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Chinese film about Covid-19 wins Taiwan's top Golden Horse prizesA formerly trendy Christmas market has rebranded as a 'calm festive environment' after thousands flocked to the site when it became a TikTok sensation last year. Event organisers axed the event at Columbia Road Christmas market in Bethnal Green last year as 7,000 people flooded the site raising fears for public safety. The east London market will also be absent of Christmas tunes this year, after planners were forced to ban carols due to the unprecedented amount of tourists. The site had been filled with festive joy for over a decade, with offerings of free mulled wine, piano sing-alongs, and longer shopping hours every Wednesday. Lead by the archdeacon of St Peter's Church in singing Christmas carols, the east London borough was often filled with a 200-strong crowd. However the market's long-standing tradition of glee was brought to a screeching halt when a viral TikTok video was viewed over half a million times last year. After the video emerged online, visitors descended in droves to the market the following Wednesday, where attendees were 'packed in like sardines'. It was also described as a 'disaster waiting to happen', whilst locals blamed the 'dangerous' overcrowding on the event being advertised on social media. And after only two Christmas Wednesday events, event organisers St Peter's Bethnal Green announced plans to axe the caroling - a decision which has continued this year. Visitors posted videos of the hoards of... Shannon Mcguigan
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Poulakidas' 22 help Yale beat Fairfield 91-66Images appear to show Russia dismantling military equipment in SyriaGames to snuggle up with this holiday season
Marshall withdraws from Independence Bowl matchup against ArmyDemocrat Bob Casey concedes to Republican David McCormick in Pennsylvania Senate contestMumbai: Shaken by the near-total rout in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress said it is “surprised by the unexpected outcome” as it was going against the public sentiments, here on Saturday. “We are absolutely surprised... The state President Nana F. Patole lost, 8-time winner Vijay Balasaheb Thorat was vanquished, veteran ex-chief minister Prithviraj Chavan was defeated... The Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar survived by a hair’s breadth,” said AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala. He said that in the morning the Maha Vikas Aghadi was leading in around 150 seats, and suddenly the trend reversed, raising doubts which the three parties will now review and decide on its future strategies. While unconditionally and unhesitantly “accepting defeat for the debacle”, Chennithala said that the party will collect the complete data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and study it before making any definite comments. “We are awaiting the full details on the results from the ECI... We shall analyse it, inquire into all respects and then present it before the people. We have the time,” said the AICC GS. He said that the Congress enjoys the faith and confidence of the masses in Maharashtra and the party will do its best to live up to their expectations. The MVA allies – Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT) – had fought the elections unitedly with other smaller parties and were optimistic of bagging more than 150 seats, but have been reduced to around 45, with many big names biting the dust. The ruling MahaYuti secured around 230 seats while independents and others bagged the remaining 10 seats in the 288-member house, as the final results are yet to be announced.
Satellite images appeared to show Russian forces packing up and dismantling military equipment at one of their key bases in Syria on Friday, suggesting that it may be preparing for a military withdrawal after former president and Russian ally Bashar Al-Assad was overthrown by Syrian rebels last week. It remains to be seen what the final arrangement may be between Russia and Syria's new government, but the movements reflect the profound shift in the country's post-Assad power dynamics, as Moscow grapples with losing a key ally and the potential erosion of its influence in the Middle East . Maxar Technologies, a U.S. defense contractor, released imagery on Friday showing transport movements at Russia’s Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base, both located south of Latakia on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. At Hmeimim, two An-124 heavy transport aircraft were observed on the airfield with their nose cones raised, ready to load equipment. Nearby, a Ka-52 attack helicopter was seen being dismantled, likely in preparation for transport. Other forces, including Russian military convoys, appear to be heading toward the airbase. Footage verified by NBC News captured a Russian convoy traveling north toward Homs along the highway connecting Damascus in the south to Aleppo in the north. “May God never return you,” the person filming the video says, noting it was the second such convoy he had seen. Another video shows Russian military vehicles driving in Jableh, near Hmeimim airbase. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based monitoring group, also reported that Russian forces were withdrawing from the Hassia area south of Homs, with plans to regroup later at Hmeimim. Similar movements of Russian forces on the move have been observed across the country. Another verified video showed Russian military vehicles driving through what appears to be Syria as by s tanders waved their shoes at the cars. A separate video , posted by the prominent Russian military-themed Telegram channel "Military Informer," purportedly showed a Russian military column crossing through Kurdish-controlled territories in Syria. The fall of Assad has dealt a significant blow to Russia, which is already engaged in a protracted land war in Ukraine . Russia’s military presence in Syria has been central to its strategy in the Middle East, with Hmeimim and Tartus serving as critical hubs for projecting power across the region and safeguarding Moscow’s influence in the Mediterranean. When Russia intervened in the Syrian Civil War in 2015, its support shifted the balance decisively in Assad’s favor, but Moscow has not prevented his downfall this time, and any significant withdrawal from the country would mark a major blow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the damage last week, saying that while Russia had expended significant effort in stabilizing Syria in the past, its current priority lies with the conflict in Ukraine. He said that Moscow is now in discussions with the new Syrian leadership to address issues related to its military presence and the security of Russian citizens and diplomats in the country. “You know, of course, that we are in contact with those who are currently in control of the situation in Syria,” Peskov told reporters, as translated by Reuters. In a notable shift, Russian state media has begun referring to the Syrian rebels as “rebels” rather than “terrorists,” signaling Moscow’s intention to engage diplomatically with the new authorities in Syria as it seeks to maintain its strategic military foothold on the Mediterranean. However, there is no indication that a specific agreement has been reached to secure Russia’s continued presence. Meanwhile, Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations sent two identical letters to the U.N. and the U.N. Security Council on Saturday, containing an official complaint after Israeli forces moved into Syrian territory last week, while launching a massive wave of airstrikes into the country. “Syria renews its demand that the United Nations and the Security Council assume their responsibilities and take firm and immediate measures to compel Israel to immediately cease its ongoing attacks on Syrian territory, ensure that they are not repeated, withdraw immediately from the areas into which it has penetrated over the past days,” the letter said. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said last week that he had ordered the military to establish a “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria as Israeli forces seize control of the demilitarized, U.N.-patrolled buffer zone, established under a 1974 ceasefire agreement. Israel says its airstrikes and actions on the ground are aimed at preventing Assad’s arsenal of rockets and chemical weapons from falling into the hands of extremists who could threaten its borders or people. But its advance has raised alarm when the international community is already nervous about further instability as Syria navigates its transition away from 53 years of Assad rule.Mysterious drone sightings spread as US officials express outrage over government responseThe 17-year-old son of musicians Sinéad O’Connor and Dónal Lunny was found dead in an area of secluded wasteland behind Corke Abbey housing estate close to Bray on January 7th, 2022, less than 24 hours after he absconded from Tallaght University Hospital (TUH). When he escaped from the hospital, Shane – who was deemed a “high-risk” patient by psychiatrists at the hospital following a serious suicide attempt – was not receiving prescribed one-to-one, around-the-clock supervision due to understaffing. A jury of six men and two women made a series of recommendations at the conclusion of the inquest at Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, including that protocols be established at all HSE hospitals for the enhanced care and supervision of recognised vulnerable patients, particularly children. On the second day of the inquest, the court heard evidence from care workers and psychiatrists about the deterioration of Shane’s mental health in the months before his death, variously manifesting in erratic behaviour, drug-induced psychosis, self-harm and suicidal ideation, among other presentations. Aoife Scanlon, manager at the Tusla-funded private residential care facility New Beginnings in Newbridge, Co Kildare, said although Shane initially engaged well at the facility when he came to live there in March 2019, his behaviour began to pose challenges in 2021. New Beginnings ultimately communicated to Tusla – the agency responsible for Shane’s care – that they were unable to continue accommodating Shane beyond December 2021, as his needs were “too complex”, that they were worried for his wellbeing, and that they could not guarantee his safety. After Shane went missing from New Beginnings for some days, he spent the first weeks of December 2021 at Linn Dara, a HSE Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) inpatient facility, one of six admissions to the facility between 2020 and 2021. As New Beginnings were not in a position to accommodate him, Linn Dara was requested to allow Shane to stay at the inpatient unit until his 18th birthday in March, the court heard. However, it was deemed that this was not appropriate, as Shane was not suffering from an acute mental health disorder as defined by legislation, and he wished to be discharged. Shane was discharged from Linn Dara on December 21st, 2021. The court heard that various parties involved in Shane’s care – including Tusla, Cahms and New Beginnings – held meetings to plan how Shane would be accommodated and cared for in the months before his 18th birthday, and afterwards. It was agreed that Shane would stay with family members during the Christmas period, the court heard. On December 29th, Shane’s mother brought him to TUH following a “serious” suicide attempt. The court heard that Shane’s mental health difficulties were linked to his addiction to cannabis. Ms Scanlon said staff at New Beginnings had no power to stop Shane from smoking. Several professional witnesses testified to Shane’s unwillingness to stop using cannabis. Separately, Seán O’Connor, Shane’s grandfather, said from the body of the court it was important to say that “[Shane’s late mother] Sinéad and Shane were very, very close”, and “they loved each other madly”. Joyce Connolly, a principal social worker with Tusla, noted Shane’s relationship with Ms O’Connor was “complex and turbulent”, and that “in some ways”, she believed that they “depended on each other a lot throughout their lives”. Dr Tara Rudd, a psychiatrist who cared for Shane during several of his admissions to Linn Dara, said that Shane vocalised anxiety around turning 18, and what the repercussions would be for him as he transitioned out of childcare services. She said Shane also described having a “great love” for his family, and that “spending time with his family and getting his own place was all he wanted”. Shane’s three half-siblings, Jake Reynolds, Róisín Waters and Yeshua Bonadio, were present in court on Tuesday, along with Shane’s uncle Joseph, father, grandfather and other extended family. Coroner Dr Cróna Gallagher extended sympathies to Shane’s family, stating that her court was “all too aware” of the “devastating impact” that the death of a child can have on a family. Fiachra Gallagher is an Irish Times journalist
Only three congressional races in the November general election remain uncalled by The Associated Press, with two in California and one in Iowa. As of the latest update on Nov. 25, Duarte had 50.05 percent of the vote while Gray had 49.95 percent. In 2022, the two candidates faced each other in a midterm election decided by just 564 votes. Duarte, a businessman and pistachio farmer, has served District 13, located west of Fresno, since January 2023. He has sponsored congressional bills such as the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act while in office and promises to combat the high cost of living, protect the Central Valley’s water and farms, and prioritize safe communities. Gray has also served in the California State Assembly, representing the 21st Assembly District from 2012 to 2022. He supported access to affordable health care, job creation, education, public safety, and protecting the region’s water. Steel, a two-term incumbent for the seat, started out of the gate with a convincing lead over Tran. The race swiftly tightened as Tran, a lawyer and first-time candidate for public office, took the lead. Steel was first elected to the House in 2020. A businesswoman and one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress, she said she prioritizes job creation, addressing high crime, tax reduction, securing the border, caring for veterans, solving the homelessness crisis, and making health care and prescription drugs affordable. Tran promises to preserve Social Security and Medicare funding; increase funding for education; fight for the LGBT, immigrant, and minority communities; and support abortion access. Miller-Meeks currently has 50.1 percent of the vote versus Bohannan’s 49.9 percent, with a 798-vote margin between them. Miller-Meeks, who declared victory in the race, is a military veteran, doctor, and former state senator who calls herself a “proven conservative.” Bohannan is a law professor, former engineer, and former state lawmaker who supports lowering costs for families and advocating for small businesses. The final results in that election must be certified by Iowa’s state board of canvassers no later than Dec. 2.Why the BJP failed to make a mark among the tribals of Jharkhand
NeuroHelpers Launches Cutting-Edge Solutions for Enhanced Mental Well-Being
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem marked another somber Christmas Eve on Tuesday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza . The excitement and cheer that typically descends on the West Bank during Christmas week were nowhere to be found. The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists that usually fill the square. Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a departure from their usual raucous brass marching band. Security forces arranged barriers near the Church of the Nativity, built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a severe blow to the town's economy. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem’s income — almost all from the Christmas season. Salman said unemployment is hovering around 50% — higher than the 30% unemployment across the rest of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Finance Ministry. Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, noted the shuttered shops and empty streets and expressed hope that next year would be better. “This has to be the last Christmas that is so sad,” he told hundreds of people gathered in Manger Square, where normally tens of thousands would congregate. Pizzaballa held a special pre-Christmas Mass in the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City. Several Palestinian Christians told the Associated Press that they have been displaced in the church since the war began in October of last year with barely enough food and water. “We hope by next year at the same day we’d be able to celebrate Christmas at our homes and go to Bethlehem,” said Najla Tarazi, a displaced woman. “We hope to celebrate in Jerusalem ... and for the war to end. This is the most important thing for us and the most important demand we have these days because the situation is really hard. We don’t feel happy.” Bethlehem is an important center in the history of Christianity, but Christians make up only a small percentage of the roughly 14 million people spread across the Holy Land. There are about 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department. The number of visitors to the town plunged from a pre-COVID high of around 2 million per year in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 in 2024, said Jiries Qumsiyeh, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry. After nightfall, the golden walls of the Church of the Nativity were illuminated as a few dozen people quietly milled about. A young boy stood holding a pile of balloons for sale, but gave up because there were no customers to buy them. The war in Gaza has deterred tourists and has prompted a surge of violence in the West Bank , with more than 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire and dozens of Israelis killed in militant attacks. Palestinian officials do not provide a breakdown of how many of the deceased are civilians and how many are fighters. Since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war , access to and from Bethlehem and other towns in the West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass through Israeli military checkpoints. The restrictions have prevented some 150,000 Palestinians from leaving the territory to work in Israel, causing the economy there to contract by 25%. In the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 250 Israeli hostages. Israeli officials believe that around 100 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Elsewhere, Christmas celebrations were also subdued. Scores of Syrian Christians protested Tuesday in Damascus, demanding protection after the burning of a Christmas tree in Hama the day before. Videos and images shared on social media showed the large, decorated tree burning at a roundabout in Suqalabiyah, a town in the Hama countryside. It remains unclear who was responsible for setting the tree on fire. In a video that circulated on social media, a representative of Syria’s new leadership, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, could be seen visiting the site and addressing the community. He said: “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations.” German celebrations were darkened by a car attack on a Christmas market on Friday that left five people dead and 200 people injured. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier rewrote his annual recorded Christmas Day speech to address the attack. He plans to acknowledge that “there is grief, pain, horror and incomprehension over what took place in Magdeburg,” while urging Germans to “stand together,” according to an early copy of the speech. A snowstorm in the Balkans stranded drivers and downed power lines, but some saw the beauty in it. “I’m actually glad its falling, especially because of Christmas,” said Mirsad Jasarevic in Zenica, Bosnia. “We did not have snow for Christmas for 17 years here, and now is the time for wonderful white Christmas.” American Airlines briefly grounded flights across the U.S. on Tuesday due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive. Winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 1,447 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 28 flights canceled. In the port of Barcelona, Spain, volunteers from the faith-based ministry Stella Maris visited seven ships docked there on Christmas Eve to deliver Nativity scenes and the local specialty of turrón (nougat candy) to seafarers. The volunteers met seafarers from India, the Philippines, Turkey and elsewhere, said Ricard Rodríguez-Martos, a Catholic deacon and former merchant marine captain who leads Stella Maris in this major Mediterranean harbor. Associated Press writers Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed to this report.HUNTINGTON, W.V. (AP) — Marshall has withdrawn from the Independence Bowl after a coaching change resulted in much of its roster jumping into the transfer portal. The Thundering Herd were slated to play Army on Dec. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana. But the Independence Bowl and Louisiana Tech announced on Saturday that the Bulldogs will take on the 19th-ranked Black Knights instead. Marshall said it pulled out “after falling below the roster minimum that was deemed medically safe.” The Herd (10-3) beat Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 last weekend to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time. The program has won seven games in a row in the same season for the first time since 2020. “We apologize for the nature and timing of this announcement and for the turmoil it has brought to bowl season preparations for Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN,” Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said in a statement. Coach Charles Huff left Marshall for Southern Miss last Sunday, and Tony Gibson, the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State, was announced as his replacement less than an hour later. By Thursday, at least 25 Marshall players had entered the transfer portal. Gibson held a meeting shortly after arriving on campus in Huntington to introduce himself to the team. He followed that up with phone calls, text messages and more meetings Friday and Saturday. “Any time coaches leave to take other jobs, it is emotional,” Gibson said at a news conference Thursday. “And kids that are 18-to-22 years old are going to make emotional decisions instead of just breathing for a day or two.” It's the first bowl for Louisiana Tech (5-7) since 2020. The Bulldogs have won two of their last three games, but they haven't played since a 33-0 victory over Kennesaw State on Nov. 30. “We are excited to accept the opportunity to play in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl against a fantastic and storied program as Army,” Louisiana Tech athletic director Ryan Ivey said in a release. “I believe our football program is moving toward positive structure and the opportunity to play in this bowl adds to that momentum. We are looking forward to being in Shreveport for this matchup.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballDana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
HALIFAX - A Nova Scotia charity is serving at least 600 free traditional dinners over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spread a little bit of holiday cheer. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * HALIFAX - A Nova Scotia charity is serving at least 600 free traditional dinners over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spread a little bit of holiday cheer. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? HALIFAX – A Nova Scotia charity is serving at least 600 free traditional dinners over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spread a little bit of holiday cheer. The Souls Harbour Rescue Mission is offering a sit-down turkey dinner with all the fixings for people who need “food or friends” at mission locations across the province. It’s the first time the group is serving the meals over the holidays since it started providing community service in 2010. Michelle Porter, the CEO, says the charity has been raising funds for Christmas festivities since November and estimates the cost for events during the holiday season is around $1 million. Meals will differ slightly at mission locations across the province, but Porter says all plates will have turkey, potatoes, cranberry, gravy and some vegetables. People who attend will also get a Christmas stocking that includes a mini hygiene set and a few treats like chocolate, gloves and socks. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. About 400 people will eat today in Lower Sackville, Bridgewater, Truro and Sydney Mines, while Porter estimates 200 people will share a meal together in Halifax on Christmas Day. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. Advertisement AdvertisementA panel joins ‘Fox News @ Night’ to weigh in on a voter sentiment poll about the incoming Trump administration, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation to the presidential inauguration and efforts by Trump Cabinet nominees to court senators. President-elect Trump nominated a few more candidates Saturday to serve in various positions during his second term. Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes was picked as the chairperson of Trump's Intelligence Advisory Board (IAB). IBM executive Troy Edgar was tapped as deputy secretary of Homeland Security. And Bill White was chosen as the ambassador to Belgium . Nunes, if confirmed, will lead the IAB, which advises the president on the legality of foreign intelligence activities. "While continuing his leadership of Trump Media & Technology Group, Devin will draw on his experience as former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and his key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, to provide me with independent assessments of the effectiveness and propriety of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s activities," Trump said in the announcement. TRUMP ANNOUNCES MORE PICKS, NOMINATES KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE TO SERVE AS AMBASSADOR TO GREECE President Trump called Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., "a true American Patriot" ahead of his re-election primary. (Reuters/Joshua Roberts) Los Alamitos Mayor Pro Tem Troy Edgar during a Banners of Honor ceremony at the Los Alamitos (Calif.) Joint Forces Training Center. (Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images) Trump also named Edgar as his pick for deputy secretary of Homeland Security. "Troy served for me previously as the Chief Financial Officer and Associate Deputy Under Secretary of Management for Homeland Security, where he did an outstanding job managing their $90 Billion Dollar budget, resourcing critical immigration policy, and funding Wall construction," Trump said. "Troy is currently an executive at IBM. He holds an M.B.A. and B.S. of Business Administration from the University of Southern California," Trump said. "He was previously the Mayor of Los Alamitos , California , where he helped me lead the City and County revolt against Sanctuary Cities in 2018." If the two are confirmed, Edgar will serve alongside South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was tapped as Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Secretary. Bill White, CEO of the Buckhead City Committee, attends a fundraiser in Atlanta Oct. 13, 2022. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images) Also on Saturday afternoon, Trump announced that businessperson and major political donor White would serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium. White is the founder and CEO of Constellations Group, a Manhattan-based consulting firm, and previously served as president of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York . "Bill is a highly respected businessman, philanthropist, author, and advocate for our Nation’s Military, Veterans, and First Responders. He is the CEO of Constellations Group, and former President of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum," Trump said. "Bill has worked tirelessly to support Great American Patriots who have given everything for our Country by raising over $1.5 Billion Dollars for our fallen heroes, catastrophically wounded, and severely burned Service Members. He is a twice recipient of the Meritorious Public Service Award for extraordinary service from the U.S. Coast Guard, and for outstanding support from the U.S. Navy." NEW POLL REVEALS WHAT AMERICANS THINK OF TRUMP'S TRANSITION DECISIONS White was a major Trump donor and surrogate for his 2024 campaign, though the millionaire investor backed former President Obama and Hillary Clinton in past races. Former President Trump tours Little Beaver Creek in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2023, after the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern freight train derailment. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The picks are the latest in a long string of nominations the president-elect hopes the Senate will approve. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten .