The decrease in housing inventory in Beijing also reflects the changing preferences and behavior of homebuyers in the current market environment. With limited options available, buyers are forced to make quicker decisions and accept higher prices to secure a property in their desired location. This sense of urgency and competition has created a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) among potential buyers, driving them to act swiftly before prices escalate further.The Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie had a busy and successful 2024 with many projects being completed in the area. Acting Reeve Roy Tufford outlines some of the accomplishments. “Looking back on 2024 the RM had a busy year and completed quite a few projects in addition to our regular road maintenance and drainage program,” Tufford said. Tufford notes one of the most significant projects was the completion of the new water reservoir and pumping station just east of Roquette. This multi-million dollar project was jointly funded by the province (through the Water Services Board), the RM, the city, and the Yellowhead water co-op. The new reservoir provides extra storage and backup as well as capacity to service more industrial development in our industrial park. Fans of the Portage Terriers can look forward to a night of excitement as the team hosts a skills competition sponsored by Simplot on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. The event, held at Stride Place, will feature players competing in events such as hardest shot and fastest skater. After the competition, fans can meet the players during an autograph session and join them on the ice for a free skate. Tickets are $2 at the door, but admission is free for season ticket holders and kids club members. Don’t miss this chance to connect with the team and enjoy an evening of fun on and off the ice. As the holiday season approached, the Salvation Army was once again at the heart of the community, ensuring families in need receive much-needed support through their annual Christmas hamper program. Major Brenda Hammond oversees the operation, which has been a lifeline for many struggling families in Portage la Prairie and surrounding areas. This year, the Salvation Army distributed hundreds of hampers, providing not just food, but also toys and stockings for children. “Toys and hampers are prepared in advance, carefully packed, and delivered on carts to families’ vehicles. We use green garbage bags to ensure the children can’t see what’s inside — that’s important you know,” said Hammond, about maintaining a sense of Christmas magic for the kids. Over 370 families signed up for holiday hampers this year. The Lions Den, long a cornerstone of community activity, was torn down on Dec. 17, marking the end of an era for the Portage la Prairie Lions Club. The beloved building, once a hub for events, meetings, and fundraisers, was returned to the City of Portage la Prairie by the Lions Club due to the club’s struggle with an aging membership and a lack of younger volunteers. According to Arishya Aggarwal, Chief of External Affairs for the Portage Lions Club, the decision to give up the Lions Den was a difficult one. With fewer members and the inability to secure new volunteers, the club faced the daunting prospect of disbanding. Despite losing the physical space, Aggarwal emphasized that the spirit of the Lions is far from gone. “We’ve faced challenges, but we’re not giving up. With a dedicated team of just 10 members, we’ve revitalized the club and successfully completed three community projects this year,” said Aggarwal. “The Lions Den may be gone, but we’ve not lost our Lions.” However, the club’s ability to reclaim the building from the city remains uncertain. The city now owns the Lions Den, and Aggarwal shared that the decision to demolish it was made by city officials.However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the claim is nothing more than a product of someone's vivid imagination or a deliberate attempt to deceive. Zoos are responsible for the care and conservation of real animals, and the notion of them hiring wild human actors for entertainment purposes is both illogical and unethical. Furthermore, no legitimate zoo or wildlife institution has ever issued a call for such a position, further discrediting the misinformation.
One of the most exciting features of the new Lunar New Year set is the Firework Easter Eggs. These hidden surprises are scattered throughout the game world, waiting to be discovered by the players. When triggered, the Firework Easter Eggs unleash a dazzling display of colorful fireworks, filling the screen with light and sound, creating a festive atmosphere that is sure to delight players and immerse them in the spirit of the Lunar New Year.Hunter Biden's baby mama makes stunning admission about the president's controversial pardon
How major US stock indexes fared Monday, 12/2/2024
As she gradually comes to terms with her past, our protagonist begins to envision a future that is guided by her own dreams and desires. She reconnects with her passion for art, music, and literature, rediscovering the creative spark that once illuminated her soul. She embarks on new adventures, explores uncharted territories, and embraces the uncertainties of life with a newfound sense of curiosity and wonder.Tweet Facebook Mail A man has been charged over the alleged murder of Bol Deng in Sydney's south-west earlier this year. Police found Deng, 20, shot dead on the road of Stella Street, Fairfield, just after 8.30am on Tuesday, February 27. Following inquiries, at about 6.40am yesterday, detectives carried out two search warrants in Auburn. READ MORE: Estranged husband used homemade spear to murder wife, police allege A 25-year-old man has been arrested over the alleged murder of Bol Deng in Fairfield, Sydney. (NSW Police) In one search, a 25-year-old man was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including accessory to murder. He was refused bail and will appear in court today. Police will allege the man was hired to arrange the cars and loaded the gun used in the murder of Deng. The investigation continues. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .As New York City prosecutors worked Thursday to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Thursday afternoon had raised over $50,000. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from more than 1,500 anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. GiveSendGo did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded." Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." But law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.
As the winners step forward to claim their prizes, they become not just individuals, but symbols of hope and inspiration for countless others who dream of striking it lucky one day. The allure of the lottery lies in its ability to transform ordinary lives in an instant, bestowing unexpected blessings and turning dreams into reality.
Fishburn leads at Sea Island as Dahmen keeps hope alive to keep job
Atelier Announces Brokered and Non-Brokered Private Placement and Intended Public Listing on CSEXavier tries to get right vs. Morgan State before rivalry clash
As the world awaits how US President-elect Donald Trump will weaponize trade, it is useful to understand how the US and China have wielded trade sanctions in the past to achieve their foreign and domestic policy goals. The US has often used trade sanctions to deal with issues such as nuclear proliferation, human rights abuses, or geopolitical aggression, and now under Trump, to reduce trade deficit and bring back jobs to the US. The US, for example, has imposed sanctions on Iran to curb its nuclear program and on Russia following its annexation of Crimea. During Trump’s first presidency, he imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, targeting sectors like technology, steel, and consumer goods. These measures were designed not only to pressure Beijing on what the US claimed as intellectual property theft, human rights violations, and unfair trade practices but also to incentivize US companies to shift production to the US. Similarly, China has also wielded trade sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy. Since 2010, China has imposed sanctions against 15 countries including Australia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, the Philippines, Mongolia, Canada, Lithuania, and the United States. These sanctions vary in motivation, scope, target, and duration, but their strategies tend to be ambiguous and informal but also proportional, conditional, and ultimately pragmatic. If President Trump has the art of the deal, China has the art of the trade war. Historically, China tended to wield trade sanctions over what it claims as infringements of its core interests — territorial integrity, political stability, economic priorities, and national security. In 2012, for example, Beijing imposed trade sanctions — that lasted four years — on the Philippines after it filed a case against China over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. When Norway awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, China blocked Norwegian salmon exports for six years. In 2016, China imposed sanctions on Mongolia after the Dalai Lama’s visit, targeting Mongolian mining exports with administrative delays. South Korea experienced a similar response when it deployed the THAAD missile defense system in 2016. China retaliated by restricting tourism, banning Korean cultural products, and increasing inspections on South Korean goods — a move that cost the South Korean economy an estimated $7.5 billion over six years. In 2020, after Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and banned Huawei from its 5G rollout, China imposed broad sanctions on Australian coal, barley, beef, and wine estimated at over $20 billion worth of exports. In all of these cases, trade sanctions were eventually eased as a result of policy shifts or changes in political leadership in sanctioned countries. These examples illustrate the range and conditional nature of China’s trade sanctions. Economic pressure is applied strategically, and sanctions are often lifted when target countries adjust policies, offer diplomatic concessions, or prioritize economic cooperation with Beijing. While China’s motivations are predictable — to protect its core interests — its sanctions strategy is often ambiguous and informal. Unlike Western powers, which publicly announce and justify sanctions — even with Trump’s trade deficit reduction project — China often attributes trade disruptions to technical or regulatory issues. When Mongolia hosted the Dalai Lama in 2016, Chinese authorities cited vague “technical delays” to restrict Mongolian mining exports. Similarly, restrictions on Australian and Philippines agricultural goods were framed as regulatory inspections rather than retaliatory measures. Moreover, China often employs informal tools such as administrative delays, increased inspections, and unofficial pressures on businesses. In its 2021 dispute with Lithuania over the establishment of a Taiwanese representative office, China suspended trade flows without formal announcements and pressured multinational firms to sever ties with Lithuanian suppliers. This strategy — highly effective but difficult to contest through legal channels — highlights China’s ability to leverage its vast market informally. Notably, China’s trade sanctions also tend to be tit for tat but proportional, calibrated to maintain pressure while avoiding full-scale economic disruption. For example, during Trump’s first presidency, the 2018 trade war with China showcased a proportional use of tariffs to address perceived trade imbalances. Tariffs were imposed on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports, targeting sectors such as technology, steel, and consumer goods, while China retaliated with tariffs on $110 billion worth of US goods, focusing on agriculture and automobiles, politically sensitive goods in the US. While China’s sanctions strategy tends to be ambiguous, informal, proportional, and conditional, it is ultimately pragmatic. For instance, China has maintained robust trade relations with countries despite ongoing territorial disputes. Bilateral trade with India, for instance, reached $135 billion in 2022 despite continued tensions along the border which have since been settled this year. Trade with the US remains robust despite trade rivalry. Similarly, China remains Vietnam’s largest trading partner, even as both countries vie for contested claims in the South China Sea. The same with the Philippines although China has already warned it is running out of patience. Trade with Taiwan further underscores this dynamic. Despite Beijing’s political stance that Taiwan is a breakaway province, economic ties remain significant. In 2022, Taiwan’s exports to China accounted for 40% of its total exports, dominated by semiconductors vital to China’s technology ambitions. These cases point to the complexities of China’s trade relationships and China’s pragmatic balancing act between strategic competition and economic interdependence. The economic impact of China’s sanctions often depends on the targeted country’s reliance on Chinese markets. Smaller economies, or those with concentrated export dependencies, are more vulnerable. South Korea’s deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in 2016 led to restrictions on tourism, entertainment, and consumer goods, costing South Korea an estimated $7.5 billion over six years. However, countries capable of diversifying their trade relationships can mitigate the effects. Australia’s experience with China illustrates this point. After facing sweeping trade restrictions, Australia redirected coal exports to India and barley to the Middle East, demonstrating that sanctions can sometimes accelerate trade diversification rather than achieving their intended outcome. China’s trade sanctions must be seen within its broader foreign policy strategy, which balances punitive measures with economic incentives. Alongside sanctions, China uses tools such as favorable trade agreements, foreign direct investment (FDI), and development aid to strengthen ties with friendly states and win over rivals. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) exemplifies Beijing’s efforts to expand geopolitical influence through economic engagement. China’s vast outbound tourism sector has also emerged as a lever of economic diplomacy, rewarding or penalizing countries based on bilateral ties. While China’s sanctions strategy offers flexibility, it also raises concerns about international trade norms. The World Trade Organization (WTO) provides mechanisms for resolving formal trade disputes, but China’s informal measures often fall outside its regulatory framework. Japan’s 2012 WTO victory against China’s rare earth export restrictions highlighted these limitations. Although China complied with the ruling, the case underscored the challenges of addressing politically motivated trade disruptions through existing global mechanisms. This is not to say that China has completely abandoned the WTO. In fact, it recently filed in the WTO several cases against the US and EU over the imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. In short, China’s art of the trade war seems to be a combination of discretion, informality, ambiguity, proportional escalation, conditionality, pragmatism, and reliance on global institutions as it suits its purpose. This strategy allows Beijing to exert economic pressure, provide flexibility while avoiding overt escalation. Its effectiveness will depend on the economic resilience of targeted countries, their ability to diversify trade relationships, and the broader geopolitical context. While sanctions impose costs, they also carry risks for China, including disruptions to its own supply chains and the potential for countries to deepen ties with alternative partners. On my next op-ed, I will speculate on the possible economic impacts if China imposes sweeping trade sanctions on the Philippines and when it might do so. Eduardo Araral is an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. This op-ed is written in his personal capacity.Hong Myung-Bo Supports Son Heung-Min: He Remains an Important Player for Tottenham Hotspur and the South Korean National Team
Title: Do Not Stick your Watch on the High-speed Train Window - The New Lightbulb Incident Reappears
Zhang Jun believes that while both Mbappe and Salah are world-class players in their own right, the decision to include one over the other ultimately comes down to personal preference and playing style. Mbappe's explosive pace and direct style of play may be more suitable for certain teams and tactical setups, while Salah's technical ability and tactical awareness may better suit others.
The integration of silicon photonics I/O marks a significant milestone in the development of AI accelerators. By leveraging the power of light to transfer data at high speeds, silicon photonics enable faster and more efficient communication between components within the accelerator. This advanced technology not only boosts the overall performance of the AI accelerator but also reduces latency and energy consumption, paving the way for enhanced AI applications and workflows.Adani Enterprises revenue to jump to Rs 1.5 lakh crore, net earnings to rise 46% by FY27: Brokerage