Detroit 24, Indianapolis 6OTTAWA - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says while he supports the Liberal plan to give Canadians a GST break during the holidays, he won’t back the $250 rebate proposal unless the government expands eligibility to the most vulnerable. The Liberals announced a plan last week to cut the federal sales tax on a raft of items such as toys and restaurant meals for two months, and to give $250 to more than 18.7 million Canadians in the spring. Speaking after a Canadian Labour Congress event in Ottawa, Singh said he’s open to passing the GST legislation, but the rebate needs to include seniors, students, people who are on disability benefits and those who were not able to work last year. Singh said he initially supported the idea because he thought the rebate cheques would go to anyone who earned under $150,000 last year. But the so-called working Canadians rebate will be sent to those who had an income, leaving out people Singh said need the help. A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said it would be “categorically false” to say seniors and people with disabilities are excluded from the rebate. “In order to qualify, you just need to have made less than $150,000 in net income in 2023 and meet one of the three following criteria: received EI benefits, paid EI premiums or made CPP contributions,” press secretary Katherine Cuplinskas said in a statement. “Many, many seniors and Canadians with disabilities work.” The government intends to include the measures in the fall economic statement, which has not yet been introduced in the House of Commons. The proposed GST holiday would begin in mid-December, lasting for two months. It would remove the GST on prepared foods at grocery stores, some alcoholic drinks, children’s clothes and toys, Christmas trees, restaurant meals, books, video games and physical newspapers. A privilege debate has held up all government business in the House since late September, with the Conservatives pledging to continue a filibuster until the government hands over unredacted documents related to misspending at a green technology fund. The NDP said last week they had agreed to pause the privilege debate to pass the legislation to usher in the GST holiday. Singh said Tuesday that unless there are changes to the proposed legislation, he will not support pausing the debate. The Bloc Québécois is also pushing for the rebates to be sent to seniors and retirees. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024.They still have plenty of obstacles to clear to remain at that perch. Even the NFC North remains up for grabs and they'll try to create a little more separation when they host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The Lions (11-1), who have won 10 straight, haven't been able to shake free from Minnesota (10-2) or Green Bay (9-3). Detroit will host Minnesota, which has won five straight, in the regular-season finale next month. The Packers have remained in contention by winning seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Lions. Detroit opened up a 21-point lead early in the third quarter and held on for a 24-14 victory. Lions coach Dan Campbell says the fun really begins now. "The best part of all of this -- we're in playoff football right now, that's where we're at," he said. "We're in December, and our schedule says that. Man, we play tough opponent after tough opponent -- we've got plenty coming up. So, man, this is the type of stuff that you live for and it's also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament. "So, yeah, we're a resilient bunch and nothing's going to change that. We've just got to worry about the one in front of us." Detroit is coming off a 23-20 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving Day in which it nearly blew a 16-point lead. The Bears' poor clock management cost them an opportunity to send the game into overtime and led to coach Matt Eberflus' firing. The Lions have been hit with a wave of injuries, particularly on the defensive side. They signed four players over the past week to fortify their depth. "I know the elephant in the room is all the injuries that have happened with us on the defensive side," defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. "Our personnel staff does a really good job of acquiring players that fit exactly who we are. I would say this, it's not the playbook that's the most important thing for these guys to come in and learn. It's the style of play that we have and that's easy to learn." Jared Goff has thrown for six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past three games after tossing five picks against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10. The Packers also played on Thanksgiving, defeating Miami 30-17. Green Bay opened up a 24-3 halftime lead as Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed. Now the Packers face a Detroit team that has defeated them in five of the last six meetings. "With most good teams, they play the game the right way," Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. "Certainly, Detroit's been doing that for a couple years now. That's who they are and that's who we are as well. It should be a great game on Thursday night." The Packers might have to win via a shootout, considering the Lions are averaging a league-best 31.9 points per game (Green Bay ranks eighth at 26.5). Stopping the running game will be key, according to LaFleur. "They're two very dynamic backs. (David) Montgomery, he's going to beat you up physically and the other guy (Jahmyr Gibbs), you've got to try to corral because he can take it the distance," he said. "Jared (Goff) is playing at an MVP level, so they've got a really potent offense." Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and three defensive linemen -- DJ Reader (shoulder), Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwezurike (hamstring) -- didn't practice on Tuesday. Offensive guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee) missed the Packers' practice. --Field Level Media
Brisbane news live: PM condemns ‘another antisemitic attack’None
Trump says 'hell to pay' if Israeli hostages aren't released by January
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's he's preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.Marta's magic helped get the Pride to Saturday's NWSL title game against the Washington Spirit
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DENVER — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'" Get local news delivered to your inbox!
NDP won’t support Liberal $250 rebate plan unless eligibility expanded: SinghWall Street slips to a rare back-to-back lossTikTok is challenging the federal government’s order to shut down its operations in Canada. The company filed in documents in Federal Court in Vancouver on Thursday. The government ordered the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business in November after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform. That means TikTok must "wind down" its operations in Canada, though the app will continue to be available to Canadians. TikTok wants the court to overturn the government’s order and to place a pause on the order while the court hears the case. It is claiming the minister's decision was "unreasonable" and "driven by improper purposes." The review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to harm national security. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement at the time the government was taking action to address "specific national security risks," though it didn’t specify what those risks were. TikTok’s filing says Champagne "failed to engage with TikTok Canada on the purported substance of the concerns that led to the (order.)" The company argues the government ordered "measures that bear no rational connection to the national security risks it identifies." It says the reasons for the order "are unintelligible, fail to reveal a rational chain of analysis and are rife with logical fallacies." The company's law firm, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, declined to comment, while Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the order would "eliminate the jobs and livelihoods of our hundreds of dedicated local employees — who support the community of more than 14 million monthly Canadian users on TikTok, including businesses, advertisers, creators and initiatives developed especially for Canada." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Darryl Greer and Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press
Notation Labs Secures $2 Million Credit Facility to Accelerate Production of QwelTM, a Cutting-Edge Lead Detection and Prevention SystemHezbollah fires more than 180 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding at least 7 BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired at least 185 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in the militant group's heaviest barrage in several days. The attacks in northern and central Israel happened Sunday in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Meanwhile, negotiators pressed on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister condemned the latest strike as an assault on the U.S.-led cease-fire efforts. Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits and AP sees wreckage of a new Russian missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine. The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website Saturday, underscores Russia’s needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year-old war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives to those willing to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday showed The Associated Press wreckage of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile that struck a factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Earth bids farewell to its temporary 'mini moon' that is possibly a chunk of our actual moon CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Earth is parting company with an asteroid that's been tagging along as a “mini moon” for the past two months. The harmless space rock will peel away on Monday, overcome by the stronger tug of the sun's gravity. But it will stick around the neighborhood and pass within 1 million miles of Earth in January. Then it will zoom farther into the solar system and will not return until 2055. Discovered in August, the asteroid will be observed by NASA as it zips by next year. Scientists suspect it may be a boulder that was blasted off the moon during an asteroid impact. Uruguay's once-dull election has become a dead heat in the presidential runoff MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans are heading to the polls to choose their next president. In Sunday's election, the candidates of the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition are locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote. It's a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou — overseeing the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy.Ian Holloway labelled Swindon Town's performance during their 4-0 defeat at Colchester United as unacceptable. Swindon were blown to bits during the first 45 minutes as an own goal from Harry Smith from yet another corner got Colchester rolling and the momentum never switched. A brace from Samson Tovide and an assist when he set up Jack Payne capped off a mortifying first half before both teams eased up knowing it was all done after the break. Holloway said that he didn't even recognise some of the players as they wilted in Essex to see the club fall to the bottom of the table. He said: "It is difficult to say [what went wrong in the first half], I think that the goal wounded us and then everything that we were doing before that goal stopped. "The energy that they got from it and the energy that we lost from it was unforgivable. Absolutely, totally unforgivable. "In truth, we were beaten there and then and then we went two-goals down again and they just ran all over this. "I haven't seen that from my lot. I have seen mistakes and it almost mot affect us and we have been able to come back and turn that around but tonight that was unacceptable. "I am shocked because I didn't expect that from these lads, from the fight that they showed at the weekend before penalties. "Your heart and your soul should be fighting for the people who have driven up here to watch you play and you look like you don't care. "It is unacceptable and they know that." Holloway added that even if the team was still feeling tired from the exhausting game at the weekend, it was no excuse for this display. He said: "Did I pick too many who played 120 minutes? Maybe but even so that is not good enough. "Let's face it we are in the mire right now and we deserve to be after that because the only word for it is unacceptable. "Anybody with a Swindon badge on, I apologise because that is not good enough and I am going to show them what that looked like - they are going to watch every single minute of that first half. "The fight that I expect them to have, I didn't see until the second half and that is too late. "I am hurting badly at the moment. We have lost to Carlisle already and we have lost to Morecambe already and now we are rooted to the bottom. "Now that we are every game is going to be tougher and if this is how we are going to respond then I might need the cavalry to come in. "As a professional to let a goal in and then show the disappointment as much as we did is unacceptable. "We had an awful lot of minutes still to go to change the game around but if you let something like that hurt you so badly then we need to change it."In my experiences on the field, I found that in the employment pyramid of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), field workers constituted the foundational layer. These individuals, often referred to as social organisers, field officers or field coordinators, were actively engaged with the communities they served. They were dedicated and served as organic intellectuals within their areas. However, despite their crucial role, they often went unrecognised by key stakeholders, including donors and top management. This lack of recognition manifested in inadequate pay, insufficient learning opportunities and the absence of well-defined career paths. Moreover, this issue was pervasive across the sector and was not limited to a specific type of NGO. It persisted regardless of the organisations’ noble missions, robust bank statements, or the geographical diversity of their operational areas. Although these NGOs addressed various community issues, the well-being of their field staff—who were essential to their success—was frequently overlooked or deliberately ignored. I vividly recalled that a well-known NGO leader used to say that if staff were to be trained, then they would leave the organisation. Therefore, the view was that there was no need to send them for training. However, in most organisations, field staff often found that promises of support did not translate into tangible benefits. My field notes, based on discussions with these workers, confirmed that their experiences reflected a broader trend of neglect. All of them said that their leadership never thought about how that attitude would impact staff morale and self-esteem. They listed the areas of neglect as: opportunities for foreign training, international exposure and financial benefits. These observations also stemmed from my experiences with service-providing organisations in the irrigated areas and desert pockets of Sindh. Interestingly, regarding the neglect of field staff, leaders or founders often told a different story that typically began with a claim that their organisations religiously practice the principle of equal opportunity. Curiously, none of them acknowledged the injustice, despite the presence of framed pictures of their international trainings and exposure in their cozy offices, which were enough to contradict their statements. Throughout my work with various multi-sector organisations, I consistently found that they all faced two persistent challenges: financial insecurity and high staff turnover. As a result, many organisations struggled to establish themselves as sustainable institutions, and frequent staff changes hindered the retention of institutional memory. Additionally, the culture of reading and documentation was often discouraged, leading to a lack of continuity in practices and knowledge transfer. Furthermore, compounding these issues, leaders often fell victim to a ‘horizontal scale syndrome’—a misguided focus on spreading programs to other areas—prioritising the acquisition of more funds over their primary responsibility to lead and envision a better future for the community. It was a misconception that scaling up programs or expanding geographical coverage automatically led to increased funding and retention of trained human resources. Instead, NGO leaders often shifted their focus from being change-makers to merely fund mobilisers. Consequently, the organisation’s vision became secondary, and the quest for funds and donor approval took precedence. NGO Takes 'Aim' At Pakistan's Biggest Problems Of Education, Clean Water Moreover, I noted that financial insecurity was deeply entrenched in organisational culture, and discussions about cost-saving measures frequently dominated senior staff meetings. A troubling practice emerged where senior staff advocated for the dual use of the same field staff across different projects to save on salary costs. This approach neglected the physical and emotional toll it took on employees. As a result, field staff were often overburdened with demands from both the organisation and donors, leading to exhaustion. I recalled that many young, idealistic graduates who entered the development sector with dreams of effecting change soon realised that their roles often revolved around organising donor visits and facilitating community meetings. Ultimately, they became mere instruments for maintaining the NGO’s operations and implementing ineffective projects dictated by donors. A stark reality set in: field staff felt that neither organisational leaders nor donors were genuinely committed to meaningful change. Instead, they often found themselves perpetuating the status quo, fostering dependency, and masking government inefficiency and corruption. For example, field staff were compelled to report on successes that were fabricated or exaggerated to satisfy donor requirements, further entrenching the cycle of superficial engagement. On the ground, staff served as dedicated community mobilisers and organic intellectuals within their areas. However, despite their crucial role, they often went unrecognised by key stakeholders, including donors and top management In my long association with the development sector, I observed significant differences in the needs of male and female field staff regarding accommodation, travel arrangements and community engagement. For instance, providing separate accommodations, transportation, and sanitation facilities could enable women to perform their roles more effectively. One female staff member shared two pressing issues: the lack of separate toilets and the community’s insensitivity, which forced her and her colleagues to dispose of sanitary products discreetly at night. Despite repeated requests for proper disposal facilities, the organisation consistently denied these needs. Pakistan’s Aerospace Sector: Driving Innovation, Security, And Economic Growth In another instance, a senior female staff member recounted a distressing experience where she was abruptly called back from maternity leave to accompany a donor on a project visit. Tearfully, she expressed her frustration that even in the presence of women on the donor team who advocated for women’s rights, no one acknowledged her challenging situation. Similarly, in a separate incident, a male colleague was pressured to return from his wedding leave because of donor visits. Such experiences illustrated a broader culture where staff members were discouraged from taking necessary leaves or advocating for better working conditions. When employees voiced their needs, they were often labelled as demanding or ungrateful. Additionally, I noted how the attitudes of senior male staff could negatively impact the reputations of unmarried female field workers. These perceptions could hinder their opportunities for marriage, while many staff members, constantly shifting from one project to another, found themselves overly engaged and lacking the time to explore personal relationships. Many young women were lured by their seniors or leaders of organisations with promises of job security, stability and career advancement. Consequently, some ended up in relationships with older or already married influential individuals within the NGOs, - resulting in complicated dynamics affected their professional and personal lives. Almost all NGOs, regardless of their size, vision, or geographical scale, lacked structured plans for career progression and employment security for their field staff. None of these organisations had implemented regular promotion pathways, leading to intellectual stagnation and discouraging dialogue on change theories and innovative ideas. The absence of these frameworks left field staff feeling unsupported and undervalued. Unfortunately, the culture of centralisation, fear and unnecessary pressure from superiors further hindered their professional growth and eroded happiness in their lives. One female staff member told me that in their organisation, giggling was considered indecent, and even light makeup was noticed with a different message. Gender Gap In Climate Leadership: Why COP29 Must Elevate Women And Young Girls In Climate Action I once posed a question to Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan, (a well-known development practitioner and founder of the Orangi Project in Karachi, about the future of field staff. Instead of a direct answer, he likened them to horses in a city park—ill, wounded and worn out, with their eyes covered by blinkers, trained to see only in one direction. In this analogy, field staff were burdened with an overwhelming number of implementation tasks, preventing them from noticing changes in their environments or learning new skills. When leaders eventually recognised their staff's exhaustion, they may have chosen to let them go, because they were not capable to meet expectations. Moreover, the lack of professional development opportunities left field staff feeling stagnant and unmotivated. For example, a field officer who had been with an NGO for several years mentioned that he had not received any training or capacity-building opportunities to enhance his skills. As a result, he felt stuck in his role, unable to contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s mission or to his own professional growth. This situation was common, as many organisations failed to invest in the continuous development of their staff, leading to a workforce that was disengaged and disenchanted. Let me state that the burnout among field staff in the development sector was a multifaceted issue influenced by organisational practices, leadership priorities and the broader socio-political context. For genuine community development to occur, a fundamental shift was necessary in how organisations supported their field staff. This shift must have ensured their well-being, professional growth, and capacity to foster meaningful change within their communities. I think it is important, even if NGOs are motivated only by their own survival, to prioritise the well-being of their staff by implementing structured career pathways, providing regular training and professional development opportunities, and fostering a culture of open communication where staff can voice their needs without fear of retribution. Furthermore, organisations should recognise and address the unique needs of female staff to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment. Kohistan's Girls Face An Educational Crisis I think by taking these steps, NGOs can not only enhance the effectiveness of their field staff but also contribute to a more sustainable and impactful development sector. Only then can we hope to break the cycle of burnout and disengagement, allowing field staff to thrive and fulfil their potential as agents of change within their communities.
An Election Autopsy: Key Takeaways from the 2024 US Poll OutcomeThe Latest: UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect contests his extradition back to New YorkFunding fuels production ramp-up at U.S.-based facility, bringing advanced lead detection and smart home technology to market SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Notation Labs Inc. announced today the successful completion of a $2 million credit facility to scale up production of its innovative QwelTM smart home device. This funding provides the company with the financial flexibility and liquidity needed to expand manufacturing capacity and meet increasing customer demand as it prepares for market launch. The company has already initiated component procurement and manufacturing, including the order of 20,000 circuit boards from U.S.-based suppliers. Final assembly of the initial Qwel units will take place at the company's facility in Phoenix, Arizona . What Is Qwel TM ? QwelTM is a cutting-edge leak detection and prevention system designed to safeguard homes with advanced AI and machine learning technology. Its highly accurate sensors monitor critical factors like water pressure, temperature, flow rate and humidity to provide comprehensive protection. For more information about QwelTM or to stay updated on its release, visit https://www.qwel.io/ . About Notation Labs, Inc.: Notation Labs designs, engineers, and manufactures innovative smart water solutions to deliver high-quality products that empower homeowners. With a suite of advanced technologies, the company helps educate consumers on water conservation and equips them to make sustainable choices in their everyday lives. Driven by a mission to protect water resources for future generations, Notation Labs is at the forefront of water conservation efforts, leveraging breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The company is committed to making cutting-edge, water-saving devices that are not only highly effective but also affordable and accessible to households worldwide. By combining engineering excellence with a focus on sustainability, Notation Labs is redefining how consumers manage and conserve water. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/notation-labs-secures-2-million-credit-facility-to-accelerate-production-of-qwel-a-cutting-edge-lead-detection-and-prevention-system-302328185.html SOURCE Notation Labs, Inc.PARIS: The Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which seized Aleppo in a shock offensive over the weekend, is an Islamist movement that has long ruled swathes of the country’s northwest. The group has sought to moderate its image in recent years, including by cutting ties with its one-time sponsor Al-Qaeda, but it faces an uphill battle convincing Western governments it has fully renounced hardline jihadism, experts say. Aleppo had been held by Syrian government forces since late 2016. HTS says it no longer has any links to Al-Qaeda after severing them in 2016, five years into Syria’s civil war. It took on its current name the following year, arresting Al-Qaeda and Islamic State group jihadists, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank. But it remains blacklisted by the United States and the European Union. In large parts of the northwestern Idlib province it has controlled since 2019, it has set up a so-called “salvation government” that controls the rebel stronghold’s economy and whose judges are largely loyal to HTS. “Throughout parts of northwestern Syria, the rebels have started setting up and building upon already established proto-governance structures, indicating their ambition to govern and maintain control,” wrote the New-York-based Soufan Center. “Some of these efforts date back years, with sophisticated attempts to subsidize the cost of food and stabilize the banking and energy sectors in the areas under HTS control.” ‘Insurgent group’ Jerome Drevon, a jihadism expert at ICG, said HTS “provides basic services to the population”, coordinating with US aid agencies helping to funnel humanitarian aid to the millions in need in territories it holds. Even if some view it as authoritarian, “it provides homogeneous governance, which contrasts with other regions in Syria”, he told AFP. French journalist Wassim Nasr met HTS leader Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani last year. “He and his group are no longer committed to whatever is meant by international jihad, that was crystal clear. They consider that it ‘only brought destruction and failure to their communities’,” he told a publication of the Combating Terrorism Center linked to US military academy West Point. “Women go to school, women drive, you see people smoking in the street. Of course, they far from espouse democratic values or those of a liberal free society, but it’s a shift.” Drevon said that, whatever the reasons for HTS breaking ties with Al-Qaeda years ago — whether it was tactical to avoid unwanted US attention or not — “now it behaves like an insurgent group” with domestic aims, without any “dimension of international terrorism”. ‘Incredibly opportunistic’ Several experts, however, warned the group has not fundamentally broken with its past despite its rebranding. Tammy Lynn Palacios, of the New Lines Institute, said HTS “has demonstrated that it is incredibly opportunistic in its allegiances and associations”. It “remains a jihadist organization until HTS leadership successfully omits connections of its rank and file with more hardline jihadist groups and individuals”, she told AFP. “Al-Qaeda is not done with HTS, no matter how much HTS is done with al-Qaeda and thus nothing short of public and formal disavowal of al-Qaeda will truly lessen the threat of jihadist extremism in northwest Syria,” she added. The Soufan Center also points out that “while there are signs that minorities and non-Sunnis will be respected by even extreme elements of the rebels such as HTS, terrorist organizations’ participation in the offensive causes some alarm”. Like the Taleban in power in Afghanistan since 2021 but not recognized in the West, HTS will likely struggle to leave Western “terrorist” lists. Hans-Jakob Schindler, the director of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), said this was justified. “If you have to ask for permission before you break ties with Al-Qaeda, from the leadership of Al-Qaeda, the sincerity of the ideological reorientation is in question,” he told AFP. He pointed to the case of a young Austrian man who Munich police shot dead in September after he opened fire at the Zionist consulate in the German city. Investigators last year found three videos he had recorded in 2021, showing scenes from a computer game “with Islamist content”, according to Austrian prosecutors. In one of them, the suspect had used an avatar with a flag of the “Al-Nusra Front”, the name of HTS before it severed ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016. “There is absolutely no debate about the fact that they should remain listed as a terrorist group,” Schindler said. — AFP
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine joined astronauts, Olympians and activists on the British Broadcasting Corporation’s 2024 list of 100 influential women . U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald, file The BBC recognized Collins for her work on bipartisan legislation, her advocacy of women’s health and her co-authorship of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, for which she has helped secure more than 10 years of additional funding. Collins thanked the BBC and the people of Maine for electing her to the Senate. “It is an honor to be selected for this list and to stand alongside so many incredible women who have dedicated their lives to service and combating the challenges facing women around the world,” she said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. Collins is one of seven American women to make the list. Also featured are astronaut Sunita Williams; reproductive rights advocate Amanda Zurawski; Iranian writer and translator Shahrnush Parsipur, who has lived in exile in the United States since 1994; actress Sharon Stone; Paralympic archer Tracy Otto; New York Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum; track and field runner Allyson Felix; and artificial intelligence expert Sneha Revanur. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « PreviousGame show host Wink Martindale is 91. Singer Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon is 88. Actor-producer-director Max Baer Junior (“The Beverly Hillbillies”) is 87. Actor Gemma Jones is 82. Bassist Bob Mosley of Moby Grape is 82. Singer-bassist Chris Hillman of The Byrds and of the Flying Burrito Brothers is 80. Singer Southside Johnny Lyon of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes is 76. Actor Jeff Bridges is 75. Actor Patricia Wettig is 73. Drummer Brian Prout of Diamond Rio is 69. Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson is 69. Bassist Bob Griffin of The BoDeans is 65. Singer Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge is 62. Actor Marisa Tomei is 60. Comedian Fred Armisen (“Portlandia,” “Saturday Night Live”) is 58. Rapper Jay-Z is 55. Actor Kevin Sussman (“Ugly Betty”) is 54. Model Tyra Banks is 51. . — Associated Press Get local news delivered to your inbox!
The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.Marbella dunes luxury resort given go-ahead
Pakistani security forces have launched an operation to disperse supporters of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.Louisiana lawmakers pass income and corporate tax cuts, raising statewide sales tax to pay for it
CenterPoint Energy Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading dayU.S. shares lower at close of trade; Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.35%