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(The Center Square) – Paula Scanlan is hopeful the narrative around gender ideology is shifting, especially as Republicans prepare for majorities in both chambers of the 119th Congress and a seat in the White House. “I am hopeful that with the majorities now that we will be able to get across the finish line,” Scanlan told The Center Square on Thursday, speaking of more legislation on the way to protect women's spaces. “Obviously, this goes beyond sports ... So ideally, I think that the biggest thing would be to federally pass something that says this is what a woman is.” Scanlan a day earlier was part of a panel where U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., announced that Republicans plan to soon introduce legislation to “protect children from transgender medical procedures.” A report from the advocacy group Do No Harm released four weeks before Election Day included documented evidence of such activity being performed on a 7-year-old . “We’ll be introducing the STOP Act soon,” said Marshall . “We are going to use the Commerce Act to punish people who perform any type of surgery, or who use any type of medications on minors.” STOP is an acronym for Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors. The panel said that the legislation is an important and necessary step to protect children. Scanlan and Marshall, a host with the American Principles Project, were on the panel alongside U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.; U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill.; Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project; and Sarah Parshall Perry, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation. “We all know by now that so-called gender affirming care is anything but caring,” Tuberville said. “It is pure insanity and has caused irreversible damage to countless children. This isn’t about politics, this is about good and evil.” Scanlan is an ambassador for Independent Women's Voice and a former collegiate swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania. Swimming for the Quakers, she and teammates endured being not only on the same team but in the same locker room as a swimmer who for the first three years swam on the men's team. “I was a swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania and the administration, the university and the NCAA said , ‘Here's a man who wants to swim on your team, please accept him,’” she explained during the panel. “This entire situation really made all female athletes feel isolated and alone, and like they know where to go.” Scanlan said that it wasn’t just competing that isolated the female athletes. Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! “Eighteen times per week, my teammates and I were forced to undress next to a 6-foot-4, fully-intact male,” Scanlan said. “As a female athlete, this was just something I couldn't even imagine. It was something I never imagined would happen to me when I went off to college.” The STOP Act is one of a few beginnings. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has proposed legislation seeking to protect women’s spaces on all federal property nationwide. This would include bathrooms, locker rooms and prisons. Scanlan said this shows that public opinion is on the side of her and the panel. “This is really the first time we're seeing more of these people in power stepping up and actually doing the right thing and saying enough is enough” she said. “Now, we are looking at entire teams that are feeling empowered to be able to boycott ... or object to competing against males. It's widespread.” A notable case of that is San Jose State, where Blaire Fleming's participation has led to seven opponents forfeiting rather than playing a women's team that includes a man saying he is a woman. Tuberville and Marshall emphasized they believe the majority of Americans would agree with the proposed legislation. "The American people are sick of this nonsense," Tuberville said . "It’s time we restore some sanity and get common sense back in this country." Scanlan said that while she supports the national legislation Republicans are considering, it is important for states to also continue to pass legislation. “I always remind people who are really excited about having a presidency that we don't know what might happen in four years," she said. "So, of course, it's also important to codify this in states. We are going to continue our efforts. There's still a lot of work to be done, and I don't really see it as a win until we've finished this on the state level.”A three-party alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept Maharashtra in a record-busting victory and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) propelled the INDIA bloc to an unprecedented second consecutive term in Jharkhand, bringing the curtain down on the final round of elections this year and setting the stage for renewed churn in national politics. Also Read: RSS plays a key role in BJP-led Mahayuti’s big win in Maharashtra The Mahayuti secured a three-fourths majority in India’s second most populous province on the back of a clinical campaign that plugged the lacunae of its Lok Sabha drubbing, and built a new pan-state coalition with women-focussed welfare promises, Hindutva consolidation, and smart alliance management. Stellar performances by the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also sealed a fractious debate on the legacy of these two regional stalwarts. In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) failed to capitalise on the momentum of its Lok Sabha performance as it struggled to cross even the 50-seat mark in an assembly of 288. The Congress and its alliance partners Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) were decimated across the state as senior leaders were trounced on the back of a listless campaign that failed to read the changing mood on the ground. In the east, JMM chief Hemant Soren crafted a personalised campaign based on his tribal identity to rout the Opposition and win a near-two-thirds majority for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in the mineral-rich state. Soren, who was jailed for around five months earlier this year on corruption charges, bridged the tribal vs non-tribal fault line in the state with a welfare formula of his own, mixed with tribal pride and a sympathy wave. Also Read: What clicked for JMM in Jharkhand? The decisive victories by the incumbents in both states underlined the continued importance of welfare, and the growing role of the women and the swing voter. The astonishing scale of the Mahayuti victory in a state where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) performed poorly in the Lok Sabha polls just four months ago will energise the BJP and renew its momentum at the national stage. Seen alongside its surprising victory in Haryana last month and its stellar performance in the Uttar Pradesh assembly bypolls – the NDA won seven out of nine seats, compared to the Samajwadi Party’s two – the party will believe that its underwhelming Lok Sabha showing was more of a blip. Also Read: Mahayuti’s nuts-and-bolts campaign The monster victory will also likely pave the BJP’s path towards a majority in the Rajya Sabha and bolster the party as it embarks on signature big-bang reforms such as simultaneous elections. It also ignited a race for the chief minister’s chair, with all three constituents making a pitch In contrast, the MVA’s dismal showing even in pocket boroughs – senior leaders of all three constituents lost their seats across the board – suggested that its impressive Lok Sabha tally (it won 30 out of the 48 seats) was more of a flash in the pan. The Congress’s poor showing and its inability to take on the BJP in head-to-head contests – the party lost 57 of the 66 seats where it took on the BJP – will weaken its bargaining position within the INDIA bloc as well as in Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the BJP’s performance historic and an endorsement of its development agenda. Speaking at the party headquarters in Delhi in the evening, Modi also repeated his signature “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain (if we stay united, we’ll be safe)” slogan, saying that it had become a maha (major) mantra of the country. During the last two weeks of the campaign, the BJP used the slogan to effectively argue that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes (OBCs) should remain united and not fall for the Opposition’s promises of a caste census. “People have made divisive forces bite the dust. The Congress and its allies have failed to grasp the changed realities of the country’s mood,” the PM said. Modi pointed out that the BJP, at 132, had more seats in Maharashtra, than the entire MVA. This is the best performance of the BJP in Maharashtra, and a remarkable turnaround from the Lok Sabha tally in June. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hailed the Jharkhand performance. “Heartfelt thanks to the people of Jharkhand for giving a huge mandate to India. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to chief minister Hemant Soren ji, all the workers of Congress and JMM for this victory...The results of Maharashtra are unexpected and we will analyse them in detail,” he posted on X. In the extraordinarily chaotic Maharashtra elections, where six big mainstream parties competed for the first time in the state’s history, the BJP and its allies opened up humongous majorities in every region. The BJP won 132 seats out of the 149 it contested, followed by the Sena with 57 out of 81 contested, and the NCP with 41 out of 59 contested. The architects of this victory were the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme that gave ₹ 1,500 per month to poor women, Modi’s Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain slogan, and a data-driven, disciplined campaign that focussed on each constituent’s strengths. chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar thanked the state for Mahayuti’s show, which saw the alliance improve its vote share by around eight percentage points over its Lok Sabha showing. Also Read: After Maharashtra, the fate of the Opposition “This is the record-breaking victory of Mahayuti. We are thankful to the whole of Maharashtra,” Shinde said. Shinde and Ajit Pawar also underlined that theirs were the true inheritors of their parent parties’ political capital. In contrast, the MVA was saddled with protracted seat negotiations, mushrooming rebels and a lacklustre campaign that harked on questions of the Constitution and caste census even as their traction on the ground was fast diminishing. As a result, the Sena (UBT) won 20 seats out of the 95it contested, followed by the Congress with 16 out of 101 contested, and the NCP (SP) with 10 out of 86 contested. The depressing performances by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar also posed existential questions for their factions as well as their political legacy. It settled, once and for all, the questions raised by the vertical splits in the Sena and the NCP in 2022 and 2023. No party in the MVA was in a position to claim leader of the Opposition status in the state assembly. “People have given their mandate and people have accepted Eknath Shinde as the real Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar has got the legitimacy of NCP,” Fadnavis told reporters. In Jharkhand, Soren successfully leveraged his jail stint to fashion an emotive campaign around his tribal identity to emerge as the undisputed leader of the community that forms close to a fourth of the state’s population. The INDIA bloc won 56 out of 81 seats, compared to 21 by the BJP. He also pushed his wife Kalpana Soren into prominence, and entrusted ally Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal to shore up performances in non-tribal seats. The JMM was buoyed by the response among rural women to its Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana, which gave ₹ 1,000 to poor women. By making the cash transfer scheme the centrepiece of its welfare outreach, the party was able to build a new catchment of voters in those 68 seats where more women voted than men. In the end, the JMM ended up winning 27 out of 28 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes. “We have passed the exam of democracy in Jharkhand; I express my gratitude to the people for this stupendous performance,” Soren said. The blockbuster results, especially in Maharashtra, will have a deep resonance on national politics. The BJP will believe it has negated whatever setbacks it suffered this summer and will now push anew to break new frontiers, including in Delhi and Bihar next year.
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Arnab Neil Sengupta For years, the intertwined issues of climate change and decarbonization seemed sacrosanct, almost immune to scrutiny. Scientists, economists, and policymakers often toed the line, wary of being labeled climate skeptics. But the intensifying debate over the global bill for decarbonization — whether its distant benefits justify the staggering immediate costs — is a welcome reckoning. The complexity of the debate, reflecting economic, technological, environmental and equity concerns, is only now beginning to dawn on the world. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s remark that “Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems,” made in 2022 in the context of the Ukraine war, resonates strongly here. Climate change may be a politically popular issue in progressive cities and regions of Europe and the US, but it cannot dictate the priorities of the entire planet, especially when the projected global costs range from $3 trillion to $12 trillion annually. The US, of course, is poised for a dramatic policy shift. Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Chris Wright, a fossil fuel advocate, as energy secretary signals a pivot toward hydrocarbon exploration and production, potentially disrupting global climate agreements and inspiring other nations to challenge the conventional wisdom. “Climate activists, for the most part, do not dispute the hair-raising price tag; they simply consider the expense worthwhile when weighed against the catastrophic damage unchecked climate change is likely to inflict,” The Economist says in its latest issue in an article titled, “The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think.” But the jury is still out on whether the cost of decarbonizing the world economy is too high compared with the potential long-term savings and broader societal benefits. The Paris Agreement’s twin goals — limiting warming to “well below” 2°C and striving for 1.5°C by the end of this century — were adopted with laudable intent. Yet, the risk-reward calculus underpinning these targets looks tenuous when one considers the fact that economic modelers have a poor record of predicting technological advances. Critics and even advocates of decarbonization increasingly acknowledge the colossal upfront investments required, the risks to economic stability, and the disproportionate burdens placed on developing nations. The world’s reliance on fossil fuels is undeniable, with coal, oil, and gas responsible for over 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN. Shifting from these energy sources to renewables is critical, but fraught with challenges. Wealthier nations may have the resources for a smooth transition, but the Global South lacks the means to achieve this without substantial financial assistance — assistance that many developed countries are reluctant to provide amid concerns over governance and corruption in aid-receiving nations. Moreover, breakthroughs in technology that are essential for decarbonizing heavy industry and aviation remain uncertain, even though these sectors face significant challenges in transitioning to clean energy. Whether such breakthroughs will materialize soon enough is an open question. While urban transportation worldwide may gradually embrace electric or hybrid solutions, innovations such as green hydrogen for energy-intensive sectors are still in their infancy. Renewable energy sources do promise energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports, yet this is not universally applicable. Not all nations enjoy abundant solar or wind resources, and nuclear energy — once heralded as a solution — has grown less competitive due to rising costs. Still, proponents highlight declining costs of renewables and the job-creation potential in green energy sectors as compelling incentives for decarbonization. In public health terms, transitioning to cleaner energy offers clear benefits. Northern India’s annual smog crisis, a health catastrophe exacerbated by vehicle emissions and the burning of crop stubble, underscores the urgency of clean energy adoption. Studies from institutions such as Oxford University project long-term economic savings from accelerated decarbonization. But skeptics counter that these savings hinge on speculative technological advances and policy consistency. What is certain is that rapid decarbonization raises risks to economic stability and job losses in traditional energy sectors, which are, in fact, capable of meeting the energy needs of the planet without requiring trillions of dollars of additional investments every year. Saudi Arabia has championed a pragmatic approach, as articulated by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at a recent G20 session in Rio de Janeiro. He emphasized equitable and inclusive transitions, highlighting the Kingdom’s investments in technologies that have lowered emissions intensity in oil and gas operations. Saudi Arabia’s example shows that balancing environmental goals with economic and developmental priorities is possible. In the final analysis, the decarbonization debate cannot be reduced to binary positions. It is less about whether the world should transition and more about how to achieve it equitably, pragmatically, and sustainably. Revisiting the costs and methods is not a rejection of climate action, but an overdue acknowledgment of its complexity. The true challenge lies in ensuring that this moment of introspection leads to a consensus that, instead of raising ambitions, aligns ambition with affordability, leaving no country behind in the pursuit of a livable planet. Courtesy: arabnews
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The UK's oldest man has celebrated his 110th birthday with a special performance from opera singer Alfie Boe at his care home in Derbyshire. A party was laid on for Donald Rose, who's now classed as a "supercentenarian", for his birthday on Christmas Eve. Mr Boe joined the bash in Ilkeston by video call and sang happy birthday, adding it was "a pleasure" to perform for him. Mr Rose, who served in the with the Queen's Royal Regiment, said: "Today is the best day I've ever had." Canal Vue Care Home announced his birthday with a post on Facebook: "Today we're celebrating a remarkable milestone. Our beloved Donald is turning 110 years young!" Activity coordinator Naomi Allsop also shared a touching tribute on Facebook: "Happy 110th birthday to my amazing best friend, the UK's oldest man and a remarkable WWII and D-Day veteran! "We've shared so many incredible experiences together, and there's still so much more to come!" "Donald is a lovely character - and a true national treasure," said the mayor of Erewash, Councillor Kate Fennelly, who also paid him a visit. Mr Rose, who was born in 1914 in Westcott, Surrey, also received a card from and , which he proudly showed off. Other performances at the care home included Kate from D-Day Darlings, an all-female singing group who reached the finals of ITV's . She sang The White Cliffs of Dover and We'll Meet Again. On 5 December, the war hero was among 200 veterans and their guests to attend a Christmas reception at St James's Palace, hosted by the Duke of Gloucester. The event was organised by The Not Forgotten veterans' charity, which aims to combat isolation and loneliness in the armed forces and those who have served through social activities and holidays. Mr Rose served as a sniper and Desert Rat in North Africa in the Second World War, according to The Gerontology Research Group, and was part of the liberation of Italy and France. He earned a number of medals during his service including the Legion D'Honneur - France's highest honour. After working various jobs as a labourer, lorry driver and bin man he moved to in 2000 following the death of his wife, and at the age of 106 moved into his care home in Ilkeston. On 25 November, following the , he became the oldest known living man in the UK. The world's oldest living person is Japan's 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka.By . By Joshua Ocheja As I sit at my desk, fingers poised over the keyboard, I am reminded of the restless spirit that drives writers like me. Writers are restless beings, forever in turmoil, driven to express themselves. This inner conflict yields writing, a cathartic release from the burden of thoughts and emotions. Most writers will attest to this phenomenon. Writing stems from a deep-seated urge to inform, educate, or take a stance on issues that shape our daily lives. I discovered this truth when I began writing actively in 2008. Since then, I’ve known no peace, much like my fellow writers. The compulsion to make a statement is ever-present. As a young writer, I devoured the works of notable authors and was privileged to learn from some of the best in the country. This period was challenging, with memories of being tasked with analyzing articles from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. I was baffled, my mind reeling with questions. One particular lesson stands out: the power of concise sentences and the art of suspenseful storytelling. These techniques have become essential tools in my writing arsenal. Several writers have influenced my writing. They come with unique writing styles for their audience. The interesting thing for me is their ability to hold their audience in suspense. Consequently, I attempted to describe the writing style of these writers, even though I knew I couldn’t do sufficient justice to the enterprise. It remains an attempt. I have listed them below in no particular order. Mahmud Jega: I liken him to a professor of social history. I wonder who would not read Mahmud Jega religiously. He is a storyteller. His writings are rich in content and informative. There is hardly any piece of his that does not come with a personal experience. When he writes, he takes you down history in a simplified way. His writings make you curious. You wonder how he gets his information. And his style of expression is brilliant. Simon Kolawole: Simon Kolawole is a witty writer. His writings make no distinction between friend and foe. He converts his audience easily with his style of writing. He is not afraid to be sarcastic but not lose the plot. He is not a critic. On an occasion when he criticises, he gets overwhelmed. He is one of the few writers in Nigeria who writes jokingly. Simple, yet effective. When you read his articles, a paragraph or sentence must give you reason to laugh. The “Four Other Things” segment of his column is where he jabs subtly. If you are fortunate enough to feature there, it means that he spared you. Little wonder the logo of his column is Simon Kolawole Live! Olusegun Adeniyi: Olusegun Adeniyi is a blitzing writer. His writings reflect an agitation and want to quickly put issues in proper perspective. That is The Verdict. He is sublime in his analysis. Most times, he concludes his writings with food for thought. You don’t want to find yourself on his wrong side. He won’t spare you, no matter how highly placed. He throws jabs easily. You can’t fault him most times because he writes with facts. Waziri Adio: Waziri Adio is a methodological writer. He is very conscious of his audience. He rarely banters in his writings or leaves any paragraph to the interpretation of the reader. He sounds like the title of his column Postscripts. He writes technically and mainly on policy and governance. He is not a storyteller, and if you are not intellectually minded, you might find his writing unappealing. His writings are well-researched and straight to the point. He remains one of the few writers who have been consistent in style and delivery. Monday Philips Ekpe: Monday Philips Ekpe is a reflective writer. He describes situations in a manner that makes the audience reflect. He is not hard in his analysis, an attribute that makes his writings unique. His standpoints are hinged on burning issues, often reflecting the reality on the ground. He advocates good governance and attempts to ignite a reflection on accountability. His titles give him away easily. You could easily tell his position from the title and the opening paragraph. Sunday Dare: Sunday Dare is a restless writer. He is bullish in his writings. His arguments are strong. You can sense the excitement in his writings. He takes a position and sustains it, not minding whose ox is gored. He writes very well and is also conscious of feedback. He writes mostly on appraisal of a policy or government position, and his verdict is mostly positive. His titles are usually long and less catchy. Tunde Olusunle: Tunde Olusunle is a lyrical writer. He romances words in his writings by giving them a meaning that resonates. His writings are lengthy, and he navigates them easily, often professorially. He can hold the audience for an extended period. He utilizes anecdotes and builds on them to a conclusion. His titles are sensational, and the enthusiasm resonates in his writings. He is a wordsmith, and his writings read like a novel. The above-mentioned writers are some of my favourites. Their writings give me insights into the dynamic world of writing. It also reminds me that there are no fixed rules in writing. Telling a great story varies among writers. The writing journey is a restless one, fueled by an insatiable urge to express ourselves. As writers, we must embrace this restlessness, harnessing it to create work that informs, educates, and inspires. Ocheja is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. NEWS UPDATE: Nigerians have been finally approved to earn Dollars from home, acquire premium domains for as low as $1500, profit as much as $22,000 (₦37million+). Click here to start.