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In conclusion, "Marvel's Avengers" has proven itself to be a worthy addition to the pantheon of superhero video games, and with an IGN rating of 8 out of 10, it has cemented its status as a contender for the championship title. Whether you're a die-hard Marvel fan or simply enjoy action-packed adventures, this game is sure to provide hours of entertainment and excitement. So suit up, assemble your team, and get ready to save the world in "Marvel's Avengers."Exercising effective leadership is hard to do | Cronin and LoevyThe sound of screeching tires filled the air as the small car slammed into the back of the large truck. The collision sent a shiver down the spine of everyone nearby, and as the dust settled, accusations began to fly. The driver of the small car, a man in his mid-40s with a flushed face, pointed an angry finger at the driver of the truck.
Minutes of an Executive meeting from June of that year state further action would be considered “as appropriate” if the DUP went ahead with a threat to rotate its ministers. The minutes are within files which have been declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast. Devolved powersharing had been restored to Northern Ireland in May 2000 when Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had received the backing of his party to go back into the Assembly, despite there having been no decommissioning of IRA arms at that point. Then DUP deputy leader Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds took up the offices as ministers for regional development and social development, but refused to attend Executive meetings due to the presence of Sinn Fein ministers. The party also said it would rotate its ministerial posts to prevent other parties from taking them. A minute of an Executive meeting on June 8 said Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds had refused a request from First Minister Mr Trimble and deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon to meet with them “to discuss recent public comments by the DUP concerning their positions as ministers”. The minute records that the Executive endorsed a proposal from the First and deputy First Ministers to write again to the two DUP ministers setting out sanctions against them. It says: “The First Minister and and Deputy First Minister would assume responsibility for representing the Executive Committee on transport matters at the British-Irish Council in place of the Minister for Regional Development. “The Minister for Social Development and the Minister for Regional Development would not be nominated to attend meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee. “Pending the receipt of satisfactory assurances from DUP Ministers regarding the confidentiality and integrity of Executive Committee business, the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would not receive Executive Committee papers as of right. “The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would seek briefing, as appropriate, from officials in the Department for Regional Development and Department for Social Development.” The minute continues: “If the DUP carried out their threat to change the holders of the two Ministerial offices on a frequent basis, the Executive Committee would consider other action as appropriate.” Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds resigned as ministers on June 27 and were replaced by party colleagues Gregory Campbell and Maurice Morrow. A minute from an Executive meeting that day says: “The Executive Committee noted that the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would be resigning their posts that afternoon, and expressed concern at the proposed rotation of the ministries held by their Party Members.”TV star Charlotte Crosby said she has tightened security around her home with 24-hour monitored CCTV and patrol dogs, days after masked thieves carrying a machete attempted to rob her home. The former Geordie Shore star, who is nearly eight months pregnant, thanked a security company “for all the hard work this week” after adding the protections to her home. “Trebling our security measures, worth every penny to feel safe again in my own home,” the 34-year-old said in a post to her Instagram story. “Scumbags are gunna get a big shock the next time they even step foot on any perimeter of my land.” It comes after her fiance, Jake Ankers, said on social media that a group of men carrying a machete entered their home on Thursday evening while they were in the house with their two-year-old daughter. The businessman said one of the four men “had a red balaclava on” and was carrying the weapon at the top of the stairs. Durham Constabulary were alerted at 7pm on Thursday to reports of an aggravated burglary in Houghton-le-Spring, a town in the Sunderland area. A spokeswoman for the force said: “Officers attended the area, however the suspects left the scene before their arrival. “Nobody was injured in the incident and no items are believed to have been taken.” She added that an investigation is under way and anyone with information is asked to contact police. After the incident, Crosby was admitted to hospital after experiencing “serious pains” in her stomach, but confirmed her baby is “all fine”. Ankers appeared with the reality star on BBC Three reality show Charlotte In Sunderland. Crosby is best known for appearing in the MTV reality series Geordie Shore and winning the 12th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. She and Ankers got engaged in October 2023 after she gave birth to their first child in 2022.
However, the recent incident serves as a reminder that it is crucial to approach issues with sensitivity and empathy, especially when dealing with complex social problems. It is important to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders involved and to strive for understanding and cooperation, rather than resorting to judgment and condemnation.NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa's largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya's capital. Steve Collins, 74, was born and raised in western Kenya. By the age of 5, he was fascinated by butterflies and started building a collection that has grown to more than 4.2 million, representing hundreds of species. “My parents encouraged us to look for butterflies after visiting the Congo and were gifted a trapping net by some friends," Collins said. “By the time I was 15 years old, I was already visiting other countries like Nigeria to study more about butterflies.” During his 20-year career as an agronomist, Collins dedicated his free time to research. He established the African Butterfly Research Institute in 1997. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. On his 1.5 acres (0.6 hectare) of land, hundreds of indigenous trees and flowering bushes form a well-knit forest. Hundreds of butterflies dance from one flower to another, at times landing on Collins' hand. His collection is private, although it was initially open to the public when he ran it as an education center between 1998 and 2003. Collins has 1.2 million butterflies from across Africa delicately pinned in frames and stored in rows of shelves, with another 3 million in envelopes. “They need to be kept in dark spaces," he said. “The form of storage also ensures the dried butterflies are not eaten by other insects, parasites and predators. We also ensure we apply insecticides once a year to keep them safe.” Julian Bayliss, an ecologist specializing in Africa and a visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University, said he has collected butterflies for Collins over two decades. “There is a large part of that collection that is completely irreplaceable because a large part of Africa’s habitat is being destroyed,” Bayliss said. Africa is vulnerable to climate change, with periods of prolonged drought and serious flooding destroying forests and other butterfly habitats. Bayliss suggested digitizing the collection to make it accessible worldwide. Whoever takes it over "needs to be an institution that is well-founded, well-funded and secure,” he said. Scott Miller, an entomologist at the Smithsonian Institution, met Collins almost 30 years ago. He said such collections provide critical information that could show environmental changes over 60 years. “These physical specimens, you can actually keep going back to them to get new layers of information as you learn more or you get a different technology or you get different questions," he said. Collins is concerned that soon he will no longer be able to sustain his research. He said his most prized butterfly costs $8,000 — which he keeps from sight, concerned about possible theft — and hopes to sell the collection to an individual or research institution. The costs of running his institute are high. An annual budget posted in 2009 on the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa website was $200,000. Collins estimates that the specimens and other assets are worth $8 million. “This has been my hobby for decades, and I can’t put a price on what I have done so far. I’m currently seeking to ensure the species are in safe hands when I’m out of this world,” he said. Associated Press journalist Khaled Kazziha in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.The Honor GT has been the subject of much speculation and excitement among tech enthusiasts and smartphone aficionados. With a focus on cutting-edge technology and user-centric design, the device is poised to set new benchmarks in the mobile industry. The collaboration with KPL champion Yino underscores Honor's dedication to delivering a high-performance gaming experience to its users.Furthermore, the financial implications of Manchester United's struggles cannot be overlooked. The club's massive wage bill and transfer spending have not yielded the desired results, leading to concerns about the sustainability of their business model. With the rise of financially savvy clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea, Manchester United faces stiff competition both on and off the pitch.
The decision to open an office in Nanjing is a testament to Amazon's long-term commitment to the Chinese market, despite facing stiff competition from local e-commerce giants. By leveraging its global network and resources, Amazon is well-positioned to offer unique and high-quality products to Chinese consumers, catering to their increasing demand for international goods.Centurion, Dec 29 (IANS): South Africa captain Temba Bavuma revealed it was an emotional moment for him personally as the Proteas sealed a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final after registering a gripping two-wicket win against Pakistan in Centurion on Sunday. "Quite an emotional moment for me. Lot of joy and happiness on our side. We did the hard way. But glad we won. I was still sulking," Bavuma said after the match. Before the start of the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, South Africa were on the top of the standings for the next year's summit clash at Lord's. A win against Pakistan ensured that they would finish the standings in the top two to secure a place in their maiden WTC final. However, the win was not easy for the hosts despite chasing 148 as they crumbled on the way before Kagiso Rabada (31 not out) and Marco Jansen (16 not out) finally got them over the line to seal their maiden WTC final appearance. Bavuma lauded Aiden Markram for scoring 89 in the first innings that set the tone of the win and also earned him Player of the Match. "Aiden get them going. Wasn't a lot of conversations. We still had the confidence. I didn't come out to the viewing area and was in the toilet. I came when 15 runs were needed. It is a big win. Not just for myself. But for the coaches. The way we started our campaign against India. We weren't given much of a chance. We weren't ruthless. But we kept finding ways. We hope the guys can get confidence from performances like these. Guys get picked on when they do badly. We would like to enjoy the moment and take stock of what we have done," the skipper said. The Proteas were already on top of the WTC standings after a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka at home. Having played 11 Tests in the ongoing cycle, South Africa boast seven wins and a 66.67 point percentage. Having started off the ongoing cycle with a drawn series at home against India, followed by a clean sweep at the hands of New Zealand, the Proteas bounced back with impressive wins away from home against West Indies and Bangladesh, followed by dominant displays at home. Bavuma-led side pipped Australia, India and Sri Lanka – who are also in contention – to become the first team to book a spot in the final, barring any point deductions owing to slow-over rate.Trimble and Mallon sanctioned DUP ministers over rotation plan
Minutes of an Executive meeting from June of that year state further action would be considered “as appropriate” if the DUP went ahead with a threat to rotate its ministers. The minutes are within files which have been declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast. Devolved powersharing had been restored to Northern Ireland in May 2000 when Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had received the backing of his party to go back into the Assembly, despite there having been no decommissioning of IRA arms at that point. Then DUP deputy leader Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds took up the offices as ministers for regional development and social development, but refused to attend Executive meetings due to the presence of Sinn Fein ministers. The party also said it would rotate its ministerial posts to prevent other parties from taking them. A minute of an Executive meeting on June 8 said Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds had refused a request from First Minister Mr Trimble and deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon to meet with them “to discuss recent public comments by the DUP concerning their positions as ministers”. The minute records that the Executive endorsed a proposal from the First and deputy First Ministers to write again to the two DUP ministers setting out sanctions against them. It says: “The First Minister and and Deputy First Minister would assume responsibility for representing the Executive Committee on transport matters at the British-Irish Council in place of the Minister for Regional Development. “The Minister for Social Development and the Minister for Regional Development would not be nominated to attend meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee. “Pending the receipt of satisfactory assurances from DUP Ministers regarding the confidentiality and integrity of Executive Committee business, the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would not receive Executive Committee papers as of right. “The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would seek briefing, as appropriate, from officials in the Department for Regional Development and Department for Social Development.” The minute continues: “If the DUP carried out their threat to change the holders of the two Ministerial offices on a frequent basis, the Executive Committee would consider other action as appropriate.” Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds resigned as ministers on June 27 and were replaced by party colleagues Gregory Campbell and Maurice Morrow. A minute from an Executive meeting that day says: “The Executive Committee noted that the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would be resigning their posts that afternoon, and expressed concern at the proposed rotation of the ministries held by their Party Members.”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.
The former Geordie Shore star, who is nearly eight months pregnant, thanked a security company “for all the hard work this week” after adding the protections to her home. “Trebling our security measures, worth every penny to feel safe again in my own home,” the 34-year-old said in a post to her Instagram story. “Scumbags are gunna get a big shock the next time they even step foot on any perimeter of my land.” It comes after her fiance, Jake Ankers, said on social media that a group of men carrying a machete entered their home on Thursday evening while they were in the house with their two-year-old daughter. The businessman said one of the four men “had a red balaclava on” and was carrying the weapon at the top of the stairs. Durham Constabulary were alerted at 7pm on Thursday to reports of an aggravated burglary in Houghton-le-Spring, a town in the Sunderland area. A spokeswoman for the force said: “Officers attended the area, however the suspects left the scene before their arrival. “Nobody was injured in the incident and no items are believed to have been taken.” She added that an investigation is under way and anyone with information is asked to contact police. After the incident, Crosby was admitted to hospital after experiencing “serious pains” in her stomach, but confirmed her baby is “all fine”. Ankers appeared with the reality star on BBC Three reality show Charlotte In Sunderland. Crosby is best known for appearing in the MTV reality series Geordie Shore and winning the 12th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. She and Ankers got engaged in October 2023 after she gave birth to their first child in 2022.T he thing that sticks in my mind — even now — was the welcoming eyes and the warm smile. He stretched out his hand to offer it in greeting and said something along the measure of: “Thanks for coming down to see us.” Jimmy Carter — who died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at age 100 — was always known as a gentleman, a farmer from Georgia who had held the most powerful political office in the world. But it did not seem forced, it did not seem an act. I’d flown to the offices of The Carter Center in Atlanta to interview him about his latest book, The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War . He’d written plenty of books — he would go on to author more than 30 — but this was his first novel, one that the publisher Simon & Schuster described as “a sweeping novel of the American South and the War of Independence.” The publisher had said: “With its moving love story, vivid action, and the suspense of a war fought with increasing ferocity and stealth, The Hornet’s Nest is historical fiction at its best, in the tradition of such major classics as The Last of the Mohicans .” In truth, the novel had been a bit slow going, packed dense with historical detail, but when The Independent received the chance to talk about it, we leaped. It was March 2004, a full year since George W Bush and Tony Blair launched the invasion of Iraq , sending the West’s military on what would be a disastrous and deadly war based on concocted claims and lies about Saddam Hussein’s purported arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. We hoped the former president might be persuaded to comment. His office made clear he only wished to talk about the novel, but either way, it was going to be a chance to meet and talk to someone who had probably been more active once they left the White House than any other modern president. I was nervous, rather in awe, and trying to act cool and professional, and suppress the voice in my head yelling: “You’re talking to the president of the United States.” It felt so loud, I wondered if he could hear. Carter could not have been more charming. Impeccably dressed in a blazer and tie, we sat in the airy lobby of his foundation, set on 35 acres of gardens and plants in the center of the city, and got started talking about his 465-page book about the War of Independence, which he had spent seven years researching. I had a digital recorder, which I did not trust, and — as now — was careful to take detailed shorthand notes. His view was that historians had misunderstood the war, concluding with the surrender of the British forces under General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, and it had been essential in creating the notion of how Americans see themselves. “This is a war that shaped the basic consciousness and character of our nation,” Carter said, He added: “I had wanted to write a book of fiction for a long time. I had written other books before. Just as a matter of challenge, I went back to college. I got professors to give me detailed reading assignments on creative writing. My ancestors had been involved in the Revolution and because there are few books like mine, I wanted to do that.” His organization has worked in more than 65 countries. In the foyer where we sat talking, me glancing down at the recorder, were leaflets detailing its work to counter river blindness in Guatemala, and against guinea worm disease in more than 20 African and Asian nations. The conversation progressed. The 39th president of the United States, elected in 1976 amid the chaotic aftermath of Watergate, and serving one term before being beaten in a landslide by Ronald Reagan, continued to make his points. He was aged 79 then, yet his grip on the material was clearly enormous and potent. Were there any lessons that could be drawn from the War of Independence for the present day, I asked. There were, said Carter. One was the need to keep and maintain allies. Had the US not secured the support of the French, the likes of George Washington might never have defeated the British army and won their independence. Did that relate to the current situation? “I think so. Most wars, certainly not all, could have been avoided,” he said. “There was no reason for us to become involved in Iraq last year. That was a war based on lies and misinterpretations from London and Washington, claiming falsely that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11, claiming falsely that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.” I hoped my face did not change too obviously as I realised the man born in the village of Plains, and where he even to that day read sermons and teachings at the Maranatha Baptist Church, had just given me my story. My fingers scrambled to scribble down everything he said, and he continued. “President Bush and Prime Minister Blair probably knew that many of the allegations were based on uncertain intelligence and a decision was made to go to war [and then people said] ‘let’s find a reason to do so’,” he said. “Bush Jr was inclined to finish a war ... that his father had precipitated against Iraq. That commitment of Bush prevailed over the better judgment of Tony Blair, [who] became an enthusiastic supporter of the Bush policy.” Before I could press him further, Carter said we needed to get back to talking about his book. My heart was pounding, hoping that the tape captured everything. In the years that followed that conversation, the tone of U.S. politics in the U.S. has shifted inexorably. Donald Trump spoke in the most brutal terms of others who held the office, and he dragged the conversation down with him. While the likes of Barack Obama sought largely to avoid personal attacks, in the presidential election of 2020, things got pretty ugly. Yet, at the time of my interview with Carter, it was very rare for a president to speak in such terms of a successor. Two years earlier, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in what was seen as a rebuke by the committee of U.S. plans for a yet-to-be-launched war, Carter declined to comment about Iraq. Later, Carter, the only U.S. president not to have officially sent forces into combat, with the exception of the failed mission in 1980 to try to rescue American hostages in Iran, would in turn speak darkly of the threat he believed Trump represented to the nation. He would also repeat his criticisms of the invasion of Iraq. Yet his comments to The Independent that morning were among his very first public remarks about the invasion of Iraq that would result in the deaths of thousands of American and British troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians. Two days later, his comments were carried on the front page of The Independent . Looking back, I realize Carter had said precisely as much as he wished to, and no more. It was not a question of someone being tricked into speaking out of turn. (Thankfully, every word was captured by the recorder, as well as my notes. When I got outside in the Atlanta sunshine, I pressed the device into my ear, checking twice that the conversation had been captured before, calling my editor and grabbing a taxi to the airport.) The former first lady, who had been married to Carter for over six decades, died at the family home in Plains, Georgia, in November 2023. Two months earlier, she and Carter had made a surprise appearance at the Peanut Festival in Plains, riding in an SUV and waving to the crowd. Carter, who described his late wife as “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” entered hospice in February 2023. He marked his 100th birthday in October 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. My interview with the president in 2004 lasted more than half an hour. When it came to bid farewell, the president smiled: “I’ve enjoyed our conversation.”As the smoke finally cleared and the sun rose once more over the charred remains of the data center, the resilience and determination of the human spirit shone through. Despite the challenges and setbacks, the indomitable spirit of Alibaba Cloud and its employees remained unbroken, a testament to the power of unity and perseverance in the face of adversity.
As the smoke finally cleared and the sun rose once more over the charred remains of the data center, the resilience and determination of the human spirit shone through. Despite the challenges and setbacks, the indomitable spirit of Alibaba Cloud and its employees remained unbroken, a testament to the power of unity and perseverance in the face of adversity.None