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BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report.Manmohan Singh's life and work 1991-2014 will be a golden chapter in India's history Chidambaram5jili 。

OYSAA takes proactive measures to boost economic growth

AP Business SummaryBrief at 3:59 p.m. ESTBRIAN Cox has said he will “try to spend as much time here” in the UK as he can following the results of the US presidential election. The Succession star , 78, has been outspoken about his views on President-elect Donald Trump , and called him a “monster” while he was a guest on Channel 4’s live coverage of the US election last month. 2 Brian Cox told of how Trump's election win made him realise "people are stupid" Credit: Splash 2 Donald Trump won a crushing victory over Kamala Harris on November 6 Credit: Getty Asked if the result has made him lose faith in people, he told the Guardian: “No, it doesn’t make me lose faith in people. It just makes me realise people are stupid. “We’re in for a pretty rough old four years coming up.” Speaking about whether he will stay in the US, he said: “I don’t know. I’ve got to because my sons are there. But I’ll try to spend as much time here (UK) as I can.” Mr Trump , 78, will take office on Inauguration Day on January 20 2025. READ MORE ON THE SCOTTISH SUN TWISTED BULLY Fiend was 'slowly killing' autistic lad, aged 15, in 'cruel' abuse campaign 'vicious circle' I live in Scotland's benefits hotspot -I've only worked 4 years of my life Cox, who grew up in a deprived area of Dundee , also reflected on his time at drama school in London . He added: “The 60s were amazing. It was the time of social mobility, when you were welcomed. “When I came to drama school, people made it obvious they were happy that I was there. I felt so liberated. “London to me has always represented freedom. Most read in The Scottish Sun TELLY TRAGEDY The Scheme star dies aged 61 as tributes pour in for 'lovely man' HEALTH UPDATE West Ham issues major update after star involved in horror crash HORROR BLAZE Huge fire erupts at Scots industrial estate as emergency crews race to scene FERRY WINDY Ferry stranded amid Storm Darragh as passengers stuck on ship for 12 hours “I loved the sense that I was allowed to be who I was and celebrated for coming from my class.” Asked if he would have a chance of making it nowadays, with his background, he said: “No, I wouldn’t. The conditions are so different now.” Professor Brian Cox delights fans as he reunites with old bandmates for iconic Glastonbury performance Cox voices Helm in the new anime Lord Of The Rings film The War Of The Rohirrim, and will star in the play The Score at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London , from February. We previously told of how Hollywood A-listers took over a tiny Scottish village for Cox's directorial debut in the new drama Glenrothan. Set in a fictional distillery town of the same name, Glenrothan follows two estranged brothers who are brought back together in an attempt to save their family's distillery. The project was first announced in 2021, and was developed by UK production company Nevision and Lionsgate.

AI, manufacturing poised to transform India: Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran

Column: Newport News council’s revised gun rule has long legal precedent

Canadiens' Mike Matheson out against Utah with lower-body injuryThe Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed the annual general meeting (AGM) of Religare Enterprises until further notice following a writ petition filed by an investor. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping In a stock exchange filing, the New Delhi-based financial company said it had received an email from the lawyers of the writ petitioner filed before the court in Jabalpur. Religare's annual general meeting to get the shareholders' nod for three resolutions including the reappointment of chairperson Rashmi Saluja was scheduled for December 31. The order dated December 18 said, "Till further orders, the notice dated 09.12.2024 and the Annual General Body Meeting of Respondent No. 7 (REL), which is scheduled to be held on 31.12.2024, shall remain stayed." The petition by the investor alleged that if the AGM took place as scheduled, it would enable the acquirers (the Burmans) to exploit their dominant shareholding and change Religare's management. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Religare's management led by Saluja and the Burman family, the biggest shareholders of the firm with a stake of around 25%, are at loggerheads over the control of the company. Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approved the Burman family's proposed open offer to acquire an additional 26% stake in Religare. Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also gave its approval to the offer by the promoter family of Dabur . "It is verily believed they would ensure that a more pliant management is put in place which would not interfere with their open offer since much opposition has been made by the present management, who have, inter alia, raised issues of undervaluation of the offer price," said the writ petition. Proxy advisory firm InGovern Research Services, which advised shareholders of Religare to vote against the reappointment of Saluja as a director, termed the court order "bizarre". "It's bizarre that the HC is intervening in an issue based on an RBI order, given RBI is an independent regulator," said Shriram Subramanian, founder and MD of InGovern Research. "The decision to block the AGM is illogical, as it makes the company non-compliant with the Companies Act." In August, Religare deferred its AGM from September to December. Following this, the Burman family filed a petition with the Delhi High Court against the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and Religare for delaying the AGM. The Religare management led by Saluja has been opposed to the open offer by Burmans, owner of consumer firm Dabur, citing concerns over a low offer price and "fit and proper" allegations. The open offer, announced at ₹235 per share, amounts to ₹2,116 crore in all for the additional stake. If successful, it would raise the Burman family's total stake in the New Delhi-based NBFC to well above 50%, effectively granting it majority control. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Headset voyage to 'nowhere else like it on the planet'

Copy and paste is no way to deliver effective public health services. or signup to continue reading But plainly, painfully, that's the set-in-stone attitude of the NSW government, which has taken the cliche "thumbing one's nose" to all-new nose-bleeding heights. It could be arrogance. It could be ignorance. It most certainly is laziness. Whatever the reason, the powers-that-be when it comes to allocating the public health dollar [for clarification: our money, not theirs] could not have shown greater disdain than they have for our community. Two letters sent in response to intelligent, transparent lobbying from Albury Council have shown-up this woeful attitude. For this, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and his fellow letter writer, acting Health Infrastructure NSW boss Emma Skulander, should feel great embarrassment. They won't. They might have signed their names, but there's every chance they didn't write what's printed above - let alone dictated the replies. That would have been left to some Sir Humphrey Appleby-type, though not of anywhere near the erudite capabilities of boss Jim Hacker's underling. Sir Humphrey certainly would not have allowed these letters to so clumsily match. As we have reported, And when such disrespect is over what is probably the most vital part of any community - people's health needs - the offence is rendered even more unacceptable. The letters also contain the standard get-out-of-jail clause of "please be assured that we are committed to delivering effective health infrastructure for all NSW communities". Words could not carry less meaning. Mr Park and Ms Skulander - almost acting as proxies for their shadowy, letter-writing minions - even create holes in their own argument. As far as identifying an alternative location, rather than the terribly lacking $558 million expansion at Albury hospital, they say: "There are no plans to consider another site." Yes, that's the problem. That's the issue, the whole issue. When your public health vision involves nothing but a long, dark tunnel, you won't have any other site. Try again, people. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementSAN DIEGO , Dec. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. announced that a lawsuit was filed for certain investors in DMC Global Inc. ( NASDAQ : BOOM) shares Investors who purchased more than $100,000 in shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) between May and November 2024 have certain options and there are short and strict deadlines running. Deadline: February 04, 2025 . Those DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM investors should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554. On October 21, 2024 , DMC Global Inc. disclosed that it was "revising its guidance" for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 , stating that the Company's adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be approximately $5 million , down from prior guidance for $15 -18 million, and that the third quarter financial results "will include inventory and bad debt charges at DynaEnergetics totaling approximately $5 million , as well as lower fixed overhead absorption on reduced sales at both Arcadia and DynaEnergetics." The Company also revealed that the financial results will include an approximate $142 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge "associated with DMC's December 2021 acquisition of a controlling interest in Arcadia ." On November 4, 2024 , DMC Global Inc released its third-quarter financial results for the period ending September 30, 2024 . Among other results, the Company reported third quarter sales of $152.4 million , down 11% sequentially and year-over-year, as well as the previously disclosed non-cash goodwill impairment charge. Shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) declined from $15.98 per share on May 3, 2024 , to as low as $7.16 per share on November 21 , 2024. On December 06, 2024 , an investor in NASDAQ: BOOM shares filed a lawsuit against DMC Global Inc. The plaintiff alleges that between May 3, 2024 and November 4, 2024 , the defendants made materially false and misleading statements and failed to disclose the following adverse facts about DMC Global's business, operations, and prospects which were known to defendants or recklessly disregarded by them: (i) the goodwill associated with the company's principal business segment, Acadia Products, was overstated due to the adverse events and circumstances affecting that reporting segment; (ii) DMC Global's materially inadequate internal systems and processes were adversely affecting its operations; (iii) the company's inadequate systems and processes prevented it from ensuring reasonably accurate guidance and that its public disclosures were timely, accurate, and complete; (iv) as a result, defendants misrepresented DMC Global's operations and financial results; and/or (v) as a result, the company's public statements were materially false, misleading, or lacked a reasonable basis when made. Those who purchased shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc. CONTACT: Shareholders Foundation, Inc. Michael Daniels +1 (858) 779-1554 mail@shareholdersfoundation.com 3111 Camino Del Rio North Suite 423 San Diego, CA 92108 The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio legal monitoring and a settlement claim filing service, which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Any referenced cases, investigations, and/or settlements are not filed/initiated/reached and/or are not related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is only provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lawsuit-for-investors-who-lost-over-100-000-in-shares-of-dmc-global-inc-nasdaq-boom-between-may-and-nov-2024-announced-by-shareholders-foundation-302325435.html SOURCE Shareholders Foundation, Inc.On Christmas Day , four NFL teams will play on the holiday for the fifth consecutive season, but this year the games will be streamed on Netflix. The event will also include a star-studded halftime show featuring Beyoncé , who made a playful dig at the streaming platform. Beyoncé will headline the second game on Christmas Day, where the Baltimore Ravens will face off against the Houston Texans. This game is a fitting backdrop for her most recent album, ' Cowboy Carter ,' a tribute to her Texas roots and a blend of country and R&B. The megastar took to social media to promote her upcoming performance with a clip, humorously poking fun at the streaming giant that recently experienced technical issues during the Logan Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. In the 30-second video, Beyoncé is playing a banjo while the clip lags when focused on her face as she winks. The streaming giant, in response to the recent technical issues, has made significant efforts to optimize their technology and ensure a smooth viewing experience for the Christmas Day games. More: What channel are the NFL Christmas games on? Schedule, start time How to watch the NFL games on Netflix The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET. NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more. Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch NFL Christmas Games? NFL viewers can subscribe to any Netflix plan to access Wednesday's doubleheader broadcast, starting with the "standard with ads" option for $6.99 per month, up to the "premium" plan at $22.99 per month. However, there are some exceptions to this. Fans who have the NFL’s premium subscription service, NFL+, can stream each game on their mobile devices using the NFL app. When is Beyoncé performing? Beyoncé halftime show will take place during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game which will begin at 4:30 p.m. ET. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Airtel raises alarm over rising daily fibre cutsSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has staggered from scandal to crisis but he surprised everyone this week by declaring martial law -- only then to survive an impeachment vote. The plunge back to South Korea's dark days of military rule only lasted a few hours, and after a night of protests and high drama Yoon was forced into a U-turn in the early hours of Wednesday. But polls show a huge majority of citizens want him out and lawmakers voted Saturday on an impeachment motion brought by the opposition, who control parliament. But even though only eight of them needed to support the motion for it to pass, all but three MPs from Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote and it failed. This is despite the PPP's leader Han Dong-hoon -- allegedly on an arrest list the night of the martial law declaration -- saying Yoon's resignation was "inevitable". On Saturday before the vote, Yoon spoke publicly for the first time in days, apologising for the "anxiety and inconvenience" he caused, but stopping short of throwing in the towel. Instead the 63-year-old said he would "entrust the party with measures to stabilise the political situation, including my term in office". Born in Seoul in 1960 months before a military coup, Yoon studied law and went on to become a star public prosecutor and anti-corruption crusader. He played an instrumental role in Park Geun-hye, South Korea's first female president, being convicted of abuse of power, imprisoned and impeached in 2016. As the country's top prosecutor in 2019, he also indicted a top aide of Park's successor, Moon Jae-in, in a fraud and bribery case. The conservative PPP, in opposition at the time, liked what they saw and convinced Yoon to become their presidential candidate. He duly won in March 2022, beating Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, but by the narrowest margin in South Korean history. Yoon was never much loved by the public, especially by women -- he vowed on the campaign trail to abolish the ministry of gender equality -- and scandals have come thick and fast. This included his administration's handling of a 2022 crowd crush during Halloween festivities that killed more than 150 people. Voters have also blamed Yoon's administration for food inflation, a lagging economy and increasing constraints on freedom of speech. He was accused of abusing presidential vetoes, notably to strike down a bill paving the way for a special investigation into alleged stock manipulation by his wife Kim Keon Hee. Yoon suffered further reputational damage last year when his wife was secretly filmed accepting a designer handbag worth $2,000 as a gift. Yoon insisted it would have been rude to refuse. His mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, was sentenced to one year in prison for forging financial documents in a real estate deal. She was released in May 2024. Yoon himself was the subject of a petition calling for his impeachment earlier this year, which proved so popular the parliamentary website hosting it experienced delays and crashes. As president, Yoon has maintained a tough stance against nuclear-armed North Korea and bolstered ties with Seoul's traditional ally, the United States. Last year, he sang Don McLean's "American Pie" at the White House, prompting US President Joe Biden to respond: "I had no damn idea you could sing." But his efforts to restore ties with South Korea's former colonial ruler, Japan, did not sit well with many at home. Yoon has been a lame duck president since the opposition Democratic Party won a majority in parliamentary elections this year. They recently slashed Yoon's budget. In his Tuesday night televised address to the nation, Yoon railed against "anti-state elements plundering people's freedom and happiness" and his office has subsequently cast his imposition of martial law as a bid to break through legislative gridlock. But to use his political difficulties as justification for imposing martial law for the first time in South Korea since the 1980s is absurd, an analyst said. "Yoon invoked Article 77 of the South Korean constitution, which allows for proclaiming martial law but is reserved for 'time of war, armed conflict or similar national emergency', none of which appears evident," Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told AFP. "Yoon's action is a damning reversal to decades of South Korean efforts to put its authoritarian past behind it," he said. burs-stu/ceb/mtp

Don’t expect this documentary feature to have a “balanced” view of the Beatles. Fans and even casual followers have seen enough videos and writeups on the joys and pains of the Fab Four to the point of portraying John Lennon’s second wife, Yoko Ono, as a social media laughingstock. Enough of the bored and jaded band we saw in “Let It Be”; “Beatles ’64” in effect functions as kind of a joyous prequel to that film and Peter Jackson’s TV series “Get Back.” This new film should have perhaps adopted as a subtitle the name of one of the works of its co-producer Martin Scorsese: “The Age of Innocence.” Beatlemania as a documentary or fictional movie theme is hardly new, but this opus, directed by frequent Scorsese collaborator David Tedeschi, unearths rare footage of the Liverpool lads and their swooning fans during their momentous first visit to the United States. The footage was shot by 1970s era documentarians Albert and David Maysles (who directed “Gimme Shelter” on the controversial Altamont concert of the Rolling Stones). All told, “Beatles ’64” is an authentic bundle of pure euphoria, a sharp “feel-good” contrast to most of the works of Scorsese, a known specialist in “feel-bad” films. The approach strategy is simple; “Beatles ’64” positions the quartet as an antidote to the collective trauma of a nation reeling from the effects of the John F. Kennedy assassination. This is something we already know, but given the current situation of a politically divided US, the timing of this film serves to remind Americans and nations beyond of the power of music as a possible unifying force. Among the pleasures of watching this movie is witnessing interviews of grownup men and women, both ordinary fans and some noted professionals in various creative fields such as acclaimed director David Lynch, acting giddy and teary-eyed over their Beatlemaniac childhoods. Setting the mood at the start is satirist writer Joe Queenan who solemnly recalls that after listening to “She Loves You” on the radio, he felt as if “the light came on. It’s like total darkness, and then the light comes on. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this sounds good.'” Other fans express disinterest in current American music artists and scream in their placards that “Elvis Is Dead.” A girl declares her love for the Fab Four even though she’s a Julliard student studying more serious “classical music.” The Beatles come off as cheeky and irreverent in an inoffensive and charismatic way. They appear as young English tourists who are almost as enthusiastic about seeing America as the US teenage fans are about seeing them. They seem to express genuine wondrousness about their fame, a far cry from the celebrity’s feeling of being hassled that Lennon would highlight in his 1969 tune “The Ballad of John and Yoko.” Their sense of humor is purportedly uniform; with all of them wearing the same outfits and moptop hairdos and taking turns at delivering smart-alecky quips, we haven’t yet reached the stage where we could really tell apart the personalities of Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. But we do get to see interviews of the surviving Beatles McCartney and Starr, and at one point, Scorsese, known for his liberal use of the f-word in his films, seems to have allowed a sequence in which old Paul reminisces that the Beatles didn’t give an “f” about the snobbish treatment they received from the staff at a British embassy function. The silent generation’s resistance to the Fab Four’s appeal, both from America and the UK, is obligatorily tackled here. In a sequence which seems to smack of the Scorsesian touch, scenes of mobs screaming for the boys are accompanied by a voiceover TV news report that compares the Beatles to an incurable disease affecting teenagers and laments that while both countries have societies that prevent cruelty to children and animals, there are none for the prevention of cruelty to adults. We get glimpses as well of black artists whom the Beatles idolized. The Isley Brothers are overjoyed that the Fab Four covered their song “Twist and Shout.” Smokey Robinson called the Beatles the first white group of that magnitude whom ger had ever listened to in his life and was “elated” at the group’s version of his “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” There are even real-life subplots captured on film. One involves a group of female fans’ attempts to get to the Beatles which are thwarted by security, and another is about US musicians who illegally sneak into Liverpool to try their luck at the band scene. And would you believe these four dudes won the respect of feminists? In archival footage, Betty Freidan, author of “The Feminine Mystique,” states that the Beatles are saying no to the masculine mystique and are demonstrating that men can be tender, sensitive and compassionate. As we approach the holiday season, we see “Beatles ’64” as a welcome gift package of ultrafab fun buoyed by what one aging fan calls “crazy love.” It’s the gift that saw you standing there, down and depressed by the apparent death of idealism, and it loves you — yeah, yeah, yeah — and it wants to hold your hand.Bhopal, Dec 26 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath were among several leaders from the state who condoled the death of former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday. Dr Singh died in AIIMS Delhi late evening. He was 92. Asserting that he was fortunate enough to work with the renowned economist, Nath in a post on X said, "Dr. Manmohan Singh is a respected economist of the world and one of the Prime Ministers of India who focused on public welfare. Many achievements are recorded to his credit like loan waiver for farmers, right to education for children, right to information, and forest rights law for tribals etc. His demise has caused irreparable loss to the entire nation." Dr Singh's demise is an irreparable loss for the political world, CM Yadav said. "While performing the duties of RBI Governor, Finance Minister and Prime Minister, he participated in the efforts for the economic prosperity of the country with his efficient and farsighted policies and faced various challenges boldly. He will always be remembered for his contribution to the economic development of the country. I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief," the CM said on X. Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, in a post on X, said Dr Singh, as a true son of this country and democracy, not only served his term as Prime Minister very well but also brought the falling economy back on track with his wisdom in the 90s. "His formula of economic liberalization gave dreams to the youth of the country and the country started walking in step with the world with a new identity. Manmohan Singh added to the dignity of every post he held. He will always be remembered as a true statesman," Singh said. Madhya Pradesh BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma said Dr Singh's death was a big loss for the political world. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Spurs travel to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday reeling from a disappointing home loss to Ipswich before the international break. The club’s problems have multiplied during the past fortnight with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur handed a seven-match domestic ban on Monday and Cristian Romero (toe) joining a lengthy list of absentees. However, Postecoglou remains bullish about Tottenham’s progress and acutely aware of the scrutiny set to come his way if they stay 10th. “Christmas is a joyous occasion, irrespective, and I think it should be celebrated. If we’re still 10th then people won’t be happy, I won’t be happy, but we might not be 10th,” Postecoglou pointed out before nine games in 30 days. “Certainly for us I think it’s a significant period because you look at those games and we’ve got the league where we’ve got to improve our position and a couple of important European fixtures that can set us up for the back half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final. “At the end of that period we could be in a decent position for a strong second half of the year, so for us it is an important period. “You know there’s no more international breaks, so the full focus is here. You can build some momentum through that, or if things don’t go well you could get yourself into a bit of a grind. Ready for #MCITOT 👊 Go behind the scenes of training ahead of our trip to Manchester 🎥⤵️ pic.twitter.com/4jFZTCIwSz — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 22, 2024 “Of course if we had beaten Ipswich, we’d be third and I reckon this press conference would be much different wouldn’t it? “I’m not going to let my life be dictated by one result, I’m sorry. I take a wider perspective on these things because I know how fickle it can be, but we need to address our position for sure. “And if we’re 10th at Christmas, yeah it won’t be great. There’d be a lot of scrutiny and probably a lot of scrutiny around me, which is fair enough, but that’s not where I plan for us to be.” Tottenham’s immediate efforts to move up the table will require them ending City’s two-year unbeaten home run in the Premier League. The champions have lost their last four matches in all competitions, but have some key personnel back for Saturday’s clash and will aim to toast Pep Guardiola’s new contract with a victory. Postecoglou was pleased to see Guardiola commit to a further two seasons in England, adding: “I love the fact that there’s a massive target out there that can seem insurmountable. “I look at it the other way. I go, ‘imagine if you knock him off, that’d be something’. “I’m at the stage of my life where I’d rather have the chance of knocking him off than missing that opportunity. “When greatness is around, you want to be around it. And hopefully it challenges you to be like that as well.” Saturday’s fixture will be Postecoglou’s 50th league game in charge of Spurs and he knows what is required to bring up three figures. A post shared by Premier League (@premierleague) “No European football, significant player turnover, change of playing style. Where did I think we’d be after 50 games? God knows. “It could have been a whole lot worse, but when you look at it in the current prism of we’re 10th, you’re going ‘it doesn’t look good’ and I understand that and we have to improve that. “But over the 50 games, I think there’s enough there that shows we are progressing as a team and we are developing into the team we want. “The key is the next 50 games, if they can be in totality better than the first 50? First, that means I’m here but second, I think we’ll be in a good space.”November 22 - The surging Orlando Magic seek their eighth win in the last nine games on Saturday when they host the visiting Detroit Pistons. Orlando is returning home from a three-game Western swing in which it went 2-1, rebounding from a 104-93 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday with a 119-118 defeat of the Lakers on Thursday. The Magic weathered a combined 70 points from Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, thanks to Franz Wagner's 37 points and 11 assists. Orlando also got 23 points from Jalen Suggs and 19 off the bench courtesy of Moritz Wagner. Franz Wagner notched 15 of his team-high in the fourth quarter, the final three of which came on a step-back jumper from beyond the arc with 3.3 seconds remaining. The game-winner put an emphatic cap on his fourth 30-plus-point performance in the last six outings. He is averaging a career-best 23.2 points per game through the initial stretch of this season and shooting 35 percent on a career-high 6.1 3-point attempts per game. The outside shooting consistency is a significant improvement from 2023-24 when Franz Wagner shot just 28.1 percent from beyond the arc. "A lot of this stuff is mental for us players," Franz Wagner said. "So for me to get over that hump a little bit over the summer and carry that over into the season means a lot." After the two games in Los Angeles and a 109-99 win in Phoenix on Monday, Orlando returns home where it is undefeated this season. The Magic held opponents to 94 points or fewer in all five games of a homestand from Nov. 8-15, buoying the NBA's lowest scoring yield of 103.2 points per game. Detroit comes in on a run scoring 120 points or more in four of its last six games, though three of those went to overtime. The most recent of the Pistons' trio of extra-frame contests came on Thursday in a 123-121 loss at the Charlotte Hornets. Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and dished 10 assists for his ninth double-double of the season and fifth in a row. Over the ongoing stretch, Cunningham also produced a 21-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in a 124-104 win over Washington on Sunday. Cunningham is averaging 23.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game heading into Saturday's matchup, and his 8.9 assists per game are fourth-most in the NBA. Against Charlotte, however, the Pistons could not withstand a barrage of 38 points from Brandon Miller and 35 from LaMelo Ball -- or a 20-point deficit in the third quarter. "We can't have those type of starts, especially on the road, giving teams confidence," Tobias Harris said of Detroit digging a deep hole early. "Games like this are important, though. There's so many teachable moments of how every possession matters and counts coming down into the fourth quarter and overtime." In terms of team growth, the Pistons have made huge strides from a season ago when they endured the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history at 28 games. With seven wins through the initial stretch of 2024-25, this season's Pistons are halfway to matching the team's win total of a season ago. Harris, an offseason acquisition, has contributed to the turnaround with 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabThe Israeli prime minister says he is asking his ministers to approve a ceasefire agreement to end the current war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a TV address, Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was ready for a ceasefire but would “respond forcefully to any violation” of a deal. The Iran-backed armed group and Israel have traded cross-border fire since October 2023. But fighting escalated in late September when Israel dramatically intensified aerial bombardments and launched a limited ground invasion. The conflict has been Lebanon’s deadliest in decades, killing more than 3,823 people say local officials. On Tuesday, Netanyahu said how long the ceasefire lasted would depend on what happened in Lebanon. He also said ending the fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s northern neighbour, would allow the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase pressure on Hamas in Gaza and focus on “the Iranian threat”. The US, a key ally of Israel, has led the charge in negotiating a ceasefire deal in Lebanon. Netanyahu still requires approval from his security cabinet but this is expected to be granted as early as Tuesday evening. It is expected there will be an immediate 60-day ceasefire which will see both Israeli forces and Hezbollah’s armed presence withdraw from Lebanon’s south, the BBC’s US partner CBS says. Hezbollah fighters and weapons will be removed from the south of the Litani River, a boundary roughly 30km (19 miles) north of the border, that was established during the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006. France, which administered Lebanon for more than 20 years in the last century, and is a long-term ally, is also expected to be involved through the monitoring of the truce. Israel went on the offensive against Hezbollah – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel and many Western countries – after almost a year of cross-border fighting sparked by the war in Gaza. It says it wants to ensure the safe return of about 60,000 residents of northern Israeli areas displaced by rocket attacks, which Hezbollah launched in support of Palestinians the day after its ally Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The war has been devastating for Lebanon, where, in addition to the 3,823 people killed and 15,859 injured, one million residents have been displaced in areas where Hezbollah holds sway. On the Israeli side, the hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say. The World Bank estimates $8.5bn (£6.8bn) in economic losses and damage in Lebanon. Recovery will take time, and it is unknown how this will be funded. Hezbollah, too, has been devastated. Many of its leaders have been killed, including long-time chief Hassan Nasrallah, in an IDF strike on Beirut on 27 September. A week later Israel also killed his presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine, in another strike. With much of its infrastructure also damaged, how Hezbollah will look after the war remains unclear. The group has been severely weakened but it has not been destroyed. In Lebanon, it is also more than a militia: it is a political party with representation in parliament, and a social organisation, with significant support among Shia Muslims. Hezbollah’s opponents will probably see it as an opportunity to limit its influence – it was often described as “a state within a state” in Lebanon before the conflict – and many fear this could lead to internal violence. Since intensifying the fighting in September, Israel has carried out hundreds of daily strikes in Lebanon, targeting what it said were Hezbollah areas in the south, east and in the capital Beirut. As reports emerged that Netanyahu was discussing a ceasefire deal with his cabinet on Tuesday, the IDF continued its strikes – targeting Beirut with strikes that killed at least seven people.

Nagapattinam’s journey of resilience, lessons for the future