Billionaire Elon Musk called Canada’s prime minister an “insufferable tool” on his social media platform today. Musk’s comments were in response to Justin Trudeau likening Kamala Harris’s defeat in the U.S. presidential election to an attack on women’s rights and progress. This afternoon, Trudeau met with provincial and territorial premiers to discuss Canada’s approach to negotiations with the U.S. Canada is facing a threat of a 25 per cent tariff hike from incoming president Donald Trump, who defeated Harris in the November election. Earlier this week, Trump taunted Trudeau on social media, referring to the prime minister as the governor of what he called the “Great State of Canada.” The post was an apparent reference to a joke Trump cracked at his dinner with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate nearly two weeks ago, where the president-elect teased that Canada could join the U.S. as its 51st state. Speaking on Tuesday night at an event hosted by the Equal Voice Foundation — an organization dedicated to improving gender representation in Canadian politics — Trudeau said there are regressive forces fighting against women’s progress. “It shouldn’t be that way. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress,” Trudeau said, adding he is a proud feminist and will always be an ally. “And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president. Everywhere, women’s rights and women’s progress is under attack. Overtly, and subtly.” In a post on X on Wednesday, Musk responded to a clip of Trudeau’s remarks, saying, “He’s such an insufferable tool. Won’t be in power for much longer.”WEBCO INDUSTRIES, INC. REPORTS FISCAL 2025 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
Nevertheless, the mere suggestion of the US leaving NATO has sent shockwaves through the international community, sparking fears of a potential unraveling of the post-World War II security architecture. The alliance has long been seen as a bulwark against aggression and instability, and its dissolution could have far-reaching implications for global security.
Furthermore, sleep deprivation can have a profound impact on our physical health. It weakens the immune system, making us more susceptible to illnesses and infections. It also increases the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Inadequate sleep can disrupt hormone regulation, leading to weight gain and metabolism issues.Sir Donald Bradman feared a second Kerry Packer breakaway venture in the 1980s and did not blame Australian cricketers for taking big money to play in apartheid South Africa. He was no fan of Paul Keating, admired Queen Elizabeth II, and took some of his greatest pleasure late in life from watching Shane Warne in action. These insights and many more are contained in a collection of more than 20 letters penned by Bradman to an English friend, the entertainer Peter Brough, and tucked away in the National Library of Australia. Sir Donald Bradman wrote letters late in life almost as prolifically as he’d made runs in his younger years. Credit: Fairfax Media Written between 1984 and 1998, the letters capture Bradman’s complicated relationship with fame and his often trenchant views on sport and politics at home and abroad. Peter Brough was an English entertainer, specialising in a ventriloquist act that was popular on radio during the 1950s in the UK. Bradman met Peter Brough through his father Arthur during tours of England in the 1930s, and the younger men struck up a friendship that continued through correspondence over many years. Peter Brough died in 1999, Bradman in 2001. The letters were donated to the NLA by Peter Brough’s family. ‘The cricket world has been in a ferment’ In the winter of 1985, Bradman held grave concerns for the future of the game amid the loss of 14 top Australian players to “rebel” tours of South Africa. There were parallel revelations that Kerry Packer was signing up players himself to protect his investment in the game in Australia. Former Australian captain Kim Hughes (left) at the Wanderers Ground in Johannesburg in 1985 while playing on a rebel tour of South Africa organised by Ali Bacher. Credit: AP There was no Packer breakaway: the terms he had agreed with Bradman in 1979 were too generous for that. And it was economic sanctions, rather than the sporting kind, that brought a swift end to apartheid in the late 1980s. Bradman was buoyed by South Africa’s readmission. ‘Keating is a disaster’ Bradman’s conservative political views are no secret, and an affection for the UK and its monarchy remained strong right through his life. In May 1986, he was a guest of Queen Elizabeth II for lunch on the royal yacht Britannia during a tour of Australia. There was admiration, too, for Britain’s long-serving prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who resigned from office in 1991 after more than a decade in charge. Bradman contrasted democracy in Britain and Australia with the recent assassination of India’s former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, in May of that year. The USSR collapsed later that same year, a moment Bradman marked with acclamation. A couple of years later, Paul Keating was re-elected as Australia’s prime minister, but in December 1993 the South Australian Labor government paid the price for the State Bank collapse. Paul Keating’s reign as prime minister was not enjoyed by Sir Donald Bradman. Credit: Fairfax The republic remained an issue for Bradman, especially when viewed through the lens of personal problems for so many members of the royal family in the 1990s. The price of fame In the 1980s and ’90s, Bradman’s profile rose as a much-venerated figure in Australia and around the world. While appreciative of so much love, Bradman also felt constrained by the attention, and the demands it placed on his time and letter writing. Gary Sweet as a defiant Bradman in Bodyline opposed to England paceman Harold Larwood and captain Douglas Jardine. Credit: Bodyline The TV miniseries Bodyline was broadcast in 1985, starring Gary Sweet as Bradman. The man himself gave a mixed review. The bicentenary of European settlement took Bradman and his wife Jessie to Sydney in early 1988, where a celebratory Test match was played. A few months later, Bradman confessed to seeking refuge away from the spotlight: “I prefer to be far away from crowds and publicity. My 80th birthday is coming up in August and I have already arranged to go away from Adelaide for a week to dodge all the fuss.” Attention ramped up further in 1996, when Bradman sat down with Ray Martin for a televised interview to raise funds for the Bradman Museum in Bowral. Around the same time, John Howard’s election as prime minister put an avowed “cricket tragic” in the lodge, who often cited Bradman as a hero. In 1998, Bradman confided further to Brough about the price of his fame. On Warne In the interview with Martin, Bradman spoke of how the best cricket anyone could possibly watch was that of an aggressive batsman versus an over-the-wrist leg-spinner. By May 1991, it had been nearly 30 years since the retirement of Richie Benaud, and Bradman despaired of seeing another wrist-spinner of top quality. “The great tragedy of modern cricket is the demise of the slow leg-spinner,” he wrote. “Primarily it seems to be due to the one-day games in which ‘economy’ is the only thing that matters. Shane Warne in full flight. Credit: Dallas Kilponen “You don’t have to get the other fellow out, you only have to stop him scoring runs, and of course young leg-spinners when learning their trade, are always a bit expensive.” Shane Warne was by that time making his start in first-class cricket, and made his debut for Australia in January 1992. In early 1993, Bradman had started to pay attention. That prediction proved prescient. England’s troubles in the late 1980s and early 1990s are another theme of Bradman’s letters, but in this case they are balanced by what he was seeing from Warne. “Poor old England is in a bad way – rather than sack [captain Graham] Gooch I think they should have sacked the selectors,” he wrote during the 1993 Ashes series. “There must be better players in the county ranks than some of those selected. “Still it must be lauded that our fellows have played well and I have been excited to see a young leg-spinner turning the ball more than anyone since [Chuck] Fleetwood-Smith. And he has been economical as well. Time we got away from the endless stream of fast bowlers.” Shane Warne set the 1993 Ashes series alight. Credit: Reuters Eighteen months later, Bradman was ready to afford Warne the highest possible praise, though he was still just 25 years old and had more than a decade of Test cricket ahead of him. “Shane Warne is bowling brilliantly and causing all sorts of trouble,” he wrote in November 1994. “Excepting [Bill] O’Reilly, Warne is the best slow leg-spinner we’ve produced, better even than [Clarrie] Grimmett and that is very high praise.” An eye for talent Bradman’s eye was always open for the admiration of great players, but it was his assessments of young, promising cricketers that stand out most. In the summer of 1985-86, he picked out arguably the two finest Australian cricketers to debut in an otherwise grim season: lithe left-armer Bruce Reid and a young all-rounder called Steve Waugh. He also supported the decision to install Tim Zoehrer as Australian wicketkeeper ahead of Wayne Phillips. Paceman Bruce Reid and all-rounder Steve Waugh caught Bradman’s eye. By November 1989, Australia’s cricket fortunes were on the upswing, and as a spectator at Adelaide Oval, Bradman saw a young Darren Lehmann hammer a double century in the Sheffield Shield. He also watched on television as Martin Crowe sculpted a century of his own in the Perth Test. In the winter of 1991, Bradman was discerning the first signs of decline for the great West Indian team, even though they had beaten Australia at home earlier in the year. He also rated the performance of Mark Taylor, while being awed by the strokeplay of a young Mark Waugh. “Though we lost the rubber in West Indies I don’t think the gods were on our side and I would back us to beat them next time,” Bradman wrote. “We now have a super left-hand opener in Taylor and Mark Waugh is all class, better than his brother Steve who did so well on our last tour of England.” The following year in Sri Lanka, Border broke a century drought that lasted four summers, raising a pithy reaction from Bradman. Ricky Ponting batting for Australia at 21. Credit: Vince Caligiuri In the spring of 1995, Bradman saw Ricky Ponting play a “beautiful innings” up close and tagged him a “future Test prospect”. The following summer, Bradman observed the decline of the once great West Indian team. There were more tough times that summer and afterwards for Taylor, in the midst of a long form slump that very nearly cost him the Australian captaincy. Bradman rated Taylor a better captain than Border, and was understanding of why he had been retained. A century in Birmingham saved Taylor’s tenure, and he went on the lead the team until January 1999. Running the game As time ticked by, Bradman felt himself growing more distant from the game and its administration. He resigned from his committee posts with the South Australian Cricket Association in 1986, lamenting the coarsening of international sport. This is not to say that Bradman did not retain strong opinions. During the 1980s, England took a fearful battering from the West Indies, and many English followers bemoaned a lack of oversight from umpires about short-pitched bowling. Brough was one of them, and got a succinct reply. Umpires were still a topic of discussion in 1992, particularly around the World Cup held that year in Australia and New Zealand. Bradman was staunchly in favour of each country retaining the right to have home umpires. 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After 15 rounds of intense competition in the Serie A, the battle for the top spot is heating up with just 3 points separating the top 5 teams. The race for the Scudetto has never been more exciting, with each match becoming increasingly crucial as the season progresses.Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is apparently a Game of Thrones fan. Howard trolled Tennessee with a famous quote from the popular HBO show after Ohio State defeated Tennessee, 42-17, in their first-round matchup at the College Football Playoffs on Saturday. "When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers," he wrote on Instagram . "Tell them Winter came for the Volunteers." Howard wasn't alone in trolling Tennessee after the blowout victory. Ohio State's social media admin also had a bit of fun at the Volunteers' expense, dropping a "Not so rocky on top" on social media , among other posts. Howard, meanwhile, had a strong game, finishing 24-of-29 for 311 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 37 yards. "We really put together a full, all-out performance, and I think that's what we needed to do and what we needed to show," he told reporters after the win. It was a far cry from his showing in the regular-season finale against Michigan, a shocking 13-10 upset loss that cost the Buckeyes a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game. Howard finished that contest 19-of-33 for 175 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. And Tennessee paid for the fallout that followed. "For three weeks, everyone in the world was telling us we sucked," offensive lineman Donovan Jackson told reporters after beating Tennessee. "Half the fan base was telling us we sucked. Almost every analyst, expert and anyone with a podcast was telling us we sucked. We took it personally. That's not how we were going to go out. ... We went out there and played with our hair on fire, that was the message all week." Up next for Ohio State is a matchup with Oregon in the CFP semifinals on Jan. 1. The Ducks won the first meeting between the teams, 32-31, back in October.
OpenAI, known for its groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence, made headlines once again with the launch of Sora, a project that promises to revolutionize the AI landscape. The official website of OpenAI was flooded with traffic as tech enthusiasts and industry experts rushed to learn more about Sora's capabilities and potential impact. With its advanced AI algorithms and innovative approach, Sora is expected to push the boundaries of AI research and pave the way for new possibilities in various fields.( MENAFN - The Conversation) The Canadian Institute for health Information (CIHI) has updated its interactive tool,“Your Health System,” which reviews health-care data across all provinces and makes recommendations for the delivery of services, such as childbirth. This includes“low-risk” caesarean rates, meaning the number of low-risk women who have surgery after labouring with a single baby in their first pregnancy. Provincial “low risk” caesarean rates are compared to the 17.9 per cent national average, including Alberta's 20.8 per cent rate and British Columbia's 24.5 per cent rate , which are graded“below average.” In fact, CIHI's message to all hospitals, physicians and patients on caesarean births in general is clear: A lower rate is“desirable.” But is it? Challenging this inherently flawed measure of patient care is long overdue. As a standalone statistic, a“low risk” caesarean rate lacks the nuance needed to inform and improve individual clinical care. It simply tells us how many first-time mothers who went into spontaneous labour had a caesarean birth. It does not tell us the clinical considerations behind the decision to intervene, or the relief many mothers feel when a caesarean is performed due to unforeseen complications during labour. We are not reminded that the average age of a mother giving birth in Canada has risen to 31.7 years , representing an upward trend that carries higher risks . Nor does it consider changes in baseline rates of pre-existing medical conditions and pregnancy related medical conditions , high infant birth weights that are associated with obstructed labour and fetal distress , and modern developments in fetal monitoring that more frequently diagnose potential fetal distress. CIHI's indicator targets those for whom vaginal birth“is expected,” implying that many caesareans are unnecessary. However, childbirth is intrinsically unpredictable, and tolerance for poor outcomes is low. Parents expect a living and healthy baby, and caesareans are an important part of how obstetricians achieve this for Canada's families. Outcomes for mothers matter, too. Last year, new evidence highlighted Canada's“unacceptably high” rate of severe injuries to the pelvic floor from forceps and vacuum use, and the highest anal sphincter injury rate of 24 high-income countries. Researchers criticized a lack of concerted effort to reduce these injuries. A province's increasing caesarean rate could mean obstetricians are offering caesarean birth as an alternative, and that more mothers are choosing to avoid an instrumental delivery. Especially as pelvic floor injuries increase a woman's lifetime risk for urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and complex surgeries that cannot always solve these issues . Any policy or practice denying choice in childbirth, or refusing and delaying caesareans on the mere presumption that rates should be lower, defies the principles of patient-centred care. Read more: Requests for caesarean birth brushed aside, despite guidelines to respect maternal choices And given the United Kingdom's landmark Montgomery Supreme Court judgment on autonomy, maternal satisfaction is a more appropriate measure of success than any caesarean rate. CIHI could learn another valuable lesson from the U.K., too, since its stated intention“to help reduce C-section rates” in Canada is linked to concerns about“higher costs .” For decades, U.K. hospital staff and even safety inspectors blindly supported extraneous efforts to reduce caesarean births , until outstanding multi-billion (yes, billion) dollar litigation costs for maternity services caught the attention of government. Demands for change by families whose babies and mothers died or were seriously injured as a result of delayed and absent caesareans, often for“low-risk” pregnancies, led to police investigations , a national safety inquiry and criticism of birth mode targets . Litigation may be notoriously difficult for patients similarly harmed in Canada's health-care system, but it is rising , as are the long-term costs associated with pelvic floor damage. Furthermore, Canada has long faced challenges with regional health-care variations driven by diverse patient needs, physician practices and resource availability (staff and blood, for example). Recognizing this, CIHI recommends better access to caesareans in remote areas. However, we argue it now needs to rethink its blanket position elsewhere that a“lower rate is desirable.” Especially as its recent statement inexplicably links to an obsolete national “normal childbirth” policy that warns it is for historical research only, not clinical use. To genuinely guide health-care evolution, CIHI's childbirth metrics must adopt a broader, patient-centred perspective. It should recognize that women's reproductive health extends far beyond the delivery room, and incorporate data on common but often overlooked conditions, such as pelvic floor disorders , endometriosis, infertility and uterine bleeding. Women are not merely vessels for childbirth - they are whole individuals with diverse health needs. Canadian women deserve comprehensive, thoughtful reporting of data that acknowledges and addresses these unique aspects of their health. MENAFN23122024000199003603ID1109025348 Legal Disclaimer: 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.
● St. Katharine Drexel Catholic High School teacher Cynthia Bettio has received Esri Canada’s Making a Difference Award. ● Esri Canada provides geographic information system (GIS) mapping tools used by municipalities like Stouffville to analyze and display geographic data. ● Bettio was recognized for an urban planning project where students created land-use plans for hypothetical Stouffville development sites. ● Students presented their concepts, which utilized Esri’s GIS software, to Stouffville’s Council in June. ● Bettio emphasizes connecting coursework to real-world and local issues to foster critical thinking and deeper understanding in students. Cynthia Bettio, head of Canadian and World Studies at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic High School (SKD), received Esri Canada’s Making a Difference Award for innovative use of GIS technology in education. Esri Canada provides geographic information system mapping and analytics solutions to more than 14,000 organizations. GIS enables data analysis and allows for the geographic display of information. Municipalities such as Stouffville use Esri’s services for a variety of purposes, including public-facing tools like the Town’s Development Activity Map. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that use Esri’s ArcGIS tools “to make a positive impact on their communities,” according to a recent Esri Canada press release. Bettio was honoured for her role in a multi-class urban planning project that utilized the company’s software during the 2023-2024 school year. After months of study, 24 SKD students presented Town Council with land-use plans for three hypothetical Stouffville development sites. Their work included collaboration with Town Staff, and final renderings and virtual tours were showcased to Councillors and the public during a packed June 2024 meeting. Their concepts were informed by investigation into surrounding land uses and focused on housing, parkland, and community amenities. Climate change mitigation strategies and renewable energy sources were also considered and implemented within their designs. “By incorporating Esri’s cloud-based mapping and analysis software...into her geography and history classes, Ms. Bettio transforms abstract subjects into dynamic, hands-on learning experiences,” the press release detailed. “She engages students with projects that integrate real-world data and local history, encouraging them to think critically, tackle complex problems, and make meaningful connections between their coursework and the world around them.” Bettio was also recognized for her efforts in a Grade 10 Advanced Placement Canadian History class project that tracked the evolution of various Richmond Hill parcels over more than a century. Students presented their final deliverables to the Richmond Hill Historical Association in 2023 using GIS tools. “If we want kids to care about the subjects that they are learning, we have to be able to show them where they connect to them,” Bettio said. “If we focus on local issues that are relevant to students’ lives, we can ask them to step back and examine the bigger picture with greater depth and understanding.”The 15 best beauty buys this year as chosen by YOU (and they start from just £1.22!) Hannah Betts announces the results of Inspire's 2024 Beauty Awards READ MORE: Look chic (not cheap) in sequins: Tess Daly's stylist reveals the golden rules for Strictly showstopping sparkle By HANNAH BETTS FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 16:37 EST, 22 December 2024 | Updated: 16:37 EST, 22 December 2024 e-mail View comments What's your favourite Christmas custom? Decorating the tree? A trip to see the lights? Hanging up stockings, perhaps? Regular readers will know that I'm not a huge fan of Yule. My treat to myself next week will be a solo expedition to see Lesley Manville in Oedipus – hardly festive japes. However, there is one tradition that does spark joy for me and that is Inspire's annual beauty awards (along with – I admit it – the suitably dour In the Bleak Midwinter). I adore this festive ritual, a celebration of glamour in which we sift through the year's best beauty boosters. There is no finer feedback on my daubing, spritzing and column-writing year than this collective demonstration of how you feel about it all. And it appears you love this annual deep dive as much as I do, as you voted in your thousands, delivering your verdicts on the very best in beauty. After all, whatever myself and the other judges think, it is your opinion that really matters. The 15 winners of the Inspire Beauty Award's have been revealed Your pick of the crop features classic, old and new Well, the results are in for 2024 – and how utterly fascinating they are. Your pick of the crop features classics, old and new. Under 'old', we have veterans such as Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (£65 for 30ml, Boots.com) , the 'little brown bottle' launched in 1982 as the world's first night serum, and, by day, Clinique Moisture Surge (£26 for 30ml) , born six years later, and since spun off into a host of hydrating incarnations. While, by way of the new, you applaud Bobbi Brown Weightless Skin Foundation (£43 ) and Glossier Boy Brow Arch ( £24, uk.glossier.com) , two of the most exciting cosmetic formulas of 2024, both of which hit the shelves in August. Judge and columnist Hannah Betts You are strong on high-street heroes such as Vaseline, Batiste, CeraVe, Kiko and Max Factor. Presumably, this is because you, like me, are spending cautiously and looking after your hard-earned cash. You understand that make-up remover stays on your skin for seconds and is a good product to save on, backing CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (£12.50 for 236ml, Boots.com) as the winner, closely followed by Garnier Micellar Water (£3.15 for 100ml). Many of us are still strictly budgeting, knowing that in our bargain dry shampoo, lip salve and cleanser, we're also buying the best. That said, yours is a high/low spending philosophy and you also appreciate the morale-boosting impact of acquiring some humdinger at a more indulgent price. THE WINNERS: IN FULL Winner: Foundation/base Bobbi Brown Weightless Skin Foundation £43 Shop Winner: Eyeliner Hildun Beauty Silk to Set Kajal Liner £16 Shop Winner: Eyeshadow Kiko High Pigment Eyeshadow £7.49 Shop Winner: Mascara Max factor masterpiece mascara £12.99 Shop Winner: Brow product Glossier Boy Brow Arch £24 Shop Winner: Blusher/bronzer Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks £32 Shop Winner: Lip product Vaseline rosy lips £1.22 Shop Winner: Cleanser Cerave Hydrating Cleanser £12.50 Shop Winner: Day cream/serum Clinique Moisture Surge £28 Shop Winner: Night treatment Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair £65 Shop Winner: Hair hero Batiste Dry Shampoo £3.44 Shop Winner: Beauty tool Tweezerman Slant Tweezers £14 Shop Winner: Bath or shower product Olverum Bath Oil £43.50 Shop Winner: Body/lotion or cream Every & One Multi-tasking Cream £30 Shop Winner: Nail favourite Leighton Denny Nail Polish £12.50 Shop Most thrillingly, my beloved Olverum Bath Oil (from £43.50, libertylondon.com) topped the poll. Meaning 'true oil', and created by a German pharmacologist and a winemaker in 1931, this venerable aromatherapeutic concoction was once a luxury known only to a select few. Its precise formula is a fiercely-guarded secret, but acolytes swear by its therapeutic fusion of eucalyptus, juniper, lime, lemon peel, geranium, Siberian fir needle and rosemary to soothe body and soul. Eight decades after its creation, Mayfair's Barbers by Royal Appointment, Truefitt & Hill, had been asked to carry a small number of bottles for the Royal Household. Naturally, it never revealed who is the blue-blooded Olverum fan. Meaning 'true oil', Olverum was created by a German pharmacologist and a winemaker in 1931 The Hawksley family, founders of beautiful Belgravia perfumer Les Senteurs, came across Olverum in Truefitt & Hill, buying, then relaunching the brand in 2015. A 250ml flacon (£78, libertylondon.com) should see you through fifty baths. I have my eye on the two for £124 offer at bathandunwind.com, or, rather, I hope the supplier of my Christmas stocking does. If you'll allow me a little light trend spotting, your approach to foundation is exemplary. Your winner, Bobbi Brown Weightless Skin Foundation (£43, Boots.com) , really is sensational: a 53-shade, 'real' skin, no-make-up make-up, managing to look even better at the end of a long day than it did at the beginning. It's a youth-in-a-bottle wonder. If you are yet to try it, I suggest you invest. However, the runner up in this category, e.l.f.'s's Halo Glow Liquid Filter Complexion (£15, Boots.com ) is a clever choice too, widely regarded as a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (£39, charlottetilbury.com) , one of which sells every two minutes. Both are skincare/make-up hybrids, glow boosters providing a dewy, soft-focus effect across 12 shades. You pays your money, you makes your choice. Whatever this choice, please use your complexion enhancer on top of the Clinique Moisture Surge variant with SPF 25 in it ( £28 for 30ml, boots.com) for daily damage protection, swapping it for something with SPF 50 during sunnier months. You're also a fan of modish kajal liners, Victoria Beckham and Hildun dominating the eye pencil category with 37 per cent to last year's winner, Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner (£32, victoriabeckhambeauty.com) , and 46 per cent to this year's victor, new-broom Hildun Beauty Silk to Set Kajal Liner (£16, hildunbeauty.co.uk) . Who better than Hildun founder, former beauty journalist Suzy Griffin Dunne, to explain what the term means? Suzy's independent Irish company, Hildun, was founded in 2022 She told me: 'Kajal is a traditional eye make-up that originated in ancient Egypt and the Indian subcontinent. It has a soft and silky texture that glides smoothly on the outer and inner lids. It's great for creating natural, subtle and smoky looks, in addition to defining the waterline. The result is gentle, nourishing and gorgeously richly-pigmented.' Suzy's independent Irish company was founded in 2022. She made it her mission to incorporate key features from the most luxurious cosmetics in the world into Hildun, but at more affordable prices. Your winning £16 Kajal Liners were introduced as part of the brand's first collection. More shades will be added to the current seven in 2025. Their quality is exceptional, obviously rivalling premium brands. What is more, application is super easy, the pigment gliding effortlessly on, then lasting. I have Silk to Set in Navy Nights and Immortal Metallic Eyeliner in Silver on as I type and have to keep pausing to admire myself. The best-selling shades are the browns Pecan and Chocolate, and, as my fellow judge and Hildun champion Ruby Hammer tells us, the industry's professional arm went wild for them. The royal family's make-up artist, Hannah Martin, loved the formula so much she joined forces to create her very own Hildun liner, a sister shade to Pecan, 'Spiced Pecan' which launched in June 2024 and also became a top-seller. Reading between the lines, your overall approach to make-up – your aesthetic, if you will - is beautifully bang up-to-date. You're happy with a barely-there, naturally-augmented look when it comes to mascara and lips, falling back onto high-street basics Max Factor and rosy-tinted Vaseline. However, you add definition, artistry and individual flourish with high-tech blusher - ragingly fashionable in 2024 – in the form of Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks (£32, bobbibrown.co.uk) , a famously flattering bestseller. Leighton Denny nail polish in shade 'Provocative' Your other great modernising touch is another of my joys of '24, Glossier Boy Brow Arch (£24, uk.glossier.com) . This new phenomenon is the natural-look dream: with a precision tip for hair-like strokes and flat side to fill gaps, long-lasting, water-, smudge- and hot flash-resistant. Good news for the overplucked of the Seventies or Nineties eras, it also comes in grey. Proof, were one to require it, that Glossier is not merely a millennial and Gen Z obsession, but for beauty lovers of all ages. No less reflective of your supreme taste is your penchant for Leighton Denny nail varnish. Mr Denny was the first manicure guru to score an MBE for his great British brilliance. His shades are seriously fabulous: I'll be wearing the limited-edition Opaque Metallic Varnish in Raspberry Crush (£12.50, leightondenny.com) over Yule. But, I also relish the ease of his plant-based, brightening treatment, Nail Illuminator Milky Brightening Nail Polish & Base Coat (£14, leightondenny.com) for the chic, 'no make-up make-up' nail that took flight this year. Meanwhile, I insist that you add all our worthy winners to your Christmas list and wish you an extremely beautiful New Year. Our expert judges verdicts... Millie Kendall, British Beauty Council CEO Millie Kendall, British Beauty Council CEO Whether as a brand founder, consultant or PR, Millie, who is the CEO of the British Beauty Council, has been involved in the industry for almost 40 years. I think this year's results, with wins for Max Factor and Bobbi Brown, and tried and tested products from well-known brands, such as Clinique Moisture Surge and Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair, really reflect what I said a few weeks ago. This year we've seen businesses doubling down on the classics, and selling the consumer what she wants — and what she knows works. Yes, you might see Advanced Night Repair beautifully repackaged throughout the year, or given the occasional upgrade as science moves on but Estee Lauder know better than to mess too much with a formula that's been delighting women since 1982. I'm not a big fan of newness for the sake of it. As the co-founder of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition it would be remiss of me to constantly push new things. But that aside I do think there's something really wonderful about iconic and classic products that have become icons for a reason. Because they work, and because nothing better has superseded them. I'm thrilled to see them triumph here. Ruby Hammer MBE Ruby Hammer MBE Make-up artist Ruby, 61, has been a mainstay of the beauty world since the 1980s and launched her beauty range, Ruby Hammer, in 2019. There was me thinking that I was sharing an insider secret when I raved about Hildun eye pencils, and it turns out I'm not the only one to think that they're brilliant. They must be the worst kept secret in the beauty industry judging by how many of you voted for them, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that. But then they're reasonably priced and tick all the boxes, so they're very well deserved winners. This is the second year in a row that Cerave Hydrating Cleanser has won in the cleanser category and that really doesn't surprise me. I used to buy this stuff in the US before it came to the UK and I'm so pleased that it's now available in Boots, Superdrug and every pharmacy up and down the country. It's a wonderful, gentle cleanser for all ages — not just menopausal skin or teens — and a bathroom cabinet staple. And Tweezerman tweezers are another classic. I helped launch them in the UK back in the 1990s and brows have been at the forefront of beauty since. Everyone needs a quality pair of tweezers and I don't think you get better than these. Another worthy winner. rubyhammer.com Katherine Spenley, Inspire Editor Katherine Spenley, Inspire Editor Inspire editor Katherine lives in London with her husband Anthony. As a high/low shopping addict, I'm thrilled to see a crop of brilliant bargains among this year's winners. I have a tin of Vaseline Rosy Lips in every handbag – a make-up artist once told me to dab a little over lipstick to refresh a fading pout without the faff of topping up a vivid colour (great when there's no time to reapply a statement lip without risking smudges!). A solid all-rounder, it's also good alone on a no make-up make-up day . Other subtle, but brilliant, choices include Glossier's Boy Brow Arch. I like an understated eyebrow, and this is great for filling any gaps and giving a really natural result. Along with Hannah and Ruby I'm delighted for Hildun. I find eyeliner tricky to apply, and this really does glide on without pulling, then stays put! (I take mine off with Garnier Micellar Water, which just missed out on a podium place and is a very worthy runner-up). Advertisement Share or comment on this article: The 15 best beauty buys this year as chosen by YOU (and they start from just £1.22!) e-mail Add commentThe introduction of a new variety of rice known as the "lifesaving straw" has captured the attention of farmers, scientists, and investors alike. This genetically modified rice has been shown to have remarkable drought-resistant properties, allowing it to thrive in arid conditions where traditional crops like corn would struggle. With climate change continuing to pose a threat to global food security, the potential of this new rice variety to withstand extreme weather conditions has sparked discussions about its impact on the agricultural landscape.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverly suffered a minor tear in his quadriceps during a recent game, the team announced on Tuesday. The injury is expected to sideline Beverly for a minimum of six weeks, dealing a significant blow to the Clippers as they strive for success in the upcoming games.Despite technological advancements and evolving workplace dynamics, people’s relationship with work ... [+] remains strained. Is work working? Despite technological advancements and evolving workplace dynamics, people’s relationship with work remains strained. A new worldwide study from HP reveals a disconnect between employees and their jobs despite many companies rethinking workplace tools and offering employees more flexibility. HP’s second annual Work Relationship Index , a survey of over 15,600 individuals across 12 countries, finds that only 28% of knowledge workers report a healthy relationship with work. The new WRI shows a consistent trend in employee engagement drivers, with scores remaining relatively stable compared to 2023. For example, the scores for workspace (defined as flexibility and trust in where employees work) and tools (the right technology to drive employee engagement) both remained flat at 25 and 26 out of 100, respectively. People-centricity, now at 24, and leadership, at 26, each went up by one point. Skills—meaning building confidence by tapping into the enthusiasm to learn new skills—also increased one point, but its overall score of 32 indicates that it is a stronger driver of a healthy work relationship. While the stability of these drivers suggests that the fundamental elements of a positive work experience remain the same, it also indicates that not much has changed in the past 12 months regarding building a better worker experience. This is especially clear in the answers to questions about trust in senior leadership and how workers want to be seen as individuals. The key takeaway? Work isn’t working because the way we work is outdated. Companies haven’t adapted to the needs of today’s workers, who crave individuality and tailored experiences instead of being treated like cogs in a machine. But there’s hope. The WRI identifies two potential solutions for fostering healthier work relationships: personalized work experiences and AI. The need for these solutions is becoming increasingly urgent, as reflected by the nearly three-quarters of leaders surveyed who agreed that it is critical to redefine the world’s relationship with work. The Personalized Employee Experience Large majorities of knowledge workers (68%), business leaders (75%) and IT decision makers (76%) said they desire personalized work experiences—including having access to the right technologies and workspaces and the ability to shape a flexible schedule. Well over half of the knowledge workers surveyed stated that having these needs met would make them more invested in their company’s growth, enhance their overall well-being and incentivize them to stay with their current employer. In fact, the WRI indicates that knowledge workers who feel their work experience is customized to their preferences are more than twice as likely to have a healthy relationship with work. Save Up To 75% With The Best Black Friday Clothing Deals That Are Still Running 10 Unofficial Hoka Cyber Week Sales You Don’t Want To Miss The WRI shows that this issue is important enough that employees are willing to put their money where their mouths are about it. A staggering 87% of workers globally report being willing to forgo a portion of their salary—14% on average—to achieve a more personalized work environment. Gen Z workers report being willing to give up as much as 19% on average to have a customized work environment. The Rise Of AI And Its Impact On Work-Life Balance Can AI help with customizing the workplace? The past year has seen an explosive surge in AI adoption, particularly in the workplace. In 2023, 38% of knowledge workers, 68% of business leaders and 63% of IT decision makers had used AI at work. In 2024, as AI started to shift from hype to realized benefits, knowledge workers (66%) and ITDMs (91%) each reported dramatic 28-point increases in AI usage, while business leaders (88%) showed a significant 20-point jump. Workers who use AI report greater job satisfaction and work-life balance. AI tools automate tasks, streamline workflows and give employees more time and opportunities to enjoy their work—so much so that 60% of WRI respondents who use AI credit it with contributing to a better work-life balance, while 68% say AI opens up new opportunities for them to enjoy their work. This correlation between AI usage and work-life balance highlights an urgency to integrate AI into the workplace, especially considering the growing fear of job displacement among non-AI users. It’s no accident that HP sponsored this research—and asked so much about AI—given the technology it deploys in the workplace. Like other big PC makers, HP has integrated AI into its latest generation of PCs, with features designed to optimize user experiences, boost productivity and enhance collaboration. For instance, HP offers an AI Companion to help users with tasks such as refining workflows and optimizing PC settings; in theory, this should make customizing work experiences much simpler without IT involvement. For remote collaboration, HP’s Poly Camera Pro leverages AI to enhance webcam capabilities, for example by intelligently blurring and replacing backgrounds on video calls. Features such as these can improve the quality of virtual interactions, which can be crucial considerations for remote workers. Computer OEMs are counting on rapid enterprise adoption of AI PCs , with many industry watchers predicting major upgrade cycles from now through 2025, and some industry insiders projecting that AI PCs will dominate the PC market by the end of this decade. If this does come to pass, it will be interesting to see if these technology upgrades have an impact on future versions of the WRI. The Leadership Gap And The Rise Of Female Leaders While the WRI highlights the importance of strong leadership in cultivating a healthy work relationship, it also reveals a concerning trend: only 44% of leaders express confidence in their human skills (sometimes called “soft” skills), such as empathy and communication. This is concerning because 78% of employees highly value empathy from their leaders, yet only 28% see it consistently. A lack of empathy in leaders can lead to misunderstandings, decreased morale and a decline in overall productivity. However, this gap in leadership presents an opportunity for positive change. The study found that female business leaders are significantly more confident than their male counterparts in both the “hard” technical skills and the human skills required to succeed at work. On average, women are 10 points more confident in their hard skills and 13 points more confident in their soft skills compared to their male counterparts. This suggests a potential shift in leadership paradigms, one in which more women can rise to leadership positions. This shift may also present a crucial challenge for men in leadership roles. To thrive in this evolving workplace, men must actively develop and embrace these essential human skills, which could create a more balanced and effective leadership environment for everyone. Looking Ahead: Embracing AI And Personalization Regardless of the specific leadership or technology developments that unfold in the future, it is clear that employer and employee expectations have evolved, and that leveraging both smarter management practices and smarter technology is essential to meeting the needs of today’s workforce. In particular, AI will shape the future of work by creating solutions and experiences that foster business growth while supporting personal and professional fulfillment. The findings of the HP Work Relationship Index serve as a wake-up call for organizations worldwide. By embracing AI, prioritizing personalization and fostering empathetic leadership, companies can cultivate a work environment where both employees and their organizations thrive.FBI director says he intends to resign at end of Joe Biden’s term
According to reports, a mother and her young daughter were discovered carrying knives while traveling on a train. This discovery immediately raised alarms among fellow passengers and train officials, leading to swift action being taken to ensure the safety of everyone onboard. The incident has sparked discussions about security measures on trains and the need for increased vigilance to prevent such incidents in the future.A new Channel 4 documentary has revealed the negative impact of mobile phones on children's mood and sleep patterns. The two-part series, Swiped, explores the effect of smartphones on children's behaviour. Presenters Matt and Emma Willis teamed up with The Stanway School in Colchester to challenge a group of Year 8 students – and themselves – to abandon their smartphones for 21 days. This experiment, carried out in partnership with The University of York, involved 26 students undergoing a series of tests, with experts closely observing their behavioural changes over the three weeks. The tests were repeated at the end of the period to determine the effects of giving up your phone on aspects such as sleep and attention. A survey was also conducted among 1000 students about their phone habits. The tests included cognitive tasks to assess attention, reaction times and memory. Students also completed questionnaires on sleep, anxiety, depression, mood, stress, loneliness, enjoyment and social connectedness. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter The results will be unveiled in the second episode of the series. Show hosts Matt and Emma Willis commented: "The statistics on children's smartphone use are beyond worrying so the time feels absolutely right for the issue to be addressed. We really hope the results of the experiment can spark change and have a lasting and positive impact on everyone.", reports the Mirror . Channel 4 conducted a survey with 1149 students at Stanway School, revealing that 17% reported being cyberbullied, 42% said they've been contacted by a stranger and 32% have encountered explicit content (this includes strong language, violence, and sexual behaviour), with 11% seeing this daily or weekly on their phone. In terms of sleep, only 11% stop using their phones by 8pm and 38% use their phones after 10pm. Students in the phone ban group experienced notable improvements in their sleep quality. On average, they were falling asleep 20 minutes faster than before the ban, and getting a full hour of extra rest each night. Professors Lisa Henderson and Emma Sullivan of the University of York's Department of Psychology remarked: "The academic community has a real responsibility to gather and synthesise evidence on this critically important topic. A rapid response is crucial here, given the ever-changing digital environment. Our goal here was to demonstrate the kind of study that is needed to influence policy and educate young people on the benefits of smartphone abstinence. We hope that the stats reported in the documentary and the findings of the study itself will spark conversations and solutions on how to better integrate smartphones as part of a healthy lifestyle. The effects of smartphones on the likes of sleep are particularly notable, given sleep is critical to an array of developmental outcomes from how children perform at school to their mental and physical health." In a startling revelation from the programme, when hosts Emma and Matt posed as 13 year olds with new phones on TikTok, they encountered suicide content and violence against women within just four hours. Emma shared her dismay during the show, expressing: "It's just not what I thought it would was. I know you hear stories about what can be found on there but finding and searching for something is very different from it being served to you the first time you go on there as a 13 year old." Matt added his thoughts on the dire situation by highlighting that some of the material accessible to kids on their phones is "terrifying". Dr Rangan Chatterjee, speaking on the programme, expressed his concern: "I think there's no question at all, we're giving children smartphones far too young. As a doctor I have seen time and time again that teenagers and adolescents have their mental health problems get significantly better when they cut out the smartphone. I think we as parents are going to have to help our children reset their relationship with technology.In terms of some common principles, I would suggest adopting screen-free mealtimes and no technology in bedrooms." The show's host, Matt, 41, who is a recovering drug addict, shared his own struggles with phone addiction: "I used to belittle it in my head. But when I think about it, I am addicted to my phone. When I'm without it I crave it. I act the same way about this device as I have about substances in the past." He further added: "When I think about the idea of a smartphone ban to the age of 14, I think that's a very wise decision. We are exposing them to so much stuff that they can't process or they shouldn't be seeing, and we are allowing that to happen. The Government can't turn a blind eye to this anymore. You've got to look at this and go, this is a massive problem." ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community Join our Court & Crime community Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community Join our Northumberland community Join our County Durham community Join our Sunderland community Join our NUFC community Join our SAFC community Join our Great North Run community
France has a new government. Now it must fix the budget while avoiding collapse
Ukraine must be placed in the “strongest possible position for negotiations” to end the war with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille.