ITV I’m A Celebrity Coleen Rooney rushed to medics after bug-filled trial goes wrong
The bright lights of the Angela Triplex Theatre’s marquee are shining again in Coaldale, where the business has reopened as Schuylkill County’s only full-time movie theater and also is being transformed into a family entertainment complex. One of the movie screens started back up last weekend, as did a virtual reality games arena in the building, and the new owner is also planning to host live entertainment and open a drone soccer court this spring. The Angela had been closed since the COVID 19 pandemic began in 2020, and the building needed major work, including a roof replacement. Deb Danchak of Coaldale, who with her husband Michael had bought the shuttered theater in 1993 and transformed it into a three-screen venue showing first-run movies, decided to sell after the pandemic. That was in part because Michael passed away in 2017 and because such serious repairs were needed. So this year the building was purchased by Raj Narayanasamy, an information technology consultant from Princeton, New Jersey, who said he’s committed to the Angela for the long-term and has already replaced the roof. The Danchak family remains involved, with son Michael Jr. now a partner and helping with the ongoing renovations. The Danchaks and Narayanasamy share a similar vision for the business — they are excited to bring back the historic theater while also creating a family fun center with varying types of entertainment. “We’re reimagining it, mixing movies, live entertainment and gaming. We’re exploring all of the possibilities,” Narayanasamy said. “He has big ambitions,” Danchak said of Narayanasamy, “and we’re taking his ideas and making them work.” This weekend “Mufasa: The Lion King” is playing in theatre one, which has 70 seats and is the first of the three theatres to reopen. The spacious theater two, which previously seated 244 people and which includes a stage, will open in the spring with slightly less seating but set up in a way that it too can show first-run movies and also host live entertainment such as comedy events, open-mic nights, bands, and possibly dinner theater, Michael Jr. said. Theater three is also expected to open in the spring after undergoing an even more drastic change into a venue for drone soccer, a sport that was invented several years ago in South Korea. Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Robert S. Carl, Jr. thinks the multi-dimensional use of the building will increase the business’s odds to succeed and draw all ages of customers. “The more diversity, the better,” he said. And while most independent small-town movie theaters have been replaced by movie complexes operated by major chains, the Angela will have a nostalgic appeal that many should enjoy, he said. When the chamber is trying to attract businesses or workers to the county, quality of life is near the top of the list for many as they’re considering where to locate, and the Angela should help with that, he said. It will be a great amenity for Coaldale and for Schuylkill as a whole since the county currently doesn’t have anything like it, Carl said.-“They’re really creating something unique here,” he said. “I admire the new owner’s vision and fortitude in bringing back a great place for all of Schuylkill County. I think it’s awesome.” The movie theater is open Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays, with ticket prices at $10 for adults and $6 for students. It was important, said Michael Jr., to retain the history of the Angela, which originally was opened by Peter Magazzu at its current location on E. Phillips Street after his Ritz Theatre on Second Street in Coaldale burned down. But while the old lighted glass blocks in the marquee are still in place and the owner is looking into restoring the neon lights in the sign, there are more modern upgrades, too, with the new theater seats being more comfortable and having more leg room than the previous ones, he said. The concession counter was doubled in size to accommodate a new, larger popcorn machine, and the plan is for it to soon sell locally popular A-Treat soda flavors. The virtual reality arena, which is named Angela VR, charges $10 per person for a 30-minute session. Each participant wears a vest and headset to enter a virtual world where they play games such as laser tag and archery, or dance. They can come by themselves or with friends, and each of the two arenas can hold up to eight people at a time. In drone soccer, which is also known as quadcopter soccer, games are played by two teams of at least three players. Each player controls a drone that has been fitted with a protective anti-collision cage, and each team has a goal that they need to defend. The goal of the game is to have a drone fly towards and through the goal defended by the opposite team. Each team has a designated striker whose task is to fly through the goal and score. The other two members will have to defend their goal. The U.S. Drone Soccer association has described the sport as “like Quidditch” from the Harry Potter universe, but played with drones. Narayanasamy believes the sport will grow in mainstream popularity, and Michael Jr. does not know of anywhere else in the region where it can be played. Therefore, they said, the Angela should draw players from in and out of the county. “There is a big demand now for aerospace activities,” Michael Jr. said. The new version of the Angela is one that the Danchaks and Narayanasamy are devoted to, Michael Jr. said, and one that he knows his late father would appreciate. Even before his father brought the theater back to life 30 years ago, he had worked there as an usher and later a projectionist, so he knew how vital the Angela was to the town, Michael Jr. said. “My dad put his blood, sweat and tears into this place to bring it back 30 years ago,” Michael Jr. said, “and we think it’s important that legacy continue.”
Pandas An An and Ke Ke celebrate their 1st Christmas in Hong Kong HONG KONG (AP) — A pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had “Merry Christmas” written on it with sweet potato and carrots while Ke Ke, his female companion, got a snowman garnished with slices of carrot and apple in a special press event Monday before visitors streamed to the park. China sent the pair to Hong Kong in late September in a bid to boost tourism in the city. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby: Spurs-Knicks Christmas game is also an animated one at Disney World NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. While Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are facing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, an alternate animated telecast will have the teams playing in the Magic Kingdom, with some Disney characters participating. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2 The first season of “Squid Game” was Netflix's most-watched series and went on to win a variety of accolades including the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series for Lee Jung-jae and a directing award for Hwang Dong-hyuk. The show returns for its second season on Dec. 26 and is already nominated for a Golden Globe for best drama. It's rare for TV shows made in Korea to have more than one season but Lee describes Hwang as “a genius.” A third and final season has already filmed. Netflix is also invested in expanding its “Squid Game” universe with a reality competition series and an English-language version in development. In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there's now a tiny Christmas tree DARDGHAYA, Lebanon (AP) — A Christmas tree stands among the fallen stones in the ruins of a Catholic church in southern Lebanon that was hit by an Israeli airstrike during the war with Hezbollah. It's a small and modest tree. There are no lights because the war destroyed power lines. The ground is too uneven to set up the Nativity scene. The priest says his blood pressure went up and he lost his balance when he saw the church's destruction. Now he leads Mass in an underground room that serves as a temporary worship space. He tells the community it “is more like the cave where Jesus was born.” Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90 The Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, says the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” has died. The aquarium says Burt died over the weekend and was at least 90 years old. A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters long. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile, before being saved by Dundee. Elaborate holiday light displays are making spirits bright in a big way CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow might be enough to brighten some homes this holiday season. But others are adorned with thousands of blinking lights synched to blasting music. In Mesa, Arizona, 14 homeowners have been going all-out on holiday lights for 30 years, and those buying homes in the neighborhood often find the attics full of décor left behind by previous owners. In Santa Clarita, California, residents began coordinating their holiday lights to bring some joy to their community after an earthquake. And in Edmond, Oklahoma, those looking to the western sky will easily spot the Miranda family’s elaborate display featuring images and music from the movie “Wicked.” Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian village CATALAO, Brazil (AP) — Santa Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus. The visit was arranged by Amigos do Papai Noel, a Brazilian charity that has been taking gifts to children in the Amazon rainforest for the past 26 years. More than 600 children from different villages gathered in Catalao to receive presents from Santa, who dressed in his traditional nightcap, white gloves and red suit, while enduring the stifling jungle heat. NASA's Parker Solar Probe aims to fly closer to the sun like never before NEW YORK (AP) — A NASA spacecraft is about to make the closest approach to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That's nearly seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft. Scientists won’t hear from Parker until a few days after the flyby. It’ll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the corona is so much hotter than the sun's surface. 174 Colorado skiers and snowboarders rescued after a lift cracks WINTER PARK, Colo. (AP) — Officials are investigating what caused a crack in a Colorado ski lift that forced the evacuation of over 170 stranded skiers and snowboarders. The evacuation happened Saturday on a gondola lift at Winter Park Resort. A spokesperson says the lift stopped automatically when a crack was detected in a structural piece of the lift. Passengers were lowered down by ropes over the course of about five hours. No injuries were reported during the rescues, which came at the start of the busy holiday season. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales.( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) BROOKLYN, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Olympian Motors has announced an expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to advance the development of the Olympus platform -a groundbreaking, open, modular and AI-powered electric vehicle (EV) platform. This strategic partnership leverages NVIDIA's advanced computing solutions, including the DRIVE AGX OrinTM platform, and the NVIDIA Inception Program, to create a new protocol to design, develop and deploy AI models and application to electric vehicles. The Olympus EV Platform introduces a novel modular approach to EV hardware and software architecture. The platform provides an easy and standardized access to vehicle data infrastructure, real-time data sensing and processing units, access to vehicle communication networks, and most importantly, seamless integration of AI models and applications. Developers can easily access the open, modular vehicle OS and cloud, deploy machine learning models and applications, and actively shape the future of the EV ecosystem. NVIDIA's AI Powering the Next Generation EVs: NVIDIA's DRIVE AGX OrinTM is central to the computing power of Olympus EV platform, capable of performing up to 254 trillion operations per second. This immense computing power supports new frontiers in advanced autonomous driving space, real-time data sensing, predictive safety controls, and AI-optimized user interfaces, all within a centralized and standardized architecture. NVIDIA's scalable platform empowers Olympian Motors to reimagine vehicle design, pushing boundaries in modularity and efficiency while ensuring top-tier safety and performance. Eren Canarslan, CEO of Olympian Motors, stated: “Our pilot development program with NVIDIA sets a new benchmark for the automotive industry. We are creating an open EV platform that enables all developers and technology suppliers to join the frontier of EV revolution.” 2025 California Pilot Program and Future Rollout: Olympian Motors will showcase the Olympus EV Platform in the upcoming pilot program in Los Angeles, CA, alongside the Model 84 and Centaur VAN. This initiative invites all machine learning developers, technology providers and automotive suppliers to test, develop and contribute to the Olympus platform and operating system, and be part of a rapidly growing developer community in the automotive industry. The Olympus Platform is set to launch with next-generation features, including: AI Redefines the Future of Modular Electric Vehicles The collaboration between NVIDIA and Olympian Motors represents a key step forward in integrating AI with modular electric vehicle technology. By integration NVIDIA's AI capabilities with modular EV system, the Olympus Platform enables the creation of adaptable and intelligent electric vehicles and invites developers to join the quiet revolution in automotive industry. For more details about the Olympus EV Platform, our collaboration with NVIDIA, and the future of modular EV innovation, visit . About NVIDIA: NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is a global leader in computing technologies, driving advancements in AI, autonomous systems, and accelerated computing across industries. About Olympian Motors: Olympian Motors is a next-generation EV company based in Brooklyn, NY, dedicated to creating modular, intelligent, and timelessly designed vehicles. With a focus on innovation and simplicity, Olympian Motors is transforming the way electric vehicles are built and experienced. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: MENAFN23122024004107003653ID1109025515 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.The Pittsburgh Penguins are lacking hope
Womad Aotearoa 2025: Award-winning chocolatier and scientists join line-up - CloneIt was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee on Monday accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress, as lawmakers released the conclusions of a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The 37-page report by the bipartisan panel includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz, now 42, took part in from 2017 to 2020 while the Republican represented Florida's western Panhandle. Congressional investigators concluded that Gaetz violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office, though not federal sex trafficking laws. They also found that Gaetz “knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct” the committee's work. “The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report said. Before the report came out, Gaetz denied any wrongdoing and criticized the committee's process. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” he posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Gaetz , who was first elected in 2017, spent the majority of his time in Washington enmeshed in scandals that ultimately derailed his selection by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Justice Department . Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress last month. His political future is uncertain, although Gaetz has indicated interest in running for the open Senate seat in Florida. The committee painted a damning portrait of Gaetz's conduct, using dozens of pages of exhibits, including text messages, financial records, travel receipts, checks and online payments, to document a party and drug-fueled lifestyle. The committee said it compiled the evidence after issuing 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony and contacting more than two dozen witnesses. In addition to soliciting prostitution, the report said Gaetz “accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permissible amounts.” That same year, investigators said, Gaetz arranged for a staffer to obtain a passport for a woman with whom he was sexually involved, falsely telling the State Department that she was his constituent. In some of the text exchanges made public, he appeared to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. At one point he asked one woman if she had a “cute black dress” to wear. There were also discussions of shipping goods. One of the exhibits was a text exchange that appeared to be between two of the women concerned about their cash flow and payments. In another, a person asked Gaetz for help to pay an educational expense. Regarding the 17-year-old girl, the report said there was no evidence Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her. The woman told the committee she did not tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But Gaetz stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Florida law says it is a felony for a person 24 or older to have sex with a minor. The law does not allow a claim of ignorance or misrepresentation of a minor's age as a defense. Joel Leppard, who represents two women who told the committee that Gaetz paid them for sex, said the findings “vindicate” the accounts of his clients and “demonstrate their credibility.” “We appreciate the Committee’s commitment to transparency in releasing this comprehensive report so the truth can be known,” Leppard said in a statement. At least one Republican joined all five Democrats on the committee earlier this month in voting to release the report despite initial opposition from GOP lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, to publishing findings about a former member of Congress. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. On behalf of the Republicans who voted against making the report public, the committee chairman, Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi, wrote that while the members did not challenge the findings, “we take great exception that the majority deviated from the Committee’s well-established standards,” to drop any investigation when a person is not longer a member of the chamber. Guest added that releasing this report sets a precedent that “is a dangerous departure with potentially catastrophic consequences.” But Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Democratic member of the committee, said that for transparency, it was crucial for the public and Congress as an institution to read the findings. "I think that’s important for my colleagues here in the House to know how the committee reviews certain acts," he told The Associated Press. "Some of these were obviously conduct that crossed the line, but some of them weren’t.” Mounting a last-ditch effort to halt the publication of the report, Gaetz filed a lawsuit Monday asking a federal court to intervene. He cited what he called “untruthful and defamatory information” that would “significantly damage” his “standing and reputation in the community.” Gaetz’s complaint argued that he was no longer under the committee’s jurisdiction because he had resigned from Congress. The often secretive, bipartisan committee has investigated claims against Gaetz since 2021. But its work became more urgent last month when Trump picked him shortly after the Nov. 5 election Day to be the nation's top law enforcement officer. Gaetz resigned from Congress that same day, putting him outside the purview of the committee's jurisdiction. But Democrats had pressed to make the report public even after Gaetz was no longer in the House and had withdrawn from consideration for Trump's Cabinet. A vote on the House floor this month to force the report’s release failed; all but one Republican voted against it. The committee detailed its start-and-stop investigation over the past several years, which was halted for a time as the Justice Department conducted its own inquiry of Gaetz. Federal prosecutors never brought a case against him. Lawmakers said they asked the Justice Department for information about its investigation, but the agency refused to hand over information, saying it does not disclose information about investigations that do not result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the department for records. After a back-and-forth between department officials and the committee, the department only handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the committee's report. The report said Gaetz was “uncooperative" throughout the committee's investigation. He provided “minimal documentation” in response to the committee’s requests, it said. “He also did not agree to a voluntary interview.” ___ Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.Zoom (ZM) Stock Trades Down, Here Is Why
Porter, Middle Tennessee knock off Ohio 83-81 in OTNoneThe number of differences between the UK and the US might just surprise you. While we're all familiar with the more obvious cultural disparities, such as Americans dropping the "u" in "colour" and Brits not celebrating certain American holidays like Thanksgiving , there are still some differences that can catch us by surprise. For example, it's quite surprising to discover that many American homes don't come equipped with electric kettles as standard, preferring instead to boil water on the stove - a practice that seems baffling to tea-drinking Brits. C limate change experts warn of 'silent ticking time bomb' ahead of Black Friday 'This trusty lightweight vacuum is perfect for tiny spaces' — now $34 Recently, another difference in domestic setup left Brits scratching their heads after it was shared on social media. Some even quipped that America must be "living in the dark ages" due to the lack of a common feature in their homes. A TikTok video posted by a user named Melissa highlighted what she believed to be a "game-changing" kitchen gadget. She excitedly informed her followers about her new "special type" of plug socket that enabled her to switch off her air fryer without having to unplug it completely. Melissa proudly showed off her new gadget - a plug socket with a switch - and declared it the "coolest thing ever" as she demonstrated how her air fryer could be turned on and off with a simple flick of the switch. DON'T MISS... Anthropologie offering extra 40% off sale items for early Black Friday savings [NEWS] 'I'm a former barista — I'll never buy an expensive espresso machine again' [COMMENT] German pensioner shoots daughter after she asked him to move care homes [LATEST] In Britain, encountering plug sockets with switches is hardly eye-opening. Such features have become a mainstay in British homes, providing a convenient way to power down devices directly at the wall. Although some older, switchless models still exist, the majority now include switches. On the other side in America, the idea of switches on plug sockets isn't nearly as common. While not completely alien, it's relatively rare and sometimes mistaken for an innovative concept. The discussion gained traction on TikTok, with scores of users expressing their bewilderment that the US seems to trail behind much of the "rest of the world" in plug socket design sophistication. However, its important to point out that socket switches aren't a global standard and are mainly present in European countries, along with Australia and New Zealand. One viewer was moved by the adoption of such technology in the US to exclaim: "It's a beautiful sight when you watch Americans enter the 21st century! It warms the heart! ". Another joined in, dripping with irony: "Oh, now that's clever. Can't wait until the UK catches up with this genius."
Taiwan congratulates Somaliland President-elect Abdullahi MOFA’s building in Taipei. CNA file photo Taipei, Nov. 26 (CNA) Taiwan’s government has congratulated Somaliland President-elect Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on his election win earlier this month and said it looks forward to enhancing bilateral ties with his new administration. Wang Wen-lin (王文麟), an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MOFA) Department of West Asian and African Affairs, said Tuesday that Taiwan’s office in Somaliland has extended the country’s congratulations to the president-elect after Somaliland National Electoral Commission officially announced Abdullahi as the winner of the territory’s Nov. 13 election on Nov. 19. Abdullahi, 69, garnered 64 percent of the vote to become Somaliland’s sixth president since it broke away from Somalia in 1991. The former speaker of Somaliland’s parliament beat incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi, who took 35 percent of the vote. Ties between Taiwan and Somaliland have warmed since the two sides set up representative offices in each other’s capitals in 2020. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has functioned as a de facto sovereign state ever since, but is not officially recognized by any other countries. According to Wang, Taiwan and Somaliland have enjoyed robust relations and cooperation exchanges in areas covering public health, information and communications technology, agriculture, education and natural resource development. Currently, there are two major projects Taiwan is working on in Somaliland, namely, the Taiwan Road project to refurbish the road linking the Egal International Airport and downtown Hargeisa, and the Taiwan Medical Mission to upgrade health care infrastructure, Wang said. “Preparations for the two projects have been completed and we look forward to working with Somaliland’s new government to officially start construction,” Wang added. During the campaign, Abdullahi said he would maintain Somaliland’s relations with Taiwan. Abdullahi is scheduled to be inaugurated in December. Abdullahi, popularly known as Irro, joined Somalia’s foreign service in 1981 and later served as the country’s acting ambassador to the Soviet Union. Following the Somali civil war, Abdullahi fled to Finland before returning to Somaliland and entering politics as co-founder of the opposition Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) in 2002. Abdullahi previously served 12 years as speaker of Somaliland’s parliament and also unsuccessfully contested the territory’s 2017 presidential election. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ASGMusk uses X to push his preferred political picks
All-star Scottie Barnes returns to Raptors lineup vs. TimberwolvesNone
Biden signs defense bill despite objections to ban on transgender health care for military children
'Once in a lifetime experience': World Chess Championship in Singapore thrills local, foreign fans - CNAMagnetizing a material with light
UF (6-0) opens at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against Wake Forest (6-1) aiming to avenge a November 2023 loss to the Demon Deacons. Minnesota (5-1) and Wichita State (5-0) meet at noon.
Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil insists he is happy to look fans in the face and take the criticism which comes his way after his team were jeered off after losing 4-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”
Rewind 2024: Korea’s top 10 business stories