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joker 777 “Please can you drop the charges against my mum and dad so that I can keep living with my cat brothers and sisters?” That was the plea from the woman at the centre of a sensational starvation trial in a letter sent to state prosecutors. The trial ended last week, with the woman’s parents remanded in custody after being found guilty. The girl’s parents outside court last month. Credit: 9News Perth The woman – now 20, and whose identity is protected by a court order – did not want her parents to go to prison and, from what she wrote, did not think they needed to be punished. But a jury thought otherwise, last week finding them both guilty of not just starving the girl – leading to a dangerous level of malnutrition – but also of emotional abuse, due to their treatment of her as if she were a small child. The case, which was first reported exclusively by WAtoday last year , features elements of infantalisation, a “complex” psychological behaviour that is often rooted in the parents’ own emotional needs, according to Perth clinical psychologist Donna Stambulich. “Common drivers include fear of abandonment, unresolved personal trauma, anxiety about their child’s independence, and difficulty accepting the natural progression of child development,” Stambulich said. “In some cases, narcissistic personality traits may lead parents to view their children as extensions of themselves rather than independent individuals.” So what do we know about the parents, who will be sentenced over the offences early next year? The woman’s father, aged in his 40s, is a senior IT professional, who has held management-level positions in several Perth companies. He became the breadwinner of the family when his daughter was born and his wife gave up her career to be the girl’s full-time carer. A dance school teacher told Perth District Court the girl was small, even by the standard of other students. The family moved to Floreat five years ago and purchased a four-bedroom house for almost $2 million. Department of Communities staff told the court that when they visited the home to check on the girl, it looked “cluttered” and cockroaches were seen scuttling out of the front door where they stood speaking to the father. The father refused to allow them inside and, away from the jury, the court was told the house was filthy and unhygienic, with piles of used sanitary towels sitting in corners. Despite this, the father tried to convince the jury he suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder. While the husband was earning good money, the wife’s family were also wealthy, and the girl’s grandfather wanted to pay for her to attend a prestigious girls’ school which commands fees of up to $28,000 a year. But the parents refused, instead choosing to homeschool the girl. The mother’s relationship with the girl’s grandfather was rocky. She claimed he was abusive to her when she was a child, and would not allow him to be left alone with her daughter. However, the girl was later placed in his care by the Department of Communities, where she stayed until her 18th birthday, when she returned home to live with her parents. The mother also testified that she had little to do with her siblings, and claimed her daughter was hospitalised in part because her sister and their father had both spoken to the department about the girl’s emaciated appearance. When the mother’s sister raised those concerns with her, she cut off contact. The girl was also, for some time after her parents were arrested, placed into the care of her uncle, who soon after relinquished that care because of the parents’ “ongoing involvement”. Outside court, it was also mentioned that the girl was unable to do much for herself and needed constant care and help with day-to-day activities, such as washing and taking care of her hygiene. She was 17 years old at the time. Prosecutors said that after the woman’s own mother died, she isolated herself and her daughter from the rest of the family. None of her family came to court throughout the four-week trial. The girl was hospitalised after the Department of Communities investigated concerns from a dance studio. What the jury weren’t allowed to hear One element of the case that was kept from the jury was the suggestion the girl was wearing nappies as a teenager. Both the prosecution and defence agreed to withhold the information, but some witnesses almost blurted it out on a number of occasions. The jury was also not allowed to hear why the girl herself did not enter the courtroom to give evidence, and that seeing her so distressed almost brought District Court Judge Linda Black to tears. On November 14, the girl’s mother’s lawyer called her as a witness to tell her side of the story. It was a much-anticipated moment, but she did not make it into the courtroom. The jury was told the girl had “changed her mind”. After coming to court with a “support person”, the 20-year-old had a panic attack and could not give evidence. Black went out of the courtroom to speak with her and, on her return, confronted the mother’s lawyer Michael Perella, asking whether he had ensured the girl received her own legal advice before coming to court. He replied that he had only recommended she did. Black asked Perella whether the girl was told what to wear for the occasion by her mother , and noted she was wearing a “relatively child-like dress” and ballet flats. Perella denied that was the case, and attempted to apply to have the trial aborted because of the turn of events. Black fought back tears as she blasted the lawyer for suggesting such a vulnerable person be brought to court in the first place. “If she was shocked that her daughter was in floods of tears, [the mother] must not know her daughter very well at all,” the judge said. She refused to allow the trial to be vacated. The impacts of infantilisation “can be profound and far-reaching”, Stambulich said. “In the short term, children may experience delayed emotional development, poor self-esteem, and significant difficulties in peer relationships,” she said. “They often struggle with basic decision-making skills and age-appropriate social interactions. “The long-term consequences can be even more severe, potentially leading to chronic dependency, persistent relationship difficulties, anxiety and depression, and significant challenges in managing adult responsibilities. “Many adults who experienced infantilisation struggle with boundary setting and may have difficulty establishing their own independent identity.” During the trial The girl was 14 when this photo was taken. The trial itself may have been arduous for the jury, who were initially told it would be finished in seven days. Instead, it dragged on for weeks, in part due to attempts by the mother to have the trial thrown out twice – midway through proceedings, the court was told the woman was too unwell to attend and listen to the evidence. She was given a brief reprieve to recover, but Black insisted she return and could keep a sick bag at her side in case she needed it. They couple sat side-by-side for four weeks but did not appear to communicate once. As the jury read out their guilty verdicts, the father sat straight-faced, as he had the entire trial, while his wife sobbed, even after bring asked to stop by the judge because of the noise. Their relationship had been examined throughout the trial, with accusations of manipulation, control and verbal abuse from the husband to the wife. He didn’t deny that on the stand. But it was accepted throughout the trial that both parents loved their daughter very much. Stambulich said parents who infantilised their children often had limited insight into their behaviour and its impact. “They typically rationalise their actions as necessary protection or expressions of love and care,” she said. “ These parents may minimise or completely deny any harmful effects of their parenting style, viewing their actions as beneficial rather than potentially damaging to their child’s development.” The mother told the jury her daughter would always be her little girl. She had made sure of that by limiting her ability to grow in height and mature like a girl of her age should have, and limiting her ability to mix with other girls her age, to develop age-appropriate interests and have any level of independence. When the father of the girl was presented with photos of her looking small, frail, sick and severely underweight, he told the prosecutor she was thin but not overly so . “Do you have problems with your eyesight?” he was asked. “No,” he replied. Knowing that they were neglecting and damaging their daughter was at the heart of ensuring there was a guilty plea, state prosecutor Jehna Winter told the court. Their education, ability to comprehend when someone looks healthy and well, and their choice to ignore repeated concerns were what led to them being charged and ultimately convicted. The pair will be sentenced in January and face a maximum penalty of 20 years each. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Courts Crime Crime Courts Law Police More... Rebecca Peppiatt – is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in crime and courts. Connect via email . Most Viewed in National Loading$('audio,video').mediaelementplayer(); Laurette Adams-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, and Stewart Jacobs, President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica By Racquel Porter The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) says the teen boys seen in a video sexually assaulting a schoolgirl have been charged. CPFSA says they have been charged with several offences including rape, forcible abduction, knowing and producing child pornography and distributing child pornography. The video, which began circulating on social media late last week, shows the 13-year-old girl being physically abused, while being sexually assaulted by the boys. The CPFSA says investigations revealed that the group of male students allegedly lured the schoolgirl to a house, where she was sexually assaulted, and the act recorded. Head of the CPFSA Laurette Adams-Thomas says the agency has intervened in the matter and is providing psychological intervention for the teenage girl. "Our investigating team located the young girl and her family and met with them on Sunday, November 24th and provided brief counselling. The child was referred to the Victim Services Division for additional support and she's also to receive a medical assessment today, Monday [November] 25th, and we will continue to work with the family through our Children and Family Support Unit," she said. Mrs. Adams Thomas condemned the assault of the girl, noting that these "maladaptive behaviours in schools and communities must not be condoned, and we must teach our boys that masculinity is not synonymous with abuse". More guidance counsellors needed In responding to the incident, Stewart Jacobs, President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), has joined the call for additional guidance counsellors in schools. Lamenting on the video that has sparked outrage, Mr. Jacobs said for some students, school is their only safe space, but this is being eroded. Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Monday, Mr. Jacobs urged the Minister of Education to request additional funding to hire more guidance counsellors. "Instead of having a school of 1,900 students with two guidance counsellors, and in some cases, one guidance counsellor, you break it down to at least one guidance counsellor for...every 30 students...because our society is being bombarded with social media which is teaching our children these types of behaviours. Our music is also teaching these type of behaviour, on the corners, the adults [are] teaching this type of behaviour, and so our children are confused. Our children are misguided," he argued. Mr. Stewart encouraged parents and guardians to engage in moral and ethical discussions with their children, explain to them right and wrong, as well as the consequences of wrong actions. "These boys are going to face criminal charges and this young lady is going to be facing a trauma that will stay with her for the rest of her life. She's going to be scarred by it, unfortunately, and they, too, are going to be scarred by it," he lamented. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1531230668029-0'); });

WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) — Namibia elected its first female leader as Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was declared the winner Tuesday of a presidential election last week that was tarnished by technical glitches that caused a three-day extension to allow votes to be cast, and rejected as illegal by opposition parties. The 72-year-old Nandi-Ndaitwah won with 57% of the vote, defying predictions that she might be forced into a runoff. Her ruling SWAPO party also retained its parliamentary majority, although by a very thin margin, and extended its 34-year hold on power since the southern African country gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Namibia, a sparsely populated country of around 3 million on the southwestern coast of Africa, has a reputation for being one of the continent's more stable democracies and the problems around the election have caused consternation. Last Wednesday's vote was marred by shortages of ballot papers and other problems that led election officials to extend voting until Saturday. Opposition parties have said the extension is unconstitutional, and some have pledged to join together in a legal appeal to have the election invalidated. The Electoral Commission of Namibia, which ran the election, rejected opposition calls for a redo of the vote. It has undermined Nandi-Ndaitwah's place in history. She is set to become her country's fifth president since independence and a rare female leader in Africa. She was a member of Namibia's underground independence movement in the 1970s and received part of her higher education in the then-Soviet Union. She was promoted to vice president in February after President Hage Geingob died while in office . Nangolo Mbumba, who became president after Geingob's death, didn't run in the election. The ruling SWAPO party won 51 seats in the parliamentary vote, only just passing the 49 it needed to keep its majority and narrowly avoiding becoming another long-ruling party to be rejected in southern Africa this year. It was SWAPO's worst parliamentary election result. A mood of change has swept across the region, with parties that led their countries out of white minority or colonial rule in neighboring South Africa and Botswana both losing their long-held political dominance. South Africa's African National Congress, which freed the country from the racist system of apartheid, lost its 30-year majority in an election in May and had to form a coalition. Botswana's ruling party was stunningly removed in a landslide in October after governing for 58 years since independence from Britain. Mozambique's long-ruling Frelimo has been accused of rigging an October election and has faced weeks of violent protests against its rule. SWAPO faced similar challenges as those countries, with frustration at high unemployment and economic hardship, especially among young people, driving a desire for era-ending change. In a brief speech after the results were announced late Tuesday night, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibians had voted for peace, stability and youth empowerment. “We are going to do what we promised you during the campaigns. Thank you for your confidence and trust in us," she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah was also due to address the nation on Wednesday morning. “SWAPO Wins. Netumbo Wins. Namibia Wins. Now Hard Work,” the ruling party posted on its official account on social media site X. Some opposition parties boycotted the announcement by the Electoral Commission of Namibia at its results center in the capital, Windhoek. The commission has been roundly criticized for its running of the vote, with many angry Namibians complaining they had to wait hours and sometimes over multiple days for the chance to vote. Just over 1 million votes were cast out of 1.4 million registered voters, according to the electoral commission. Panduleni Itula, the leading opposition candidate from the Independent Patriots for Change party, was second in the presidential election with 25% of the vote. His party won the second-largest number of seats in Parliament behind SWAPO. Itula and his party have led the criticism of the vote and said they will lodge their appeal against the election this week. Other opposition parties said they will join that legal challenge. Itula has said that thousands of voters may have been prevented from voting as only some polling stations allowed an extension. "This election has violated the very tenets of our Electoral Act. Namibians deserve the right to choose their leaders freely and fairly, not through a rigged process,” he said. Namibia is a former German colony that came under South African control after World War I and its Black majority was later subjected to some of South Africa’s apartheid policies. SWAPO was at the forefront of the battle for independence from South Africa. While the country has swaths of desert running through it, it has diamond and uranium resources and untapped oil and gas off its coast that is being explored by international companies and could make it a major producer of both. AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

Arguments about past presidents shape the nation’s understanding of itself and hence its unfolding future. In recent years, biographies by nonacademics have rescued some presidents from progressive academia’s indifference or condescension: John Adams (rescued by David McCullough), Ulysses S. Grant (by Ron Chernow), Calvin Coolidge (by Amity Shlaes). The rehabilitation of those presidents’ reputations have been acts of justice, as is Christopher Cox’s destruction of Woodrow Wilson’s place in progressivism’s pantheon. In “Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn,” Cox, former congressman and former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, demonstrates that the 28th president was the nation’s nastiest. Without belaboring the point, Cox presents an Everest of evidence that Wilson’s progressivism smoothly melded with his authoritarianism and oceanic capacity for contempt. His books featured ostentatious initials: “Woodrow Wilson Ph.D., LL.D.” But he wrote no doctoral dissertation for his 18-month Ph.D. He dropped out of law school. His doctorate of law was honorary. But because of those initials, and because he vaulted in three years from Princeton University’s presidency to New Jersey’s governorship to the U.S. presidency, and because he authored books, he is remembered as a scholar in politics. Actually, he was an intellectual manque using academia as a springboard into politics. His books were thin gruel, often laced with scabrous racism. His first, “Congressional Government,” contained only 52 citations, but he got it counted as a doctoral dissertation. He wrote it while a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, yet he only once visited the U.S. Capitol 37 miles away. “I have no patience for the tedious toil of ‘research,’” he said. “I hate the place,” he said of Bryn Mawr, a women’s college that provided his first faculty job. He thought teaching women was pointless. Cox ignores the well-plowed ground of Wilson’s domestic achievements — the progressive income tax, the Federal Reserve. Instead, Cox braids Wilson’s aggressive white-male supremacy and hostility toward women’s suffrage. His was a life defined by disdaining. For postgraduate education, Johns Hopkins recruited German-trained faculty steeped in that nation’s statism and belief in the racial superiority of Teutonic people. Wilson’s Johns Hopkins classmate and lifelong friend Thomas Dixon wrote the novel that became the silent movie “The Birth of a Nation.” Wilson made this celebration of the Ku Klux Klan the first movie shown in the White House. During the movie, the screen showed quotes from Wilson’s “History of the American People,” such as: “In the villages the negroes were the office holders, men who knew none of the uses of authority, except its insolences.” And: “At last there had sprung into existence a great Ku Klux Klan ... to protect the Southern country” and Southerners’ “Aryan birthright.” Wilson’s White House gala — guests in evening dress — gave “The Birth of a Nation” a presidential imprimatur. The movie, which became a national sensation, normalized the Klan and helped to revive lynching. Though the term “fascism” is more frequently bandied than defined, it fits Wilson’s amalgam of racism (he meticulously resegregated the federal workforce), statism, and wartime censorship and prosecutions. Dissent was “disloyalty” deserving “a firm hand of stern repression.” Benito Mussolini: “All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.” Wilson: “I am perfectly sure that the state has got to control everything that everybody needs and uses.” Wilson created the Committee on Public Information to “mobilize the mind of America.” The committee soon had more than 150,000 employees disseminating propaganda, monitoring publications and providing them with government-written content. The committee was echoed in the Biden administration’s pressuring of social media to suppress what it considered dis- or misinformation. Cox provides a stunning chronicle of Wilson’s complacent, even gleeful, acceptance of police and mob brutality, often in front of the White House, against suffragists. And of the torture — no milder word will suffice — of the women incarcerated in stomach-turning squalor, at the mercy of sadists. “Appropriate,” Wilson said. An appropriate judgment from the man who dismissed as empty verbiage the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. Historian C. Vann Woodward, author of “The Strange Career of Jim Crow,” said white-male supremacy was the crux of Southern progressivism. Wilson’s political career demonstrated that it was not discordant with national progressivism’s belief that a superior few should control the benighted many. John Greenleaf Whittier, disillusioned by Daniel Webster’s support of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, wrote of Webster: “So fallen! so lost! the light withdrawn / Which once he wore!” True, too, of Wilson. Will writes for The Washington Post. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None

Shatel: Nebraska is going to a bowl game again — and here are some dream matchupsTwo months after reopening, Southside church offers free Thanksgiving meals to community

investwfg.com: A Giant in the Internet Finance Industry - A Journey of Growth and Innovation 12-27-2024 06:44 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Stones_PR Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/2c80f952468faa08e8ce440a7a40e430.jpg In the fast-evolving world of Internet finance, few platforms have achieved the kind of success and reputation that investwfg.com has cultivated over the years. Established with a vision to make sophisticated financial services more accessible, investwfg.com has risen from humble beginnings to become a global leader in the digital finance space, serving an ever-growing clientele of high-end customers worldwide. The Beginnings: Vision Meets Opportunity When investwfg.com was founded, the internet finance sector was still in its infancy, characterized by traditional financial institutions slowly starting to recognize the potential of online platforms. investwfg.com's founders saw an opportunity to build a platform that would bridge the gap between advanced financial products and digital accessibility. The goal was to create a comprehensive financial ecosystem that could offer users everything from investment opportunities to wealth management, using cutting-edge technology. From day one, investwfg.com set itself apart by prioritizing innovation and user-centric services. They aimed not only to deliver financial products but also to offer education, guidance, and personalized advice, tailoring their services to meet the unique needs of each individual customer. Strategic Partnerships and Expanding Reach A crucial factor in investwfg.com's rapid growth was its ability to forge strategic partnerships with key players in the financial and technological sectors. These partnerships enabled the platform to leverage the latest fintech tools, providing an edge over competitors. Furthermore, it facilitated the creation of an integrated platform that offered everything from investment management and financial planning to real-time market analysis. As investwfg.com expanded, it began offering services not just in its home market but also in international territories. By establishing a global presence, the platform was able to cater to the needs of high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors across continents. The ability to offer multilingual support and operate in multiple currencies helped solidify its status as a truly global financial platform. A Customer-Centric Approach At the core of investwfg.com's success has been its unwavering focus on customer satisfaction. By leveraging data analytics and AI-powered tools, the platform has been able to offer tailored solutions to clients, making complex financial strategies easier to navigate. Its advisory services, which range from retirement planning to tax optimization, have gained a reputation for providing actionable insights that are both accessible and highly personalized. investwfg.com's customer base, which started with a handful of early adopters, has since grown to include thousands of high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and institutional clients. Through innovative technology, user-friendly interfaces, and constant improvements to its platform, the company has built long-lasting relationships with clients who value both the quality of the service and the expertise behind it. Commitment to Security and Transparency As the digital finance space has matured, security and trust have become increasingly important. investwfg.com recognized this early on and invested heavily in ensuring that its platform was secure, transparent, and compliant with international regulations. The platform also adheres to strict ethical standards, offering transparency around fees, charges, and service terms. This commitment to honesty and openness has helped establish investwfg.com as a trusted name in an industry where reputation is key. Technological Innovation: A Driving Force One of the cornerstones of investwfg.com's success is its constant focus on innovation. The platform has continuously evolved by incorporating the latest technologies, from blockchain for secure transactions to artificial intelligence for smarter, more efficient investment strategies. AI-powered algorithms now play a central role in analyzing market trends, creating personalized financial plans, and automating the investment process for clients. Additionally, investwfg.com has been at the forefront of embracing emerging trends like cryptocurrency investment, decentralized finance (DeFi), and robo-advisory services. By staying ahead of these trends, investwfg.com has not only diversified its product offerings but has also positioned itself as a thought leader in the fintech space. Expanding Services and Reaching New Heights Today, investwfg.com continues to innovate, offering a broad range of services to meet the diverse needs of its global customer base. The platform's comprehensive suite of offerings includes: Wealth Management: Tailored investment strategies designed for high-net-worth individuals. Private Equity & Venture Capital: Opportunities for institutional investors to engage in private market investments. Global Trading Platforms: Cutting-edge platforms that allow users to trade a variety of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Real-Time Financial Insights: Access to the latest financial data and market news, powered by AI-driven analytics. Customized Retirement & Tax Planning: Services designed to help clients plan for the future while minimizing tax burdens. As the global economy continues to become more interconnected, investwfg.com is poised to expand its offerings even further. Future plans include extending its services into emerging markets, developing new financial products, and further enhancing its technological capabilities. Looking Ahead: A Bright Future With its continued focus on innovation, customer-centricity, and global expansion, investwfg.com's future looks incredibly promising. As one of the leading players in the Internet finance space, the platform is well-positioned to capitalize on the ongoing digital transformation of the financial services industry. By continuing to embrace new technologies and providing personalized, high-quality services to a diverse and growing clientele, investwfg.com will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of Internet finance, solidifying its position as a giant in the industry for many years to come. In an age where the financial landscape is rapidly changing, investwfg.com's journey of growth, adaptability, and relentless pursuit of excellence is a story that will inspire businesses and customers alike. Whether you're an individual investor looking to grow your wealth or a corporation seeking advanced financial solutions, investwfg.com is a name that's sure to remain at the forefront of the digital finance revolution. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Media Contact Company Name: INVESTWFG Contact Person: JACK LEVIN Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=investwfgcom-a-giant-in-the-internet-finance-industry-a-journey-of-growth-and-innovation ] Country: United States Website: http://www.investwfg.com This release was published on openPR.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Felix Okpara had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Volunteers (7-0). Zakai Zeigler added 11 points and nine assists, and Igor Milicic had 13 rebounds and nine points. The Skyhawks (2-5) were led by Josu Grullon's 15 points. Lanier scored 11 points in the first half as Tennessee built a 35-20 lead at the half. Grullon had 10 for UT Martin. UT Martin: Dropped its fifth straight after two opening wins under first-year coach Jeremy Shulman. After 21 wins last year, the Skyhawks brought in 16 newcomers this season. They are picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee: After receiving the news that 6-foot-9 sophomore J.P. Estrella will miss the entire season with a foot injury, the Vols have had to go back to the drawing board to determine their rotation on the front court. Estrella had been coming off the bench with Cade Phillips to spell Igor Milicic and Felix Okpara. What that big man rotation looks like will be interesting. From late in the first half to early in the second half, Tennessee scored 14 straight points and turned a 10-point lead into a 44-20 advantage. Zakai Zeigler had five of those points. UT Martin committed 18 turnovers. Five of those were shot-clock violations. Tennessee scored 24 points off the turnovers. UT Martin will be at Charleston Southern next Tuesday. Tennessee will host Syracuse next Tuesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballOur world is at a critical juncture. The devastating effects of global warming are increasingly evident, and the crisis is deepening. To mitigate it, we must urgently reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Failing to act now will only increase the human and economic toll. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, presents a unique opportunity for effective collective action. Amid heightened geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty, COP29 will serve as a test of the multilateral system on which humanity's ability to respond to this existential threat depends. The groundwork for coordinated action was laid in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 with the creation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which established the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) to promote consensus-based solutions. The philosophy was simple: given that climate change is a global issue, addressing it requires a collaborative approach. The UNFCCC fosters cooperation between smaller countries and superpowers, enables civil society organisations to engage directly with governments, and facilitates cross-border technology transfers. Perhaps most importantly, it provides a framework for collective action in which each country's efforts encourage others to step up their own. While the 1997 Kyoto Protocol set binding emission-reduction targets for developed economies, it quickly became clear that more was needed. In response, developed countries pledged in 2009 to mobilise US$100 billion annually by 2020 to support developing countries' climate policies. The 2015 Paris climate agreement marked a turning point, setting the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels and ensuring that the increase stays well below 2°C. To monitor progress, the agreement established a system of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) through which each country outlines its emission-reduction plans. Periodic global audits assess whether countries are on track to fulfil their climate commitments. Regrettably, the first global audit, released ahead of last year's COP28 in Dubai, showed that we are far from meeting these climate targets. It also offered a comprehensive roadmap, calling on all countries to commit to NDCs aligned with the 1.5C goal and establishing clear steps and timelines -- including transitioning away from fossil fuels -- that could bring the Paris agreement's objectives within reach. COP29 represents the next step for the multilateral approach, with leaders expected to agree on a significant boost to the $100 billion climate finance target -- the so-called New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Moreover, each country must submit its updated NDCs by February 2025. Transparency is essential to this process. If the Paris agreement's targets are the destination, and the NDCs are the roadmap, the NCQG provides the fuel needed to get there. Building trust in countries' commitment to bold climate action and willingness to provide the necessary financing is key. As COP29 President, Azerbaijan is urging all countries to submit NDCs aligned with the 1.5C target as soon as possible. We are also doing everything we can to secure a fair and ambitious new climate finance goal that addresses developing countries' needs and matches the scale and urgency of the crisis. Falling short would force us to confront tough questions: Are we willing to accept the failure of the Paris agreement? And what are the alternatives? One thing is clear: without a viable backup plan, we must do all we can to meet the 1.5C goal. Sleepwalking into climate catastrophe is not an option. To be sure, the multilateral system has its flaws. But it remains the best framework to tackle this daunting challenge. Over three decades, it has fostered lasting international cooperation, a shared understanding of the science, and a strong consensus concerning global climate goals. The alternative to multilateralism is a fragmented response, with governments pursuing their own agendas without coordination or cooperation. This approach would mean slower progress, higher costs, and less equitable outcomes. Without a unifying goal, any sense of shared purpose would all but vanish. We have no choice but to make the current system work. With an agenda focused on advancing climate action, Azerbaijan could bridge geopolitical divisions. But our success hinges on countries' willingness to commit to the multilateral process. The frameworks for coordinated action are in place. Now, we must find the political will to put these tools to use. COP29 is our chance to prove that multilateralism can work. ©2024 Project Syndicate Mukhtar Babayev, President-Designate of COP29, is Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan.

$HAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: The M&A Class Action Firm Continues to Investigate the Mergers of CYTH, NAPA, MNTX and MARX

Canadian business mogul Kevin O’Leary says he wants to meet with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the president-elect’s so-called “ winter White House,” to discuss the idea of “an economic union” with the United States. After Trump claimed on social media that Canadians could pay 60 per cent less in taxes by joining the U.S., O’Leary told Fox Business on Thursday that he wants to pitch the U.S. president-elect on a more limited integration of the two nations. “There’s 41 million Canadians — basically the population of California, sitting on the world’s largest amounts of all resources — including the most important, energy and water. Canadians, over the holidays the last two days, have been talking about this. They want to hear more,” said the Montreal-born entrepreneur and reality television personality , who is a vocal Trump supporter. “There’s obviously a lot of issues and more details, but what this could be is the beginning of an economic union. Think about the power of combining the two economies, erasing the border between Canada and the United States and putting all that resource up to the northern borders where China and Russia are knocking on the door.” There's 41 million Canadians sitting on the world's largest amounts of all resources, including the most important, energy and water. Canadians over the holidays have been talking about this. They want to hear more. What this could be is the beginning of an economic union. Think... pic.twitter.com/yp5PuLgxZJ O’Leary already lives in the U.S. The Shark Tank investor currently resides in Florida but lived for decades in Boston, Mass. He recently said he left the state due to high taxes. The idea of deeper integration between Canada and the U.S., and sometimes Mexico, has been a source of discussion for decades, often compared to a North American equivalent to the European Union, with a shared currency and identification papers. O’Leary pitched similar ideas for an “economic union” during his Fox Business appearance. “Give a common currency, figure out taxes across the board, get everything trading both ways, create a new, almost EU-like passport. I like this idea, and at least half of Canadians are interested. The problem is the government’s collapsing in Canada right now,” O’Leary noted, referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s embattled government, his cabinet reshuffle and a potential federal election. “Nobody wants Trudeau to negotiate this deal — I don’t want him doing it for me — so I’m going to go to Mar-a-Lago. I’ll start the narrative. The 41 million Canadians, I think most of them would trust me on this deal.” Such negotiations have historically stalled because of the initiative’s complexity, according to a report from the nonpartisan research group the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “The sad truth of North America is that very few leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States have ever entertained serious discussion of North American goals or plans,” the report says. “The three governments are not organized to approach North American issues, and officials in each government prefer to deal with problems by themselves or bilaterally.... An even more important reason why these ideas have not been discussed is the complex set of fears and prejudices that lurk deep in the souls of the three countries.” O’Leary’s comments come on the heels of repeated statements from Trump encouraging Canada to become “our 51st state” and belittling Trudeau as “the Governor of Canada.” He first floated the idea during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Trudeau and members of his cabinet. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff against Canada upon taking office in January and on Nov. 29, he joked to Trudeau that if Canada wants to avoid tariffs, it could always become the 51st state. Oh Canada! Donald Trump Truth Social 04:32 PM EST 12/02/24 @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/XyIx7eCVmE A month later, Trump’s still repeating the same joke. Canada’s “taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote in a Christmas Day post on Truth Social, a media platform founded by the president-elect. Trudeau appeared to break his silence on Trump’s trolling for the first time on Thursday in a terse message on X. “Some information about Canada for Americans,” Trudeau wrote above a video narrated by Tom Brokaw about the broad brushstrokes of Canadian politics, landscapes and history which aired ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here .Column: Brady Corbet’s epic movie ‘The Brutalist’ came close to crashing down more than onceColumn: Brady Corbet’s epic movie ‘The Brutalist’ came close to crashing down more than once

Reinventing Cooling: How The AIM Act Is Transforming The Future Of HVAC-RWayne Rooney and I’m A Celeb star wife Coleen go head-to-head in TV ratings battle as he faces former Man Utd team-matePublished 4:48 pm Monday, November 25, 2024 By Data Skrive There are four games featuring a ranked team on Tuesday’s college basketball schedule. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.

[Source: BBC] When handbag designer Sherrill Mosee learned that roughly 2,700 purses and backpacks she had ordered from her Chinese manufacturing partner would not make it onto one ship this autumn, she was initially content to wait. Then Donald Trump was re-elected as US president. Those efforts gained urgency this week as Trump said he would take action on his first day in office. He aimed the measures – a kind of border tax – at China, Mexico and Canada, America’s top three trade partners. Writing on social media, Trump said he planned to impose a 25% levy on goods from Canada and Mexico and “an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs” on imports from China. The post followed his campaign pledge to impose across-the-board tariffs of at least 10% on all imports coming into the US, and 60% or more on goods from China – many of which already face steep duties left over from actions taken during his first term as president. Some experts have said that Trump’s policies may ultimately prove less aggressive than promised, and that his statements should be understood as opening salvos in bigger negotiations of migration and drug policy. But regardless of how policy shakes out, the threats are already having economic consequences, as firms like MinkeeBlue start to stockpile, shift supply chains, re-work contracts and take other steps to guard against the possible impact. Chris Caton, managing director for global strategy and analytics at warehouse giant Prologis, said his firm had already seen an uptick in activity “on the margin” as businesses respond to possible tariffs by looking for space to stock up. In the days after the election, footwear giant Steve Madden told investors that it was moving forward with plans to shift manufacturing outside of China, with the aim of cutting its imports from the country in half over the next year. Tool and hardware maker Stanley Black & Decker also said it had initiated conversations with its customers about price hikes tied to the tariffs. Executives at retail giants such as Walmart have discussed similar plans. Even if Trump’s policies remain just talk, Ms Edelberg said the public could see higher prices, as well as possible shortages of some items, as hoarding left some firms scrambling. Just the simple fact that firms were unsure about what was going to happen was also likely to reduce economic growth in the months ahead, she added.49ers vs. Packers injury report: Purdy briefly throws before exiting practice; Still no Williams, Bosa