jackson is a big fan of Beyoncé, though he didn’t know the title of his favorite song of hers, saying it was “To the left,” which is just the first lines of her hit “Irreplaceable.” And he doesn’t think playing in Wednesday’s game should stop him from seeing her halftime show on Christmas . “I’m going to go out there and watch,” he said. “First time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it’s at our game — that’s dope. I’m going to go out and watch. Sorry Harbaugh, sorry fellas." He later clarified that he was kidding about sneaking out at halftime to get a glimpse of Queen Bey. “I was just thinking about just seeing Beyoncé for the first time,” he said. “Not saying it like that; no disrespect, because I know how people can take things. Next question.” Houston receiver John Metchie could have a chance for a big game with Dell out. Metchie is playing in his second NFL season after missing his entire rookie year while undergoing cancer treatment. He has just 182 yards receiving this season, with his best game coming against Detroit, when he had a career-high 72 yards receiving and his only NFL TD. Stroud is looking for Metchie and fellow reserve Xavier Hutchinson to help make up for Dell’s absence against the Ravens. “Those guys have another opportunity to show who they are and I know that they can do it,” Stroud said. “I see them in practice do it every week. So, I’m excited for them and it’s a good opportunity for them to step up.” Jackson is up to 6,023 yards rushing for his career. The NFL record for a quarterback is 6,109 by Michael Vick, so Jackson could break it with a big game on Wednesday. Jackson also leads the NFL in passer rating and is in the conversation for his third MVP. Although it sounds like that’s a discussion he’d rather not get involved in. “No other choice but to hear it,” Jackson said. “They (are) tagging me in it. You don’t (have) to tag me. You can talk about it all you want, but you want to tag me to get like clickbait because you know sometimes I (will) say something back like, ‘That was stupid.’ It is what it is. I don’t care, though. I really don’t care about the talk.” AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Owings Mills, Maryland, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflMeezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, and Arif Habib Limited, a leader in investment banking, have recently partnered to enhance the investor experience in Pakistan. The collaboration is marked by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the launch of an innovative Instant Top-up Service for investors. Mr. Shahid Ali Habib, CEO of Arif Habib Limited, and Syed Amir Ali, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Meezan Bank signed the agreement, with senior management from both organizations in attendance. The new service allows Meezan Bank customers to instantly top up their Arif Habib Limited investment accounts via the Bank’s Alternate Distribution Channels, including Meezan Mobile App, Internet Banking, and ATMs. Previously, investors had to manually transfer funds and provide proof of deposit. The Instant Top-up Service automates this process, saving time and reducing complexity. By eliminating manual deposits and proof requirements, the service offers a faster, more efficient way for investors to manage their funds. Syed Amir Ali, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Meezan Bank, commented: “The Instant Top-up Service is part of Meezan Bank’s strategy to digitalize and streamline financial transactions, strengthening its position as a leader in Shariah-compliant banking. Through our partnership with Arif Habib, we are helping drive the evolution of digital banking in Pakistan, providing a faster, more efficient way to top up investment accounts, and improving the overall experience for investors.” Mr. Shahid Ali Habib, Chief Executive Officer of Arif Habib Limited, said: “we are pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Meezan Bank to enable swift and secure digital payments for our clients. This collaboration reflects our commitment to delivering seamless and efficient financial solutions, ensuring our customers can conduct transactions with greater ease. At AHL, we continuously strive to integrate cutting-edge technologies that streamline our services and enrich customer experience. This partnership marks a significant step in our journey to drive the digital transformation of Pakistan’s financial landscape.
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