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DEAR DEIDRE: THE man I’ve fallen for and messaged several times a day has cut me off since his wife has learned about our friendship. The lack of contact is tearing me apart. I’m 28 and this guy is 32. He joined our company almost a year ago and when we were introduced there was a definite spark between us. He is very friendly, good looking and so easy to talk to. We discovered that we were both into the same music, support the same football team and enjoy similar films. It wasn’t long before we exchanged phone numbers and started texting every day. I had just split up with my boyfriend and this guy was a shoulder to cry on. He also confided in me that although he was married, he wasn’t getting on well with his wife. She seems to be very suspicious and possessive of him from what he’d told me. This guy also has a three-year-old son and now his wife has discovered our texts. He says he can’t lose his son, even though he has admitted he is also in love with me. It is torture seeing him at work. What can I do? DEIDRE SAYS: You have no choice but to walk away before the damage escalates. He’s not free to be with you and it sounds like he has no intention of leaving his wife either. You have fallen for him but he’s not going to commit to you. Give yourself time to readjust to being single after the break-up with your boyfriend and then make a determined effort to move on. You deserve better than what your colleague has to offer, but you may need help to realise it. Concentrate on improving your social life. There are plenty of great guys who are unattached. Find one who is worthy of your love and who wants the same as you. Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors. Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you. You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at: deardeidre@the-sun.co.ukThumzup Achieves 202% Growth in Advertisers on Proprietary Technology Platform Through October 2024
Pantheon review: can we live forever?
After starting 2-0 in its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, SMU looks to make the month even more special on Sunday, hosting Longwood in Dallas, Texas. The Mustangs seek a seven-game win streak in their final nonconference test before welcoming No. 4 Duke to Dallas on Jan. 4. In recent victories over Alabama State, Virginia, LSU, and Boston College, SMU (10-2) averaged 85.3 points per game, allowed just 66.0 ppg, and climbed to No. 30 in the NET rankings. "We're a different team right now than we were earlier in the season," SMU head coach Andy Enfield said at the beginning of December, his words ringing even truer as the season progresses. "They'd never been under pressure together until recently, so they're starting to learn and figure things out." Longwood (11-3) enters its third consecutive road game, having won five of its last six overall. That includes a major 82-67 win at North Carolina Central on Dec. 20. It was only the sixth nonconference home loss for NCC since 2016, and Longwood head coach Griff Aldrich saw it as a result of his team's growing cohesiveness. "We got great contributions from so many players," Aldrich said. "We have been working to play more and more connected, and this team has really taken positive steps this week." The Mustangs' Matt Cross is among the biggest threats to Longwood's defense, which allows just 66.6 points per game. A 6-foot-7 forward, Cross had 36 points over SMU's last two wins, including a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double against LSU. What Cross does with the ball in his hands is impressive -- he is averaging 13.5 ppg in December -- but it is also what he does off the ball that increases his value. "He's extremely tough," Enfield said after Cross' performance against LSU. "His wall up in transition, where (Corey) Chest came down, was going to dunk the ball, and he stood there and took the contact. ...That's a big-time basketball play." Longwood is paced by Michael Christmas, a veteran forward in his fourth year in the program. A hard-nosed wing who can score at all three levels, Christmas is Longwood's only returner who started at least 30 games on last year's NCAA Tournament team. He is averaging a team-high 11.9 points per game. "(He) loves this university, loves this town and community," Aldrich said of Christmas. "He opted to come back here to really invest in the program." --Field Level MediaA Tyler teenager who was missing for three weeks has been found safe, police confirmed Friday afternoon. Lily Peppler, 17, has been located, Tyler Police Department Spokesperson Officer Andy Erbaugh confirmed. "We have made contact with her, and her family is notified," Erbaugh said. "She has been removed as a missing person." Lily, a student at Tyler Legacy High School, was missing since Nov. 1 prior to being found safe. She was last seen leaving the school that morning, police said. No further details have been provided about the circumstances of the missing persons case, and family has stated in public posts on social media they are not sharing further details at this time.
Luka's home burglarized amid wave of break-insEasyjet is set to report more than half a billion in profit in its full-year results next Wednesday as it continues to cash in on strong demand for travel in the post-Covid era. The orange-liveried carrier is expected to haul in £595m in pre-tax profit, up from £455m the year prior. Analysts are forecasting capacity growth of eight per cent to 100m in the 12 months to September, and five per cent on a compound basis going forward. Dividends are expected to come in at 12p a share, with a further increase to 14.8p in 2025. The results come in a year in which the share price of Europe’s three largest budget airlines, Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air, has largely underwhelmed. Shares in Easyjet are broadly level, up two per cent in 2024, despite record flight demand across the continent. Ryanair sparked a sell-off in London-listed airline stocks over summer after it reported a drop in profit and warned over falling ticket fares. Delivery delays at the world’s two largest planemakers, Airbus and Boeing, have also left airlines struggling to hit capacity targets. However, the FTSE 350 firm has shown resistance to the external issues, in part due to the performance of its package holiday division, Easyjet holidays. That segment is expected to rake in more than £180m over the period, up from £122m, as it closes in on a medium-term target of £250m. “Easyjet’s last set of results landed well with markets , who had become nervous after rival Ryanair issued a weak performance over the same period,” Aarin Chiekrie, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said. “But Easyjet bucked the trend by selling a higher percentage of its available seats for the fourth quarter, despite increasing its capacity by 7 per cent. This was enough to reassure investors that the group remains on the right flight path to deliver another record-breaking summer,” he said. “It’s unlikely to be the start of a fully-fledged price war between the low-cost carriers, but it’s something the market will be keeping a keen eye on. Recent industry data shows that air travel demand continues to soar higher, and investors are eager to hear what easyJet sees on the horizon in next week’s results,” Chiekrie added. Wednesday’s results will be the last of Easyjet’s long-serving chief executive Johan Lundgren, who is due to step down in January. He will be replaced by the firm’s finance chief, Kenton Jarvis.
AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:56 p.m. ESTDependency and plight of Islamabad Police The picture shows Islamabad police personnel in this undated photo. — AFP/File Islamabad : The capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad, presents a sobering example of administrative inefficiency, neglect, and under-resourced law enforcement. Despite being the nation’s seat of power, the Islamabad police struggle to manage crime, maintain law and order, and combat terrorism, largely due to their glaring dependence on borrowed forces from provinces like Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); This unusual dependency starkly contrasts with international norms, where federal capitals are typically fortified with well-staffed and well-equipped police forces capable of addressing their unique security needs. Islamabad’s situation highlights a crisis that undermines the city’s safety and national prestige. For a city of Islamabad’s stature, a police force of at least 30,000 personnel is needed to ensure comprehensive security and effective law enforcement. Yet, the city operates with only 10,000 officers, of which a significant portion is dedicated to VIP protocols and security for government officials and diplomats, protection of foreign missions and high-profile installations. This leaves a mere 2,000 to 2,500 officers to perform core policing duties such as crime prevention, anti-terrorism operations, and addressing everyday safety concerns for the city’s residents. Such an imbalance leaves vast areas of the city vulnerable, emboldening criminal activities and exposing glaring gaps in law enforcement. The Islamabad police often find themselves outmatched, battling heavily armed criminals and dealing with unruly mobs using outdated equipment. This mismatch is glaring in situations requiring rapid mobilisation and technological support, such as surveillance or intelligence-driven operations. Behind the veneer of Islamabad’s polished roads and pristine government offices lies the grim reality of its police force-overworked, underpaid, and severely underappreciated. The plight of Islamabad’s police highlights the neglect of law enforcement in Pakistan’s capital, with inadequate resources, outdated equipment, and deplorable working conditions taking a heavy toll on the morale and effectiveness of the force. The allowances they receive are shockingly meagre, making it almost impossible for them to make ends meet in a city with one of the highest costs of living in the country. The allowances for Islamabad police officers include, washing allowance: Rs150/month, Federal Police allowance: Rs125/month, ration allowance (including family): Rs1,038/month and medical allowance (including dependents): Rs1,500/month. Such figures are not just inadequate but humiliating for individuals who put their lives on the line daily to maintain law and order. When compared to the facilities and allowances provided to police officials in other countries or even other provinces within Pakistan, the disparity is staggering. While provincial police officers in areas like Punjab and Sindh receive Risk Allowance, Capital Allowance, and Big City Allowance, Islamabad police are excluded from these critical benefits. This unequal treatment further deepens the frustration among the force, fostering feelings of neglect and resentment. The lack of proper financial rewards is just one aspect of the problem. Islamabad police are also forced to operate with outdated equipment and minimal training, putting them at a disadvantage against well-armed criminal gangs and organized syndicates. With rising inflation, stagnant wages, and overwhelming responsibilities, officers are left feeling undervalued and unsupported. The inadequacies of Islamabad’s police are emblematic of the federal government’s neglect. Despite the city’s critical importance as the nation’s capital, funding and strategic planning for law enforcement have been insufficient. The disproportionate allocation of resources toward VIP protocols further compromises the safety of ordinary citizens. The current state of the Islamabad police requires urgent intervention, including increasing the force’s strength to at least 30,000 personnel to match the city’s growing security needs, enhancing financial incentives, including introducing risk, capital, and big-city allowances to boost morale, equipping the police with modern tools such as advanced surveillance systems, vehicles, and weaponry and reducing the focus on VIP and protocol duties, reallocating resources toward public safety and crime prevention. The ongoing neglect of Islamabad’s police administration exposes the city to escalating threats from criminal gangs and terrorist elements. The federal government’s reluctance to invest in its police force is not just a matter of inefficiency but a direct threat to the city’s residents and national security. The security of Islamabad cannot remain dependent on borrowed forces. A capital city that represents the heart of Pakistan deserves a modern, well-equipped, and adequately staffed police force. But the question remains unanswered, when will the federal government recognise the urgency of investing in the capital’s safety and its police force? Until then, the Islamabad police will remain an overworked and underappreciated force, struggling to safeguard a city that should be its pride.
NoneTWIN LAUNCH One of the two newSES satellites launched on Dec. 17 —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Satellite telecommunications network provider SES has launched two additional satellites to medium Earth orbit (MEO) from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States. The launch of two O3b mPOWER satellites, which took place on Dec. 17 at 5:26 p.m. local time, used a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. These new satellites will complement the six already in operation, significantly boosting the capacity and performance of the satellite constellation. Satellites in MEO, ranging from 2,000 to 35,800 kilometers above the surface of the Earth, are often used for navigation, communication and Earth observation. The latest satellites feature advanced payload power modules, enhancing the second-generation MEO system of Luxembourg-based SES. This upgrade is seen to allow SES to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet services across the Asia-Pacific region and globally, serving major customers such as Microsoft and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In the Philippines, SES has committed to improve internet connectivity. This was showcased through a proof-of-concept test with the Department of Information and Communications Technology that achieved speeds of 500 Mbps for downloads and 80 Mbps for uploads. This is seen to demonstrate the potential of the O3b mPOWER satellites to provide robust, high-bandwidth connectivity, ideal for businesses, telecommunications, maritime operations and defense sectors, particularly in remote areas of the Philippines. SES has a growing list of prominent clients, including Microsoft, Princess Cruises and various government agencies, all relying on these satellites for reliable internet access. “O3b mPOWER system is our most powerful, technically advanced, flexible satellite constellation in space. As we increase the number of satellites in our constellation, we also exponentially increase the capacity and efficiency of our network,” says Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “Ever since the start of service of O3b mPOWER earlier this year, we have seen how it has become an integral part of connectivity experience of our customers. We have also learned a lot and have put all of those insights to work as we progress in our innovation journey to scale up our service and meet even the most sophisticated requirements of our customers,” Al-Saleh adds. In total, the O3b mPOWER system will eventually consist of 13 satellites, with five more currently under construction and scheduled for launch within the next 18 months. This expansion is further expected to enhance connectivity options for users throughout the Philippines and beyond. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .
Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX'Penn State is heading into the new calendar year in impressive fashion, but one final challenge awaits as the Nittany Lions square off against Penn on Sunday afternoon in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions (10-2) have enjoyed a strong season to this point, highlighted by a win over then-No. 8 Purdue earlier this month. Most recently, the team topped Drexel 75-64 last weekend as Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 18 points and Ace Baldwin Jr. chipped in 15 points and six assists. Penn State outrebounded Drexel 40-31 and grabbed 19 offensive boards, including six by Puff Johnson and three by Konan Niederhauser. "Offensive rebounds are extra possessions," Nittany Lions coach Mike Rhoades said. "That gets us to where we want to go to. Number of possessions, it's a better chance to win all the time." Konan Niederhauser has shot at least 50 percent from the floor in every game except one this season and enters Sunday's clash averaging 13.0 points, which is second-best on the squad. Baldwin comes in with 14.2 points to go along with 8.5 assists, which ranks among the top marks in the nation. That duo, in addition to Penn State's bevy of 3-point shooters, should give Penn plenty to handle defensively. The Quakers (4-8) have allowed at least 80 points five times this season, including in Sunday's 85-53 trouncing at the hands of George Mason. Offense was another major issue in that game, as Penn shot just 32.2 percent from the floor and committed 15 turnovers. "We played 3 1/2 games of really good defense over the last three weeks and the defense was poor in the second half (against George Mason)," Penn coach Steve Donahue said. "On the defensive end, making sure late in the clock we don't let our guard down, keep guys in front, and limit them to one shot ... when we do those things -- those simple things -- we're a good basketball team." Penn and Penn State have met six times previously, but not since 2017. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 4-2. --Field Level Media