The United States has set Europe the task of abandoning Russian energy resources by 2027. For this purpose, in particular, an LNG terminal was built in Alexandroupoli and put into operation three months ago. "The Greek government constantly publicly emphasizes the task of abandoning Russian gas. I cannot judge how possible this is. Athens tried to replace with more expensive LNG from other countries, but this resulted in an explosive rise in fuel prices. Greek citizens were forced to pay exorbitant bills for gas and electricity," Maslov said. The share of Russian gas in Greece's energy balance in 2024 is approximately 60%, the ambassador said, citing official data from Greek gas distribution company DESFA. Yesterday, 16:58 GMT "As you can see, the commissioning of the terminal in the city of Alexandroupoli did not have much of an impact on the overall situation. Since its launch, the Greek side has not used the terminal; only Bulgarian operator Bulgargaz has purchased LNG through it," Maslov noted. Theoretically, Greece's refusal of is possible, but " " may prevail, the diplomat believes. "As for the refusal of our energy resources by 2027, then theoretically everything is possible. The question is, however, why, and whether the Greek side will be so much more for the sake of some political considerations. Politics is politics, but in some cases, elementary common sense may prevail," the Russian ambassador concluded. On Cooperation Within UNSC Russia is ready for constructive cooperation with Greece in the UN Security Council, the ambassador pointed out. "As was once emphasized in the corresponding statement of our foreign ministry, we expect that the Greek side, during its watch in the UN Security Council, will prioritize the common interests of maintaining international peace and security, and make an effective contribution to responding to modern challenges and threats. Our country is ready for constructive cooperation on this basis," Maslov said. But time will tell how it will be in reality, he added. Greece was elected to the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026.President Joe Biden had long pledged that he would not pardon his son Hunter, who was set to be sentenced this month for gun and tax convictions. But on Sunday, the president did it anyway. The sweeping pardon covers not only Hunter Biden’s convictions in two cases in Delaware and California but also any other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” Biden is hardly the first president to deploy his pardon powers to benefit those close to him. But it was still a surprising reversal for a man who pledged to restore norms and respect for the rule of law. What’s a pardon anyway? The U.S. Constitution says that a president has the power to grant clemency, which includes both pardons and commutations. A pardon forgives federal criminal offenses; a commutation reduces penalties but isn’t as sweeping. The power has its roots in English law — the king could grant mercy to anyone. The U.S. Supreme Court has found the presidential pardon authority to be very broad. And presidents use the power a lot: Donald Trump granted 237 acts of clemency during his four years in office, and Barack Obama granted clemency 1,927 times in his eight years. Presidents have forgiven drug offenses, fraud convictions and Vietnam-era draft dodgers, among many other things. But a president can only grant pardons for federal offenses, not state ones. Impeachment convictions also aren’t pardonable. What are the crimes Hunter Biden was accused of committing? Hunter Biden was convicted in June of lying on a federal form when he purchased a gun in 2018 and swore that he wasn’t a drug user. Just months later, he pleaded guilty to charges accusing him of a scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors alleged he lived lavishly while flouting the tax law, spending his cash on things like strippers and luxury hotels. Both cases stemmed from a period in Hunter Biden’s life in which he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse before becoming sober in 2019. After the gun trial aired salacious and unflattering details about Hunter Biden’s life, the president’s son said he agreed to plead guilty to the tax charges to spare his family another embarrassing criminal trial. The tax trial was also expected to showcase details about Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, which Republicans have seized on to try to paint the Biden family as corrupt. Hunter Biden was supposed to be sentenced this month in the two cases by judges in California and Delaware who were nominated to the bench by Trump. Special counsel David Weiss’ office had not said whether prosecutors had planned to seek prison time. The tax charges carried up to 17 years behind bars, and the gun charges were punishable by up to 25 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines were expected to call for far less time and it was possible the younger Biden would have avoided prison time. Didn’t Biden say he wouldn’t pardon his son? Yes. Hunter Biden has been under federal investigation since 2020. He reached a deal with federal prosecutors and was supposed to plead guilty last year to misdemeanor tax offenses and would have avoided prosecution in the gun case as long as he stayed out of trouble for two years. But the plea hearing quickly unraveled when the judge raised concerns about unusual aspects of the deal. He was subsequently indicted in the two cases, and he’s claimed that he was singled out because he is the president’s son. The president told reporters earlier this summer that he would not pardon his son. “I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest, most decent men I know,” he said. “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that, and I will not pardon him.” Why did Biden break his promise? In his statement Sunday, Biden said that his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.” Biden has been concerned — as Hunter Biden was — about his political adversaries. Also, the president is no longer running for office. He made his no-pardon pledge before he dropped out of the presidential race in June. In his statement, the president said it was clear that his son was treated differently from other defendants in similar predicaments. The plea deal unraveled and Biden’s political opponents took credit for pressuring the process, he said. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” the president said. “There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been 5 1⁄2 years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.” Have other presidents pardoned their family members or friends? Yes. In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton in 2001 after he had completed a prison term for drug charges. Clinton also pardoned his former business partner Susan McDougal, who had been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in the Whitewater real estate deal. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Former Serena Williams coach predicts Aryna Sabalenka's continued dominance on WTA Tour: 'She has the most explosive and complete firepower'
India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in February 2024, marking a significant milestone in the country's entertainment sector. The summit, set to be held from February 5 to 9, will bring together media and entertainment leaders, as well as creative minds from across the globe, to discuss collaboration, innovation, and India’s growing influence in global content creation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the exciting news during his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, on Sunday, describing the summit as a pivotal step in positioning India as a global hub for creative and content industries. PM Modi Highlights India’s Growing Creative Economy PM Modi emphasized the importance of the WAVES Summit in India's broader economic context, noting that it aligns with the country’s ambition to become a five trillion dollar economy. “This Summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation,” he said. The Prime Minister acknowledged the role of India’s youth in shaping the future of creative industries. He encouraged young creators and professionals from all areas of the media and entertainment sector—whether in Bollywood, regional cinema, animation, gaming, or entertainment technology—to participate in the summit and share their ideas and innovations with the world. "Whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming, or an innovator in entertainment technology, I encourage you to be a part of the WAVES Summit," PM Modi remarked. A Platform for Collaboration and Global Engagement The WAVES Summit will serve as a global platform to foster collaborations, showcase India’s creative talents, and highlight advancements in animation, gaming, entertainment technology, and cinema. PM Modi stated, “The WAVES Summit is poised to serve as a global platform for India’s creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country’s potential as a hub for world-class content creation.” The summit is expected to attract global attention, drawing leaders and influencers from the media and entertainment industries to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities in the creative sector. Also Read: Kangana Ranaut seeks desire of meeting PM Narendra Modi: “I don’t get an audience with the Prime Minister, I have requested for one...” BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News , New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection , New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi , Entertainment News , Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2024 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.
( ) is one of the most popular shares on the ASX and features in a large number of investment portfolios. And when I say large, I mean it! In November, the big four released its annual report and revealed that it has a total of 585,000 shareholders. That's roughly one in fifty people in Australia. In addition, even if you don't hold Westpac shares directly, there's a strong chance that you have indirect exposure through your superannuation fund. Overall, this means that the performance of Australian oldest bank's shares has a significant impact on the wealth of Australians. But has this impact been a positive one? Let's see what would have happened if I had invested $5,000 into the bank's shares one year ago. Investing $5,000 into Westpac shares a year ago One year ago, Westpac's shares were down in the doldrums and unloved by the market. They were changing hands for just $22.14, which isn't too far off a multi-year low. This means that if I were to have invested $5,000 (and an extra $3.64 for good measure), I would have ended up buying 226 Westpac shares. Would that have been a good decision? You bet it would! The big four banks have been on fire over the past 12 months with investors flooding back into the sector and driving their share prices higher. And just when you thought they couldn't go even higher, they would climb again. This led to the Westpac share price climbing to a nine-year high during 2024. And while it has pulled back a touch this month, it is still significantly outperforming the market since this time last year. Over the period, the ASX 200 index has risen an impressive 14.3%. Whereas Westpac's shares have climbed a remarkable 45.3%, leaving them at $32.17 on Friday. This means that those 226 shares I could have bought with a $5,000 investment a year ago would now have a market value of . Don't forget the dividends Over the past 12 months, Westpac has paid out two . It paid out 72 cents per share in December 2023 and then 90 cents per share in June 2024. Technically, I wouldn't have received the first dividend due to the ex-dividend date being before my purchase date, but I'm including it in this example because another dividend of a similar value is just days away from being paid. Based on the above, my 226 shares would have pulled in $366.12 of dividend income over the period, boosting my total holding to . That's over $2,600 more than my original investment, which equates to a total return of just over 50%. Here's hoping 2025 will be another successful year for Westpac shares.None
We spend so much of our lives sitting at our desks, so why not invest in a chair that supports your spine and posture? I truly believe a nice chair is something worth splurging on if you're someone who spends long hours gaming or working, and Cyber Monday may be the best time to invest in the comfort you deserve. Best Gaming Chair Deals on Cyber Monday Priced Low-to-High: 1. Best Overall Deal: Razer Enki X Gaming Chair for $300 IGN's most comfortable gaming chair on a budget One of our favorite gaming chairs is included in Amazon's Cyber Monday sales . The Razer Enki X can tilt from 90 to 160 degrees, and the seat can adjust in height from 17.7-21.6". It's got built-in lumbar support, which is going to come in handy for longer gaming sessions at your desk. It sports a mixture of faux leather and fabric so it breathes well, too. 2. Best Office Chair Deal: FlexiSpot Ergonomic Chair for $150 In our review of the higher-end FlexiSpot C7 , Bill Loguidice said, "The FlexiSpot C7 is a solid chair. For the price, however, I would have preferred a more premium-feeling leather or leather-like material instead of fabric, as well as more attention to some other aspects like cushioning. I also found the fact that you can't lock the wrist rests in place an occasional annoyance. If you don't mind some of its quirks and prize adjustment in a chair, then the C7 makes a good choice. Compared to straight-up gaming chairs, its sedate styling means it won't be out of place in even the most conservative of office environments. If you'd like a flashier or more luxurious offering, however, look elsewhere." The chair currently on sale is substantially less expensive, meaning you'll get that same "office" look and general build and comfort, just without the dedicated lumbar section. Premium Ergonomic Picks: This Secretlab NeueChair is ergonomic and the bottom and back are made of mesh, very similar to the Herman Miller Aeron chair I use. While it is certainly more expensive than the other options, I have found chairs like this to be the pinnacle of comfort, even as I work long 12-hour days at my desk. While my eyes may get tired from staring at screens, my posterior never complains. It's kinda wild, but certainly worth highlighting, particularly because I know I'll never buy another type of chair for myself ever again. 3. Best Rocking Chair Deal: Tufted Floor Rocker for $120 Back in the day, most of the "chilling in front of the TV" crowd piled onto beanbag chairs . While those are still certainly around and have made a big comeback, the floor rocker has become a modern rival in the gaming space, giving you the benefit of back support and a higher vantage point while you game from the comfort of your living room. If you want to keep yourself rocking for a very affordable price, this is a great choice for console gamers who want something different than their couch. 4. Best Gaming Chair Deal Under $100: Homall If you want a much less expensive take on the "classic gaming chair" aesthetic, the Homall gaming chair is a solid budget pick . It comes with a lumbar pillow, two-tone color scheme, and racer chair wings to keep you locked in during gaming sessions and working sessions. If the lower price tag makes you sceptical, know this model is backed by thousands of good reviews (4.3 average on Amazon) and is considered the classic gaming chair. 5. Best Premium Gaming Chair Deal: Secretlab Titan Evo for $519 Secretlab's Cyber Monday sale is a go! Secretlab is one of the premier gaming chair manufacturers, and the company usually participates in big sales events. Cyber Monday is no exception, and Secretlab has a broad spectrum of really nice gaming chairs discounted, including the Titan series – our favorite gaming chairs. There are also deals on Secretlab gaming desks to check out too, if you're in need of an upgrade. In our 9/10 Secretlab Titan Evo Review , Chris Coke said: "The Secretlab Titan Evo is the first gaming chair in years that really feels like an evolution of the formula while still keeping the stylish racing-seat look. It may be expensive, but the benefits in all-day comfort are well worth the added cost." 6. Trending Gaming Desk Deal: GTRacing Desk for $60 Walmart's Cyber Monday sale has a killer deal on this RGB gaming desk right now for just $60. You can't beat that. Premium Gaming Desk Option: Secretlab Magnus for $549 In IGN's 9/10 Secretlab Magnus Desk Review , Nic Vargus wrote: "I can’t remember the last time a company forayed into a new category with a product as opinionated and confident as the Magnus. It’s minimalistic and stylish, the magnetic ecosystem is far more than a gimmick, and it has an RGB system that succeeds in feeling gamer-y without feeling niche. But best of all, the rear hinge and cord management is nothing short of a revelation. While height constraints and questions around accessory durability remain, the Magnus is more than a promising start." More Cyber Monday Deals There are tons of great Cyber Monday deals available now, including Amazon's Cyber Monday deals , not to mention the Walmart deals , Target deals , and Best Buy deals , too. If you are brave enough to open the firehose, check out our massive list of all our favorite Cyber Monday deals in 2024 so far. Shop by category: Cyber Monday Gaming PC Deals Gamestop Cyber Monday Sale Dell Cyber Monday Sale Alienware Cyber Monday Sale HP Cyber Monday Sale Secretlab Cyber Monday Sale Sonos Cyber Monday Sale Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN , GameSpot , & Kotaku. You can get more than your fair share of him on Bluesky & Backloggd , & enjoy his absurd video game talk show, The Platformers, on Spotify & Apple Podcasts .Syria's Islamist-led rebel alliance had been planning the surprise ouster of President Basher al-Assad for a year, an opposition military leader told the Guardian in an interview published Friday. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist group, which says it has moved away from its roots in Al-Qaeda, has long controlled a part of northwest Syria. After being weakened in a 2019 government operation, the group realised the "fundamental problem was the absence of unified leadership and control over battle", Abu Hassan al-Hamwi, an HTS commander and former leader of the group's military wing, told the UK daily. Correcting those mistakes, HTS began last year preparing for a retaliatory operation dubbed "Deterring Aggression" to oust Assad. It strengthened its control over opposition groups in the northwest and trained up its own militia, developing a "comprehensive military doctrine". HTS then tried to bring together rebel and jihadist forces in southern Syria, under Assad's control for the past six years, to create a "unified war room", according to the Guardian article. The "war room" convened commanders of 25 opposition groups who could steer the offensive against Assad from the south, with HTS driving in from the north, and converging in the capital and Assad's stronghold Damascus. The moment to launch the operation came in late November, with Syria's staunch allies Iran and Russia distracted by other conflicts. Over the weekend, the rebels succeeded in entering Damascus after sweeping through the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs in the north, causing Assad to flee the country and ending five decades of brutal rule by his clan. "We had a conviction, supported by historical precedent: that 'Damascus cannot fall until Aleppo falls'", Hamwi said. "The strength of the Syrian revolution was concentrated in the north, and we believed that once Aleppo was liberated, we could move southward toward Damascus," he added. The plan also involved developing better weapons to counter the technology Tehran and Moscow provided to the government forces. "We needed reconnaissance drones, attack drones and suicide drones, with a focus on range and endurance," Hamwi said, with drone production beginning as early as 2019. Hamwi named a new exploding or "suicide drone" the "Shahin" drone, meaning falcon in Arabic, which "symbolised their precision and power", the military leader said. The "Shahin" drone was deployed for the first time against Assad's forces this month, according to the Guardian, disabling artillery vehicles. HTS is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by several Western powers but has sought to reassure religious minorities and other governments since coming to power that it will usher in an inclusive leadership. "We affirm that minorities in Syria are part of the nation and have the right to practice their rituals, education, and services like every other Syrian citizen," Hamwi said. "The regime planted division, and we are trying, as much as possible, to bridge these divides," he added. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.
Peter Thiel has been a major Trump supporter and spent big to help elect JD Vance to the Senate. He said he's not interested in working in Trump's new administration — at least full-time. He said politics is important but he'd be "depressed and crazy" if he thought about it all the time. Peter Thiel was one of President-elect Donald Trump's first major supporters in Silicon Valley, donating more than $1 million to groups that supported Trump's 2016 campaign. Advertisement However, that doesn't mean he's interested in actually serving full-time in Trump's second administration. "I'm not going to do anything on a full-time basis," Thiel said on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," an online talk show. "You can't go full-time into government if you've been in a tech position like I have. It's just — the sort of things you have to be realistic about, what you can and can't do." Advertisement As Trump has begun staffing his new administration , he's plucked a handful of figures from tech world. They include entrepreneur and investor David Sacks , who's set to serve as an AI and crypto czar in the new administration, and Jacob Helberg , who works at Palantir and was recently nominated to a role at the State Department. Elon Musk is perhaps the biggest tech-world figure who's working with Trump these days. Along with Vivek Ramaswamy , Musk is set to co-lead the "Department of Government Efficiency," a new initiative to root out wasteful spending in the federal government. It isn't a full-time role for Musk, and DOGE won't have any formal authority on its own. As Thiel offered cautious praise for DOGE , Morgan asked him whether he might consider an "Elon-style role" with Trump. Advertisement "It's just not my area of comparative advantage," Thiel said. "I think politics is very important... I enjoy going on your show, thinking about it every now and then. If I spent my whole life thinking about this, man, I'd be depressed and crazy." Despite Thiel's apparent lack of interest in working in the government himself, he's had a significant impact on politics in recent years. Thiel was instrumental in the political rise of Vice President-elect JD Vance, pouring millions of dollars into a super PAC that supported the Ohio senator's 2022 campaign. Advertisement Another close associate of Thiel, Blake Masters , is reportedly in the running to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) under Trump.Asian shares were mixed on Monday after stocks fell broadly on Friday as Wall Street closed out a holiday-shortened week on a down note. U.S. futures were lower while oil prices were little changed. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.6% to 2,418.80. But shares of Jeju Air Co. lost 8.8% after one of the company’s jets skidded off a runway , slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea as its landing gear failed to deploy. 179 people died in the crash. Political turmoil continued as South Korean law enforcement officials requested a court warrant on Monday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. They are investigating whether his martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.9% to 39,914.21 as the dollar gained against the Japanese yen, trading at 157.83 yen, up from 157.75 yen. The Tokyo market will wrap up trading for 2024 with a yearend ceremony as Japan begins its New Year holidays, the biggest festival of the year. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 0.3% to 20,030.63 while the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.3% at 3,408.72. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.9% to 8,191.50. On Friday, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% to 5,970.84. Roughly 90% of stocks in the benchmark index lost ground, but it managed to hold onto a modest gain of 0.7% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8% to 42,992.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 1.5%, to 19,722.03. The losses were made worse by sharp declines for the Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”, which can heavily influence the direction of the market because of their large size. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.5% and Best Buy slipped 1.5%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil picked up 1 cent to $70.61 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 1 cent to $73.78 per barrel. The euro fell to $1.0427 from $1.0433.Speaker decides to step down
Gisèle Benoit still gets goosebumps when she remembers the first time she saw a family of eastern wolves emerge from the forests of the Mauricie National Park, under the backdrop of a rising moon. It was 1984 and Benoit, then in her early 20s, had been using a horn to try to call a bull moose when she instead heard a long howl, followed by an adult wolf stepping out to a rocky shore accompanied by a half-grown youth and four pups. “I will never forget that,” she said of the magical moment. “It’s anchored in my heart forever.” It was only later that Benoit, an artist and documentary filmmaker, learned that the wolves she saw weren’t grey wolves but rather rare eastern wolves. The species, whose population is estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature adults, could soon be further protected by new measures that are raising hopes among conservationists that attitudes toward a once-feared and maligned animal are shifting. In July, the federal government upgraded the eastern wolf’s threat level from “status of special concern” to “threatened,” based on a 2015 report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. That report found the population count may be as low as 236 mature individuals in its central Ontario and southern Quebec habitat. The eastern wolf is described as medium-sized canid with reddish-tawny fur that lives in family groups of a breeding pair and their offspring. Also known as the Algonquin wolf, it is largely restricted to existing protected areas, including Algonquin Park in Ontario. The federal Environment Department said in an email that development of a recovery strategy is underway, adding it would be “written in collaboration with provincial governments, federal departments responsible for the federal lands where the eastern wolf is found as well as First Nations groups and Indigenous organizations.” The order triggers protection for the species on federal lands and forces Ottawa to prepare a recovery plan. However, the fight for protection could be an uphill battle in Quebec, which does not even recognize the eastern wolf as a distinct species. A spokesperson for Quebec’s Environment Department said Quebec considers the eastern wolf a “genetic group” rather than its own species. “Recent study shows that the eastern wolf is a distinct entity, even if it comes from several crosses between the grey wolf and the coyote,” Daniel Labonté wrote in an email. “However, scientific knowledge does not demonstrate that this genetic grouping constitutes a species in its own right.” Labonté added that this lack of recognition was not a barrier to protecting the animal, since the law also allows for protection of subspecies or wildlife populations. In October, Quebec launched a program to collect samples to improve knowledge on the distribution of large canines, including the eastern wolf. The government said it is currently “impossible to assert that there is an established population” in Quebec due to low numbers — amounting to three per cent of analyzed samples — and the “strong hybridization that exists among large canids.” Véronique Armstrong, co-founder of a Quebec wildlife protection association, says she’s feeling positive about both the Canadian and Quebec governments’ attitudes. While wolves were once “stigmatized, even persecuted,” she said, “we seem to be heading in the direction of more protection.” Her group, the Association québécoise pour la protection et l’observation de la faune, has submitted a proposal for a conservation area to protect southern Quebec wolves that has already received signs of support from three of the regional municipalities that would be covered, she said. While it’s far from settled, she’s hopeful that the battle to protect wolves might be easier than for some other species, such as caribou, because the wolves are adaptable and can tolerate some human activity, including forestry. John Theberge, a retired professor of ecology and conservation biology from the University of Waterloo and a wolf researcher, spent several years along with his wife studying and radio-collaring eastern wolves around Algonquin Park. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, they faced a “huge political battle” to try to expand wolf protection outside park boundaries after realizing that the far-ranging animals were being hunted and trapped in large numbers once they left the protected lands. Conservationists, he said, faced resistance from powerful hunter and trapper lobbies opposed to protecting the animals but in the end succeeded in permanently closing the zones outside the park to hunting and trapping in 2004. Theberge says people who want to save wolves today still face some of that same opposition — especially when governments including Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia kill wolves to protect endangered caribou. But he believes the public support for protecting wolves has increased from when his career began in the 1960s, when they were treated with fear and suspicion. “Nobody wore T-shirts with wolves on them back then,” he said. Over the years, there have been questions about whether the eastern wolf may be a grey wolf subspecies or a coyote-wolf hybrid. But in the order protecting the wolves, the federal government says genetic analyses have resolved that debate, showing that it is a “distinct species.” Benoit, Theberge and Armstrong all believe that while it’s important to protect the eastern wolf from a genetic diversity perspective, there is value in protecting all wolves, regardless of their DNA. Wolves, they say, are an umbrella species, meaning that protecting them helps protect a variety of other species. They kill off weak and sick animals, ensuring strong populations. They’re also “highly developed, sentient social species, with a division of labour, and strong family alliances,” Theberge said. Benoit agrees. After years spent watching wolves, she has developed great respect for how they live in close-knit families, with older offspring helping raise new pups. “It’s extraordinary to see how their way of life is a little like humans’,” she said.We Asked ChatGPT 4.0 Which Top Crypto Is Set To Dominate 2025 Ripple (XRP), Polygon (POL), Pepe (PEPE) or Lightchain AIElon Musk Reclaims World’s Richest Person Title With $447bn Net Worth
iPhone Users Charged Higher Cab Fares? Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi Orders Inquiry Into Price Discrepancy As Ola, Uber Accused of Levying Different Fares for Same Ride on iOS and Android Mobile PhonesIn case you missed the first culture war of Australia Day 2025 on Monday, Australia’s second-largest hospitality group pledged not to celebrate the day , before backtracking after receiving a considerable response from Coalition politicians and punters. Liberal senator Jane Hume called the move “absolute nonsense”, while Nationals senator Matt Canavan called on the pub group to “drop the moral grandstanding”. Australian Venues Co, which operates 200 pubs and restaurants around the country, mostly in Queensland and Victoria, told staff at the weekend there would be no festivities to mark the national holiday in 2025. The ban would have affected pubs and hotels all over Brisbane and Queensland. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt In a statement on Monday, a spokesman said issues had been raised by staff and patrons because of the “sadness” the day caused for some members of their community. But after the considerable media attention on the decision, Australian Venues Co walked back its decision, remarking that its original comments caused “concern and confusion”. “We sincerely regret that. Our purpose is to reinforce community in our venues, not divide it,” a spokesperson said. “It is not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day. We acknowledge that and we apologise for our comments. It certainly wasn’t our intention to offend anyone. “Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always.” The sale of Boost Mobile will deliver a significant payday to its co-founder, former prime minister Paul Keating. The Australian Financial Review reports that Keating will pocket at least $40 million in the sale of the budget mobile business to Telstra, in a deal to acquire the carrier for just under $140 million cash. Former prime minister Paul Keating is set for a financial boost. Credit: Oscar Colman Keating holds a 29 per cent stake in Boost Mobile, which he co-founded in 2000 with businessman Peter Adderton, who holds 32 per cent. In the acquisition, expected to be completed this month, Boost Mobile employees would be integrated into Telstra and there would be no changes for Boost’s thousands of prepaid customers. Boost’s prepaid plans are cheaper than Telstra’s but don’t offer access to the full Telstra network. The companies have been partnered for 13 years, with Telstra responsible for most of the operational parts of Boost’s business, including network access and customer service, while Boost has been responsible for its branding and marketing. Several streets around the RNA Showgrounds will be closed for five days from Thursday for the Good Things music festival. The council has advised that sections of Gregory Terrace, King Street and Alexandria Street will remain closed from December 5 to 10, and has advised motorists to seek alternative routes. The parking lane on Costin Street, between Gregory Terrace and Carriage Street, will also be closed. The annual Good Things festival started in 2018 and this year’s line-up features Korn, Violent Femmes and Sum 41. Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats are now grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter for federal crimes after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. President Joe Biden accompanied by his son Hunter Biden in Nantucket over the Thanksgiving holiday. Credit: AP That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump, who has argued that multiple indictments and one conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. Arizona congressman Greg Stanton said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Certainly, the president has plenty of Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential powers to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on X. “Sorry, but Biden was right to pardon his son Hunter to protect him against Kash Patel’s weaponised FBI,” Cooper concluded, referring to Trump’s apparent plan to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray in favour of a loyalist who has talked of going after political opponents and journalists. First Lady Jill Biden said on Monday from the White House: “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” A man has been jailed for five years over his knife-wielding attack on two police officers who made a split-second decision not to open fire. Paul Gali, 32, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to one count of unlawful wounding with intent to resist lawful detention, and one count of obstructing a police officer with an offensive instrument. Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson said police had been called to Gali’s home at Rothwell, north of Brisbane, the morning of May 1, 2023, in response to him threatening family members with a knife. Judge Carl Heaton was shown bodycam footage that showed Gali, dressed in a yellow high-visibility shirt, climb over a police vehicle’s bonnet and roof before charging at the officer with a knife raised. “The officer repeatedly told [Gali] to drop the knife. He was in the process of holstering his firearm and drawing his Taser when [Gali] jumped down and ran at him,” Wilson said. Wilson said the officer was retreating and attempting to strike Gali with the Taser when he was stabbed in a shoulder area that was not covered by his protective vest. In the footage, blood could be seen dripping onto the road as the officer called for back-up and told his partner, who had his firearm drawn, not to shoot Gali. Gali told officers to shoot him throughout his attack and performed an act of self-harm during the standoff. He surrendered shortly after when reinforcement officers arrived and also pointed their firearms at him. Wilson said the wounded officer spent two days in hospital but had suffered ongoing psychological effects that had taken away the happiness and sense of purpose he took in police work. Gali was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and ordered immediately eligible to apply for parole, having spent 19 months in custody. We’re in for another cloudy summer’s day in Brisbane, with a top of 30 degrees. And the days to come are looking similar, with barely a chance of showers and top temperatures similar for the rest of week. Here’s the outlook: Stories making the rounds beyond Brisbane this morning include: The Reserve Bank is being accused by some of the nation’s top economists of putting the employment of hundreds of thousands of Australians at risk by keeping interest rates too high in order to reduce inflation. Longtime Neighbours star Ian Smith has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Sex offenders will be kicked out of the Australian Defence Force and potential leaders tested for emotional intelligence under a sweeping overhaul to combat the crisis of military personnel taking their own lives at alarming rates. Laurie Daley is back for a second stint in charge of the Blues, but the game has changed dramatically in his time away . “In finalising his cabinet,” writes author Nick Bryant , “Donald Trump has come to resemble an American Caligula, the Roman emperor rumoured to have considered appointing his beloved stallion as consul. So unorthodox have been the president-elect’s appointments that I half expected him to nominate his golf cart as the new transportation secretary.” Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Tuesday, December 3, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 30 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: One of Brisbane’s top music venues is appealing Brisbane City Council’s approval of a $1.5 billion Newstead project, warning its future residents could inundate them with noise complaints. We rely on essential workers to keep Brisbane running. But can they afford to live here? As the city’s housing squeeze continues, we look at the occupations where people would struggle to even rent a place on their own. A parliamentary inquiry into the LNP government’s proposed changes to youth justice laws has drawn heavy criticism from youth advocates and peak organisations, with concerns the legislation violates human rights and disregards evidence-based approaches.
Sunday's 44-38 loss to AFC North rival Pittsburgh can be blamed on a defense that missed tackles and allowed 520 yards of offense, and three turnovers by Joe Burrow. It's become a familiar story in this disappointing season. Cincinnati (4-8) keeps scoring lots of points but can't close out games. Seven of the Bengals’ eight losses this year have been by one score. Burrow has stopped talking about the possibility of going on a run and making the playoffs. He'd just like to win another game or two. “Playoffs are the furthest thing from my mind,” the fifth-year quarterback said. “You never know what can happen, so I’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other and try to be the best player I can be for the rest of the season, week in and week out.” The Bengals allowed Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson to throw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns. After Wilson threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, the Steelers (9-3) scored on seven of their last nine possessions. They didn't punt until early in the fourth quarter. Burrow lost two fumbles and threw an interception. “We haven’t done enough to earn the win,” coach Zac Taylor said. “It’s a simple as that. It’s nobody else’s fault but our own. We haven’t earned it.” Turnovers aside, Burrow had another strong game, finishing with 28 for 38 for 309 yards with three touchdowns. Burrow is having a great season statistically, and he hasn't hidden his disappointment and frustration about Cincinnati's narrow losses. ... WR Ja'Marr Chase had a touchdown catch to bring his league-leading total to 13. The defense missed tackles and couldn't hold off the Steelers, even with Burrow keeping the game close. It didn’t help that LB Logan Wilson (knee) and DT Sheldon Rankins (illness) had to sit out. The Bengals have allowed 34 or more points six times, including in four of the past five games. Cincinnati became the first NFL team to lose four games in a season in which it scored 33 points or more. RB Chase Brown has been dependable as the featured back since Zack Moss went down with a neck injury. He rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. He also had three catches for 30 yards. The second-year back has 677 yards rushing and six TDs. “He’s really coming along, improving his game every single week,” Burrow said. “Pass game, run game, running hard, understanding his protection responsibilities. He’s a guy that practices hard, plays hard, and a guy you can count on.” The Bengals' coaching staff. Something has got to give. There was no excuse for the defense to play this badly after a bye week. The unit gave up 500-plus yards for the second time this season. None were reported in the game. 30.3 — The average points per game by the Bengals against teams with a .500 or better record this season. They are 0-7 in those games. The Bengals will try to regroup before facing the Dallas Cowboys (5-7) next Monday night. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL