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roulette rules Fears of counterfeit $50 and $100 bills have disrupted foreign-exchange trade at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the nation's largest currency trading gray market. According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, some bureaus at the bazaar, a hub for currency trading, stopped purchasing the bills, saying the counting machines they use can’t identify the fake notes. “The number of counterfeit dollars isn’t clear,” Anadolu cited Resat Yilmaz, a tradesman at the Bazaar, as saying. “These bills have to be collected, which can take two weeks.” Money-counting machines also have to be updated, he added. A representative for currency traders said the disruption has no basis and “there’s no fake currency” in circulation. He blamed banks for what he said was a “clogging” of trading. “Banks should accept old dollar bills. Currently, no bank is doing that,” Mehti Seren, head of the Association of All Authorized Institutions and Foreign Exchange Offices, said in a press conference. “Clients are then returning the dollars to us. That’s what’s clogging the system.” The central bank said it’s sent warnings and expert opinions about the fake bills to banking associations. “The necessary guidance on precautions to be taken regarding the technological infrastructure has been made,” the bank said in a statement. Bill counters, bill checkers and teller machines are being controlled and updated, the Turkish Banks Association said in a separate statement. The prosecutor’s office in Istanbul launched an investigation, Anadolu said. The counterfeit bills entered Turkey from abroad, Haberturk reported, citing sources it didn’t identify.Family detention, raids and ‘no price tag’: Trump’s mass deportation plan comes into focus

Sports on TV for Sunday, Dec. 8We must think historically to cool down our post-election emotions. Historical perspectives clarify our recent presidential election and lower its post-election temperature. Let’s start with feudalism, of kings and lords, which we inherited from our Anglo-European past which had ruled the known world for over a millennium. Then, the American Revolution came and overthrew feudalism and ushered in a new democratic system, governed by ourselves and leaders chosen by us according to our own precepts of freedom. This post-feudal new world lasted for over two centuries — until this past Nov. 5. Contrary to its conventional images of the Dark Ages and oppression, a few scholars have considered feudalism as an ideal system of social order and as a pre-modern community of peace and harmony. As historical fact, this idyllic feudalism, where lords and peasants lived in good order and harmony, came to its end: Earth-shaking events were coming in waves, most notably in scientific discoveries, religious revolts, radical perspectives in Renaissance and Enlightenment, and the emboldening New World — which told feudal rulers that their time was up. Two types of responses, quite fateful for their historic consequences, emerged from feudal societies to face the inevitable “modern” world: One from the Old World and the other from the New World. The Old World, mostly European, decided to welcome the new developments by prudently combining their existing tradition, religion and habits with the new ways of thinking — half-feudal and half-democratic — that would accommodate the changes without destroying their old system. With this new combination, where society is modern but people think traditional, the Old World kept its community and social order in a form generally known as “social democracy” which continues today in most European nations. The New World produced a rather different response. With the backdrop of open land and physical distance from the Old World, the American colonies chose a completely radical break from feudalism. Following the Revolution, the New World realized humanity’s fondest dream of “liberal democracy” (emphasizing individual liberty, unlike Europe’s social democracy), as the new model for idealized self-governance and America’s own self-image as “the Shining City on a Hill.” Liberal democracy satisfied the restless American soul for nearly two centuries, first with wide open frontier society of freedom and equality and later with consumer capitalism to its heart’s content. No nation on Earth or in history had enjoyed the range of physical comfort and convenience like post-World War II American consumers. The age of affluence was upon America, which created an entirely new kind of human generations and personality: The typically solitary American consumer lived in a post-human society, always restless in search of something better for himself. He wanted everything he consumed to be better than before, faster and louder, more thrilling and pleasing. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Hollywood responded with the entertainment revolution, expanding three television channels to 3,000 with cable TV, then to three million with the internet to meet the new demands. America even conquered the time-and-space limitations of nature: entertainment was now always available across time and space — night or day, here or yonder, at will. Upon the consumer’s instant command, movie stars sang, danced, and told jokes and athletes ran and jumped — all to please the new lord. In this society where everything seemed possible and available, the line of sanity between reality and fantasy blurred, and the largely frivolous “choices” covered up the harsh conditions of powerlessness for the masses under the liberal-democratic version of the American Dream. Liberal democracy is both a blessing and a curse. As a blessing, it allows maximum individual indulgences. As the curse, the very nature of individual choice makes it difficult for us to control the consequences of our own choice. Such a system requires a high degree of citizen intelligence and social consciousness. It’s like giving a child a loaded gun and expecting a happy ending. With the gun, the child already possesses the power not to be responsible, like those who struggle with credit cards, even with pre-set limits. No such systems ever survived their own indulgences, and America’s libertine (woke?) anything-goes culture — expertly orchestrated by America’s best and brightest — could not moderate its own civic degeneration. These master psychologists, working for politicians and corporations, kept us deep in our own cesspool, flailing with minor daily irritations that morphed into major political wraths. Under Democrats, life was a sweet dream only in illusion or hypocrisy as our economic cruelty did not (and does not) allow such fantasies to become reality. With the world’s largest wealth-poverty gap, individual lives can improve indefinitely only in Hollywood dreams and Disney fantasies. Soon Democrats, already characterized as an “elitist” party, were seen as largely unrelated to the actual daily lives of working Americans. Still dreaming of the pre-capitalist era, liberal America had become ungovernable and its lives unlivable. The stage was now set for Donald Trump who promised to clear the liberal swamp with his imperial magic wand. Back in power, he is remaking everything in America except money and entertainment. This way, Trump is having the best of both worlds — populist and capitalist: He gets votes from dumb masses and dollars from smart billionaires. Democrats are just in shock and awe of his genius. As democracy replaced feudalism, Trump’s imperial democracy is replacing liberal democracy. In this new era that began on Nov. 5, we have taken our first baby steps, like Adam and Eve after the fall, toward an entirely unknown future — both foreboding and expectant. There, waiting for us is the judgment on the liberal fruit of indulgence that we had picked and consumed, a gift from the capitalist-serpent who whispered to us that we could live “as gods.” Historians would write the rest. Jon Huer, columnist for the Recorder and retired professor, lives in Greenfield and writes for posterity.

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Asia forms the backbone of the world economy, powering vital supply chains from electronics hubs in Taiwan and South Korea to garment factories in Bangladesh. Yet, in recent years, disruptions such as semiconductor shortages, geopolitical tensions between China and the US, tensions in the Middle East and logistical bottlenecks have rippled across economies in Japan, Malaysia, and India. These issues reveal the fragility of global supply networks and highlight the pressing need for resilience. As Indo-Pacific nations forge pathways to recovery, there are lessons for countries like Bangladesh to navigate these global shifts effectively. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Semiconductor shortages became one of the striking examples, severely impacting industries reliant on electronics. Disruptions in chip manufacturing in Asia cascaded across global industries. Geopolitical tensions further compounded these issues, particularly trade disputes between the US and China, with tariffs and sanctions disrupting established supply routes. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and recent Middle East tensions rubbed salt into the wounds, increasing costs in energy and agriculture and causing shipping delays due to rerouting around conflict zones. These shipping bottlenecks led to higher fuel consumption, longer transit times, and more CO2 emissions, complicating sustainability efforts. Furthermore, labour shortages including visa restrictions -- particularly in the shipping industry -- highlighted the human dimension of supply chain fragility. The reliance on alternative transport modes, such as airlift and trucking, introduced further complications, including higher costs and logistical challenges. In response to these disruptions, Indo-Pacific economies have adopted a range of strategies to build resilience in their supply chains. One of these approaches has been diversification. Businesses have expanded their supplier bases across multiple countries to reduce reliance on a single region, minimizing risks associated with geopolitical tensions. Digitalisation has emerged as a cornerstone of supply chain resilience. Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things are being employed to enhance visibility and efficiency. Automation and robotics are also being leveraged to mitigate risks associated with labour shortages and improve productivity. Sustainability has also become a central focus. Countries are increasingly adopting environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing carbon footprints and integrating green technologies. This two-fold focus on resilience and sustainability positions the Indo-Pacific region as a leader in adapting to new global economic realities. For Bangladesh, these strategies offer valuable lessons. As the country seeks to strengthen its role in global supply chains, it can draw inspiration from its Indo-Pacific counterparts. Diversifying export markets and reducing overreliance on a few sectors, such as garments, will be crucial. Investing in technological upgrades, particularly in automation and digital infrastructure, can enhance productivity and competitiveness. Regulatory reforms in labour and environmental standards will align Bangladesh with international trade norms, paving the way for integration into trade blocs like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Bangladesh can also leverage its strong ties with the EU to modernise its infrastructure. The EU's Global Gateway initiative offers investment opportunities in ports, transportation networks, and digital infrastructure. By prioritising these areas, Bangladesh can navigate the challenges of global supply chains while positioning itself as a competitive player in the evolving economic landscape. For Bangladesh, embracing these strategies will not only address immediate challenges, but also lay the foundation for long-term growth. Strengthening resilience and sustainability in supply chains is not just an economic imperative -- it is a pathway to securing a more stable and prosperous future. The writer is chairman of Financial Excellence Ltd. This piece is the excerpt of a discussion at the recently held Bay of Bengal Conversation.If you haven't been on Elon Musk's X platform lately, you may have missed some of the most heated - and most frank - public debate in recent memory by incoming Trump administration officials and other conservatives on the value of the highly coveted H-1B foreign worker visas. President-elect Donald Trump has yet to weigh in, but his advisers and supporters appear to have very conflicting opinions on whether the H-1B visas are indeed "making America great again". According to the Department of Labor, the H-1B program is designed for "nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations... of distinguished merit and ability". A specialty occupation must include "the attainment of at least a bachelor's degree", and the programme is meant to "help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the US workforce". A large portion of Trump's base is passionately opposed to greater immigration to the US, even if that means skilled labour, but some of Trump's most high-profile appointees to his incoming administration are staunchly in favour of it, deeming it a necessity, and want to increase its volume. The current debate began last week when the president-elect appointed Indian-American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as senior policy adviser for artificial intelligence on the incoming White House team. Krishnan previously worked at Microsoft and was one of the founders of Windows Azure. Just before Christmas, one of Krishnan's earlier on X resurfaced, calling for an increase in skilled immigration - a reference to the H-1B program. He hoped Musk would tackle the issue in his new role. DOGE, Krishnan said, should do "anything to remove country caps for green cards / unlock skilled immigration". DOGE is the so-called Department of Government Efficiency initiated by the incoming Trump administration and will be c0-headed by South African immigrant, billionaire and Tesla CEO Musk, as well as Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential contender and first-generation Indian immigrant. Krishnan was met with racist backlash from hundreds of Trump supporters, particularly after he was announced for the White House role. But both Musk and Ramaswamy lent him their support, agreeing that more foreign talent is necessary to fill what they feel are glaring gaps in US companies - and to keep the US the most competitive in the world. "The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low," Musk wrote on his social media platform. "If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win." He that he is "referring to bringing in via legal immigration the top ~0.1% of engineering talent as being essential for America to keep winning". Ramaswamy took the argument a step further, American society itself. "Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer). That doesn't start in college, it starts YOUNG," he wrote on X. "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers," he added. "I know *multiple* sets of immigrant parents in the 90s who actively limited how much their kids could watch those TV shows precisely because they promoted mediocrity... and their kids went on to become wildly successful STEM graduates," referring to Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics degrees. "'Normalcy' doesn't cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. And if we pretend like it does, we'll have our asses handed to us by China," he added. The backlash was swift from Trump supporters. "Turns out the 'waste' that DOGE wanted to cut from America was Americans," Auron MacIntyre, a columnist at the conservative news site The Blaze. Another user writing under a pseudonym said, "I'm still waiting on how this strategy benefits current Americans that worked to put [Ramaswamy] in this position." The post also triggered a wave of rampant racism directed primarily at Indians, coming from Trump supporters and opponents of immigration. Other notable figures also weighed in. Political analyst and founder of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer, : "It's hard to win over Americans on attracting the best and the brightest from abroad when so many feel their own elected leaders haven't invested in them at home. Prioritize that, walk the talk, you (eventually) get more support for legal immigration." But it was the remarks from far-right political commentator and Trump loyalist Laura Loomer that may have been the most inflammatory, as she called Indians "third world invaders" and that "the average IQ in India is 76". Replying to another user who said they wouldn't want to live in India, she "you'd likely get raped on arrival". Loomer has 1.4 million followers on X. Citing an H-1B salary database for tech workers, she wrote that "nobody can afford to live off $70,000 in today's America," suggesting that tech CEOs prefer foreign workers because they could pay them less. Loomer's account on X was then suspended for 12 hours. As X users watched the feud play out over the holiday period, a self-described Democrat named Carlos Turnbull posted: "Loomer is noticeably not saying anything about Trump also bringing in H-1B workers to staff his clubs and Trump Vineyards. Probably just an oversight." The American Immigration Council says only 65,000 H-1B visas are awarded yearly, with 20,000 more going to people whose postgraduate studies were at US institutions. Most of these workers are in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, otherwise known as STEM. The H-1B visa lasts three years and can be extended for six. The employer must petition the government for it on a prospective worker's behalf, and if successful, the employer can also later choose to sponsor that worker for a Green Card: a permanent US residency. Currently, some 700,000 people work in the US under H-1B status. Over 85 percent of H-1B petitions received go to people of Indian (75 percent) and Chinese (12 percent) origin with Canada, South Korea and the Philippines rounding out the . The demand for H1-B visas far outstrips the supply and studies have shown that the programme fills employment gaps. Trump's first administration denied a larger portion of H1-B petitions compared to President Barack Obama's administration. The cities with the highest number of H1-B workers are in New York, San Jose, San Francisco and Dallas.

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A Campbell River resident is celebrating the milestone of becoming Canada’s first-ever student pilot to fly solo in an electric airplane. Catherine Check said she has wanted to be a pilot since she was five years old and decided a few years ago to pursue it as a profession. After gaining experience with conventional airplanes, her instructor at Sealand Flight School offered her the opportunity to test an electric plane. On Dec. 18, with about 10 hours of training experience, the 18-year-old became the country's first-ever student pilot to fly solo in an electric airplane. "The plane is a lot lighter, so you feel more turbulence," Check said. "But at the same time, the technology difference is remarkable." Flying the electric plane felt safer than a conventional plane, Check explained, because she could monitor what's happening with the engine, batteries, and power more confidentially during the 50-minute flight. "It's really safe in my opinion," she said. "Because it's a glider, it's not going to go in a nosedive." Check said the achievement means a lot to her, as she is a female pilot in a male-dominated field. She said she hopes her success will encourage others to consider becoming pilots, especially because the future of air travel is more sustainable. READ ALSO: First commercial electric flight to make history in Campbell River Called a Velis Electro, the electric plane Check flew is ultra-quiet. It produces zero emissions and is expected to be less expensive than conventional training aircraft. According to Sealand Flight School, the flight represents a major milestone in the aviation industry’s pursuit of sustainability. With the backing of Clean BC, BC Hydro, and Transport Canada, Sealand Flight is leading this initiative and takes immense pride in Check's achievement. “After sending students solo in conventional airplanes for over 20 years, it was exciting and rewarding to watch Catherine solo in an electric airplane for the first time,” said Ian Lamont, the company's chief flight instructor. This pioneering initiative serves as a foundation for implementing more commercial zero-emissions aircrafts reads a media release from the flight school. Through the electric airplane training flights, Canada's regulators and industry members are studying and evaluating how aviation can feasibly adopt these emerging technologies, it says.Gautam Adani on charges by US prosecutors: ‘Every attack has made us stronger’

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TAIPEI: A Chinese film set during the COVID-19 pandemic won the top prizes in Taiwan's prestigious Golden Horse Awards, which saw the highest number of entries from China in recent years despite political tensions. Beijing banned its entertainers from joining Golden Horse - dubbed the Chinese-language "Oscars" - in 2019 after a Taiwanese director voiced support for the island's independence in an acceptance speech in 2018. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, which the Taipei government rejects, and Chinese A-listers and big commercial productions have largely avoided the event ever since. Despite the sensitivity of the awards, more than 200 Chinese films entered this year's competition, which Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said was the highest number in "recent years". Acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Lou Ye was awarded best director late Saturday (Nov 23) night for his docu-drama "An Unfinished Film", which was also named best picture. Lou was absent from the ceremony but his wife Ma Yingli read his acceptance speech, describing the film set during China's lockdown of Wuhan in the earliest stages of the pandemic as "the most special directing job I have ever done". Chinese actor Zhang Zhiyong, who also did not attend the awards, won best actor for his performance in Chinese director Geng Jun's same-sex drama "Bel Ami". Hong Kong's Chung Suet-ying was named best actress for her role in "The Way We Talk", which is about the deaf community. Neither "Bel Ami" nor "An Unfinished Film" has been released in China. Ahead of the awards, MAC spokesman Liang Wen-chieh told reporters that these films "may not be able to be screened in mainland China, but they still hope to have a free platform to participate and express themselves". "We welcome (them) very much," he said. "WORK OF CONSCIENCE" After several years absence, Chinese stars began trickling back to the awards in Taipei last year, with actress Hu Ling the first to grace the red carpet since the ban. On Saturday, Geng Jun and some of his cast were among the few Chinese entertainers to join stars and filmmakers from around the region, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, on the red carpet. While Geng missed out on best director and best picture, his film "Bel Ami" won the awards for best cinematography and best film editing. Despite political tensions, Golden Horse remained a stage for independent Chinese films that have no distribution space on the mainland, Taiwanese film critic Wonder Weng told AFP. "This spirit remains unchanged. I think the Golden Horse Awards have always insisted on being the benchmark" that is open to all subjects, said Weng, who is a board member of Taiwan Film Critics Society. Weng said "An Unfinished Film" by Lou, who has previously taken on forbidden subjects such as gay sex and the 1989 Tiananmen protests, was "a work of conscience". Lou's latest offering is about a film crew trying to resume shooting a movie during the Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan, as the city was placed in an unprecedented lockdown. "Lou put images that are banned or blocked into his work and reminds us that there is a director who is willing to preserve historical images for us to see ... and let us know there is a different voice," Weng said.

Dimopoulos shines in double OT and Northern Illinois beats Fresno State 28-20 in Idaho Potato BowlDec 27 (Reuters) - U.S. officials have added a ninth telecommunications company to the list of entities compromised by a sweeping Chinese-linked cyberespionage operation known as Salt Typhoon, a top White House official said Friday. Anne Neuberger, the U.S. deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, told reporters on a call that the unnamed telecom was added to the list after the U.S. government shared guidance on how to detect and defend against the operation. Officials have previously alleged that the attackers targeted Verizon, AT&T, Lumen and others. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Dec. 18 urged senior government and political figures to move mobile communications to end-to-end encrypted apps as a result of the Salt Typhoon campaign, which has targeted officials associated with the campaign of former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to reports. Officials have said "a large number of Americans' metadata was taken" as part of the campaign. Chinese officials have previously described the allegations as disinformation and said Beijing "firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft in all forms." Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, a Democrat from New Mexico, called Salt Typhoon the "largest telecommunications hack in our nation's history" during a Dec. 11 hearing, while Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said the U.S. "must plug any vulnerabilities in communications networks." Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Dec. 5 her agency was proposing rules requiring telecommunications carriers to secure their networks in light of the Salt Typhoon revelations. Neuberger said Friday that the "Chinese gained access to networks and essentially had broad and full access," giving them the capability to "geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will," and that updated FCC rules could help limit the scope and impact of future intrusions. Sign up here. Editing by Chizu Nomiyama Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Cybersecurity correspondent covering cybercrime, nation-state threats, hacks, leaks and intelligence

November 30, 1967, stands as a defining moment in Pakistan’s political history – a day that reshaped the nation’s destiny. On this pivotal day, the country took a decisive turn toward empowering its people, as Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a visionary leader, pledged to fight for the rights of the masses. He established a political party in Lahore that significantly transformed Pakistan’s political landscape: the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The PPP was born out of Bhutto’s unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of ordinary Pakistanis. Its mission was clear: to establish a government that championed the rights of the people, not the elite. With a foundation rooted in social justice, economic equality, and political freedom, the PPP quickly became the beacon of hope for a nation yearning for change. Even before the party’s formation, Bhutto had captured the imagination of millions across the country. For the first time since the era of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, the people found a leader who stood undeterred, ready to fight for their rights. His call resonated from Kashmir to Karachi, Gilgit to Gwadar, galvanizing the public and propelling the PPP to prominence as the most popular political force in West Pakistan. The 1970 general elections cemented this status, with the party securing the majority of seats in the region. However, just a year later, the nation was plunged into despair. The separation of East Pakistan, coupled with a devastating war with India, left Pakistan reeling. In these trying times, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s dynamic leadership became the country’s saving grace. With courage and foresight, he rallied the nation, stabilized the economy, and secured peace through the Simla Agreement, which brought back thousands of war prisoners and reclaimed occupied territory from India. Bhutto also united a fragmented nation by delivering the consensus-based Constitution of 1973 and elevated Pakistan’s global standing by hosting the 1974 Islamic Summit Conference. The PPP was born out of Bhutto’s unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of ordinary Pakistanis. Among his greatest achievements was initiating Pakistan’s nuclear program, a bold step that cemented the country’s defence capabilities. Despite immense international pressure and threats, Bhutto stood firm, declaring, “We will eat grass, but we will make the bomb.” These visionary actions, however, made him a target for global powers. In 1977, a conspiracy culminated in General Zia-ul-Haq’s coup, followed by Bhutto’s controversial trial and execution – a miscarriage of justice later acknowledged by Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Zia and his allies believed Bhutto’s martyrdom would dismantle the PPP and erase his legacy. But they underestimated the resilience of the movement he inspired. Bhutto’s ideals lived on – in the hearts of the people, the resolve of party workers, and the leadership of his family. His courageous daughter, Benazir Bhutto, rose to carry the torch of democracy and the fight for the people’s rights. Benazir’s journey was fraught with challenges. During Zia’s oppressive regime, the Bhutto family and PPP workers faced relentless persecution – a dark chapter in the nation’s history. Yet, neither imprisonment nor exile could break her resolve. Under her leadership, the PPP returned to power in 1988, and Benazir became Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister, earning global acclaim and breaking barriers. During her tenure, Benazir championed numerous reforms, focusing on women’s rights, healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. She initiated economic programs to uplift the nation, but her path was never easy. Political conspiracies and entrenched opposition led to her government’s dismissal in 1990. Undeterred, she returned to power in 1993, once again taking bold steps for the welfare of the people. By 1996, mounting political crises forced Benazir into exile, while her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, endured imprisonment and torture. Despite these hardships, the PPP remained steadfast. During General Pervez Musharraf’s era, Benazir emerged as a formidable voice against dictatorship, advocating for constitutional restoration and civil liberties. Despite facing grave threats, she returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007, to a hero’s welcome, reminiscent of her historic 1986 homecoming in Lahore. Tragically, her courage led to her martyrdom on December 27, 2007, after an election rally in Rawalpindi. Following her untimely death, Asif Ali Zardari assumed PPP’s leadership. Under his stewardship, the party won the 2008 elections and introduced transformative measures for political stability. As President, Zardari championed the 18th Amendment, ensuring parliamentary sovereignty, and provincial autonomy, and fostering reconciliation. Landmark initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Benazir Income Support Program, and energy projects like the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline were hallmarks of his tenure, gaining international recognition. Today, the PPP’s mantle is carried by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a leader embodying his family’s legacy. Bilawal’s vision is evident in his initiatives, particularly in Sindh, where transformative programs like free cardiac care at NICVD, cancer treatment through CyberKnife technology, liver transplants in Gambat, and housing for flood victims have changed countless lives. His dedication to public welfare is reflected in initiatives like the Benazir Kisan Card, free solar systems for impoverished households, and extensive healthcare reforms. The Pakistan Peoples Party’s history is a story of unwavering commitment, sacrifice, and service for the people. From Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, each leader has exemplified a dedication to Pakistan’s progress, democracy, and the rights of its citizens. The PPP Foundation Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made, the milestones achieved, and the promise to continue striving for a brighter future. The writer is Advisor SDGs Task Force Sindh and former MPA Sindh.Columbia River Treaty talks continue amid incoming Trump presidencyCara Delevingne and Taylor Swift have had some adventures together. While the two have long been friends, the model recently revealed that she and Swift were roommates at one point and got up to all kinds of stuff together. Taylor Swift appears to share a hilarious secret with Travis Kelce’s mom at tonight’s game Cara Delevingne talks about passionate kiss with Selena Gomez: ‘It was just hysterical’ Delevingne discussed her relationship with Swift in an Interview article with Nikki Glaser . The two were discussing the topic of comedy roasts and whether Swift should be involved in one. While Glaser, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, said that she didn't want anyone to be mean to Swift, Delevingne believes Swift can hold her own. “I could definitely roast her, because I lived with her for a little bit," she said. “I was going through a really horrible breakup, and she let me live with her. We’re very different people,” she continued. “She’s very homely, because she looked after me so well, but we got into some—not trouble, but I definitely took her for a bit of a wild ride. Just to get her to blush would be great.” Delevingne also described Swift as a funny person who can roast people expertly. “The thing about Taylor, though, is I’ve seen her do a speech at someone’s wedding before, and it was a roast," she said. “She’s one of the funniest, most clever people. Anyone could roast her easily, but at the same time, she could f**k everyone up so hard.” More details about Swift and Delevingne's friendship Swift and Delevingne have been friends for years, with the two supporting each other in different important occasions. Delevingne supported Swift at one of her Eras Tour concerts while Swift was spotted attending a performance of "Cabaret" in London, which starred Delevingne. When discussing Swift's highly publicized relationship with Travis Kelce , Delevingne had some nice words of support for her friend. “There’s definitely something very different about them,” she said to E! News. “I’m always rooting for my girl.”