Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.6% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 8pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.With the holidays taking up much of your time, you may not be concentrating on retirement moves to make before 2025. But if you’re the type of person who does everything to the max, investing in your future retirement now could be a game changer. In 2024, you can invest up to $23,000 into your 401(k) retirement plan as per IRS contribution limits. If you’re over 50 and need to play catch-up, you can invest an extra $7,500. That means your total possible contribution for 2024 is $30,500. If that seems like a lot, it is. But you don’t have to max out your contributions if you can’t afford it. Employer matching can help. In 2025, you can invest $23,500, bringing your possible contribution up to $31,500. If you’re over 50, the catch-up contribution remains at $7,500 for 2025. But a huge change was made in SECURE 2.0 for employees aged 60 to 63 who participate in workplace retirement plans. Starting in 2025, this super catch-up contribution limit is $11,250 instead of $7,500.  Figure out how much you contributed. If you’ve contributed as much as possible for the year, you’re in good shape going into 2025. If you’re not sure, you changed jobs or haven’t contributed consistently in 2024, you still have time to make adjustments to max out your 401(k) contributions for the year. Check your employer’s match. Employer matching is a job benefit not to be overlooked. After all, for every dollar you save in your 401(k), your employer matches your contributions dollar-for-dollar or offers a partial match up to a certain percentage of your wages. Knowing where you stand can help you make the most of this opportunity. For example, let’s say you earn $50,000 per year and contribute $3,000 to your 401(k), or 6% of your salary. If your employer offers to match 50 cents of each dollar you contribute up to 6% of your pay, they would add $1,500 each year to your 401(k) account, boosting your total annual contributions to $4,500. Look at your budget. Maxing out your 401(k) is always a good move. However, retirement planning can be a balancing act; sometimes, your budget is downright against it. If you have high debt or no money set aside for emergencies, you may want to hold off a bit. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t contribute to your retirement plan at all. Maintaining contributions is important, even if it means not maxing it out. Still, if you wait too long to save, you’ll have to play catch-up. If you save too much, you may have to tap into your account early, which can mean early withdrawal penalties if you are under age 591⁄2. Boost your contributions. If you have enough cash stashed away to cover a large lump sum contribution to your 401(k), you could max out your 401(k) contributions before the end of the year. You can do this by increasing the percentage you contribute monthly from your paycheck. You’ll want to speak with your employer or HR department to see if this is possible and fill out the necessary paperwork. Keep in mind that how often you increase it or even if you can will depend on your plan rules. You may also want to check to be sure your contributions are still automatic. Since it’s usually easier to save money if it’s automatically deducted from your paycheck, it may be worth reviewing your budget to see if you can boost your contribution amount to max out your 401(k). If you haven’t set up automatic payroll contributions, now is a good time to do so. Maxing out your 401(k) has some clear benefits. This is especially true if you’ve fallen behind on your savings goals or you simply want to grow your retirement nest egg faster. The main advantage is that you’ll have more money saved for retirement. According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study, most retired Americans believe they will need nearly $1.5 million in the bank to retire comfortably. That’s a 15% increase — which far outpaces the 3% to 5% inflation rate — over 2023 and is up 53% from 2020. The money you put into your 401(k) lowers how much you’ll pay in taxes for the year, which may put you in a lower tax bracket. Also, 401(k) investments grow tax-deferred, so you won’t pay taxes on the money until you withdraw the funds in retirement. If you have a Roth 401(k), you don’t get a tax break on contributions because you fund your account with after-tax dollars. But the money you contribute grows tax-free and you won’t pay any taxes on your withdrawals in retirement. Maxing out your 401(k) each year may not be enough to retire comfortably, but it is a great start. That’s why enlisting the help of a financial adviser in 2024 can help you get a head start on 2025 and a happy retirement down the road.
Britt: Facebook's Zuckerberg Learned an 'Important Lesson' the Hard Way — You Can't Cancel TrumpAs the leaves fall, the heat goes on, the temperatures drop and the sweaters and jackets are pulled from storage, it’s also a great time to think about making a pot of soup. Soup is one of the best comfort foods, perfect for those New England fall and winter days. Whether you fancy clam or corn chowder, a roasted butternut squash soup, a classic Italian sausage orzo or something unique like lasagna soup, there’s a special place in everyone’s heart for that big pot on the stove. We have found five recipes that are sure to make your mouth water. No matter what soup preference you may have, you’ll find something to cook for the whole family. This recipe is by Allrecipes.com . Ingredients Directions This recipe is by Allrecipes.com . Ingredients Directions This recipe is by Allrecipes.com . Ingredients Noodles: Soup Base: Cheese Mixture: Garnish: Directions This recipe is by juliasalbum.com . Ingredients Directions This recipe is by Allrecipes.com . Ingredients DirectionsNUPRC Commitment To Fairness, Inclusivity In Oil Licensing Process – Adanna
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder set sights on Hornets
The Oklahoma City Thunder and host Charlotte Hornets couldn't look much different going into Saturday night's contest. The Thunder have won four games in a row since falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup championship. "It's the extra plays that put you over the edge," Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We know that. We have a bunch of players that are hungry to do that." The Thunder had a huge second half to overcome host Indiana for a 120-114 victory Thursday, sparked by Gilgeous-Alexander's career-high-tying 45 points. Nine of his points came in the final minute, including a clutch 3-pointer. "That's what the work is about," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It went in because I took the shot. I'd like to think I've grown a bit. Trusting my work. It's about continuing to push forward." Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder in scoring in seven of the last eight games, including back-to-back 40-plus-point performances. His latest outing might have been one of his best. "That was a masterpiece," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. "He just had total control." Gilgeous-Alexander has taken his scoring average to 31.1 points per game, ranking second in the league. Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball is fourth at 30.1. Charlotte has dropped six consecutive games and 14 of 15. The latest struggles for the Hornets came with Thursday's 113-110 loss at Washington, which has fewer victories than seven-win Charlotte. "We're going through a little bit of adversity right now, and I think this group is banding together," Hornets coach Charles Lee said. "They're competing harder and learning how to get through it. I have total faith that we will continue to push through and keep getting better every day." Either Miles Bridges or Ball has been Charlotte's top scorer in four of the last five games. Ball has eclipsed the 30-point mark twice since returning to action from an injury. The Hornets figure to be regaining some of their post presence with Mark Williams and Nick Richards both in action. Yet Bridges is picking up much of the rebounding slack, leading Charlotte on the boards in three of the past five games. Williams has played in eight games -- all losses -- since missing all of October and November while coming back from an injury. His 16-point outing on 8-for-11 shooting in 26 minutes at Washington might be reason for encouragement. Richards' role has been reduced as he has played no more than 17 minutes in five of his last six outings. The Hornets seem to have swingman Brandon Miller back in the regular rotation. He posted 18 points in 36 minutes at Washington, where he was 6-for-21 from the field. "Defensively, he'll give us a boost," Lee said. "Offensively, with his ability to shoot. ... I think he's one of the better catch-and-shoot players on our team and he's always able to create and play-make for other guys." Miller has played only three games in the past 2 1/2 weeks, shooting a combined 9-for-34 on 3-pointers in those outings. Four of Oklahoma City's last six opponents have failed to reach the 100-point mark. The Hornets have scored more than 110 points in only one of their last six games. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.Thousands of Syrians celebrate in central Damascus during first Friday prayers since Assad's fall DAMASCUS (AP) — Thousands of Syrians have celebrated in Umayyad Square, the largest in Damascus, after the first Muslim Friday prayers following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. The leader of the insurgency that toppled Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa, appeared in a video message in which he congratulated “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the Turkish capital of Ankara that there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria. The top U.S. diplomat also called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian" interim government. American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has transported an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to a U.S. official, who says Travis Timmerman was flown out on a U.S. military helicopter. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump's suite at football game FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A military veteran who choked an agitated New York subway rider and was acquitted of homicide this week has been invited by Vice President-elect JD Vance to join Donald Trump’s suite at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday. Daniel Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s 2023 death. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week. Vance served in the Marine Corps and had commented on the acquittal earlier this week. He said that “justice was done in this case” and Penny should never have been prosecuted. New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. About 3 in 10 are highly confident in Trump on Cabinet, spending or military oversight: AP-NORC poll WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans may have elected Donald Trump to a second term in November, but that doesn’t mean they have high confidence in his ability to choose well-qualified people for his Cabinet or effectively manage government spending, the military and the White House. That's according to a new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of U.S. adults are “not at all confident” in Trump’s ability to appoint well-qualified people for high-level government positions. Only about 3 in 10 are “extremely” or “very” confident that Trump will pick qualified people to serve in his administration. President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's next prime minister PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. The 73-year-old is a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance and has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority in the National Assembly. Bayrou was recently cleared in a case relating to embezzlement of European Parliament funds. His predecessor resigned last week following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the parliament, leaving France without a functioning government. Macron vowed last week to remain in office until his term ends in 2027. Yankees to get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press that the New York Yankees have agreed to acquire All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes, infield prospect Caleb Durbin and cash. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28.
Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time. In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office. “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote. Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942. Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act , had proposed making daylight saving time permanent. The measure was sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department. “Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure. Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent. Some health groups , including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences. Arizona and Hawaii don't change their clocks at all.'Pay up and pray': Fury from all sides hits tech billionaires after $1M gifts to Trump
( MENAFN - AFP) US President-elect Donald trump filed a brief Friday urging the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban TikTok the day before his January 20 inauguration if it is not sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance. "In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues," Trump's legal team wrote, to give him "the opportunity to pursue a Political resolution." Trump was fiercely opposed to TikTok during his 2017-21 first term, and tried in vain to ban the video app on national security grounds. The Republican voiced concerns -- echoed by political rivals -- that the Chinese government might tap into US TikTok users' data or manipulate what they see on the platform. US officials had also voiced alarm over the popularity of the video-sharing app with young people, alleging that its parent company is subservient to Beijing and that the app is used to spread propaganda, claims denied by the company and the Chinese government. Trump called for a US company to buy TikTok, with the government sharing in the sale price, and his successor Joe Biden went one stage further -- signing a law to ban the app for the same reasons. Trump has now, however, reversed course. "Now (that) I'm thinking about it, I'm for TikTok, because you need competition," he recently told Bloomberg. "If you don't have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram -- and that's, you know, that's Zuckerberg." Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg and part of his Meta tech empire, was among the social media networks that banned Trump after attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The ban was driven by concerns that he would use the platform to promote more violence. Those bans on major social media platforms were later lifted. In the brief filed on Friday, Trump's lawyer made it clear the president-elect did not take a position on the legal merits of the current case. "President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute," John Sauer wrote in the amicus curiae -- or "friend of the court" -- brief. "Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump's incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case." MENAFN27122024000143011026ID1109035871 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Staff report ANDERSON, S.C. — The Catawba women’s basketball team will look back on Wednesday’s game in a few weeks and will still be trying to figure out how they won it. But the Indians really did win 63-62 at Anderson in the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams. Freshman Bailee Goodlett (North Rowan) made the game-winning drive with eight seconds left, as a crowd of 118 looked on in the Abney Center. Catawba scored a meager 18 points in the first half and it looked like the Indians might get shut out until Goodlett banked in a 3-pointer after more than four minutes had been played. Catawba shot six free throws all night. Yes, six. That should get you beat in a Division II game. Catawba also allowed 19 offensive rebounds. That also should get you beat. But the Indians (3-1, 1-0) hung in there and they had one heck of a 27-point fourth quarter. Sydney Gueterman was a star. She doesn’t always play a lot, but she was hot and Catawba was desperate. She filled it up in the fourth quarter and scored 15. Janiya Foskey had a terrific game with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Goodlett made her second 3-pointer in the fourth quarter in a key situation and then she came through again at the end. Anderson (2-3, 0-1) and Catawba were both playing short-handed. Catawba 9 9 18 27 — 63 Anderson 11 14 18 19 — 62 CATAWBA scoring — Gueterman 15, Foskey 14, Goodlett 10, Wilson 9, Ingram 8, Baker 3, Dixon-Booker 2, Fuertes 2.General Motors Arlington Assembly celebrates 70 years with new documentary
Some MPs who backed the assisted dying Bill have indicated they could consider changing their mind along the process amid concerns over palliative care provision and safeguarding. MPs will be able to suggest amendments to the legislation when it moves into its next parliamentary step, the committee stage, at a date which is yet to be announced. On Friday, MPs voted 330 to 275, majority 55, to approve Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading. Following the historic vote, some MPs have voiced concerns over parts of the Bill that could prevent them opting in its favour at later stages of the process. “I think all of us want this to be a good Bill,” she said. “I would hope that colleagues across the House, especially those who voted for it, reserve the right to vote no at further stages.” She said that arguments against the plans need to be taken “extraordinarily seriously”. Senior Conservative MP Sir David Davis – another backer of the Bill – used his Commons speech to ask the Government for more time to scrutinise it, to “give us the time to get this right”. He told the Commons: “I want this Bill to succeed, it’s more important than most bills we have. It can’t be dealt with in five hours and a few hours in committee. “I’m going to vote for it today, but I want the Government to help me be able to vote for a good Bill at the end of this.” Labour MP Chris Webb suggested that his position on the matter may change as the plans move through the process, saying in a statement that he believes “this Bill deserved to progress to the next stage for further robust scrutiny and debate” and he “will consider my position again in the ensuing stages”. There were three Conservative MPs and 18 Labour MPs for whom no vote was recorded on Friday. SNP MPs did not vote as the matter only applied to England and Wales. There are numerous reasons that an MP may not be able to take part in a vote – such as being abroad or away from Parliament – however, a number have indicated that they intentionally abstained. Josh Fenton-Glynn, the new Labour MP for Calder Valley, said that he had abstained because “as it stands, I don’t think the safeguards are strong enough”. Despite having previously thought that he would “support a Bill like this” he said in a statement on social media he would make his “final decision based on the Bill as it’s written that comes out of the committee stage”. End-of-life care charity Marie Curie had also raised concerns about palliative care and has called for MPs to enshrine a commitment for developing a strategy on the matter into the legislation. They said in a briefing sent to parliamentarians before the second reading that they want an amendment to the legislation that would impose a duty on ministers to develop a strategy to improve palliative and end-of-life care. The charity’s chief executive, Matthew Reed, said that the organisation is “neutral” on the subject of assisted dying, “but what we are absolutely not neutral on is the need to urgently fix end-of-life care”. In a statement after the vote, Mr Reed said: “Warm words won’t fix our broken end-of-life care system. The Bill says nothing about the urgent need to improve existing provision. It says nothing about the postcode lottery for access to end-of-life care, nothing about the funding crisis, and nothing about people spending their final moments in A&E because our health system can’t offer them the care and support they need, in or out of hours.” On Saturday, Mother of the House Diane Abbott had said that she was “worried that vulnerable people will get swept up in the assisted dying route”. Ms Abbott was one of the 275 MPs who voted against the plans in Parliament. Asked why, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I am very worried that vulnerable people will get swept up in the assisted dying route, when actually what they really need is access to hospice care and proper end-of-life care.” She said that she has “every sympathy” for other positions, but wants people to “not see supported suicide as the only option” if they have concerns such as being a “burden” or worries about the family finances.
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Every winter, like migratory birds, people working on climate change flock to some distant location. This year, it was the Caspian seashore of Baku in Azerbaijan. They don’t do this to escape the pollution of north India. They do it because they believe that if all countries come together at the annual climate summit of the UN (called the COP), they will be able to solve the problem of climate change. This has been going on for 29 years. This year’s COP29 started in inauspicious circumstances. The US elected Donald Trump, who will withdraw his country from the Paris Agreement on climate change, just as he did in 2016, meaning that the world’s richest economy will not offer any new climate finance. Germany, usually an advocate for European contributions to climate finance , saw its coalition govt collapse. Experts had estimated the need to raise $2.4 trillion per year for nature and climate, but COP29 closed with a kitty of only $300 billion per year by 2035. This is barely more than the earlier pot of $100 billion per year after allowing for inflation. And it will count not just grants that poor, vulnerable countries need, but also loans that they will have to repay, and money spent by developing countries themselves. Quite naturally, people might question the benefit of this multilateral process. If rich countries are not paying up, why should we have to answer to anyone? Three developments at COP29 show the relevance of continued engagement for India. First, many countries announced new targets to cut their greenhouse gas emissions . The UK’s emissions are now half of what they were in 1990, and it pledged to cut them by 81% of 1990 levels by 2035. Though it is a developing economy, Brazil announced that it will cut its emissions by at least 59% from 2005 levels by 2035. Indonesia and Mexico committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Such announcements send signals to Indian industry about potential markets. For example, with the European Union banning the sale of diesel or petrol cars after 2035 as part of its climate policy, Indian car makers could plan a shift to electric vehicle manufacturing, and Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can start pivoting to making electrical components and reskilling their workers. Similarly, with the new climate finance deal at COP29, multilateral development banks like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank will target their lending to climate-friendly activities, and Indian state govts can prepare project proposals for the needs identified in their State Action Plans on Climate Change. Second, COP29 agreed on the rules of the international carbon market, which can be a useful source of revenue for projects in India. It adopted common standards for methodologies to accurately measure and credit emission reductions, developed a sustainable development tool for social and environmental safeguards, and found a way to link carbon credit registries across countries. This means that Indian companies, MSME clusters, municipalities and gram panchayats will be able to sell carbon credits in three types of markets — the Indian carbon market that is being designed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the voluntary carbon market that already exists, and the international carbon market made possible by COP29. The Indian govt has already published a list of preferred project types that are more expensive and can benefit from international carbon credit revenue — not just solar power, but solar power with storage; not only onshore wind, but offshore wind; and emerging technologies like green hydrogen, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel, and carbon capture and storage. Third, next year’s COP30 hosted by Brazil in the Amazon rainforest will give as much priority to nature as to climate. This is important for our country too. For example, as India scales up its solar parks over the next few decades, it will be important to protect biodiversity and people’s livelihoods that depend on natural resources. We also have opportunities for behaviour change, such as switching to millets that need less irrigation. And we can reduce food waste — one study estimated almost 1,000 tons of food waste a year in 500 wedding halls in Bengaluru alone. COP30 is also planning a new treaty for tracing the supply chains of critical minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt needed for renewable energy, electric vehicles and batteries. There are growing concerns in India about e-waste, mining, and import dependence, and this topic was discussed in India’s G-20 presidency last year. We can find value in e-waste and create rural jobs based on a circular economy to extract and process critical minerals. Like its colourful rainforest birds, perhaps the Brazil COP next year will bring a more vibrant outcome. Kelkar is executive program director for climate, economics and finance at WRI India. Views expressed are personal.New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns