
A motor vehicle collision in the west end of London has led to impaired driving charges for a 59-year-old man. On Thursday at around 3:30 p.m., several people called in an unsafe driver, who hit a pedestrian in the area of Commissioners Road West and Boler Road. Police arrested the driver at the scene. The pedestrian was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 59-year-old now faces charges of impaired operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm, and impaired operation of a conveyance exceeding blood alcohol concentration. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Our Guide To The Most Giftable Toys In 2024 17 Sweet Treats And Snacks That Make Great Stocking Stuffers The Best Gift Ideas From Canadian Brands For Everyone On Your List Home Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Our Guide To The Best Electric Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Hydroponic Gardens In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts 20 Of The Best Gifts Worth Splurging On In 2024 Mary Berg's Favourite Kitchen Products To Gift This Holiday Season The Best Gifts to Give Your Dad in 2024 Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 40% Off For Cyber Monday London Top Stories SIU: driver that fled OPP traffic stop in Arva fatally injured Although the snow is tapering off, some roads are still closed or not cleaned yet Pedestrian struck by impaired driver in London's west end Threatening text messages seen by jury at bush bash shooting trial Snowfall cancels Argyle BIA Santa Claus parade OPP say they responded to 162 collisions in a snowy 26 hours Tow truck driver injured after helping stuck vehicle Police seek help identifying suspects in break-and-enter and shooting investigation CTVNews.ca Top Stories A police photographer recounts the harrowing day of the Polytechnique massacre Montreal crime scene photographer Harold Rosenberg witnessed a lot of horror over his thirty years on the job, though nothing of the magnitude of what he captured with his lens at the Polytechnique on December 6, 1989. He described the day of the Montreal massacre to CTV Quebec Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin. NDP's Singh forces debate on $250 cheques for more Canadians; Conservatives cut it short With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP forced a debate Friday on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility. The conversation was cut short, though, by Conservative MPs' interventions. DEVELOPING | Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike. Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year. Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served. Health Canada says daily cannabis use hasn't changed much since legalization Health Canada says daily cannabis use has remained stable since it was legalized in 2018. Quebec premier wants to ban praying in public Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session on Friday to announce to 'Islamists' that he will 'fight' for Quebec values and possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks. Ticketmaster hidden fees settlement credits expected in 2025 following class-action lawsuit by Regina lawyer A longstanding lawsuit against Ticketmaster is nearing its end, with a judge expected to approve the more than $6 million dollar settlement before the end of the year. Kitchener Threat that caused school lockdowns in Guelph came from the United States Guelph Police Service is releasing more information about a call that caused two schools to go into lockdown and a third to implement hold-and-secure measures earlier this week. University of Waterloo harnessing the power of alpaca poop The University of Waterloo is trying to create an unusual type of compost. Home extensively damaged, school evacuated, after Kitchener fire No injuries have been reported after a fire in Kitchener Friday morning. Barrie Driver charged after passing snow plow in front of oncoming OPP vehicle A driver was pulled over and charged after passing a snow plow in front of an oncoming OPP vehicle. Multi-vehicle crash on Highway 400 snarled traffic A three-vehicle crash on Highway 400 snarled Friday afternoon traffic. Messy road conditions result in several collisions Emergency crews were kept busy in the early morning hours on Friday as the wintry weather created slippery conditions on the roads, and according to weather experts, we’re not in the clear just yet. Windsor Suspects sought after two hardware store break-ins Essex County OPP are investigating two overnight break-ins at hardware stores. Homeless encampment returns to the chagrin of residents Ashley Harrington's problem was solved for a short time, but then a homeless encampment returned behind her property. Annual Holiday Toy and Collectors show raising funds for Adopt-A-Vet: 'We've got to give back' The holiday season is a time for joy, but for many Canadian veterans who are alone, it can be increasingly sad. Northern Ontario Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year. Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike. Four transport truck drivers charged in northern Ont. collisions on Hwy. 11 Bad weather and bad driving contributed to multiple collisions on Highway 11 on Wednesday, leading to charges for several commercial motor vehicle drivers. Sault Ste. Marie Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year. Sault College health students showcase their work Sault College students from three different health-care programs had the opportunity to present their work to local industry leaders at the institute’s second Health Care Research Showcase. Northern Ont. police catch liquor store thief, getaway driver Two people from southern Ontario have been charged in connection with a liquor store robbery Wednesday in the Town of Thessalon. The suspects were caught after trying to flee on Highway 17 and hiding the booze in a snowbank. Ottawa OC Transpo to open Trillium Line in three stages starting Jan. 6 OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar announced the Lines 2 and 4 will open in three phases, starting with five-day service Monday to Friday beginning Jan. 6. Another blast of snow coming to Ottawa this weekend It’s cold this Friday in Ottawa, as it feels like minus 17 in the morning and minus 10 in the afternoon with windchill. Vigils held in eastern Ontario to mark 35 years since Montreal massacre Friday marks 35 years since the Montreal massacre, where 14 women were shot and killed at École Polytechnique. Toronto Woman facing 96 animal welfare charges in connection with unlicensed kennel in Hamilton A woman is facing 96 animal welfare charges in connection with an unlicensed kennel in Hamilton, where two pet owners claimed their dogs died while in her care. Hamilton police shut down ‘open air drug market’ they say was 'run like a business' Hamilton Police say that they have shut down an "open air drug market" in the vicinity of a downtown laneway that appeared to be "run like a business." 1 dead, 2 in hospital after collision in Etobicoke A 51-year-old man is dead after a two-vehicle collision in Etobicoke Friday morning. Montreal 'Duty to learn': Vigils mark 35th anniversary of Polytechnique anti-feminist killings Braving a biting winter wind, dignitaries gathered in front of Polytechnique Montréal's main campus on Friday to pay tribute to the 14 women killed at the Montreal institution in an anti-feminist attack 35 years ago. Quebec premier wants to ban praying in public Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session on Friday to announce to 'Islamists' that he will 'fight' for Quebec values and possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks. Third public art theft in a month: Westmount bronze statue stolen A bronze statue was recently stolen from Prince Albert Square in Westmount, marking the third public art piece to go missing in just over a month. Atlantic Maritime weekend weather: Cold start and snowy finish Colder temperatures lie ahead for the weekend in the Maritimes with another swipe of snow and rain expected Sunday. N.S. RCMP search for Prospect Bay man wanted on provincewide warrant The RCMP is searching for a Nova Scotia man wanted on a provincewide warrant. Sister of man found dead in Kentville, N.S., speaks out The sister of a 52-year-old man found dead in a tent in Kentville, N.S., on Wednesday is speaking out on her loss. Winnipeg Manitoba premier hints at change of location for supervised drug consumption site The Manitoba government signalled Friday it is open to changing the location of a proposed supervised drug consumption site that had been revealed two days earlier and met with criticism. 'A well-loved piece': Historic carousel display from Hudson’s Bay Company store lands at Winnipeg shop When a carousel setup from the Hudson’s Bay Company became available during an auction, a Winnipeg business owner had to have it. Manitoba RCMP looking to identify vehicle possibly connected to double homicide The Manitoba RCMP is looking for help to identify a vehicle potentially connected to a double homicide in Portage la Prairie on Sunday. Calgary Calgary's Fueling Brains Academy targeted by 'possible data breach' Calgary police say a strange email addressed to parents of students at Fueling Brains Academy did not come from the business. Unemployment in Alberta remains steady, population growth continues to drive up Calgary’s unemployment New data shows Calgary’s unemployment rate ranks amongst the highest in the country as its growth in population continues to outpace the availability of job opportunities. Alberta releases new rules and no-go zones on wind and solar projects The Alberta government has released new wind and solar development rules it says are needed to protect the environment, food security and the province's scenery. Edmonton Security guard killed at Edmonton apartment building Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a security guard in central Edmonton on Friday morning. Alberta working to get money's worth on Turkish medication deal after 2 years Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the government is working to get taxpayer value for the money it paid for medication that has yet to be approved and delivered. Jasper hockey goalie pays tribute to fire-ravaged town Among the things Jasper resident Reid Jackson lost when his family's home was destroyed by the summer fire was his hockey goalie equipment. Regina Bernadette McIntyre named Saskatchewan's 24th Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan’s 24th Lieutenant Governor will be Bernadette McIntyre after being appointed to the position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. Roses handed out in commemoration of polytechnic massacre Members of the YWCA handed out roses at the University of Regina to bring awareness to violence against women. Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served. Saskatoon Bernadette McIntyre named Saskatchewan's 24th Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan’s 24th Lieutenant Governor will be Bernadette McIntyre after being appointed to the position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts A Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts. Are other cities better at clearing snow than Saskatoon? One of the noticeable changes during Saskatoon’s 2025 budget deliberations at city hall this past week was an increase to the snow and ice budget. Vancouver Soggy night for Swifties? Umbrellas not allowed at Taylor Swift concert venue in Vancouver There's heavy rain in the forecast for the first night of Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras Tour in downtown Vancouver – and umbrellas are prohibited at the concert venue. B.C. minister wants new safety plan for Victoria schools, threatens board removal British Columbia Education Minister Lisa Beare has appointed a special adviser to help the Victoria school board "revise and improve" its safety plan after it barred police from schools except in emergencies. B.C. ombudsman to investigate delay in sending social assistance cheques amid post strike Thousands of social assistance cheques have not been distributed in British Columbia because of the Canada Post strike, prompting an investigation by provincial ombudsperson Jay Chalke. Vancouver Island B.C. minister wants new safety plan for Victoria schools, threatens board removal British Columbia Education Minister Lisa Beare has appointed a special adviser to help the Victoria school board "revise and improve" its safety plan after it barred police from schools except in emergencies. Victoria man sentenced for sexually assaulting teen after supplying her drugs A Victoria man has been sentenced to five years in prison for twice sexually assaulting a teenage girl – one of four minors he was convicted of targeting over an eight-month period in 2018. Mounties say stolen Dodge pickups recovered near Victoria Mounties on Vancouver Island say two Dodge pickup trucks that were reported stolen last month have been recovered. Stay ConnectedAP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:04 p.m. ESTRussian President Vladimir Putin says the missile fired at Ukraine on Thursday was not an intercontinental ballistic missile, as initially claimed by Ukrainian officials, but a new type of “intermediate” range weapon which could be turned against Ukraine’s allies in the future. According to the Russian president, the missile strike came in response to the use of U.S.- and British-made arms by the Ukrainian military against targets in Russia earlier this week. Russia has claimed it shot down those missiles. “In combat conditions, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested, among other things. In this case, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free hypersonic equipment,” Putin said during a national television address. Putin said that in the future his use of such missiles would be announced in advance so that civilians can evacuate the target area and proclaimed that U.S. air defense systems are incapable of stopping the weapons. He was explicit in saying nation’s supporting Ukraine’s defense are viable targets. U.S. officials also pushed back on claims from Kyiv that Russia fired an ICBM at Ukraine, according to reporting . According to initial reports from Ukrainian officials, the world entered a new era of warfare after the Russian military apparently used an intercontinental ballistic missile, which would represent the first time such a weapon was used as an act of war in human history. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that his “insane neighbor” is once again showing the world its true nature, “its disdain for dignity, freedom, and human life itself. And, most of all, its fear.” “Fear so overwhelming that it unleashes missile after missile, scouring the globe for more weapons — whether from Iran or North Korea. Today, it was a new Russian missile. Its speed and altitude suggest intercontinental ballistic capabilities. Investigations are ongoing,” he Thursday morning. In a statement offered in the afternoon, Zelenskyy seemed to concur with the assessment of international observers that the weapons used was not an ICBM, but a shorter range ballistic device. “Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war—a cynical violation of the UN Charter by Russia,” he said . The White House responded to the attack by announcing a new round of sanctions against dozens of Russian financial institutions and “50 other persons and entities operating in the Russian financial sector.” In a statement shared by the Biden Administration, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the sanctions aim to “further degrade Russia’s ability to use the international financial system to fund and prosecute its brutal war against the people of Ukraine.” “These targets include Gazprombank, Russia’s largest remaining bank not sanctioned by the United States,” Sullivan said. U.S. officials explained after the attack that the missile launched at Dnipro was technically not an intercontinental ballistic missile — which generally have an effective range of more than 3,400 miles — but a new type of shorter range ballistic missile of which Russia has a short supply. The launch comes not long after President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration loosened the rules around the use of foreign military coalition provided long-range precision arms against targets on Russia’s side of the border. Ukraine was quick to take action under the new ground rules, and began using coalition provided weaponry against targets in Russia just days later. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by lowering the threshold under which the Russian military might be ordered to use nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, the U.S. announced a 70th, $275 million military aid package would be sent to Ukraine, including a large supply of land mines. Regardless of the technical definition surrounding the Russian fired rocket, its use demonstrates that Russia is more than capable of firing on other European nations, according to Zelenskyy. “Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilization—not just against Ukraine,” he said Thursday. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told the Herald that Putin’s latest provocation is a “notable development, but not a cause for alarm.” “He is trying to scare the West,” Moulton said, while adding that Russia’s tactics are counterproductive. “Putin should not play games with nuclear bluster. Using a potentially nuclear-armed weapon to sow confusion about whether or not Russia intends to take this conflict nuclear is irresponsible and reckless,” Moulton said. Herald wire services contributed.
Irwin Cotler says Iran assassination plot should be ‘wake-up call’ to worldFORT COLLINS, Colorado — Lilly Downs rolled out of bed in her new apartment and began setting up her morning’s IV fluids, which flow from a tube in her chest into her bloodstream to keep the 20-year-old hydrated. Lilly’s journey The Denver Post has chronicled Colorado resident Lilly Downs’ experience with long COVID for three years. 2021: “She is such a puzzle”: Colorado teen’s months-long ordeal spotlights mysteries of long COVID 2022: A Colorado teen’s long COVID isn’t just persisting — after 2 years, it’s getting worse Next, she crushed and dissolved pills so they could run through a separate tube into her intestines, which absorb the medicine better than her stomach. The steps Lilly took that October morning are necessary because her stomach stopped working properly following her first bout with COVID-19 four years ago. But her routine also served another purpose: It was content she filmed for a video that she later posted on TikTok , where she has amassed nearly 470,000 followers. Lilly added Tylenol to her mix of medicine that morning, she explained in the video, because her mom was going to be giving her an intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG, infusion, which doctors have found to be an effective treatment for patients who have long COVID. “I always have to pre-medicate with Benadryl and Tylenol so that I don’t have a reaction to the infusion,” Lilly said during the minute-long clip. For Lilly, TikTok has become a kind of a job — and definitely a distraction — while living with long COVID, the name given to the physical and cognitive symptoms that can persist for months and even years after patients’ initial infections. She’s become a social media influencer, earning thousands of dollars and brand deals by documenting what it’s like to face life with a chronic illness . She first fell ill with COVID-19 as a teen in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, and The Denver Post has followed Lilly since 2021 through multiple hospital stints and her search for normalcy and answers as to why symptoms, including a high heart rate and brain fog, still linger. The Post last caught up with Lilly in 2022, when she wasn’t just still sick, her symptoms were getting worse and she was hospitalized with life-threatening infections. Now, Lilly said in a recent interview, she’s doing better physically, living on her own and planning to resume her education in January while using her platform on social media to educate people about her life and illness. “Filming and editing my videos — it gave me something else to focus on,” she said. On TikTok, Lilly shares her experiences with feeding tubes, medications and being interviewed by news reporters . Hundreds of thousands — sometimes millions — of people watch her individual videos. But she also shares things you’d expect from a typical 20-year-old — moving into her first apartment , traveling with friends — and it’s these things that show how far Lilly has come. Two years ago, Lilly was an 18-year-old who just wanted to go home after spending months at Denver’s Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Any travel and college plans she entertained were on hold out of fear she’d need to return to the hospital again. Now, she’s living life outside the hospital’s walls, on her own for the first time, traveling with friends to Utah, and volunteering at a camp for chronically ill kids — and she’s sharing it with the world. Lilly was 16 when she first became sick and was hospitalized during one of Colorado’s deadliest waves of the virus. Soon after, she began developing ulcers all over her body that doctors were unable to explain and struggled to treat. When she first became ill, pediatric doctors were unprepared for patients with COVID-19 to develop persisting symptoms. Long COVID was first seen in adults, and researchers and physicians didn’t know how common it was in children and teens. A lot has changed since Lilly first became sick, and even since 2022, when her symptoms worsened to the point she had to relearn how to walk on her own and she spent most of the year in the hospital. While COVID-19 is still around, vaccines and treatments are now available. Doctors and researchers have also learned more about long COVID, including how it affects adolescents, and are working on finding better treatments, such as IVIG, for patients with persisting symptoms, said Dr. Alexandra Yonts, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. Doctors still don’t know why someone specifically develops long COVID, but there are risk factors, such as if someone has multiple symptoms when they first get sick or have autoimmune diseases, she said. Adolescent girls are at a higher risk of developing long COVID, although the condition also appears more in boys ages 5 and younger, said Yonts, director of the hospital’s post-COVID program. In 2022, researchers estimated that as many as 651,000 Coloradans had long COVID, with clinics struggling to keep up with the demand for treatment. Studies also show that the more times a person gets COVID-19, their risk of developing lingering symptoms increases, she said, adding that getting vaccinated decreases a person’s risk of getting long COVID. “We’re definitely in a much more knowledgeable place of this disease,” Yonts said. At Yonts’ clinic, doctors have found that patients can experience a range of long COVID symptoms. Fatigue and decreased exercise tolerance are among the most common. Patients also appear to fall into two groups, Yonts said. One group has more cardiovascular symptoms, such as heart palpitations and difficulty breathing. The other group has more gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, such as headaches, vomiting and stomach pain. While there had been a period in 2021 when Lilly appeared to be doing better, she took an unexpected turn as she began vomiting and had trouble swallowing and eating. She landed in the hospital again at the end of summer 2021, missing the first days of her senior year at Lakewood High School. Lilly was eventually diagnosed with gastroparesis, which means food doesn’t move through her body when she eats, and was placed on a feeding tube. But her central line — the very thing that gave her nutrients — kept causing life-threatening infections that put her in repeatedly in the intensive-care unit. So when the autumn of 2022 rolled around and Lilly’s friends left for college without her, she decided to make the best of the situation by posting on TikTok. The social media app became not just a distraction, but a way to meet people. Lilly has met others living in Fort Collins who also follow her videos, she said. “It was a way to connect with people because it’s a lot harder in real life when your friends are gone,” Lilly said. TikTok helped Lilly not only make new friends, it also let her friends from high school better understand her illness, she said. The TikTok videos help show “that I am a normal person,” she said. Elisa Downs, Lilly’s mother, said she didn’t quite understand when her daughter started making TikToks — even as she helped make Lillly’s dance videos in the hospital. “When she really started to pick up momentum, I was, of course, worried because this world is cruel,” Downs said, noting how controversial the topic of COVID-19 can be online. But then, Downs said, she witnessed the community her daughter found online. “I saw that it was giving her a sense of purpose,” she said, adding, “She was able to really find a great network of people there who understood.“ Lilly has also been able to earn money for her TikTok videos via the platform’s Creator Fund, which pays users based on how many people view and engage with their posts. To join the fund, a person must be at least 18, have a minimum of 10,000 followers and at least 100,000 video views in the past 30 days, according to the social media app. Lilly’s videos about her illness — especially the ones about how she receives supplemental nutrition — earn the most views. One of her clips about her nighttime routine received more than 60 million views, bringing in about $5,000 alone. Lilly said she is “technically” a social media influencer — she has a manager and has started getting brand deals, such as with BeeKeeper’s Naturals, which sells natural remedies. Lilly posted a video showing her using one of the company’s products to help with her brain fog. But Lilly has other plans, too. She moved to Fort Collins from Golden in August and is adjusting to living on her own for the first time. She wants to get another job and start college next semester at Colorado State University, studying nutrition science in hopes of becoming a pediatric dietitian. “I’m excited to have a routine,” Lilly said. “Being in class — I’m nervous just because my brain... is just not where it used to be.” Physically, Lilly said, her symptoms have gotten better. She still has days where they flare and she struggles with brain fog, which makes her lose her train of thought. “I’m definitely having better days,” Lilly said, adding, “Just taking care of myself is a full-time job.” Her gastroparesis has also improved to the point where Lilly can sometimes eat food without getting sick. She craves things that she didn’t like before, such as condiments and ranch dressing, and is on a self-proclaimed cream cheese kick, especially with pizza. “It’s so good,” Lilly said. There was a time, Lilly said, when she expected that her life would go back to the way it was before the pandemic, before she got COVID-19, when she used to play soccer and go to school. “For so long we were just holding out for the normalcy,” she said. But, Lilly said, “This is my new normal.”
Nikki Haley skewers controversial Trump nomineesLaura Benanti Slams Broadway Costar Zachary Levi: 'I Never Liked Him'Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday after multiple Israeli strikes inside Lebanon since a last week. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated . Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate, and within hours, Israel’s military carried out a string of strikes in southern Lebanon, state media reported. There was no immediate word on casualties or what was struck. Israel has said its strikes in since the ceasefire began Wednesday have been in response to unspecified Hezbollah violations, and that under the truce deal it reserves the right to retaliate. Hezbollah began launching its attacks in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, . Here’s the Latest: WASHINGTON — U.S. President-elect is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.” “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in . He added that, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100 , around two-thirds believed to be alive. WASHINGTON — Senior American officials have had conversations with Israelis to raise questions about some of the strikes they have carried out against Hezbollah since a ceasefire went into place but have not found the Israelis to be in gross violation of the terms of the ceasefire, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive conversations with the Israelis, said those conversations were part of a mechanism that was created to ensure that ceasefire agreement is implemented. “This is that mechanism working,” the official added. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday that “largely speaking the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from, you know dozens of strikes, you know, down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden made his way for a visit to Angola. “That’s a tremendous, tremendous reduction. And we’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero so that both sides are fully implementing it. But, this is, this is the only it’s only a, a week or so old.” — By Aamer Madhani JERUSALEM — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday, the militant group’s first attack since its took hold last week, after Lebanon accused Israel of more than 50 times in recent days. The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched toward Mount Dov, a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” The U.S.- and French-brokered on Wednesday calling for a 60-day halt in fighting, aiming to end more than a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Since then, Israel has carried out a number of strikes in Lebanon, most recently on Monday, when a drone strike killed a man on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon and another hit a Lebanese army bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier. The Lebanese army had stayed on the sidelines of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes are in response to Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, without giving specifics. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament speaker on Monday accused Israel of committing 54 breaches of the ceasefire that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel, demanding urgent intervention to halt what he called “flagrant violations.” Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper Al Joumhouria, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israel’s “aggressive actions,” including the alleged demolition of homes in border villages, the persistent overflight of Israeli reconnaissance drones, and airstrikes that have caused casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Berri’s assertions. Israel says it reserves the right under the ceasefire deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. An Israeli drone strike on Monday hit a Lebanese army military bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier, the Lebanese army said in a statement. Also on Monday, an Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Jdeidet Marjayoun in southern Lebanon killed one person, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. In Bint Jbeil province, a drone strike injured one person, the state-run National News Agency said. On Saturday, two people were killed in an airstrike on Marjayoun province, Lebanon’s state media said. Berri called on the technical committee established to monitor the ceasefire to take immediate action, urging it to “oblige Israel to halt its violations and withdraw from Lebanese territories without delay.” He said that Lebanon and Hezbollah have fully adhered to the terms of the ceasefire since the early hours of Wednesday. Berri is the leader of the Shiite Amal movement, which is closely allied with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike that hit a motorcycle, while the Lebanese army said that a soldier was wounded in an Israeli strike on a military bulldozer at an army base. The Israeli military said that it carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, including one in the same area where the soldier was said to have been wounded. It said it struck several military vehicles in Lebanon’s Bekaa province as well as strikes on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The incidents underscored the fragility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting. Since the ceasefire went into effect on Wednesday, Israel has struck several times in response to what it says have been ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the deal but so far Hezbollah has not resumed its rocket fire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday rejected accusations that Israel is violating the tenuous ceasefire agreement, saying it was responding to Hezbollah violations. In a post on X, Saar said that he made that point in a call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot. France, along with the U.S., helped broker the deal and is part of an international monitoring committee meant to ensure the sides uphold their commitments. Israel says that it reserves the right under the deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza. Neutra, 21, was a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel. Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release. In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive. In late summer, Israel said Hamas killed , another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives , around two-thirds believed to be alive. Iraqi militias supported by Iran deployed in Syria on Monday to back the government’s counteroffensive against a surprise advance by insurgents who seized the largest city of Aleppo, a militia official and a war monitor said. Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged last week and the countryside around Idlib before moving toward neighboring Hama province. Government troops built a fortified defensive line in northern Hama in an attempt to stall the insurgents’ momentum while jets on Sunday pounded rebel-held lines. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus Sunday and announced Tehran’s full support for his government. He later arrived for talks in Ankara, Turkey, one of the rebels' main backers. Iran has been of Assad’s principal political and military supporters and deployed military advisers and forces after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. Tehran-backed Iraqi militias already in Syria mobilized and additional forces crossed the border to support them, said the Iraqi militia official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. According to Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some 200 Iraqi militiamen on pickups crossed into Syria overnight through the strategic Bou Kamal. They were expected to deploy in Aleppo to support the Syrian army’s pushback against the insurgents, the monitor said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Navy destroyers shot down seven missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the warships and three American merchant vessels they were escorting through the Gulf of Aden. No damage or injuries were reported. U.S. Central Command said late Sunday that the destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane shot down and destroyed three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three drones and one anti-ship cruise missile. The merchant ships were not identified. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and said they had targeted the U.S. destroyers and “three supply ships belonging to the American army in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” Houthi attacks for months have targeted shipping through a waterway where $1 trillion in goods pass annually over the in Gaza and Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon. A ceasefire was announced in Lebanon last week. The USS Stockdale was involved in a similar attack . Read more of the AP's coverage of the Middle East wars:
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On my radar: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett’s cultural highlightsThe billing of London-born former Chelsea boss Hayes against England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman – arguably the best two bosses in the women’s game – had generated more buzz in the build-up than the players on the pitch, despite it being a rare encounter between the two top-ranked sides in the world. Hayes enjoyed her return to familiar shores but felt the US lacked the “killer piece” after they looked the likelier side to make the breakthrough. Elite meeting of the minds 🌟 pic.twitter.com/R4d8EArqTp — U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 30, 2024 Asked what was going through her mind during the national anthem, Hayes said: “I was definitely mouthing (it), and Naomi (Girma) and Lynn (Williams) could see that I was struggling with where to be and all that. “I got to the end of the anthems and I thought, ‘that’s so ridiculous. I’m proud to be English and I’m proud of our national anthem, and I’m also really proud to coach America’. “Two things are possible all at once. I don’t want to fuel a nationalist debate around it. The realities are both countries are really dear to me for lots of reasons, and I’m really proud to represent both of them.” The Lionesses did not register a shot on target in the first half but grew into the game in the second. US captain Lindsey Horan had the ball in the net after the break but the flag was up, while Hayes’ side had a penalty award for a handball reversed after a VAR check determined substitute Yazmeen Ryan’s shot hit Alex Greenwood’s chest. Hayes, who left Chelsea after 12 trophy-packed years this summer, said: “I’ve been privileged to coach a lot of top-level games, including here, so there’s a familiarity to being here for me. “It’s not new to me, and because of that there was a whole sense of I’m coming back to a place I know. I have a really healthy perspective, and I want to have a really healthy perspective on my profession. “I give everything I possibly can for a team that I really, really enjoy coaching, and I thrive, not just under pressure, but I like these opportunities, I like being in these situations. They bring out the best in me. “You’ve got two top teams now, Sarina is an amazing coach, I thought it was a good tactical match-up, and I just enjoy coaching a high-level football match, to be honest with you. I don’t think too much about it.” Hayes had travelled to London without her entire Olympic gold medal-winning ‘Triple Espresso’ forward line of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, all nursing niggling injuries. Before the match, the 48-year-old was spotted chatting with Wiegman and her US men’s counterpart, fellow ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was also in attendance. England were also missing a number of key attackers for the friendly including Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, all ruled out with injury. "This shows where we are at and we need to keep improving. It is November now. This is good but we want to be better again. We have to be better again." 👊 Reaction from the boss ⬇️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 30, 2024 Wiegman brushed aside suggestions from some pundits that her side were content to settle for a draw. She said: “I think we were really defending as a team, very strong. We got momentum in the second half, we did better, and of course both teams went for the win. “So many things happened in this game, also in front of the goal, so I don’t think it was boring. “We wanted to go for the win, but it was such a high-intensity game, you have to deal with a very good opponent, so you can’t just say, ‘Now we’re going to go and score that goal’. “We tried, of course, to do that. We didn’t slow down to keep it 0-0. I think that was just how the game went.”
Come on, fess up... we all know you're really here so you can find a way to watch Hot Frosty in the run up to Christmas. That masterpiece, plus a ton of other films, documentaries and returning series' are set to hit Netflix this December – so let's find out how you can save. Over the years, the Netflix subscription costs have become a tad confusing. Starting off in 2012 at just £5.99 the prices have steadily risen until, last year, the platform launched its three-tier payment plans. Nowadays, costs start at £4.99 for a Standard with ads tier, £10.99 for a Standard tier and £17.99 for a Premium tier, however some experts are predicting yet another rise in our future. With that in mind, it's time we turned our attention to finding you a good deal. As we're currently in the midst Black Friday weekend, there are more offers than usual on the streaming service from the likes of Sky and EE. Unfortunately, Netflix itself doesn't have any kind of Black Friday saving, but that's why we've been digging around the internet to find you an alternative. Below, we've assembled a list of all the offers we've found on Netflix and how you can grab a saving today. Or, you can take at our longer list of lastest Black Friday streaming deals or does Disney Plus do Black Friday ? Does Netflix have Black Friday sales? No. Unfortunately Netflix doesn't offer any kind of membership deals, or a free trial for that matter. The cheapest price you can get Netflix for is £4.99 a month for the Standard with Ads plan. This means your watching experience would come with regular adverts. If you're looking for a saving, your best bet is to get Netflix in a package with other TV or broadband plans. Sign up to Netflix from £4.99 a month Best Netflix Friday deals we've found from UK networks and retailers What's the deal: At Sky, the most basic package TV includes Sky Stream and Netflix together for £19 a month over £24 months. Normally, this would cost £28 a month but has seen a reduction in the Black Friday sales. You can also get a one-month rolling contract for £22 a month which you can cancel anytime. Why we chose it: Sky and Netflix together guarantees you access to hundreds of popular TV shows and movies. You'll be able to get all the exclusive Sky channels and you can upgrade your subscription to include Sky Cinema and Sky Sports if you wish. Get Netflix and Sky Stream for £28 £19 a month What's the deal: You can also get Netflix included with Sky channels and a brand-new Sky Glass Smart TV. Prices for this start at just £14 a month for the smallest 43-inch TV and £24 a month for the largest 65-inch TV. Why we chose it: The fact that you can get a brand-new TV, Sky TV and Freeview channels, and Netflix for just £14 a month is pretty mind-blowing. Get Netflix and Sky TV for £14 a month with Sky Glass What's the deal: Netflix is included as an add-on or 'Inclusive Extra' for certain EE SIM packages. EE has several SIM-only plans to which you can add Netflix, and at the moment, they're running some great Black Friday deals on them. From £21 a month you can get an Unlimited All Rounder plan with a free Inclusive Extra of your choice, or for £24 a month you can get a Full Works plan. Why we chose it: This is a great and, more importantly, easy way of paying for Netflix and your phone costs at the same time. Get Netflix for free as an EE Inclusive Extra What's the deal: You can also get Netflix included with certain Virgin Media Volt packages. If you aren't familiar, Volt is the combination of Virgin broadband and O2 SIM plans, but it also includes a range of extras. For instance, the Biggest Combo Bundle is currently free for the first three months and £79 after. But, it includes Mega TV, Sky Sports HD, Sky Cinema HD, M500 Fibre Broadband, and Netflix Standard with ads. Why we chose it: This is an amazing deal which includes everything you would need, there are also even bigger Volt bundles which include higher broadband speed and unlimited European chatter. Get Netflix for free with Virgin Media Volt bundles Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest reviews, insights and offers, covering everything from TVs to new gaming tech. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy . You can unsubscribe at any time. Make sure you also check out the PS5 Pro Black Friday deal , the latest Xbox Black Friday deals and latest Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals . For a full round-up of UK sales, take a look at our when does Black Friday end explainer.A young TikToker learning to live with long COVID educates about chronic illness
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Broncos are 0-4 in Las Vegas, but in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions, Denver has more at stake than trying to end a series skid. A victory over the Raiders puts the Broncos that much closer to an unexpected playoff berth, playing with a rookie quarterback and just a year after they went 8-9. The Broncos are 6-5 and coming off a 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons , and would be in the playoff field if the season ended entering Week 12. Not bad for a team given a win total of 5 1/2 games at BetMGM Sportsbook. “Everyone understands the significance of where we are at this point in the season,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. The situation is quite different for the Raiders. They are 2-8, on a six-game losing streak and decimated by injuries. Las Vegas could enter this game without its top two running backs and a reshuffled line on offense, and defensively, the Raiders could have two linemen, three cornerbacks and a safety out of action. “Just been having some bad breaks, but nobody feels sorry for us,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. "Nobody feels sorry for me. You’ve got to roll out there with 11 players, and that’s what we’re going to do come Sunday.” The Raiders are badly in a need of a franchise quarterback and are in a logjam for the top pick in next year's NFL draft. Denver showed with this year's draft how valuable landing such a QB can be to an organization. Bo Nix was selected 12th — one spot ahead of the Raiders — and he is pushing for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was this week's top AFC player and rookie after completing 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the rout of the Falcons. “I think as we’ve gone on, Coach (Sean Payton) and I have found a good rhythm of what we both like, what we can kind of put out there on the field and what we can execute," Nix said. "Then the guys have kind of adapted to it, found our roles within the offense and executed at a high level. It’s just all about slowing the game down and processing things in a manner that you can handle.” Raiders tight end Brock Bowers also could have a say in who wins the season's top offensive rookie award. He is second in the NFL with 70 catches and his 706 yards receiving is 10th among all receivers. His numbers from a historical perspective are even more impressive. Bowers, the 13th pick in this year's draft , is fourth all time among all tight ends in catches through the first 11 weeks and he and Jeremy Shockey in 2002 are the only rookies at that position to have more than one game with at least 10 receptions. “This week's a brand new week,” Bowers said. “I've always got something to prove.” Payton still isn't entirely comfortable splitting carries between running backs Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. Asked how he determines the right balance in his rotation, Payton said, “That's the $6 million question. It’s difficult. We know kind of what we have with those three players. I think it’s always hard to feed three. "I'm used to — and it’s easy — to feed two. So we kind of do that a little bit. I thought Javonte had some really good runs (last week). Certainly the game ends and we’re like, ‘Gosh, we have to get Jaleel more touches.’ So it’s a tough, but a good problem to have.” With injuries to running backs Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps), 10-year veteran Ameer Abdullah could get the start for the Raiders this weekend. He has just 17 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown this season and started just one game his previous six seasons. “I see myself as a starter,” Abdullah said. “I think every guy in the room does. I consider myself the best back on this team just like every back does. This is my opportunity to go out there and put my best foot forward.” Patrick Surtain II had a pair of interceptions, including one he returned for 100 yards and a touchdown, in the team's first meeting this season and that fueled the Broncos' 34-18 win in Denver . Both of the passes were intended for Bowers, who caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Surtain isn't expecting the Raiders to avoid him Sunday, however. “You don't want to go into a game thinking they're not gonna throw it your way,” Surtain said, “because it's the pros at the end of the day, everybody's ready, everybody's capable.” AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Englewood, Colorado, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflBuffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is in the midst of an MVP caliber season, leading the Bills to a 9-2 record through 11 games. However, it is another award that Allen was nominated for that is somewhat ironic. Allen was the Bills' nomination for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award . The award was created in 2014 to honor Art Rooney, the late owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is presented each year to the NFL player who demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship. The ironic part of this is that Allen was voted the biggest trash-talker in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season. Should Allen be the winner, he will receiver a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. Until then, the Bills will continue their quest for a Super Bowl - the next step being a Week 13 game against the San Francisco 49ers.
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Share Tweet Share Share Email Speakers at the Global Stratalogues Dinner honoring the founder and chairman of Frank-Jürgen Richer (Center) with Belal Jassoma from DMCC (Left), Henzelene Healley from VA-Consultants (Left), Ebba Theding, 4+ Ventures (Right) and Oscar Wendel, Global Stratalogues (Right) The Global Stratalogues Dinner brought together an extraordinary lineup of industry leaders, visionaries, and changemakers to discuss the technologies and ideas shaping the future. Key speakers included Belal Jassoma, Director of Ecosystems at DMCC, and Frank – Jürgen Richter, Chairman of Horasis, who was the guest of honor. The dinner was held on occasion of the Horasis Asia meeting, co-hosted by DP World, alongside the Global Freight Summit at Expo City’s Dubai Exhibition Centre. Oscar Wendel, the Chairman of Global Stratalogues, opened the evening by introducing Ebba Theding, the dinner’s co-host, and welcomed long-time collaborator Belal Jassoma to give the welcoming address, acknowledging his significant efforts in fostering innovation through DMCC. Highlights from the Global Stratalogues Dinner: https://youtu.be/iGC0sBiiH5g?si=N0jr_-Y5G8zaBTW- Belal Jassoma & Ebba Theding: Visionaries in Ecosystem Building Belal Jassoma began his address by emphasizing the importance of collaboration in achieving shared goals. He praised the Global Stratalogues for uniting individuals with aligned visions and fostering groundbreaking discussions. Belal traced DMCC’s journey from a traditional commodities trading hub to a global leader in blockchain, AI, and Web3 technologies. He elaborated on DMCC’s evolution over the past decade, mainly focusing on leveraging technology to enhance trade. In 2021, DMCC launched the Crypto Centre, now home to over 600 Web3 companies, making it the region’s largest blockchain ecosystem. Similarly, creating dedicated hubs for gaming and AI exemplifies DMCC’s commitment to nurturing innovation. One of the most exciting initiatives Belal highlighted was the Global Web3 Innovation Challenge, an annual hackathon that attracts top talent worldwide. This year, the prize pool has increased to $160,000, and 15 promising startups are participating, underscoring the growing demand for blockchain and AI-driven solutions. Following Belal’s remarks, Ebba Theding shared her insights during a dynamic interview with Henzelene Healley of VA-Consultants, who moderated the on-stage interview. Introducing herself as the CEO of 4+ Ventures, Ebba explained her firm’s mission to co-build and invest in blockchain-powered companies. Her vision revolves around using blockchain to revolutionize collaboration and sustainability and developing next-generation infrastructure. Ebba identified four key areas her company focuses on AI, blockchain, infrastructure, and sustainability. She emphasized the transformative potential of these technologies in reshaping industries. According to Ebba, blockchain serves as an “upgrade to the internet’s operating system,” enabling unprecedented collaboration and problem-solving opportunities. She also spoke passionately about using gaming as a testing ground for blockchain technologies. In gaming environments, developers can safely experiment with mechanics like tokenization, ownership verification, and collaboration. These lessons can be applied to more sensitive sectors such as finance, healthcare, and land registries. Belal and Ebba shared complementary perspectives on the future of technology and trade. Belal provided practical examples, such as using blockchain for traceability in luxury goods and tokenizing gold. With DMCC’s robust commodities infrastructure and trade finance systems like Tradeflow, Belal highlighted how blockchain is driving transparency and efficiency in global trade. Meanwhile, Ebba focused on the promise of decentralization. She advocated for creating platforms that leverage collective intelligence, ensuring inclusivity and diverse perspectives in decision-making. Ebba noted that while regulation is essential, decentralization offers a unique opportunity to balance control with innovation. Frank-Jürgen Richter : Championing Global Collaboration As the guest of honor, Frank- Jürgen Richter delivered a powerful address on the role of collaboration in addressing global challenges. Representing Horasis, a global visions community, Frank shared the organization’s mission to draft actionable solutions through a multi-stakeholder approach. He praised Dubai for its forward-thinking and collaborative spirit, contrasting it with Europe’s more cautious approach to decision-making. Frank also shared success stories from Horasis, including facilitating dialogue between unlikely collaborators and fostering partnerships across industries and borders. One memorable example was bringing together ministers from India and Pakistan, who found common ground during a Horasis meeting in Dubai. “If people leave as friends, we’ve achieved something remarkable,” Frank remarked. The discussion naturally gravitated toward Dubai’s unique appeal as a global hub for technology and trade. Ebba expressed admiration for the UAE’s openness and ease of networking, citing the country’s proactive approach to fostering partnerships. Belal echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Dubai’s young, tech-savvy population and growing prominence in gaming and eSports. Belal also revealed DMCC’s ongoing efforts to attract gaming companies by creating a supportive ecosystem and hosting major events. This aligns with Dubai’s broader vision to become a leader in Web3, gaming, and decentralized technologies. See Ebba Theding interviews and Frank- Jürgen Richter : https://youtu.be/9Vb9_9vkzvE The dinner concluded with a renewed call for collaboration. Ebba encouraged attendees to continue exchanging ideas and exploring partnerships, highlighting the importance of building ecosystems that support innovation. Frank extended an invitation to join the Horasis Asia Meeting, promising more opportunities for cross-sector brainstorming. The evening underscored the power of shared vision and collaboration in shaping the future. With leaders like Belal Jassoma, Ebba Theding, and Frank Richter at the helm, the Global Stratalogues dinner demonstrated how Dubai is not just keeping pace with global innovation but setting the stage for transformative change. As the plates cleared and conversations deepened, the dinner left attendees inspired to reimagine possibilities and work together to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. The event was a testament to the belief that when visionary minds come together, the future is not only brighter—it is boundless. Henzelene Healley interviews Belal Jassoma of DMCC and Ebba Theding of 4+ Ventures: https://youtu.be/Ay_XdAFTrg4 About Global Stratalogues The Global Stratalogues is an exclusive series of high-level, closed-door roundtables and dinners that convene policymakers, private sector leaders, and academic experts from diverse disciplines in a think tank-style environment. These non-commercial gatherings unite some of the world’s most innovative and influential figures across industries and geographies to explore groundbreaking research, harness cutting-edge technology, and shape forward-thinking policies. The Global Stratalogues dinner in Dubai, honoring Horasis Chairman Frank-Jürgen Richter, brought together an extraordinary lineup of industry leaders, visionaries, and changemakers to discuss the technologies and ideas shaping the future. The next Global Stratalogues roundtables and dinners are confirmed to take place at the House of Lords, UK Parliament, from January 13 to 15. The theme, “Technology and Design: Unlocking Human Potential Across Physical and Digital Realms,” will spotlight global leaders in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and neurotechnology. Related Items: Belal Jassoma , Ebba Theding , Global Stratalogues Night 2024 , Leadership Networking Event , Oscar Wendel Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you The Future of Web3 and Blockchain Technology: Insights from the CEO of Four+ Ventures Empowered Advocacy Leading the Way in Evolving Workplace Accessibility Comments
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Republicans filed a lawsuit Monday to try to force a rerun of a state House race where the incumbent Democrat won by 14 votes — but in which investigators concluded that election workers probably destroyed 20 valid absentee ballots after failing to count them. It's a race that could determine the balance of power in the Minnesota House, where leaders from both parties are working out the details of a power-sharing agreement that currently presumes a 67-67 tie when the Legislature convenes next month. A Republican victory in a special election could shift that balance to a one-vote GOP majority. Democrats have a one-vote majority in the state Senate. So regardless of the outcome in the disputed race, Minnesota will be returning to some degree of divided government in 2025 after two years of full Democratic control. “The actions of Scott County elections officials constitute a serious breach of not only Minnesota Election Law, but the public trust in our electoral system,” the lawsuit said. Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke was declared the winner last week of the swing suburban Shakopee-area District 54A race by 14 votes after a recount and the official canvass. But Scott County election officials had said earlier, after a post-election audit, that they were unable to account for 21 absentee ballots in the district southwest of Minneapolis. County Attorney Ronald Hocevar reported last Wednesday that his preliminary investigation determined that election workers most likely threw at least 20 of those absentee ballots away, and that they may have been in a paper bale that a recycler had already sent away for shredding. He wrote that they “most likely will not be recovered,” and that even if they were found, it's unlikely that an unbroken chain of custody could be proven to assure that they weren't tampered with. In Minnesota, absentee voters complete their ballots, place them in a security envelope to protect their privacy, then place that envelope inside a signature envelope with identifying information on the outside so that election workers can check those ballots in. Once the counting begins, the ballots are supposed to be removed from the security envelopes and tabulated. The county attorney concluded that the 20 ballots, all from the same precinct, were properly accepted for counting on Oct. 17, but “most likely were never removed from their secrecy envelopes,” and were probably still in them when those envelopes were thrown away. The investigation didn’t determine what happened to the 21st ballot, which was cast in a different precinct. It’s not the first time in recent years that absentee ballots have gone missing. When a small number of military ballots in Pennsylvania ended up in a trash can in 2020, President Donald Trump repeatedly seized on the case to support his claims of fraud heading into that election. After investigating, authorities found a temporary county election worker had mistakenly discarded seven military ballots in the trash and mishandled two others. The ballots were later retrieved from a garbage dumpster and counted, and the worker was fired. Minnesota House Republicans filed Monday's lawsuit on behalf of GOP candidate Aaron Paul, asking a court to declare the results invalid and Tabke's seat vacant, saying the “undisputed facts” make it impossible to rely on the results. The current House minority leader, Rep. Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, said a new election is the best way to protect the integrity of the process. "We appreciate the efforts by Scott County to investigate this matter and be transparent about their findings,” Demuth said in a statement. But House Democrats said they believe they will win the court challenge. “Rep. Brad Tabke won the election in District 54A by the count on Election Night and in the recount," current Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, said in a statement. "We expect Rep. Tabke will prevail again in the election contest.” Republicans also filed a lawsuit last month over a different House race, in the suburban Roseville area, where they allege the winner doesn't live in the district. Democrats deny that, and the district is heavily Democratic, so that case is unlikely to change the balance of power even if there's a special election. ___ Associated Press writer Christina Almeida Cassidy contributed to this story from Atlanta.