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Inflation is predicted to average 2.5% this year and 2.6% next year, according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The British Medical Association said the Government showed a “poor grasp” of unresolved issues from two years of industrial action, and the Royal College of Nursing called the pay recommendation “deeply offensive”. The National Education Union’s chief said teachers were “putting the Government on notice” that the proposed increase “won’t do”. The pay recommendations came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for every Government department to cut costs by 5%, as she started work on a sweeping multi-year spending review to be published in 2025. Independent pay review bodies will consider the proposals for pay rises for teachers, NHS workers and senior civil servants. The Department of Health said it viewed 2.8% as a “reasonable amount” to set aside, in its recommendations to the NHS Pay Review Body and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Board remit groups. A 2.8% pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would “maintain the competitiveness of teachers’ pay despite the challenging financial backdrop the Government is facing”, the Department for Education said. The Cabinet Office also suggested pay increases for senior civil servants should be kept to no more than 2.8%. Paul Johnson, director of the influential economics think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said it was “not a bad ballpark figure” and feels “just about affordable” given the Government’s public spending plans. The downside, he said, is that public sector workers have lost out since 2010 and unions will be upset that this is not making up the gap, he told Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge. “But given the constraints facing the Chancellor I think it’s pretty hard to argue for more for public sector pay when public sector services ... are under real strain,” he said. Unions expressed their disappointment in the recommendations, with some hinting they could be willing to launch industrial action. The Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive called for “open direct talks now” to avoid “further escalation to disputes and ballots”. Professor Nicola Ranger said: “The Government has today told nursing staff they are worth as little as £2 extra a day, less than the price of a coffee. “Nursing is in crisis – there are fewer joining and too many experienced professionals leaving. This is deeply offensive to nursing staff, detrimental to their patients and contradictory to hopes of rebuilding the NHS. “The public understands the value of nursing and they know that meaningful reform of the NHS requires addressing the crisis in nursing. “We pulled out of the Pay Review Body process, alongside other unions, because it is not the route to address the current crisis. “That has been demonstrated today. “Fair pay must be matched by structural reform. Let’s open direct talks now and avoid further escalation to disputes and ballots – I have said that directly to government today.” Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association’s council, urged the sector’s pay review body to “show it is now truly independent”. “For this Government to give evidence to the doctors’ and dentists’ pay review body (DDRB) believing a 2.8% pay rise is enough, indicates a poor grasp of the unresolved issues from two years of industrial action,” he said. He said the proposal is far below the current rate of inflation and that the Government was “under no illusion” when doctors accepted pay offers in the summer that there was a “very real risk of further industrial action” if “pay erosion” was not addressed in future pay rounds. “This sub-inflationary suggestion from the current Government serves as a test to the DDRB. “The BMA expects it to take this opportunity to show it is now truly independent, to take an objective view of the evidence it receives from all parties, not just the Government, and to make an offer that reflects the value of doctors’ skills and expertise in a global market, and that moves them visibly further along the path to full pay restoration.” The NEU’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said teachers’ pay had been cut by more than one-fifth in real terms since 2010. “Along with sky-high workload, the pay cuts have resulted in a devastating recruitment and retention crisis. Teacher shortages across the school system hit pupils and parents too. “A 2.8% increase is likely to be below inflation and behind wage increases in the wider economy. This will only deepen the crisis in education.” In a hint that there could be a return to industrial action he added: “NEU members fought to win the pay increases of 2023 and 2024. “We are putting the Government on notice. Our members care deeply about education and feel the depth of the crisis. This won’t do.” The offer for teachers is the “exact opposite of fixing the foundations” and will result in bigger class sizes and more cuts to the curriculum, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The inadequacy of the proposed pay award is compounded by the Government’s intention that schools should foot the bill out of their existing allocations. “Given that per-pupil funding will increase on average by less than 1% next year, and the Government’s proposal is for an unfunded 2.8% pay award, it is obvious that this is in fact an announcement of further school cuts.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: This recommendation falls far short of what is needed to restore the competitiveness of the teaching profession, to enable it to retain experienced professionals and attract new talent. Unison head of health Helga Pile said: “The Government has inherited a financial mess from its predecessors, but this is not what NHS workers wanted to hear. “Staff are crucial in turning around the fortunes of the NHS. Improving performance is a key Government pledge, but the pay rise proposed is barely above the cost of living.”Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials sayNew Delhi : The US denied the Bharatiya Janata Party’s allegations accusing the country over recent controversies about Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani, on Saturday, December 7. The BJP had blamed that organisations funded by the US State Department and elements in the American “deep state” were behind attempts to destabilise India through targeted attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani, on Saturday, . A spokesperson at the US embassy described the allegations as “disappointing” and asserted that the US government has been a champion of media freedom around the world. “It’s disappointing that the ruling party in India would make these kinds of accusations,” the US embassy spokesperson said. “The US government works with independent organisations on programming that supports professional development and capacity building training for journalists. This programming does not influence the editorial decisions or direction of these organisations,” the official said. The OCCRP, headquartered in Amsterdam, is a media platform that largely focuses on stories relating to crime and corruption. The BJP had referred to a French media report and said it revealed that OCCRP is funded by the US State Department’s USAID, along with other “deep state figures” like George Soros and the Rockefeller Foundation. “The United States has long been a champion of media freedom around the world. A free and independent press is an essential component of any democracy, enabling informed and constructive debate and holding those in power accountable,” the US embassy official said. The BJP alleged on Thursday that the US deep state colluded with the media portal OCCRP (Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to “damage” India’s image. The BJP had cited Gandhi’s use of reports by OCCRP to attack the Adani Group and to accuse it of having closeness with the government. Last month, US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani, 62, his nephew Sagar and other defendants for paying over USD 250 million in bribes between 2020 and 2024 to Indian government officials to win solar energy contracts on terms that could potentially bring in more than USD 2 billion in profit. The Adani Group has dismissed the charges as “baseless”. The opposition Congress demanded a thorough investigation into the allegations and accused the government of shielding the businessman. In an unprecedented criticism of the the US State Department, the BJP said on Thursday, “French investigative media group Mediapart revealed that OCCRP is funded by the U.S. State Department’s USAID, as well as other deep state figures like George Soros and the Rockefeller Foundation.” “In fact, 50% of OCCRP’s funding comes directly from the U.S. State Department. OCCRP, therefore, functions as a media tool for carrying out deep state agendas,” the party said in a series of posts on X. “A French investigative journalist has revealed that the US govt controls the media organization OCCRP, dictating that any story it ran was influenced & lacked genuine backing. But what is its connection with Congress?” one of the posts said.wow 888 。

Southern Miss secures 68-66 victory against MarshallThe Yevla assembly constituency in Maharashtra's Nashik district went to polls on November 20. Nationalist Congress Party veteran (Ajit Pawar faction) Chhagan Chandrakant Bhujbal, who had won the constituency in last four terms, faces Manikrao Shinde , a Maratha pitted by Sharad Pawar. Manikrao Shinde, a former friend of NCP heavyweight Chhagan Bhujbal has been pitted against him in the crucial Yevla constituency. Manikrao Shinde, son of former MLA Madhukarrao Shinde, is no stranger to Yevla’s political landscape. Once a close associate of Bhujbal, Shinde played a pivotal role in bringing Bhujbal to Yevla under Sharad Pawar’s guidance in 2004. However, their relationship soured, leading Shinde to join Shiv Sena in 2009 to contest against Bhujbal unsuccessfully. Yevla constituency: Who won in 2019 and 2014 elections? Chhagan Bhujbal, an undisputed political leader, won the Yevla constituency in the 2019 by defeating Sambhaji Sahebrao Pawar of the Shiv Sena with a margin of 56,525 votes. In the 2014 assembly elections, the seat was won by NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal by a margin of 46,442 votes. In 2004, Yevla constituency witnessed a commanding victory by Chhagan Bhujbal by defeating Shinde-Patil Manikrao Madhavrao of Shiv Sena. Chhagan Bhujbal faces tough battle in Yevla in 2024 Maharashtra elections Chhagan Bhujbal faces tough re-election battle in Yevla, targeted by former allies and Maratha activists after controversial comments on reservations. The 77-year-old seeks to retain the Yevla Assembly seat that he has made his bastion since first contesting from here in 2004. Chhagan Bhujbal’s consistent victories reflect his strong influence and popularity in elections. In the elections of 1999, Bhujbal did not contest. When he did, and won, in 2004, as an NCP candidate from Yevla, he was made Deputy Chief Minister by Sharad Pawar. He is credited to have overseen large-scale infrastructural development in Yevla, transforming it into what many see as a model constituency. 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About Yevla constituency One of the 288 Assembly constituencies in the western state of Maharashtra, Yevla constituency, falls under the Dindori Lok Sabha constituency. Yevla had a total of 297,599 registered electors in 2019 and is a General category assembly seat. According to the state Chief Election Commissioner (CEO), the Yevla constituency will have 328 polling stations. Overall, more than 1 lakh polling stations will be set up across Maharashtra for the 2024 Assembly elections. In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, voter turnout recorded a slight dip, standing at 67.75%. This marks a 2.99% decrease from the 70.74% turnout in 2014. Comparatively, the 2009 elections saw a lower turnout at 65.65%. The decline in 2019 indicates a modest decrease in voter participation over th (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Patriots honor Randy Moss at Week 17 game against ChargersUnions attack 2.8% Government pay rise proposal for NHS workers and teachersSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Most ruling party lawmakers were boycotting a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority sought by the opposition to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law , as protests grew nationwide calling for his removal. The likely defeat of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon's impeachment apparently because it fears losing presidency to liberals. Impeaching Yoon would require support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The opposition parties who brought the impeachment motion have 192 seats, meaning they need at least eight additional votes from Yoon’s People Power Party. The opposition-controlled parliament began a vote earlier Saturday, but only three lawmakers from PPP took part with opposition members. If the number of lawmakers who cast ballots doesn't reach 200, the motion will be scrapped at midnight, according to National Assembly. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik urged ruling party members to return to the chamber to participate in the vote, stressing that it was closely watched by the nation and also the world. “Don’t make a shameful judgment and please vote based on your convictions,” Woo said. “I plead to you, for the future of the Republic of Korea.” Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country's political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office." “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners, including neighboring Japan and Seoul’s top ally the United States, as one of the strongest democracies in Asia faces a political crisis that could unseat its leader. Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon's martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. The passage of Yoon’s impeachment motion appeared more likely Friday when the chair of Yoon’s party called for his removal on Friday, but the party remained formally opposed to impeachment. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people packed streets near the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing and singing along to K-pop songs with lyrics changed to call for Yoon’s ouster. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon’s wife. Some lawmakers from Yoon’s party were seen leaving the hall after that vote, triggering angry shouts from opposition lawmakers. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Opposition lawmakers say that Yoon’s attempt at martial law amounted to a self-coup, and drafted the impeachment motion around rebellion charges. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, told reporters that Yoon’s speech was “greatly disappointing” and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon's martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities." Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing Friday that Yoon called after imposing martial law and ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, Lee and Woo, according to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. The Defense Ministry said it had suspended the defense counterintelligence commander, Yeo In-hyung, who Han alleged had received orders from Yoon to detain the politicians. The ministry also suspended the commanders of the capital defense command and the special warfare command over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has been accused of recommending Yoon enforce martial law, has been placed under a travel ban and faces an investigation by prosecutors over rebellion charges. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has testified to parliament that it was Kim Yong Hyun who ordered troops to be deployed to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law.

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Opinion: Why taxpayers deserve a public inquiry into Elections BCWill Elon kill Elmo? Panic grips public media over fears of DOGE cuts to $535m funding By CHARLIE SPIERING, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, WASHINGTON, DC Published: 21:52, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 21:52, 27 December 2024 e-mail View comments Executives for public broadcasting giants National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) are warily eying billionaire Elon Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy 's mission to cut government waste out of the federal government. Musk and Ramaswamy were appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to the Department of Government Efficience (DOGE), vowing to give a top-to-bottom audit of the federal government and find ways to save taxpayer money. Leaders of NPR's biggest radio stations circulated a report warning of future threats to their government funding, according to the New York Times . 'While it's impossible to know what precisely will happen, it would be unwise to assume that events will play out as they have in the past,' the warning about DOGE reportedly stated. Congress approved $535 million in public funding for public broadcasting in 2024. But its coffers could soon be drained with DOGE taking control in January. Both Musk and Ramaswamy included the funding for public media on their list of federal expenditures that should be eliminated. For decades, Republicans have championed the idea of defunding public broadcasting, especially since the national brands are biased against conservatives . But efforts to defund the institutions typically generate widespread emotional pushback from Americans who harbor strong feelings for public programming like Sesame Street and local public radio. Any attempt to cut public broadcasting would be labeled by critics as an attempt to cancel or kill lovable characters like Elmo from Sesame Street. Elon Musk has vowed to address federal spending on public broadcasting media as part of his task to reduce government waste Any attempt to cut public broadcasting would be labeled by critics as an attempt to cancel or kill lovable characters like Elmo from Sesame Street Former failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney received widespread public outrage from Democrats after he declared in a debate that he would defund public broadcasting. 'I'm sorry Jim. I'm gonna stop the subsidy to PBS. I'm gonna stop other things,' Romney said during a 2012 debate with moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS. 'I like PBS, I like Big Bird, I actually like you too.' But Musk has previously signaled his opposition to federal funding for public media, particularly for NPR, which has received escalating criticism for its leftist bias. Should your tax dollars really be paying for an organization run by people who think the truth is a 'distraction'?' Musk wrote on X in November. He highlighted a video of NPR CEO Katherine Maher explaining to an audience that the 'reverence for the truth' had become a 'distraction' in the United States. Ramaswamy also reacted to the Maher video, calling for an end to taxpayer funding for outlets like NPR. 'Seeking truth isn't the real problem. It's wasteful federal spending,' he wrote . 'Let's turn off the spigot & see what happens. No one will be harmed.' In August, Vivek published a video on social media, criticizing them for ostracizing their journalists who demanded more political balance. 'NPR is quite literally state-funded media. At some point in the last decade, they started acting like it,' he warned. For decades, Republicans have championed the idea of defunding public broadcasting Former biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy was appointed by Trump to work with Elon Musk to cut government waste Kari Lake, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for director of Voice of America Trump is committed to seeing significant change in direction from publicly funded media outlets. The president-elect selected failed Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake to lead Voice of America, a government-funded global news agency. Trump tasked Lake with making sure 'American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media.' Lake a former broadcast journalist reassured critics she would not try to remake the organization to serve a propaganda outlet for Trump and his agenda. 'I'm not there to make it Trump TV and MAGA TV,' she said in an interview with CBS. 'That's not what this is about. That's not what Voice of America is.' Politics Share or comment on this article: Will Elon kill Elmo? Panic grips public media over fears of DOGE cuts to $535m funding e-mail Add comment

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Denijay Harris scored 29 points as Southern Miss beat Marshall 68-66 on Saturday in a Sun Belt Conference opener. Harris also contributed 10 rebounds for the Golden Eagles (5-7). Christian Watson scored 10 points while shooting 4 for 12 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 1 of 3 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Harris made one of two free throws for a 68-66 lead with 16 seconds left and Watson's steal with four seconds left sealed the win. Obinna Anochili-Killen led the way for the Thundering Herd (7-6) with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Mikal Dawson added 14 points and six rebounds for Marshall. Dezayne Mingo also had 14 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 21, 2024-- Sunny Health & Fitness , a trailblazer in cardio equipment for over 20 years, is entering an exciting new phase of innovation and evolution. As a leader in the fitness industry, Sunny is not only enhancing its cardio offerings with cutting-edge technology to elevate users' fitness journeys but is also expanding into a comprehensive, one-stop lifestyle brand. With the launch of the Sunny Strength Line , the brand is redefining strength training with a sleek, high-performance collection designed for the fit, design-conscious consumer. This marks a bold new chapter in Sunny’s growth, delivering style, power, and innovation to home gyms everywhere at an affordable price. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241221265768/en/ From Strength to Strength - Unveiling the Sunny Strength Line (Photo: Business Wire) Strength, Style, and Innovation—Designed for the Modern Home Gym The Sunny Strength Line represents the perfect fusion of power and aesthetics. Whether you're an emerging athlete or just someone who values top-quality fitness gear at home, this collection delivers both superior performance and eye-catching design. From heavy-duty machines like racks, benches, and smith machines to stylish free weights, dumbbells, bars, and accessories, every product is engineered to meet the needs of those who want to build muscle and enhance strength, all while maintaining the sleek, modern look of their living spaces. Explore the Sunny Strength video to see how power meets style in this new strength training equipment line: https://youtu.be/j7KcpKa1iyE . Sunny Health & Fitness understands that today’s fitness enthusiasts demand equipment that not only performs but also complements their lifestyle. The Sunny Strength Line was created with versatility, functionality, and design in mind, giving you everything you need to take your strength training to the next level without compromising on the aesthetic of your home gym. With a thoughtfully curated color palette, this is strength training that combines exceptional performance with stunning design. Performance-Driven Strength Training for Every Fitness Journey Building muscle and enhancing strength are cornerstones of living a healthy and active lifestyle, and the Sunny Strength Line is specifically designed to support individuals in achieving these goals. Whether you’re a beginner or want to train like a pro, the line’s diverse range of products ensures there’s an ideal solution for every fitness level and training style. This equipment is built to deliver maximum performance, allowing users to progress efficiently in their strength training and take their fitness to new heights. Sunny Health & Fitness is committed to helping people not only get stronger but also get smarter about their fitness journey. The SunnyFit app , a key part of their digital transformation, offers personalized workout plans, fitness tracking, and progress monitoring—guiding users as they level up their performance. With this seamless integration of high-quality equipment and cutting-edge technology, the Sunny Strength Line provides everything you need to build muscle, boost endurance, and achieve long-term success. About Sunny Health & Fitness For more than two decades, Sunny Health & Fitness has been a leader in the fitness industry, providing affordable, high-quality solutions for home and commercial gyms alike. With its expanding range of strength equipment and digital tools like the SunnyFit app , the company is dedicated to helping individuals reach their fitness goals with style, innovation, and performance. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241221265768/en/ CONTACT: Hanna Kim (626) 968-1000 hannak@sunnyhealthfitness.comVisit website:SunnyHealthFitness.com Download SunnyFit now:SunnyFit.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE MEN LIFESTYLE SPECIALTY CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CONSUMER APPS/APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY FITNESS & NUTRITION RETAIL WOMEN HEALTH HOME GOODS SOURCE: Sunny Health & Fitness Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/21/2024 06:00 PM/DISC: 12/21/2024 06:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241221265768/enAssad’s rule in peril as rebels advance on Damascus Syrian defence ministry, loyal to Assad, denied that army had fled positions BEIRUT: Rebels on a lightning advance through Syria said they were nearing Damascus on Saturday, although Bashar al-Assad’s government denied that the army had withdrawn from areas around the capital. “Our forces have begun the final phase of encircling the capital,” said rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani, with the Islamist-led alliance that launched the offensive. The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group which has headed the assault, told fighters to prepare to take the seat of Assad’s government, just over a week into a renewed offensive in the long dormant conflict. “Damascus awaits you,” said HTS’s Ahmed al-Sharaa in a statement on Telegram, using his real name instead of his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. The HTS-led alliance’s offensive since November 27 represents the most significant threat to President Bashar al-Assad’s power in years, after Syria’s civil war -- which began with Assad’s crackdown on democracy protests in 2011 -- had been mostly dormant. However, the Syrian defence ministry, loyal to Assad, denied the army had fled positions. “There is no truth to news claiming our armed forces, present in all areas of the Damascus countryside, have withdrawn,” it said. Earlier, Syrian rebels battled government forces for control of the key city of Homs on Saturday. Since the rebels’ sweep into Aleppo a week ago, government defences have crumbled at dizzying speed as insurgents seized a string of major cities and rose up in places where the rebellion had long seemed over. A Homs resident, and army and rebel sources said the insurgents had breached government defences from the north and east of the city. A rebel commander said they had taken control of an army camp and villages outside the city. State television reported that the insurgents had not penetrated into Homs although it said they were on the city outskirts, where it said the military was striking them with artillery and drones. Insurgents have seized almost the entire southwest within 24 hours, and they have advanced to within 30 km of Damascus as government forces fell back, rebels said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported government forces were pulling out of towns as little as 10 kilometres from Damascus. Air strikes and shelling by government forces and their ally Russia killed at least seven civilians near the city of Homs on Saturday. The Britain-based Observatory said government forces had brought “large reinforcements” to quell the rebel advance on Homs, as the army sought to slow the rebel advance there, about 140 kilometres from the seat of power in Damascus. Since the offensive began last week, at least 826 people, mostly combatants but also including 111 civilians, have been killed, according to the Observatory. The United Nations said the violence has displaced 370,000 people. Lebanese militant group Hezbollah -- a longtime ally of Damascus -- has sent 2,000 fighters to a part of Syria near the border with Lebanon, a source close to the group said. “Hezbollah sent 2,000 fighters to the Qusayr area... to defend its positions there and has not yet participated in any battles” with Syrian rebels, the source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Security sources in neighbouring Iraq told AFP the country had allowed hundreds of troops from the Syrian army, some of them wounded, to cross the border. The soldiers from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces “have fled the front lines” and entered Iraq through the Al-Qaim border crossing, said one senior security official, adding that “the wounded have been hospitalised” in the area. A second source gave a figure of 2,000 soldiers, including officers, who entered Iraq with the authorities’ permission. In a Damascus suburb on Saturday, witnesses said protesters toppled a statue of the late president Hafez al-Assad, who handed Syria’s rule to his son. Similar scenes were witnessed in images shared by local media in the southern city of Daraa and in online footage verified by AFP from Hama, north of the capital. In Hama, an AFP photographer saw residents set fire to a giant poster of President Assad on the facade of city hall. “The rebels entered Hama, it was a great joy for us -- something we had been waiting for since 2011,” said resident Maymouna Jawad, of the year Assad’s crackdown on democracy protests escalated into civil war. Syria’s presidency denied reports that Assad had left Damascus, saying he was “following up on his work and national and constitutional duties from the capital”. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syria must not be allowed to fall into the hands of “terrorist” rebels. “It’s inadmissible to allow the terrorist group to take control of the lands in violation of agreements which exist, starting with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 which strongly reiterated sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Syrian Arab Republic,” Lavrov said at an event in Qatar, referring to a 2015 UN resolution for a political settlement in Syria. US President-elect Donald Trump weighed in on the escalating situation in Syria Saturday, posting on social media: “THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” Trump also argued that if Syrian rebels are able to force President Bashar al-Assad out of power, “it may actually be the best thing that can happen” to Russia, which he argued is too preoccupied with its war in Ukraine to stop the rebel fighters. The president-elect also blamed former US President Barack Obama’s administration for what he said was failing to enforce the 2013 “red line,” which stated that Syria’s use of chemical weapons would mean US military action. Reiterating his “America First” stance, Trump argued that Syria is not the United States’ fight. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he hopes neighbouring Syria finds peace. “Our wish is for our neighbour, Syria, to find the peace and tranquility it has been dreaming of for 13 years,” said Erdogan, a key player in the region, adding that Syria “is tired of war, blood and tears”. Turkey, which has a long border with Syria, has become home to about three million Syrian refugees since the start of the civil war in 2011. “Our Syrian brothers and sisters deserve freedom, security and peace in their homeland,” Erdogan added, voicing hope “to see a Syria where different identities co-exist in peace”. “We hope to see such a Syria in the very near future,” he said in a speech delivered in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, to which several hundred thousand Syrians fled. The Turkish president was long a supporter of the resistance to Assad since the civil war erupted. But in recent months Erdogan tried to reconcile with his Syrian counterpart -- an olive branch he accused Assad of not grasping. “There is now a new political and diplomatic reality in Syria,” he told the crowd in Gaziantep, accusing Damascus of not having grasped “the hand extended by Turkey” through Russian mediation. Qatar’s prime minister said Assad had failed to engage with his people and address issues like the return of refugees during a period of calm in the country’s civil war. “Assad didn’t seize these opportunities to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people, and we didn’t see any serious movement, whether it’s on the return of the refugees or on reconciling with his own people,” Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said at the Doha Forum for political dialogue. Doha had given early support to the rebels in the wake of Assad’s crackdown in 2011. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Doha and agreed to initiate a “political dialogue between the Syrian government and the legitimate opposition groups”, Iran ́s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said. The three countries have been involved since 2017 in talks that began in Astana, Kazakhstan, seeking a political settlement in Syria. Russia and Turkey brokered a 2020 ceasefire in Syria’s northwestern Idlib region, at that time the last major rebel bastion in the country. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release that in view of the ongoing developments and evolving situation in Syria, it had activated its Crisis Management Unit to facilitate Pakistanis in Syria. Pakistani nationals in Syria and their families are encouraged to contact the CMU at the following telephone/Email: Phone No: 051-9207887 Email: cmu1@mofa.gov.pk Meanwhile the Pakistan Embassy in Damascus remains actively engaged to facilitate Pakistani nationals in Syria. Contact details of the Embassy of Pakistan, Damascus Cell/Whatsapp: (+963 987 127 822) (+963 990 138 972) Email: parepdamascus@mofa.gov.pk

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Eighty years ago, on Christ-mas Eve, 500 cold soldiers of the 274th Infantry Regiment of the 70th Infantry Division arrived at Brumath, France. They had been transported 500 miles by train and had been traveling since Dec. 20. Taking a brief rest, they walked 13 miles to Bischweiler France. Among those soldiers was Technical Sergeant Russell Andersen, my dad. Four-thousand, three-hundred and ten miles to the west in Marshfield, Wisconsin it was late afternoon and the sun was setting. Christmas Eve was just beginning. Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday that year, so the stores had been closed all day. At the local taverns "last call" was being sounded. The patrons left to head home to their families. The full moon was just breaking the horizon. In France, the full moon high in the sky illuminated the road to Bischweiler for the cold yet sweating soldiers of the 274th Infantry. A little after midnight my dad and the 1st Battalion/274th Medics bedded down in an old schoolhouse. It was not warm but they were out of the weather. In Marshfield, family was gathering at my aunt and uncles house on Vine Street. My mother and grandmother had arrived by train from Owen to spend the holiday. Christmas Eve that year was an uneasy one. My mother did not know where my dad was and my aunt and uncle had received at telegram from the War Department saying that their son had been wounded in action some place in Germany. They heard nothing more for the next three weeks. The tree was up and the house was decorated for the holiday. Three fireplaces had been lit and my uncle shoveled more coal in the furnace. The house was warm and the Christmas Eve celebration could begin. My mom years later told me the celebration was muted. Christmas Day was observed and somber. As the week progressed my mom received several letters from my dad stating that they were in southern France. My aunt and uncle received word their son was being treated for his chest wound in a hospital in England. The New Years celebration was a bit more joyful with hopes that the war would end in 1945. Which, of course, it did. Several traditions from that Christmas Eve 80 years ago continued for my family. On Christmas Day we always gathered at my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas. The fireplaces were lit and the house decorated. There was no talk about the Christmas Eve of 1944. The tradition ended with my aunt's passing in 1983. I miss those days and the people who were there. Our kids grew up, moved away, and our time together has become more precious; especially at Christmas. I often see in Facebook that we would be a better society if we all held a family dinner together each Sunday. That is a quaint thought and perhaps well meant. But in today's world it would be totally impossible unless your family is close by. Ours is a mobile society where our families must take advantage of the opportunities that are presented for us. At one time in our life, we had one daughter in Providence, Rhode Island and the other in Vancouver, British Columbia. That made it hard to have Sunday dinner together each week. Often I am no great fan of technology. I am thankful for it at Christmas when, if needed, we can FaceTime from Toronto, Canada, to Lake Hallie, to Los Angeles. While it is not the same, it still allows us to get together to share Christmas morning; if not the whole day. Every year on Christmas Eve my dad always said the same words: "It is great to be home, warm, and dry." It was never mentioned, but I know my dad always remembered that Christmas Eve in Bischweiler, France. This Christmas I think of the words of composer John William's music from the movie "Home Alone": "Star light, shine bright, see me through the dark night, Light mine, half way, Guide me home for Christmas Day." May you find your way home too. From our house in Lake Hallie, to your house wherever you are, Merry Christmas and God Bless us everyone. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has a strained right calfBroncos hope to continue playoff push when they meet the banged-up Raiders

Quoin Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. ( NASDAQ:QNRX – Get Free Report ) Director Anthony James Culverwell purchased 100,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 23rd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $0.45 per share, for a total transaction of $45,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 100,317 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $45,142.65. This represents a 31,545.74 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Quoin Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 1.6 % NASDAQ QNRX opened at $0.55 on Friday. Quoin Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. has a 12-month low of $0.43 and a 12-month high of $6.18. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $0.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $0.63. The company has a market capitalization of $2.78 million, a P/E ratio of -0.14 and a beta of 1.79. About Quoin Pharmaceuticals ( Get Free Report ) Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Quoin Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quoin Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Did The Secret Service Chief Perjure Himself After Screaming Match?

ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Yoga is a great way to improve your overall health. It's good exercise, it makes you more flexible, and it's good for easing stress – yoga even has a long-term impact on clinical depression . But getting into yoga can be a bit of a rough transition. It involves a lot of stretching and movements you might not be accustomed to, and if you're not quite sure what you're doing, there's a chance you could accidentally hurt yourself. The best way to ensure an ideal yoga experience is to take a class with a professional instructor, but if that's off the table, there are ways to bring a solo yoga session in line with one offered in a class. You could keep a visual list of pose diagrams handy, open up a yoga video on your computer or a yoga app on your phone , or, perhaps, employ a smarter mat. As smart tech proliferates through anything and everything, even the peaceful realm of yoga has seen technological upgrades in the form of smart yoga mats. While these flexible devices won't magically make you perfectly pretzel-like, their combination of intelligent sensors might just make your yoga journey a teensy bit easier. A smart yoga mat is kind of like the yoga equivalent of a stationary bicycle or treadmill like the Peloton Tread . Rather than the usual flat strip of foamy material, a smart yoga mat incorporates a variety of subtle sensors, scanners, and even AI algorithms to track your progress through a long-term yoga program. These sensors are used to check your positioning while performing yoga poses, ensuring you're distributing your weight properly, moving the correct limbs, and not overextending yourself in dangerous ways. Technically speaking, the concept of smart yoga mats have been around since the mid-2010s, with experimental design teams like Fluid and crowdfunded campaigns like Smart Mat researching the possibility of such a product. However, to date, the only smart yoga mat that's managed to make it to commercial availability as far as we can discern is YogiFi, which launched in 2021. No matter what the others promised, YogiFi's the only one to release a product, so it gets to be the benchmark for smart mats going forward. The YogiFi smart yoga mat has a large main device attached to a seemingly normal yoga mat. You power the device on, pair it with a compatible device via the YogiFi app, and select one of the app's programs or classes. An instructional video will play on your connected device, which you're supposed to follow along with on the mat. You can play this lesson on most Bluetooth-compatible displays, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and smart TVs. The big difference between this and a normal yoga instructional tape is that the YogiFi mat is actively monitoring you as you go. The mat's sensors keep track of your weight and balance, monitoring your poses for safety and accuracy. If the mat detects a problem, such as incorrect balance shifting or performing the wrong pose, the paired device will send you an audio and visual warning to fix your positioning. YogiFi also uses an AI-powered virtual yoga trainer to guide you through the steps of your program, offering advice on improving your poses and generally encouraging you to keep going. This is in addition to the prerecorded professional trainer who's conducting the lesson videos.