The Golf represents “the heart” of the Volkswagen brand, the automaker said at the start of 2024, as the iconic model celebrated five decades of existence. A 50 th anniversary also seems like the right occasion to fully bring the Golf into the 21 st Century: While we already knew that VW is reviving an electric version of the model, the German automaker just revealed the next-gen Golf will also benefit from Rivian’s cutting-edge software and electrical systems. VW, like global automakers, is transitioning toward producing producing “software-defined vehicles” (SDVs), whose functionalities and digital experiences can be upgraded over time. That transition became official back in June, when VW announced a joint venture with Rivian. Meanwhile, the automaker also announced last summer it would delay the launch of a new flagship electric vehicle (EV), called Trinity, initially planned for 2026. German press reports at the time suggested the delay was to make room for none-other than the next-gen electric Golf. And now that VW’s venture with Rivian has officially kicked off earlier this month, all the pieces are coming together. “We decided on how to do the software-defined vehicle,” VW CEO Thomas Schafer said during a media roundtable. “It will happen with, the joint venture, where we put the new electric-electronics architecture together. But we have also decided that we want to start this journey with a more iconic product. So we’ll start with the Golf.” The next-gen electric Golf is now expected for 2029, followed by Trinity in the following years. The Volkswagen-Rivian venture first plans to use Rivian’s electrical architecture and software technology stack to enable the launch of Rivian’s R2 midsize SUV in the first half of 2026 and support the launch of Volkswagen models by 2027.Donna Cipley of Levittown awarded $2M in suit alleging Nassau police falsely arrested her
Ange Postecoglou relishing Tottenham’s key run of fixtures before ChristmasThe Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare recently alerted hospitals across Nigeria to the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, identified as XEC, which has been detected in Australia and has spread to 29 countries globally. The variant is reported to have a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health. In a directive addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, the Ministry called for heightened vigilance in diagnosing patients presenting with COVID-like symptoms. The directive, signed by Dr. O.N. Anuma, Head of the Teaching Hospitals Division, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, urged hospitals to activate their alert systems immediately to ensure a high level of suspicion for the new strain. The Ministry also emphasised the importance of preventive measures, including practising proper hand hygiene, washing hands with soap and water, maintaining a safe distance, wearing face masks in public spaces, covering the mouth while coughing, and reporting any fever or persistent coughing to the nearest health facility. In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at some things you should know about the XEC Covid-19 variant according to JameNetwork. The XEC variant, a new recombinant strain of SARS-CoV-2, emerged as a fusion of two Omicron-descendant variants, JN.1 and KP.2. Experts have noted that it shares high genetic similarity with its predecessors, differing by only four amino acid changes. Scientists attributed the emergence of XEC to a process called recombination, where genetic material from different variants combines in individuals infected with multiple strains simultaneously. This phenomenon often occurs in immunocompromised individuals. XEC was first detected in Germany on August 7, 2024. By late September, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified it as a “variant under monitoring,” indicating it requires close surveillance due to its potential impact on global health. The variant has shown rapid growth in prevalence. Globally, it accounted for 17% of SARS-CoV-2 sequences by mid-October and increased to 28% of cases in the United States by early November, according to health authorities. Fortunately, XEC does not appear to cause more severe symptoms than previous variants. Current COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the latest versions, are expected to remain effective in preventing severe disease associated with this variant. Researchers suggest that XEC may have emerged during large international events such as the EURO 2024 soccer tournament or the Paris Olympics. However, pinpointing the exact origin remains impossible. Laboratory studies revealed that XEC’s reproduction rate is 13% higher than that of KP.3.1.1, the dominant global variant as of early November. This means XEC has the potential to become the leading variant in the coming months. Experiments have revealed that XEC is more skilled at evading immune defences compared to its predecessors, raising concerns about its ability to spread among populations with prior infections or vaccinations. ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE XEC: New COVID-19 variant confirmed in 29 countries, FG alerts hospitals nationwide Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
Watching the meter tick Second guessing every flick Of the light switch It’s no way to live The pressure to count every penny just right Scraping by no end in sight Never truly in control of your life What do you do? When the doors you find Were built to keep you out When the signs you see All point to roundabouts When you have cut every cost you can Grabbed on to every helping hand When you’ve worked And scrapped And saved And planned But the meter still ticks There is no simple fix And it takes time to change The way the system is But we will work Each and every day To help you navigate Your way to a place Where peace can exist Where the ticking of the meter Isn’t all there is WE heard a lot this week about financial pressures and difficult decisions during the Scottish Budget. Let’s be clear though, those experiencing the toughest financial pressures and most difficult decisions every day are people like those the Citizens Advice network supports across Scotland. With Christmas just a few weeks away, some people might be thinking about last minute stocking fillers. But for thousands of others, they’re thinking about meeting the most basic and essential needs. They are worried about keeping their homes warm and how to put food on the table. That’s why we want anyone worried about energy bills and how they’ll afford the essentials to know that we’re here to help. To raise awareness of the free, impartial support that’s available and break down the stigma of asking for help, we’ve launched our new campaign, Worried this winter? Let’s chat. Running from now until February 2025, we want to reflect the real experiences of people impacted by rising energy costs. To do this, we’ve been working closely with five CABs across Scotland to run local focus groups and learn first-hand about people’s experiences. From feelings of embarrassment and anxiety to dread and misery, the picture was clear: more needs to be done to support communities worried about the cost of energy this winter. Across our network, support on energy debt is one of the most common reasons people walk through their local CAB doors. But taking that first step can be daunting. We want people to know there’s no need to feel embarrassed and that our advisors are here to help, not judge. To get our message across, we worked with Scottish poet Kevin McLean to create a poem on the experiences of households with energy debt. With a focus on the emotions and feelings experienced, the poem will be used to encourage more people to get advice whether they are currently in debt or struggling to keep up with payments. While this campaign is just a small step towards breaking down the barriers to support, we need to highlight the stark reality many people face this winter. If this is you or someone you know, please know the Citizens Advice network is here to help. We are known for the advice we give to hundreds of thousands of people every year but we also have a responsibility to raise awareness and advocate for structural change. And we’ll continue to do all we can to ensure systematic change so we can continue to deliver life-changing outcomes for people across Scotland. While we’re proud of our new campaign, don’t just take our word for it, listen here now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2GlTeGEToU&feature=youtu.be Derek Mitchell is Chief Executive of Citizens Advice ScotlandThe International Cricket Council (ICC) has delayed its board meeting scheduled to discuss the hosting of the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India requesting more time to resolve the issue. This delay comes amid Pakistan’s firm stance on hosting the tournament, which has put pressure on India to reconsider its position. Pakistan has reiterated its position that if India refuses to send its team to Pakistan for the event, Pakistan will not play in any ICC tournaments hosted by India. The two cricket boards, PCB and BCCI, are still in discussions, and no concrete solution has yet been reached. Pakistan continues to oppose the hybrid model proposed by the ICC, which would involve some matches being played at neutral venues. The meeting was originally scheduled for November 29, but was postponed after no agreement was reached during preliminary discussions. ICC has urged both boards to present solutions within 24 to 48 hours. Separately, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stressed on Saturday that politics and cricket needed to be kept separate, adding that preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy tournament were “finalised”. The tournament, scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, has become embroiled in a dispute, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refusing to send its team to Pakistan, citing political and security concerns, despite assurances from all member boards regarding the security arrangements and the tentative match schedule. An online meeting convened by the ICC on Friday aimed at resolving the issue and announcing the match schedule lasted just 15 minutes due to the uncompromising stance of both the PCB and the BCCI. The PCB has made it clear that it will not accept a hybrid model for the event, under which all of India’s matches would be played outside Pakistan. On the other hand, the BCCI is lobbying for the hybrid model, and if the PCB refuses, its next step is to push for shifting the Champions Trophy to another country. In a post on X, the PCB said that Naqvi met with former UAE cricket board secretary Mubashshir Usmani in Dubai today and he discussed “important issues regarding the organisation of the Champions Trophy tournament”. “We have to keep cricket and politics separate,” the PCB chairman said. Naqvi, who also serves as the interior minister, said, “Pakistan is a peaceful country and Pakistani people love the game of cricket. Cricket fans are eager for the big competition of [the] Champions Trophy.” “Pakistan is all set to host the Champions Trophy tournament,” he said, adding that stadiums were upgraded and security arrangements were finalised. “All countries will be given state guest protocol and security.” Naqvi said it was an honour to host the Champions Trophy tournament and that Pakstan would “welcome every team with open heart”.