ephilid verifier

ephilid verifier India Railways introduced 62 Vande Bharat train services in 2024Michelle Obama slammed for gloomy New Year's message as Trump prepares to take office By KELLY GARINO FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:48, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 21:48, 27 December 2024 e-mail View comments Michelle Obama was heavily criticized for a New Year's message shared with her followers just weeks ahead of Donald Trump 's return to the Oval Office. The former first lady took to Instagram on Friday afternoon with a minute-and-a-half-long video message wishing her followers a happy holiday season as 2024 officially comes to a close. But the internet wasn't so keen about her words of encouragement for the American people. The video, which has amassed hundreds of comments within just the first three hours of being posted, showed the former first lady against a white background as she began to address the lens. 'Happy holidays!' she gleefully began. She then took a few moments to speak of the year just ahead - and how the nation may be feeling about the near future. 'I know it's been a difficult few months for so many of us - and folks are feeling a little bit anxious and uncertain,' she said. 'But even during these tough times, there are plenty of reasons to stay hopeful.' Former First Lady Michelle Obama was heavily criticized for a New Year's message she shared to Instagram early Friday afternoon after she wished her followers a happy holiday season and spoke of the uncertain year ahead of the country The video message, which has amassed hundreds of comments within the first three hours of being posted, was filled with comments of people who believe it was a dig at Trump's landslide presidential victory and official return to the Oval Office in just a few weeks The former first lady then spoke of the hope she personally sees through the people she works with through the Obama Foundation. 'I wanted to share some reflections on the work the Obama Foundation is doing to lift up the young change-makers around the world,' she captioned the video. 'Take a look.' The rest of the clips showcased all different kinds of people - including her husband, Former President Barack Obama - and some of the work they have done throughout the last 12 months. This included the construction of the Obama Presidential Center being built in the south side of Chicago. But many thought her 'gloomy' message to the internet was taking aim at Trump's landslide victory over Kamala Harris in the presidential election just last month. And hundreds of viewers flooded the comments with their own opinions on what's in store for 2025. 'Twenty-four more days and we are out of this nightmare you and your husband created for the American people!' one commenter wrote. Another agreed, adding: 'What a joke. Trump can hopefully fix the mess your husband has gotten this country into. The subway in your video, how ironic.' 'It has not been difficult for most of us! Most of us voted for Trump!' wrote another. 'We are good!' Another comment read: 'The only sad person is you and your butt buddy Obama.' 'I am so happy Donald Trump won and life will go back to normal,' one person wrote. 'The homeless needed and New York City people are on the street and all you did was put the money in your pockets.' 'Thank God that Donald Trump won, they’ll be no kids unfed fed,' the same person added. 'Boys will be boys girls would be girls.' 'You’re showing a building that you put up but what about the people that are starving and their dying on the street what about our safety? What about our lives? What about everything? Why don’t you worry about that for a change?' they continued. 'We are so happy that Donald Trump is in the office because we’ll all be equal.' Read More Michelle Obama slams Trump for portraying Harris as a 'bimbo' in fiery plea for voters to dump him Others were quick to agree with the long-written statement - noting how she should be happy Trump will be returning to the White House in January. Some comments also questioned how she could be nervous about the next four years without taking a step back to look at how the last four played out. The Obama couple got increasingly involved in the 2024 race and hit the campaign trail for Kamala Harris in the final weeks leading up to November 5. At a Harris campaign three days before the election, the former first lady gave a speech in Pennsylvania where she hyped the vice president and urged people to get out and vote while slamming Donald Trump - all without once uttering his name. She argued that in America 'we rise more than we fall' but warned of those who are trying to tell another story about the country. She noted how during dark and difficult times, the country needs someone who will 'connect with people's pain and address the systemic issues at their root, not leaders who stoke our fears and focus our fury on one another.' 'Once you open up that gasoline can, once you wink at hate and make it normal to call somebody a bimbo, or low IQ or human scum, look, you cannot control how fast or far that fire of hate will spread,' she warned, referring to some of the names Trump and allies have called Harris. The former first lady got increasingly involved in the 2024 race and hit the campaign trail for Harris in the final weeks leading up to November 5 A few days after the election last month, the Obama's put out a joint statement on X following Trump's presidential victory - congratulating him while also acknowledging that 'this is obviously not the outcome we hoped for' 'All of a sudden someone feels emboldened to say that our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico come from an "island of garbage,"' she continued, noting the ex-president's rally in New York City where a comedian made a racist joke about the territory. She also referred to Trump as a conman, a small man trying to make himself feel big, and Kamala's opponent, but she did not mention him by name. But just days after the election, the Obamas finally broke their silence on Trump's victory , congratulating the president-elect while also acknowledging that 'this is obviously not the outcome we hoped for.' The joint statement from Barack and Michelle Obama noted that 'America is not immune' to having an electorate that reacts accordingly to the conditions of the country, which ultimately led to sweeping victories for Republicans across the country and in national and state-wide races. 'America has been through a lot over the last few years,' the former first couple wrote. 'In a country as big and diverse as ours, we won't always see eye-to-eye on everything,' the statement admits. 'But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace – even to people with whom we deeply disagree.' The statement was shared to X shortly after Harris told her tearful fans in D.C. to keep fighting as she conceded. Instagram Michelle Obama Chinese New Year Share or comment on this article: Michelle Obama slammed for gloomy New Year's message as Trump prepares to take office e-mail Add commentInsurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press Dec 7, 2024 1:58 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Syrian opposition fighters remove a government Syrian flag from an official building in Salamiyah, east of Hama, Syria Syria, Saturday Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. ____ Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More World News An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on Dec 7, 2024 1:59 PM US announces nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine Dec 7, 2024 1:41 PM US announces nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine Dec 7, 2024 1:37 PM Featured Flyer

Surely the trained eye can tell the rubble of one bombed city from that of another. Reporters on the ground, local residents who are still alive, certain architects and engineers can distinguish building materials, features of the urban landscape, possessions of the unlucky ones who lived there and lost everything — remnants of war-as-usual, common casualties of aggression ever more efficiently enabled by technological advances in the science of devastation — but to me, viewing the pictures from this distance, it all looks pretty much the same. What we couldn’t bear to witness firsthand (only we would if we had to, like all those other ordinary civilians) we are force-fed in images flooding our screens and pages paid for by advertising aimed at those of us still solvent enough to shop. Even the broke and homeless, some of them, still have their phones to keep them connected to something, if only pictures of their ex-lives — like mine in frames on walls and shelves of the small museum where I live among personal artifacts, evidence of a life easily obliterated by a single bomb, but for now peacefully preserving a private history for a perennially self-guided tour. That’s how it feels to me anyway, at the end of a dark year I have no desire to review, except for those few days of beauty, joy and pleasure that caught me by surprise and reminded me of what I’d almost forgotten: a face, a voice, a song, a book, a meal, a work of art, the smashing ocean, the jay in the birdbath, a few words overheard in a stray conversation or read in a letter, an unexpectedly tender tone of gratitude for some minor kindness. Let the newspapers and influencers and rankers and evaluators publish their best-of lists; I am content to reflect in private on gifts of momentary grace that came and went in a flash whose afterglow vaguely lingers. The brokenhearted faces, the shattered, the anxious, the anguished remind me regularly of how luck’s wheel spins and stops wherever it will. On balance, for now, while health holds out and I have a safe place to sleep, I seem to be doing OK, but for a while there, things weren’t going so well and there was no guarantee they’d ever get better. Luckily they did. Even so, friends died. Friendships ended in irreconcilable ideological differences. Loved ones joined the ancestors in an inaccessible afterlife. And yet, there was also that unforeseen exchange with a stranger standing in front of a painting in a gallery that seemed to mean more than what met the eye, like a poem that means more than words can say. That’s what I’m trying to get at, in a prosaic way: the unsayable, the inexpressible, all the news that isn’t fit to print, that slipped through the lines, evaded the cameras, couldn’t be explained or narrated, whose plot could not be summarized because it wasn’t linear but all tangled up in sauce like a steaming plate of pasta that looks so delicious you don’t know whether to eat it or take a picture, or delicately taste it to savor its indescribable ingredients, or try to describe the effect the flavors have on your tongue, as if words could begin to do that. Language, even nonfiction, only goes so far, like a finger pointing at something that won’t stay still. A river is like that: you can’t even step in it once — well, maybe during a drought — but this time of year when rain is doing its thing, as in a normal winter, the flow is moving too fast for you to go with it and all you can do is wonder as you are soaked in astonishment at the inexplicable, the unbelievable, the losses you never saw coming, and the ones you did see coming but couldn’t believe because you didn’t want to, and now you are bereft and all but speechless, as if you were standing in the ruins of a neighborhood you no longer recognize, except for those treasures barely discernible beneath layers of gray dust. A soft brush, deployed with precision by a tough but sensitive hand, can discover what’s been blown away by time.The surge of drone sightings in New Jersey and across the U.S. has prompted an array of conspiracy theories and false claims online.A joint statement on Dec. 17 from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense said the sightings include legal commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones, as well as manned planes and helicopters. Two days later , New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said drones would be banned over certain "critical infrastructure" in the state. The FAA announced similar restrictions in New Jersey.While President Joe Biden said there doesn't appear to be anything "nefarious" about the sightings, social media users have continued to spread misinformation about the aircraft's origin and mission. Related : Debunking false, misleading claims about President-elect Trump | Fact check roundup Here's a roundup of checks about drone sightings from the USA TODAY Fact Check Team: Claim: Video shows drone crash in New Jersey Our rating: False The video does not show a drone crash. The footage is from a Dec. 12 plane crash near the border of New York and Connecticut, according to media reports. Full fact check: Video shows plane wreck near Connecticut, not New Jersey drone crash Claim: Drones deployed in New Jersey to search for missing radioactive material Our rating: False No drones were used in the search for the substance, according to a spokesperson for the New Jersey agency in charge of overseeing its recovery. The first drone sightings predate the misplacement of the substance by two weeks. Full fact check: Drones were not used to find radioactive material lost in New Jersey Claim: Pentagon ‘confirmed’ drones spotted in US skies are ‘not of earthly origin’ Our rating: False The Pentagon said nothing of the sort. While a spokesperson ruled out a foreign “adversary" or the U.S. military as operators of the crafts, she suggested other possible explanations for the sightings in the same news conference. Full fact check: Pentagon spokesperson did not 'confirm' drones were from space Claim: Image shows drone that crashed in Alabama in December 2024 Our rating: False The image has circulated online since at least February 2023 and shows a replica spacecraft from the "Star Wars" movies. Full fact check: No, that's not a crashed drone. It's a TIE fighter replica Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here . USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ALLO Fiber today announced a fiber broadband project installing a 10 Gigabit network in Flagstaff, AZ. This fiber connection will enable world-class internet, broadband, cybersecurity, managed services, telephone, and video services for residents and businesses. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2025 . This $65 million project will employ 75 local professionals, with many more involved during the construction phase. Flagstaff residents and businesses will soon be able to take advantage of award-winning customer service and internet speeds. Through this 100% fiber-optic network, students can improve how they learn, and employees can work efficiently from the office or home. The fiber network will feature up to 10 Gigabit speeds for residents and up to 100 Gigabit speeds for businesses, providing equal upload and download speeds optimized by ALLO's world-class Wi-Fi 7 routers. Additionally, Flagstaff residents, businesses of all sizes, and governmental entities will be supported by ALLO's fiber-rich network, delivering active and passive solutions without installation fees or restrictive contracts. Internet, data transport, cloud connectivity, video, and voice are included in ALLO's comprehensive communications, entertainment, and business products. Businesses can access ALLO's managed services, next-generation firewalls, phone systems, and cybersecurity offerings before the fiber network is built. The community will also have access to a community-wide network providing ultra-reliable and extensive internet bandwidth. ALLO Arizona General Manager Mike Horton stated, "As we expand our coverage across Arizona , we are excited to begin construction in the City of Flagstaff . We understand that with continued growth in the region, the value of essential communications infrastructure and advanced technology is an important asset for the city and surrounding communities. We look forward to offering ALLO Fiber services to Flagstaff and continuing to create local jobs in the process." Flagstaff is the seventh Arizona community that ALLO serves. ALLO began developing our first Arizona Gigabit community in Lake Havasu City in September of 2021, followed by the Kingman , Yuma , San Luis , Somerton , and Sierra Vista markets. ALLO is also operating Middle Mile projects in Yuma and Mohave Counties. For more information about ALLO in Flagstaff , please visit AlloFiber.com/ Flagstaff and AlloFiber.com/careers . About ALLO Communications ALLO Communications, a leader in providing fiber-optic services, has been dedicated to delivering world-class communications and entertainment services since 2003. With a commitment to building Gigabit communities, ALLO serves over 50 communities across Nebraska , Colorado , Arizona , Missouri , Iowa , and Kansas . ALLO is known for its reliable fiber networks and customized technology solutions that support businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit AlloFiber.com . Contact: Tanna Hanna Vice President of Marketing Tanna.Hanna@allofiber.com 308-633-7815 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-power-of-allos-all-fiber-network-coming-to-flagstaff-arizona-302338563.html SOURCE ALLO Communications

Iggy Rodriguez yearns for meaning

Cathie Wood’s Ark Innovation ETF is blazing trails in the artificial intelligence sector, thanks to its forward-thinking investments made long before AI became mainstream. The fund’s strategic moves have positioned it for remarkable success, especially in 2024. Palantir Technologies: A Data Powerhouse Palantir Technologies stands as a pillar in the Ark Innovation ETF, dazzling investors with a 380% stock surge in 2024. This phenomenal growth is driven by Palantir’s strong revenue performance and its strategic positioning within key stock indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. Major government contracts continue to bolster its long-term potential, as the company embodies a shift towards data-driven efficiency and security. Nvidia: At the Core of AI Advancements Despite trimming Nvidia shares, Cathie Wood maintains a strong connection to the company through her other funds. Nvidia’s graphic processing units (GPUs) are crucial to AI applications, a fact reflected in a 180% rise in stock price this past year. CEO Jensen Huang sees broader opportunities for Nvidia in accelerated computing, expanding beyond AI and setting the stage for future growth. Tesla: Driving AI Innovations Tesla remains a flagship investment for Wood, marking more than an 80% increase in share value since November 2023. Market optimism about AI initiatives, including a potential robotaxi service, keeps Tesla in the spotlight. While valuations raise some eyebrows, the company’s commitment to leveraging AI reinforces its pioneering status in the automotive industry. As AI propels these companies forward, 2025 promises further exciting opportunities, with continued advancements in technology and market dynamics to watch closely. Investors keen on riding the AI wave should keep an eye on these transformative leaders. Investing in AI: Unpacking Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities in 2025 In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, Cathie Wood’s Ark Innovation ETF continues to set the benchmark for strategic investments in the artificial intelligence sector. The fund’s foresight in capitalizing on AI-related opportunities has created substantial market buzz, with significant implications for 2025 and beyond. Market Analysis and Predictions As 2024 paved the way for unprecedented growth in AI, 2025 holds the promise of transforming market dynamics further. Investors and analysts are closely monitoring how key players like Palantir Technologies, Nvidia, and Tesla will adapt to, and drive, the next wave of AI innovations. The burgeoning growth in AI solutions, from machine learning models to AI-driven automation, indicates a robust market trajectory where the integration of AI into various industries becomes not just beneficial but essential. Features and Innovations Palantir Technologies stands at the forefront, celebrated for its advanced data analytics platforms that cater specifically to government and large enterprise needs. The integration of AI in Palantir’s offerings allows for unprecedented data interpretation abilities, providing clients with actionable insights that drive operational efficiency and security. Nvidia , renowned for its cutting-edge GPUs, is not just an AI enabler but also looks to broaden its horizon through accelerated computing beyond traditional AI applications. CEO Jensen Huang’s vision indicates a diversification strategy that could redefine sectors such as healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and finance. Tesla , synonymous with innovation in the electric vehicle market, continues to harness AI for transformative initiatives like the anticipated robotaxi service. Tesla’s strategic AI endeavors underscore its goal to remain a vanguard in automotive technology, spotlighting its pioneering role in the integration of AI with mobility solutions. Challenges and Security Aspects Despite these advancements, the AI sector faces critical challenges, particularly in balancing rapid growth with ethical considerations and security concerns. As AI systems become increasingly integrated into business processes, safeguarding data integrity and addressing potential biases in machine learning models become paramount. Companies must navigate these intricacies to foster trust and maintain innovation momentum. Sustainability and Future Trends Sustainability in AI development is emerging as a key pillar, with enterprises seeking ways to reduce the ecological footprint of AI solutions. Companies are investing in energy-efficient data centers and cleaner production processes, aligning with global sustainability goals. As AI evolves, its applications in environmental monitoring and resource management offer promising avenues for sustainable growth. Looking ahead, the trend toward democratizing AI technology will redefine accessibility, allowing smaller businesses and startups to harness AI for niche applications, thus fostering an inclusive technological ecosystem. In conclusion, as Cathie Wood’s Ark Innovation ETF captures the essence of AI potential, investors should remain attentive to shifting market landscapes, emerging technologies, and the ethical considerations that influence this dynamic sector. The heightened focus on innovation and sustainability will undoubtedly shape the contours of AI’s future. For those interested in the broader implications of these trends, learn more about the broader strategies by visiting the Ark Invest official website.Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule

A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.PSNI refer case to Police Ombudsman due to ‘widespread public concern’ after teen with autism removed by officers from Lisburn shop

Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada’s new border plan with Donald Trump’s transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada’s next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump’s latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn’t clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump’s 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump’s team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada’s new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada’s plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc’s spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump’s threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. “In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada,” Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words “some information about Canada for Americans.” Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau’s recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump’s antics on X Thursday, calling it “casual disrespect” and “carrying the ‘joke’ too far.” “Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership,” said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland’s sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau’s leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia.

The stock can make or break a batch of homemade soup – if the broth isn't flavorful enough, it's impossible to ignore. Because of this, the best route to take is to make your own stock from scratch . However, this is a long and involved process that we don't always have time for, so, oftentimes, we have to resort to store-bought stock. Luckily, celebrity chef Prue Leith has a trick to make store-bought stock taste better and more homemade. Leith discusses this in her cookbook, "Life's Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom," in the introduction for the recipe for French Onion Soup with Cheese Croutons. Leith writes, "Add a dollop of tomato purée and a splash of Worcestershire sauce to hide the shop-bought [flavor]." The tomato purée will bring in some freshness, while the Worcestershire sauce will provide a burst of umami flavor. Leith suggests starting with store-bought stock cubes, then adding in the purée and sauce. For anyone unfamiliar, stock cubes — otherwise known as bouillon cubes — are cubes made from stock and dehydrated veggies or meats that, once dissolved in water, become a broth. If you don't have any experience with stock cubes, you can try them out, or, if you want to stick to something more familiar, you can also use Leith's additions with a box of store-bought broth. Other ways to improve store-bought stock Adding some tomato purée and Worcestershire sauce is just one way to improve the taste of store-bought stock so that it tastes a bit more homemade. For example, you can add fresh garlic and herbs to heighten the overall flavor and give it much more of a fresh taste. Similarly, add in extra spices, such as cumin or coriander. If you don't have Worcestershire sauce, there are other sauces you can add for a similar result – soy sauce , fish sauce, or something like miso paste will all work beautifully and provide that umami flavor. Another ingredient that makes a huge difference? Parmesan cheese rinds. The rinds add a ton of extra flavor to the stock, while giving it a creamier consistency. Of course, the only issue is that you need to have the rinds readily available, so this option requires some planning. So, next time you buy parmesan, make sure to freeze the rinds to then effortlessly upgrade your soup .

A.I.L.A. - Official Gameplay Trailer | PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2024Published 03:18 IST, December 28th 2024 A tragic accident occurred on Monday at the Varreux Terminal in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, when a ship capsized while loading trucks. Haiti: A tragic accident occurred on Monday at the Varreux Terminal in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, when a ship capsized while loading trucks. The ship, named Maelys Lome II, was carrying goods between the cities of Gran Sud and Port-au-Prince. During the loading process, a truck's poor manoeuvre caused the ship to lean sideways, eventually tipping over. At least seven people were killed, and 17 others were injured in the incident. Videos shared on social media showed the ship overturned in the water, with several trucks and other objects scattered around. The Maelys Lome II, which weighs 2,401 tons and was built in 1970, is owned by JP Haiti Trans. The Varreux Terminal expressed deep regret over the accident, stating that plans were being made to right and repair the vessel. Despite the tragedy, the terminal confirmed that normal activities at the oil terminal were continuing, and international port operations, including fuel and bulk product shipments, were unaffected. The terminal is located near the State University of Haiti Hospital, which has faced challenges due to gang violence in the area. The hospital, which had been closed for some time, recently reopened amidst rising concerns over security. Updated 03:18 IST, December 28th 2024