Iran’s “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign: The Authoritarian Regime Seeks to Spread FearMaking music for the worldUsyk retains world titles The electrifying clash between British Tyson Fury and Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk was watched by millions as all three judges scored the fight in Usyk’s favour by four points. Hence, Usyk retained all four WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight boxing championship belts after beating his rival in Saudi Arabia. In the closely matched contest between the pair, the judges were unanimous in the points decision, with all three scoring the fight 116-112 in Usyk’s favour. I salute Usyk for finding gaps in Fury’s defences, and despite giving up advantages in height, weight and reach to his opponent, Usyk worked hard and smart during the rematch. He landed punches more frequently and with greater vigor and impact. When the fight concluded, Fury left the ring, disappointed at the defeat. Usyk is the first boxer to hold all four heavyweight titles simultaneously since Lennox Lewis did so in 1999. Having retained the championship belts, the 37-year-old Usyk proved that no matter how difficult it was, his will to win took him through. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu Fruit cakes Festive seasons have been around similar to previous years but I believe consumers have been deceived by very attractive packaging of Christmas cakes. The packages contain almost dry cakes with very little pieces of fruit. There are hardly any cherries, orange rinds etc. Several companies wholesale these Christmas delicacies in shops around the country with different prices. Cake lovers should not be lured by colourful packaging but enjoy delicious, moist fruit cakes come 2025. SARITA LAL, Lautoka Power and position There is a proverb which tells us: “Familiarity breeds contempt”. Sometimes, being too long in a position allows complacency to breed. In my view, the Prime Minister of Fiji, in our new constitution, should be limited to no more than two terms of four years, each. No more. A breath of fresh air can be vitalising. There are capable women and men around. Similarly, I am also of the opinion, EFL could do with a wholesome change in the position of CEO. Some modernisation could do well in Fiji’s benefit. Some up-and-coming MBA with required prerequisites, could revitalise the monopoly in power generation. Happy New Year Fiji. RONNIE CHANG , Martintar, Nadi Cabinet reshuffle Prime Minister is very frank in stating that he is loaded with extra work because some of the ministers’ performance are not up to par (FT25/12). Hence the need for a reshuffle. How can some ministers devote more time doing their actual duties when most of the times they are out of the country? And please don’t tell me it is important for them to attend to all the overseas meetings and conferences. We are not that gullible. Despite being assured that there will be a cut down on these junkets as promised during the election, nothing seems to have changed. On the contrary, the size of the delegation appears to have increased. I would urge the PM to also look into this and set ground rules for approving such travels in future. Let’s hope the PM will exercise his prerogative in reassigning the portfolios in a fair and transparent manner to the most capable members of his Cabinet so he is relieved from the nightmare of seeing the files in his sleep. SELWA NANDAN, Lautoka Flooding at Nadi Growing up I got used to referring to the Nausori airport as Luvuluvu, which in Fijian refers to the constant state of being flooded. I believe around the late 1960s major earthworks were undertaken along the Rewa River banks resulting in the flood-free status of the airport we now see. Nadi Town, being the major hub that tourists initially encounter and considering how important tourism is to Fiji, can something similar to Luvuluvu be undertaken for Nadi Town? We have to be thankful for the resilience of the businesses in Nadi, else it will become a deserted town. MAREKO VULI, Sydney, Australia April Fool’s Day? The papers are reporting that Donald Trump wants Greenland as the 51st state or as a protectorate at least. Usually, April Fool’s Day is April 1st, not December 25 but then again with some of the presents given over the decades, it’s not that certain. On the more serious side, Denmark is boosting the defence of Greenland and any increase in military action is always a worry. Does he also know that Greenland is mostly ice and Iceland is mostly green? A lot of 78-year-old seniors start to get confused easily. DENNIS FITZGERALD, Melbourne, Australia Government assistance We have seen a few stories about the Seafaring Entrepreneurial Assistance Programme under which many people have been given boats, trucks, farming equipment and the like. It is always good to see that assistance is provided to people who are driven to succeed. I suspect we will see more and more of this as the election draws closer. My personal view is that people who are most successful are self-driven and motivated and do not rely on or ask for assistance. So, it would be interesting to know how these people who are being given assistance fare in a year’s time. On what basis is this assistance assessed? Is the basis on which the assistance handed out legal and based on equality and fairness? Is this type of assistance given depending on your ethnic background? On another note, what is this fixation with wrapping the boats, trucks and equipment with reels and reels of tapa cloth? I saw a report recently where even a new gravel road was adorned with tapa cloth. When did this tradition kick in? Where was the cake and the salusalu or is it the case that I will not understand because I am a vulagi? In addition, what is the fixation about ministers and assistant ministers having pictures plastered in newspapers and social media handing out this assistance. Is that to show us what a good job they are doing? They can pretend in the pictures all they want because I believe they are doing a hopeless job. JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia PM’s Christmas message Two years in office, and PM Sitiveni Rabuka has gone through a lot. Age is fast catching up and the PM has had to endure a lot in taking the People’s Coalition Government forward. I thank him for his patience and steadfastness in steering the nation forward ahead of challenges posed by the rise in crime rate, cases of drug abuse, violence and murder, littering, drop in literacy and numeracy rates and rise in cost of living. As Fijians celebrated Christmas, the PM reminded Fijians that Christmas was not just a celebration, but it was a time for peace, forgiveness and unity. As he spoke about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, he reiterated how that humble beginning was a reminder of God’s desire to bring people closer to him. He added that Christmas allowed us to focus on healing, restoring relationships and coming together as a community. Furthermore, the PM urged Fijians to seek inspiration from the teachings of Jesus, focusing on reconciliation, unconditional love, kindness, selflessness, sacrifice, compassion, care for each other, and the ability to forgive and seek forgiveness. He concluded on a positive note, hoping that our beloved Fiji would continue to grow in the spirit of love, hope and reconciliation. I thank the PM for his service to our nation. Two years and two more to go! A lot has to be done in terms of addressing the pressing issues faced by many Fijians. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu Municipal council CEOs The Local Government Ministry has reportedly begun the process of recruiting individuals to take on the roles of chief executive officers across ten of Fiji’s municipal councils. I believe the individuals who are to be appointed had applied in accordance with the advertisement. According to the advertisement, these leadership positions are critical for ensuring the efficient delivery of municipal services, overseeing transformative projects and spearheading key reforms. It is to be noted that most of the CEO positions have been vacant for a while because of the departure and expiry of contracts of individuals who had been there. It is good to know that the positions were publicly advertised which gives everyone a fair chance and opportunity to apply. The advertisement highlighted that the ministry is seeking candidates who could drive municipal operations toward modernisation, address community needs and promote sustainable practices. The councils seeking new CEOs are: Ba, Labasa, Lami, Lautoka, Levuka, Nadi, Tavua, Rakiraki, Savusavu. As a ratepayer, I am pleased to know that this process was taking place finally. Last but not the least, we hope that only the best candidates and candidates who are appropriately experienced and qualified are selected. We have seen enough of appointments made along party lines. Please don’t do that. SURESH CHAND, Nadi Thank you WHY should I say thank you today if I’m hoping for the best tomorrow, for you and I. AREKI DAWAI, Suva Difficult two years A VERY difficult two years, says PM (FT 25/12) of governing the country under a Coalition Government. Their consolation is the hefty pay rise they were able to give themselves. I believe the last two years were so much more difficult for the ordinary people of Fiji from what I gather from the public reaction to the quality of political leadership and governance in Fiji. Is the “people-centred” Rabuka government aware of that? RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia Rainy Christmas SUBSTANTIAL rainfall is anticipated in the western region this Christmas season. Given the current nationwide flash flooding and heavy precipitation, caution is advised. I urge everyone to prioritise safety and support one another during this time. JAHEED BUKSH, Sigatoka There is tomorrow SHALL we indulge in alcohol consumption on December 31 like there is no tomorrow? While there is reason to celebrate the coming of another year, let us be reasonable and make the work of our law enforcement officers easier and more importantly, our neighbours deserve a safe environment. By the way, may 2025 bring forth opportunities and challenges which allow us and our families to grow from strength to strength. FLOYD ROBINSON, Mirconesia Damaged ships MY request to the Coalition Government to stop handing new multi-million dollar Navy vessels to the Fiji military and Navy until they can first demonstrate that they not only have the capacity but also the discipline and the maturity to be entrusted with a significant national asset. SAVERIO BALEIKANACEA , Delainavesi, Lami Holding office ARE there any current female or male politicians around the globe that have a naughty video or pictures available publicly, but are still holding onto office? AREKI DAWAI, Suva Unkept resolutions IF resolutions are meant to be broken, then you’re just making them in jest, so when you make a list of them, you’re just adding to the long pile instead. Just do what you can, honestly and diligently, promises will remain just that, unless you’ll follow them up faithfully! EDWARD BLAKELOCK, Pacific Harbour
Kim Kardashian comes under fire for letting North West, 11, wear a miniskirt and low-cut 'corset' top By J. PETERSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 22:26 GMT, 26 December 2024 | Updated: 22:26 GMT, 26 December 2024 e-mail View comments Kim Kardashian has been slammed by trolls on social media for 'allowing' her 11-year-old daughter North West to wear an 'inappropriate' outfit. The furore kicked off after Kim, 44, and North posted a pair of videos to their shared TikTok account over Christmas . In the clips, North donned a ruffled black miniskirt and a corset-inspired top with a sweetheart neckline. She paired it with black stockings, knee-high boots, and a trendy cropped blazer. Meanwhile, mom Kim kept things sexy and glamorous in a skintight snakeskin dress that clung to her hourglass figure. The TikTok videos were shared to the popular Keeping Up With The Kardashians subreddit , where furious fans complained about North's ensemble. 'Why is this child wearing a bustier/corset?' asked one, while another wrote, 'I'm not prude but I wouldn't let my 11-year-old wear a damn corset.' A third commented, 'Maybe it's just anecdotal but when I was 11 I was still a child wearing modest clothing!' Kim Kardashian has been slammed by trolls on social media for 'allowing' her 11-year-old daughter North West to wear an 'inappropriate' outfit on Christmas Eve Another slammed, 'An 11-year-old shouldn't be wearing a bustier/corset and showing cleavage on the internet.' Despite the backlash, a handful of fans jumped to Kim and North's defense. 'I don't think North would wear anything she wouldn't wanna wear, and she loves fashion and gets it,' wrote one. 'She's at a Christmas party with family, she looks beautiful. I understand people are sick but I wouldn't call this any more exploitive than anyone posting their kid on social media.' A second stated, 'Her father, mother, aunts - they are fashion designers who work with the top fashion designers. It's unrealistic to think she'd be wearing "normal 11 year old" attire all the time.' Another chimed in, 'The tie throws off the look, aside from it, I think Northie looks nice.' On Tuesday, the Kardashian-Jenner family hosted their annual Christmas Eve party , opting for a low-key gathering this year. The bash was first organized by Kris Jenner in 1987. 'Why is this child wearing a bustier/corset?' raged one fan, while another wrote, 'I'm not prude but I wouldn't let my 11-year-old wear a damn corset' The furore kicked off after Kim and North posted a pair of videos to their shared TikTok account over Christmas This year, the cheerful celebration was held at Kendall Jenner's $8.5 million Beverly Hills mansion that she elaborately adorned with family heirlooms for the holidays. Khloé Kardashian and her kids - True, 6, and Tatum, two, whom she shares with ex Tristan Thompson - surprisingly skipped the bash. 'Tatum was sick the entire weekend, now my TuTu is sick,' the star wrote on Instagram just hours before the event. 'For the first time in a long, long time, we will miss Christmas Eve. I feel so terrible for my sick littles. No fun, but I pray we are fine for Santa tomorrow!' Kim recently revealed that this year’s Christmas Eve party would be a more 'low-key' affair compared to previous years. Speaking to Vogue, she shared: 'Just because we have a lot of construction going on, so we're doing a really family intimate one that I'm really excited about.' However, that didn't stop the family from getting all glammed up. Kim - who recently broke her foot - added: 'Still dressing up to the nines, because that's what we do.' The beauty mogul - who shares North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, six, and five-year-old Psalm with ex Kanye West - said the iconic parties are so legendary that even their children's friends wish they could attend. And she has vowed to keep the festive family tradition going. She added: 'They're just beginning. Our kids love them and now all their friends want to come. It's such a fun tradition.' Keeping Up With The Kardashians Kim Kardashian Share or comment on this article: Kim Kardashian comes under fire for letting North West, 11, wear a miniskirt and low-cut 'corset' top e-mail Add commentHONOLULU (AP) — KyeRon Lindsay and Terence Harcum each scored 16 points as Murray State beat Loyola Chicago 71-68 on Wednesday for seventh place at the Diamond Head Classic. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * HONOLULU (AP) — KyeRon Lindsay and Terence Harcum each scored 16 points as Murray State beat Loyola Chicago 71-68 on Wednesday for seventh place at the Diamond Head Classic. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? HONOLULU (AP) — KyeRon Lindsay and Terence Harcum each scored 16 points as Murray State beat Loyola Chicago 71-68 on Wednesday for seventh place at the Diamond Head Classic. Lindsay also had five rebounds and four steals for the Racers (7-6). Harcum went 5 of 10 from the floor, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 4 for 6 from the line. AJ Ferguson shot 4 of 8 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line to finish with 11 points. The Ramblers (9-4) were led by Miles Rubin, who posted 16 points and three blocks. Des Watson added 12 points and Sheldon Edwards had 10 points. Lindsay scored eight points in the first half and Murray State went into halftime trailing 36-34. Harcum led the way with 10 second-half points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementTwitter, now called X, has been a pioneer in microblogging and remains one of the most popular social media platforms. However, BlueSky is quickly catching up, with a rapidly growing number of registrations . Surprisingly, I found it is relatively easier to increase your follower count here. Here are some tips you can use to grow your followers on BlueSky. I have been on BlueSky for less than a month, and I already have more followers here than on X, where I have had an account since 2009. I’m not very active on social media, so this was surprising to me. The answer lies in BlueSky’s federated, user-controlled structure, which influences all levels of posts and ultimately shapes your feeds and followers. If you’re a new BlueSky user, you won’t feel invisible amid celebrity chat and top trends. Your posts and replies are more likely to be seen and reposted by your real connections (not bots), which helps you grow organically. I wasn’t aware of these decentralized algorithms when I signed up, but it quickly became clear that on BlueSky, the end user controls visibility, not the platform. Here’s how it works. If you remember using X, you would see sections like What’s happening and You might like , which are based on location-based trends. Even if some trends, such as those about politics, may not appeal to you, there’s nothing you can do as X uses a top-down approach to determine what you should see. BlueSky, on the other hand, has a different approach. While celebrities do have a presence here, the platform itself is not celebrity-centric. For example, on my BlueSky home screen and on the main Discover feed, I can see posts from a celebrity like George Takei, whom I follow, alongside a regular user, “Sean,” who I just said hello once. Both are given equal importance. The key to increasing followers on BlueSky is to consistently connect and engage with like-minded individuals on relevant topics. The algorithm takes care of the rest. Unless you’re an actual celebrity, avoid posting just to chase popularity (the absence of fake “influencers” is quite refreshing, to be honest). There are no “blue ticks,” and BlueSky does seem friendlier and better moderated . Closely tied to decentralized algorithms, user engagement is vital for building active trust on BlueSky. This involves responding to posts that resonate with you, contributing original and meaningful content, and replying politely to those who engage with you, including dissenters. If you feel passionate about a topic, consistently posting (with a bit of humor) will eventually attract like-minded people. Instead of trying to gain the attention of celebrities or users with many followers, I found better engagement by responding to those who mirrored my ideas (even if they had 0 followers.) These deep-level user interactions gradually helped grow my own BlueSky followers. While some users may have strong opinions, similar to X, the BlueSky environment is largely troll-free thanks to timely moderation of bad-faith commenters. The end result is an environment where you can express yourself without being overshadowed by platform-promoted trends. You also don’t have to worry about seeing posts from users who you’ve blocked . To know how to get followers on BlueSky or any social media app, sharing quality content is essential. With BlueSky, user ideas are actively considered if they have merit, address a challenge, or offer a surprising original insight. For instance, some of my posts that gained high traction (the one below receiving 73 likes) highlighted concerns on tech user privacy, which I found has a strong pull within the BlueSky community. Naturally, what works for one user may not apply to another. Your core interests might vary, but it’s essential to recognize that there are always others who share those interests. Therefore, it’s important to think carefully about how to find your favorite topics. For example, posts about pets, such as cats, are extremely popular. By posting cute videos of your favorite pets, you may attract a large community of individuals eager to connect with your BlueSky account. That certainly doesn’t mean it would work for everyone. You really need to dig in and find out your niche. Also read : worried about Meta being too intrusive? It is possible to wean yourself from using Meta products and it’s become surprisingly common. It can’t be overstated how crucial your profile picture is in capturing attention and attracting followers, given the average social media user’s attention span is less than 3 seconds. Although there’s no perfect profile picture, having your own photo instead of an anime character or something vague generally yields better results in BlueSky. If you’re a company, website, or brand, using your brand logo is essential. However, you should also post original photos. Some of the most popular BlueSky accounts, like “The Onion,” often use witty cartoons to engage with followers. I don’t think my profile picture had much effect, but having a photo next to my views adds credibility and boosts user engagement. Just like Twitter, BlueSky has hashtags on many topics, and you can create your own. However, since BlueSky is decentralized, users have more control over the hashtags they want to see. This differs from what you’re used to, as hashtags on this platform don’t just follow popular trends but reflect what’s visible within your immediate circle. A great way to explore this is through BlueSky’s hashtag Feeds feature. Here, you’ll find the most relevant feeds, starting with Mutuals , which are BlueSky accounts that follow you back and appear at the top. Engaging with them is an excellent way to build trust within your community. Additionally, you’ll find many niche topic areas in “Feeds,” covering subjects like science, astronomy, news, and events. Keep engaging with users and create innovative hashtags that might resonate with many. As BlueSky is still relatively new, there’s a lot of potential for you to establish new hashtag trends. Also read : new to Instagram Threads? Here’s how you can use this app . Timing is crucial for maximizing engagement on your BlueSky posts. It depends on your content categories. Some evergreen categories, like “pets,” aren’t time-dependent. Event-specific posts are different. They have peak activity spans you’ll discover by consistently posting at the same time every day. Observe your target audience’s patterns. My following post got over a 100 likes because I had observed a pattern of users commenting on social media privacy at a specific time during the day. For me, my best time for posting has actually been morning in my time zone. This is during my peak activity rush for my chosen topics which deal with sweeping technological changes. Finding the right time to post is partly intuitive, but with consistent practice, you’ll get it right. Remember, BlueSky is a decentralized platform where quality interactions thrive. Forcing quick popularity has fewer takers. BlueSky is known to suspend accounts that appear fake or ungenuine. Authenticity here comes from contributing meaningful posts. We saw how to get followers on BlueSky using simple techniques that focus on fair play and consistent user engagement. Being viral often happens by accident. We have another personal story on one of our writers going viral on TikTok . Image Credit: Pixabay . All screenshots by Sayak Boral. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.
In an age where visual images flood our daily existence and cameras are embedded into nearly every mobile device, the notion of intentionality is of renewed importance. The instantaneous availability of photographic tools, combined with the unrelenting flow of images shared on social media, can lull photographers into a state of passive capture. Intentionality in photography can be understood as the purposeful shaping of one’s image-making process, guided by a defined conceptual framework or aesthetic goal. It involves not only the conscious selection of subjects, compositions, color palettes, and lighting conditions, but also a deeper reflective process: the consideration of what one wishes to communicate and why. This marks a stark contrast with photography undertaken purely at whim—snaps seized without forethought, captured only because the camera happened to be at hand. To appreciate the significance of intentionality, one must situate it in a broader framework of artistic creation and philosophical thought. Since at least the early twentieth century, thinkers and artists have probed the nature of intention: what does it mean to act with purpose, and how does that purpose shape the object created? In the visual arts, and photography especially, intention can distinguish the expressive photographer (to borrow a term from the fantastic Alister Benn) from the mere recorder of facts. By slowing down and centering their practice on a deliberate vision, photographers transform their medium from a mechanical means of reproduction into a tool for personal expression, emotional resonance, and meaningful cultural commentary. In philosophical terms, “intentionality” often refers to the directedness of the mind toward something—an idea, an object, a goal. In aesthetics and visual art, intentionality can be understood as the clarity of purpose with which an artist approaches creation. For photographers, intentionality involves making conscious choices at every stage of the photographic process: conceptualizing a project, selecting equipment, choosing a subject, determining when and where to shoot, shaping the composition, adjusting exposure settings, and eventually processing and presenting the final images. In other words, it is not merely the physical act of photographing that matters, but the ideas and motivations that precede and inform it. In a philosophical sense, figures like Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger have explored intentionality as a fundamental quality of consciousness—consciousness is always about something, always directed. In photography, this philosophical idea translates into ensuring that each photograph is “about” something specific, even if that something is subtle, ambiguous, or emotionally charged rather than narratively explicit. Instead of passive reception, the photographer imposes structure on the visual world, selecting and emphasizing certain elements while omitting others. This transformation of raw perception into a meaningful image lies at the heart of photographic intentionality. To distinguish an intentional photographer from one who merely reacts to external stimuli, consider the difference between a painter and a casual tourist with a camera. The painter faces a blank canvas, compelled to envision the subject before rendering it. The tourist, by contrast, is confronted with a fully formed scene and simply clicks the shutter. Photography’s unique nature as a medium—instantaneous, mechanical, and indexical—often obscures the importance of intention, making it appear that the photographer is a passive observer. Yet truly impactful photographs often arise from deep conceptual foundations. The intentional photographer does not just capture what is there; they shape what we see, and in doing so, direct our interpretation and emotional response. While any photograph is evidence of a moment in front of the camera, not all photographs emerge from the same mindset. Consider two different photographers walking down the same bustling street. The first raises their camera whenever something visually interesting crosses their path—a splash of color here, a curious gesture there—reacting instinctively to external stimuli. Their images may be spontaneous and, at times, serendipitously beautiful, but these images are often disconnected from a larger conceptual framework. They risk becoming a haphazard collection of interesting “moments” rather than part of a coherent body of work. The second photographer might approach the same scene having already defined a theme or intention: to document the quiet persistence of human labor or to reflect on the interplay of old architecture with new technologies. Equipped with this conceptual lens, they do not just react; they actively seek out subjects that align with their vision. Where the reactive photographer might randomly capture a passerby or a storefront, the intentional photographer watches for specific gestures of work, patterns of urban decay, or subtle juxtapositions that convey their chosen theme. Each exposure is shaped by prior thought and directed at expressing something more profound than the sum of its visual parts. This difference can also manifest technically. The reactive photographer might leave their camera on automatic settings, snapping quickly with minimal adjustments. The intentional photographer, by contrast, is likely to take control of aperture, shutter speed, or focal length to ensure each image fulfills a previously considered idea. The result is not necessarily better photography in a purely formal sense—reactive photographers can capture magnificent images too—but the intentional approach more consistently yields photographs that cohere into a meaningful, personal statement. Over time, this approach leads to the development of a distinct photographic identity and an artistic voice that resonates across multiple projects. From the earliest days of the camera, intention has influenced photographic practice. In the 19th century, pioneering practitioners recognized that composition and purpose mattered despite photography’s mechanical nature. Julia Margaret Cameron, for instance, approached portraiture with a Romantic sensibility, carefully posing her subjects to embody allegorical figures or evoke literary themes. Her soft-focus technique, often criticized at the time, was not a technical failing but a deliberate choice: a manifestation of intentionality meant to transform the photographic portrait from a static record into a poetic statement. The Kiss of Peace, by Julia Margaret Cameron (public domain) Philosophers and theorists of photography—such as Susan Sontag in and Roland Barthes in —have highlighted that photography is never just a neutral record. Even seemingly objective documentary images reflect the photographer’s choices: what to include, what to exclude, when to press the shutter. Barthes described the photograph as a “message without a code,” yet it is still filtered through intention. In the documentary tradition, W. Eugene Smith’s curated photo essays for magazine, for instance, were not mere reportage. Through careful sequencing, composition, and thematic emphasis, Smith shaped viewers’ understanding, revealing his moral and aesthetic intentions. Such work underscores that conscious intention is integral not just to fine art photography, but to all photographic genres. Developing an artistic voice in photography requires more than technical skill; it demands introspection, conceptual clarity, and deliberate choice-making. Intentionality is the mechanism through which an artist’s internal vision finds consistent external expression. Without intention, the photographic portfolio can devolve into a series of unrelated experiments—images may be aesthetically pleasing but lack the coherence that transforms a collection of pictures into a body of work with a discernible voice. When a photographer invests time in cultivating their intentions, they inevitably begin to recognize patterns in their work: recurring themes, preferred subjects, favored lighting conditions, or signature compositional styles. By identifying these patterns, photographers can push themselves to refine or challenge them, moving closer to the core of what they wish to say. This ongoing process creates a feedback loop: the more the photographer acts with intention, the clearer their artistic voice becomes, and the clearer their voice becomes, the more natural it feels to shoot with even greater intention. Throughout the history of photography, numerous practitioners have exemplified the power of intention. Ansel Adams’s pre-visualization concept is a prime example. Adams insisted that a photographer should be able to see the final print in their mind’s eye before making an exposure. In doing so, Adams transformed the landscape photograph from a casual depiction of scenery into a meticulously crafted statement of tonal beauty and environmental reverence. His photographs of Yosemite are not merely documents of a place; they are expressions of a personal spiritual bond with nature. Adams’s approach to exposure and darkroom technique—checking brightness values, using filters to adjust the sky, fine-tuning development times—demonstrates a relentless pursuit of aesthetic intention. Henri Cartier-Bresson, though often associated with the spontaneous “decisive moment,” also engaged deeply with intention, albeit in a different way. While Cartier-Bresson’s street photography appears reactive, he did not merely wander aimlessly. He studied geometry, composition, and form, setting mental parameters for what constituted a meaningful image. His intentional approach lay in understanding human gesture, predicting the convergence of elements, and anticipating emotional resonance. Though he worked quickly and seemingly by instinct, Cartier-Bresson’s preparedness and conceptual framework allowed him to seize “decisive moments” that conveyed layered significance rather than random occurrences. The Tetons and the Snake River, by Ansel Adams Contemporary conceptual photographers, such as Jeff Wall or Gregory Crewdson, carry this theatrical intentionality even further, often investing enormous effort in constructing elaborate scenes that function like cinematic stills. Their tableaux are planned, lit, and staged with a level of intentionality that rivals film directors. In these works, intention manifests not only in composition and technique but also in the conceptual layers they invite the viewer to peel back. Nothing is left to chance; everything in the frame matters. Cultivating intention is a process that demands sustained effort. Photographers can begin by studying the work of masters, analyzing how others have imbued their images with purpose. Close examination of fine art photography monographs, museum collections, and critical essays can reveal the subtle decisions that shape a photographer’s style. Observing how a photographer approaches landscapes, or navigates intimacy and community, can inspire you to think more critically about your own goals. Deliberate practice is another key factor. Setting challenges and assignments for oneself—such as focusing on a single subject over an extended period, or working exclusively with a particular focal length—forces the photographer to approach image-making with greater care. By embracing constraints, photographers learn to operate within conceptual frameworks that sharpen their intentions. Over time, this disciplined approach can crystallize personal vision and encourage the photographer to become more selective and discerning. Reflection is equally critical. After shooting, photographers should review their images and ask: What was I trying to convey? Did I succeed? If not, why not? Journaling about one’s photographic experiences, noting the emotions and ideas behind certain images, can help clarify intentions and guide future projects. By engaging in this iterative process, photographers gradually refine their visual language. They may come to understand that certain techniques—dramatic contrasts, shallow depth of field, wide angle distortion—align well with their conceptual goals, while others do not. Thus, personal vision emerges as the cumulative result of study, experimentation, careful critique, and the conscious shaping of one’s artistic path. The digital revolution, social media proliferation, and the democratization of image-making have complicated the notion of intentionality. On the one hand, the accessibility of high-quality cameras and editing software allows photographers unprecedented control over their images. This technical empowerment can support greater intentionality, as photographers can now fine-tune their photographs with precision. They can pre-visualize images using digital sketches, manipulate color and contrast in post-production, and distribute their work widely to audiences aligned with their creative vision. On the other hand, the sheer volume of images online creates a formidable challenge. Constant exposure to others’ work can dilute one’s intentions or push photographers into trends that have no personal meaning. The seduction of “likes” and “follows” may encourage photographers to produce images that please algorithms rather than reflect their inner vision. In such an environment, maintaining intention requires discipline: photographers must protect their conceptual focus amid a barrage of external stimuli. They need to resist the urge to mimic others thoughtlessly and remember what drives their own creative impulses. Power House Mechanic Working on Steam Pump, by Lewis Hine (public domain) For photographers seeking to deepen their intentionality, a range of strategies can be put into practice: Instead of shooting aimlessly, define a clear theme or subject to explore over time. This could be as simple as documenting the interplay of light and shadow in a single neighborhood or as complex as examining the cultural significance of a particular ritual. By narrowing focus, photographers learn to approach image-making with conceptual clarity. Limiting oneself to a single lens, a single color palette, or a defined timeframe encourages resourcefulness and careful thought. Constraints force photographers to be intentional with composition and to find creative solutions within limitations. Before heading out with the camera, spend time writing about the goals for that session. What emotions do you want to evoke? What narrative do you hope to convey? By externalizing thoughts on paper, you cement them in your mind, making it easier to translate intention into visual terms. After shooting, critically assess the images. Ask what worked, what fell flat, and why. Over time, patterns emerge that guide future efforts. This iterative loop between intention, execution, and reflection drives consistent improvement. Treat your portfolio as a living document of your intentions. Curate images that share thematic or stylistic connections, and remove those that dilute your message. This process teaches you to see your work as a cohesive whole, reinforcing the importance of intentional creation and selection. Dialogue with peers, mentors, or curators can clarify your intentions. Outside perspectives can highlight strengths and weaknesses you might overlook. Such exchanges often spark new ideas, guiding you to refine your visual language and deepen your conceptual frameworks. Acting with intention also carries ethical and philosophical weight. When photographers shape a narrative through selective framing, they implicitly influence how viewers understand and interpret reality. Documentarians, for example, must recognize that their intentions affect how events are portrayed and perceived. A photographer covering social injustice who intentionally focuses on intimate moments of human resilience can inspire empathy, while one who prioritizes violent spectacle might reinforce stereotypes or desensitize viewers. Moreover, photographers must consider the power dynamics at play. Staging a scene or directing a subject raises questions about authenticity. Is it ethical to guide subjects into poses that reflect the photographer’s conceptual intentions rather than their natural behavior? These dilemmas are not new—Lewis Hine, for instance, arranged compositions of child laborers to maximize emotional impact—but the ubiquity of images today amplifies the stakes. Artistic intention also shapes emotional responses. The way an image is composed, toned, or sequenced can elicit empathy, outrage, nostalgia, or contemplation. Through intention, photographers set emotional cues for viewers. The resulting emotional experience can enlighten, comfort, challenge, or manipulate. This power underscores the responsibility inherent in intentional image-making. The photographer must weigh their desires for expression against the potential psychological impact on audiences and subjects alike. It's valuable to reflect on the role intentionality plays in elevating photography. Without intention, photography risks becoming mere documentation—an endless stream of images that record phenomena without interpreting them. While documentation has its place, the images that resonate most deeply are those charged with personal vision. These photographs move beyond simple likeness to explore meaning, identity, place, emotion, and truth. Abraham Lincoln, by Mathew Benjamin Brady (public domain) Intention also ensures that the act of photography remains an act of authorship. Just as a writer uses words to convey ideas, a photographer employs aesthetic elements to engage viewers’ minds and hearts. By controlling the message rather than allowing the environment or technology to dictate the outcome, the photographer claims authorship over their creation. This authorship confers artistic integrity and situates photography as a legitimate form of cultural production, on par with painting, sculpture, film, and literature. In a world saturated with images, the importance of intentionality in photography cannot be overstated. While anyone can click a shutter, not everyone can create a photograph that resonates with viewers on a deep, conceptual level. Intentionality sets apart those who engage with photography as an art form from those who use it merely as a recording device. It challenges photographers to consider what they wish to communicate, why, and how. By doing so, it transforms photography into a medium of expression and cultural commentary. Throughout history, the photographers who left indelible marks on the medium—Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Cindy Sherman, and countless others—share a common trait: they approached their work with purposeful direction. They envisioned outcomes before pressing the shutter, refined their techniques to match their visions, and curated their images to form coherent statements. Their success was not accidental but the product of deliberate practice, reflection, and conceptual rigor. Today’s photographers, navigating an era of unprecedented visual abundance, face new challenges in maintaining intention. Yet the core principles remain the same. By setting conceptual frameworks, working within chosen constraints, journaling goals, critically evaluating one’s images, and thoughtfully curating a portfolio, a photographer can foster an artistic voice that is both personal and resonant. In doing so, they gain the power to shape how audiences perceive subjects, grapple with ideas, and experience emotion through images. Ultimately, cultivating personal intention in photography elevates it from documentation to a form of meaningful cultural contribution. Through intentionality, photography can reflect the complexities of the human condition, interrogate social realities, conjure emotional nuance, and offer new ways of seeing. By embracing intentionality, photographers honor the medium’s rich history, harness its unique expressive potential, and invite viewers into a shared space of understanding, reflection, and creative dialogue. Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.On a rare two-game skid, No. 24 Arizona faces Davidson
"We have major geopolitical problems that affect Serbia. What worries me is that sanctions will be imposed on NIS," said Vučić. "Until March 31, the citizens of Serbia will see the fiercest fight against corruption in the last 24 years," said the Serbian President. "What is good about the students' protest is that they raised one issue. All the documents are available, if anyone was corrupt they will be held accountable in front of the justice. Someone says 'Vučić is the owner of the train Belgrade - Novi Sad', and we heard that too. Everything what they say must be checked. Am I the owner of it or not, is it my brother," said Vučić. "It is quite certain that a large movement will be formed, which I will not be at the head of. I want more people to become decision makers. From March 15, people will be able to become members. It is the same idea as the People's Movement. Of course, I rely on SNS," he said. "You don't go to prison for arrogance, but for crime. The deeds will show in the next hundred days. It's not easy to initiate or change people's habits, but you will see big changes," said President of Serbia. Vučić pointed out that big changes are coming in the next 100 days. "I am in favor of anyone who has committed a criminal offense to go to prison. Those who drove their cars into students and those who jumped on cars for no reason should be held accountable. But neither you nor I decide on that, but the judiciary", Vucic said. When asked if he understands the students, Vučić states that there is no doubt that he understands them in some respects. "Students have shown enormous enthusiasm, they have shown that they are smarter than those who would like to use them. They use everything they have learned. More than those tricks, I like the drive to change the world. Since they are aware, they live in an organized country. They don't know how it was before 2012," says Vučić. President of Serbia pointed out that the time will come when they will see how important experience is and how much knowledge they lack. "There will be more countries that will withdraw the recognition of Kosovo, countries from the wonderful continents - Africa and Asia," said Vučić. Vučić pointed out that the opposition politicians tried, instead of the student movement, to say that they support the protests and added: "Who supported the protests? Did Albin Kurti support them? Openly and publicly in Zagreb. Did all Croatian politicians and media side with the protests with a brutal campaign? Are all Bosnian politicians? Milo Djukanović...". Vučić also spoke about those in Serbia who supported the protest. "These are the same people who supported lithium - Novak Djokovic, Ivana Španović, Bogdan Bogdanović, Željko Obradović... I have no problem, it's their right. It's democracy. No one surprised me, these are the same people. I accept it, but don't take away my right to think otherwise. You will have a hard time convincing me that Savo Milošević is more important than Dragan Džajić or that Veselin Vuković, who is known to hate Serbia, is more important for Serbia than Nedja Jovanovic," said Vučić. "People get angry because someone is blocking their roads, there is no need, only patience is needed. I received people from education, at their request," said the President of Serbia. "Don't take the children out into the street. Nataša Kandić says that it's a fairy tale from the protest, both for Severina and Selma Bajrami... When you put everything in such a way, come to talk and find a solution, and not to listen to politicians," he pointed out. "To make me sign my resignation? There is no possibility. I promised the people that I would leave alone. The best time in Serbia in its history will remain behind me. Serbia has the best salaries and pensions in history, it has the best railway and road infrastructure in history, has the strongest army in history...", said the President of Serbia. Vučić spoke about America and China and stated that in the next year the Americans will buy the Nord Stream. "Remember my words, this is where they will negotiate with the Russians. Let's see on December 30 next year," said Vučić. "I am very worried, there is a daily campaign in Sarajevo against the Serbian people. I will never allow such a campaign against Bosniaks. Now, there are four times more residents of Novi Pazar coming to Belgrade than to Sarajevo, which was different before," said the President of Serbia. Vučić pointed out that what they are doing to Milorad Dodik and Republika Srpska is not good, and that Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina can always count on Serbia. "On May 9, I should go to the parade in Moscow, together with Fico. Today, all of Europe understands what is happening in Pristina. They lied a lot. Just let them continue their work, and we will do ours. We will be with our people in Kosovo. I don't think the American policy towards Kosovo will change much, but I hope it will. I have many friends in the Trump administration, and I have already spoken with many of them," said Serbian president. Vučić pointed out that it is important to sit down with the people of the region and talk about peace, and not to talk about the past. "Let me use the opportunity to wish our people in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, wherever they are, all the best in 2025, regardless of nationality and age," said Vučić. Podeli:
US stock indices pushed to fresh records Tuesday, shrugging off tariff threats from President-elect Donald Trump while European equities retreated. Trump, who doesn't take office until January 20, made his threat in social media posts Monday night, announcing huge import tariffs against neighbors Canada and Mexico and also rival China if they do not stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Both the Dow and S&P 500 notched all-time highs, with investors regarding the incoming president's words as a bargaining chip. "In theory, higher tariffs should not be good news for stocks. But, you know, I think the market's chosen to think of (it) as a negotiating tactic," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "You have bullish sentiment," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. "People are tending to look at things as positively as possible." But General Motors, which imports autos from Mexico to the United States, slumped 9.0 percent, while rival Ford dropped 2.6 percent. Overseas bourses were also buffeted by the news. European stocks followed losses in Asia, despite Trump excluding Europe as an immediate target for tariffs. "These are his first direct comments on tariffs and tariff levels since becoming president-elect, and they have roiled markets," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB trading group, ahead of the Wall Street open. "It is early days, and there are plenty of opportunities for Trump to direct his attention to Europe down the line," Brooks added. The US dollar rallied against its Canadian equivalent, China's yuan and Mexico's peso, which hit its lowest level since August 2022. In other economic news, the Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 111.7 this month, up from 109.6 in October, boosted by greater optimism surrounding the labor market. "November's increase was mainly driven by more positive consumer assessments of the present situation, particularly regarding the labor market," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board. Pantheon Macroeconomics chief US economist Samuel Tombs added in a note that the increase in consumer confidence overall "likely was driven by euphoria among Republicans." "The index also jumped in late 2016, when Mr. Trump was elected for the first time," he said. Federal Reserve meeting minutes showed policy makers expect inflation to keep cooling, signaling a gradual approach to interest rate cuts if price increases ease further and the job market remains strong. New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 44,860.31 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 percent at 6,021.63 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.6 percent at 19,174.30 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 8,258.61 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.9 percent at 7,194.51 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.6 percent at 19,295.98 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 38,442.00 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 19,159.20 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,259.76 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0482 from $1.0495 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2567 from $1.2568 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.06 yen from 154.23 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.41 pence from 83.51 pence Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $72.81 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $68.77 per barrel bur-jmb/st
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Food irradiation—the application of ionizing radiation to food—processing offers a safer and more efficient preservation method than conventional techniques, according to science research experts. Unlike chemical methods, such as ethylene oxide—which is used to disinfect herbs and spices—irradiation has a significant advantage in food sterilization, Haydee M. Solomon, Supervising Science Research Specialist at the Irradiation Services Section of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PNRI), told the BusinessMirror during an exclusive interview at the forum titled “Nuke Talk Series: What’s Your ‘Ulam Bestie’?” held at the recent 2024 National Science and Technology Week in this city. The European Union bans ethylene oxide for food sterilization due to the harmful chemical residues it leaves behind. In contrast, radiation leaves no residue on the product. Solomon clarified that when ionizing radiation is applied, it passes through the product and is absorbed by microorganisms, effectively killing them without leaving any lingering chemicals or by-products. “We irradiate the products in its final form. We do not open it. We do not touch the product itself. It’s just the packaging. So, it’s very convenient,” she explained. She further noted that other preservation methods, such as using ethylene oxide, involve chemicals, while heat treatments can sometimes cause discoloration or even condensation on the product. The moisture from condensation can create an environment conducive to mold growth, making the product less desirable, she said. “Heat can also cook the product, which isn’t the case with ionizing radiation,” Solomon added. She emphasized that radiation is more of a “cold process.” While radiation does emit a small amount of heat, typically raising the temperature of the product by only 1 degree Celsius to 3°C, it is minimal and does not have the same effects as traditional heat treatments. Solomon added that this makes ionizing radiation a more gentle and effective method of sterilization, particularly for products that could be damaged by heat. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the food irradiation process does not pose any greater toxicological, microbiological, or nutritional risks compared to traditional food processing methods. Despite concerns about the potential chemical changes caused by ionizing radiation, these organizations assure that irradiated foods are safe for human consumption. Asked how to identify if a food item is irradiated or not, experts explained that all irradiated products are required to display the Radura symbol, indicating they have undergone irradiation. The label may also include phrases like “Treated with Radiation” or “Treated by Irradiation.” Addressing concerns about nutrient loss, Solomon cited several studies showing that irradiated foods retain most of their nutrients. The nutrient loss during irradiation is comparable to what occurs during cooking, freezing, canning, and other common food preservation methods. Studies have shown that consuming irradiated foods does not expose individuals to radiation or radioactive materials. Further explaining the safety of food irradiation, Solomon likened it to the safety of medical X-rays on individuals. She said that radiation beams pass through the food much like X-rays pass through a patient during medical imaging. Just as a person is not radioactive after an X-ray, irradiated food does not retain any radiation or radioactive substances. PHL advances in nuclear preservation Moreover, the DOST-PNRI manages a multipurpose gamma irradiation facility designed to process food and agricultural products. Recently, the facility was upgraded to a semi-commercial scale, enhancing its efficiency and increasing its processing capacity. This improvement allows it to address the growing demand for irradiation services from the food and medical sectors. According to Solomon, spices are the primary products benefiting from nuclear-based preservation technologies in the Philippines. This method, which utilize gamma rays, is commonly used to treat various spices, shrimp powder, herbal products and seasonings. Solomon added that the establishment of new facilities, such as the 10 megaelectron volt (MeV) electron beam in Tanay, Rizal, will enable more fresh produce to meet international standards, and is expected to help local growers access global markets, boosting the promotion of Philippine products worldwide. She emphasized that radiation processing is an effective method for eliminating microorganisms while preserving the quality and integrity of products. Clients who use this technology not only comply with Food and Drug Administration standards but also gain a competitive edge in the international market, where irradiated products are widely accepted.Harris has ‘no knowledge’ anyone tried to get RTE to take down viral clipLos Angeles Auto Show (PRNewsfoto/Los Angeles Auto Show) These shows-within-the-show will bring luxury, exotics, art cars, and more to the 2024 event LOS ANGELES , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Auto Show ® (LA Auto Show) is proud to announce details for two highly anticipated exhibitions at the 2024 event, presented in partnership with West Coast Customs and Monterey Motorsports Festival. These shows-within-the-show will feature over 30 show-stopping luxury vehicles, exotics, custom rides and art cars. West Coast Customs Experience Returning in 2024 is a supercharged display from West Coast Customs, featuring one-of-a-kind vehicles and a jaw-dropping selection of customs, lowriders, exotics, classics, cruisers, muscle cars, retrofits, and more. From roadsters, rims, and wraps to mobile services and mounts, West Coast Customs is bringing it all. The West Coast Customs Experience celebrates the future of the automotive industry – West Coast Customs Academy. This revolutionary curriculum provides hands-on, interactive workshops taught by West Coast Customs master craftsmen in a full array of automotive disciplines allowing students a chance to work alongside the master craftsmen. This year, in collaboration with the LA County Justice, Care and Opportunities Department, West Coast Customs will provide 12 program participants the student opportunity to work alongside West Coast Customs Mentors, gaining invaluable car customization experience, while replicating the revolutionary West Coast Customs Academy curriculum. LA Auto Show attendees will be able to view the latest West Coast Customs automotive art projects, in partnership with the New York -based CART Department, on display at this year's LA Auto Show alongside projects from the students of West Coast Customs Academy customization training program, including the 1966 Cadillac Calias, 2024 grads completed for the Peacock original series Fight Night: Million Dollar Heist. West Coast Customs commissioned builds making their LA Auto Show debut include: West Coast Customs Experience and LA Auto Show will showcase the following coveted art cars including: Monterey Motorsports Festival Concours Each year, the Monterey Motorsports Festival in Monterey, California takes place in late-summer, and is a must-attend event for car enthusiasts everywhere. The show features an impressive collection of classic and modern cars, including rare and exotic models from around the world. The event showcases not only the latest models from leading car manufacturers, but also vintage cars from the early 1900s, and everything in between, all of which are displayed in a lively and interactive environment. Taking up residence in the Los Angeles Convention Center's Concourse Hall and running for the duration of the 2024 LA Auto Show, the Monterey Motorsports Festival Concours exhibit will include: "The Los Angeles Auto Show consistently seeks out new and innovative ways to support our industry, and teaming up with the Monterey Motorsports Festival and West Coast Customs is yet another example of this mission in action," said Terri Toennies , president and chief operating officer of the Los Angeles Auto Show. "We are thrilled to welcome Monterey and West Coast Custom teams to this year's show, and cannot wait to see their ideas come to life!" For additional information and tickets, please visit laautoshow.com . About the Los Angeles Auto Show & AutoMobility LA Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto ShowTM is recognized as one of the world's most influential automotive events. The show celebrates the enduring love that Angelenos have for their cars and offers a global platform for industry debuts, technology, and innovation. Doors open to the public November 22 – December 1 and the show runs for 10 full days, including Thanksgiving Day. It is a must-attend event for prospective car buyers, industry executives, influencers, car enthusiasts, and for families wanting to enjoy an unforgettable day out during the holiday season. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LA Auto Show contributes several hundred million dollars to the city's economy, stimulates the local job market, and is the number one revenue generator for the Center. On November 21 , AutoMobility LA 2024 , the show's media and industry day, will include a range of groundbreaking debuts and announcements, and a conference program featuring the leading minds in automotive and technology. These experts will explore the most pressing industry issues in a series of presentations and panel discussions from AutoMobility LA's main stage. Media Contacts Kat Kirsch kat@katkirsch.com Tania Weinkle tania@taniaweinkle.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-west-coast-customs-experience-and-monterey-motorsports-festival-concours-bring-unique-exhibition-features-to-the-2024-los-angeles-auto-show-302314493.html SOURCE Los Angeles Auto ShowWalmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory
Jamestown Adult Learning Center hosts GED Graduation Ceremony
Yerevan forum focuses on bolstering genocide prevention mechanismsTop Stock Market Highlights of the Week: CapitaLand Investment, Netflix and WeWorkDejounte Murray is rejoining the Pelicans vs. Toronto and drawing inspiration from his mother METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Dejounte Murray plans to return to the New Orleans Pelicans ' lineup on Wednesday night for the first time since fracturing his left hand in a season-opening victory over Chicago on Oct. 23. Brett Martel, The Associated Press Nov 26, 2024 3:13 PM Nov 26, 2024 3:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray dribbles against the Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Oct. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File) METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Dejounte Murray plans to return to the New Orleans Pelicans ' lineup on Wednesday night for the first time since fracturing his left hand in a season-opening victory over Chicago on Oct. 23. And when Murray takes the court against the Toronto Raptors , his mother will be on his mind. After practice on Tuesday, Murray discussed his impending return and disclosed more details about the previously unspecified “personal matters” that caused him to leave the team during the final days of the preseason. His mother had a stroke, he said. “It was tough to leave and go deal with that. As she got better, she wanted me to come play,” Murray said of his last-minute decision to start against Chicago. He added that his hand injury near the end of that game was God's way of telling him, “‘Nah, you need to stay with your mom.’” “I was more concerned about my mother. That was my priority,” Murray continued. “I wasn’t really worried about my recovery.” Murray's mother has recovered well, he said, while he is “healthy and ready to help this team.” “I’m ready to hoop. Play for my mother — she’s going to be watching," Murray said. “I’m ready to compete, bring that winning spirit.” The Pelicans (4-14) certainly could use the help, having lost 14 of 16 games since opening the season with a pair of victories. Injuries have ravaged the roster. At times, all five starters have been out. Star power forward Zion Williamson has missed 12 games this season — one with an illness and 11 with a hamstring injury. Herb Jones has been sidelined by a shoulder strain and Brandon Ingram's status is in doubt after he sat out practice on Tuesday with calf soreness that also sidelined him during a loss on Monday night at Indiana. But at least two starters — Murray and fellow guard CJ McCollum — are expected to play against the Raptors. “I don’t care how many games we’ve lost. I just know every time I step on the floor I feel like we can win games,” said Murray, who had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his lone game with the Pelicans. "That’s just my mentality, and I feel like it can carry over to a lot of guys.” ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA Brett Martel, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Basketball Same old story in Philadelphia with Paul George and Joel Embiid out again against Houston Nov 26, 2024 1:32 PM NBA says Hawks violated player participation policy by sitting Trae Young for Cup game Nov 26, 2024 11:41 AM Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton tries to rediscover joy of basketball despite early season losses Nov 26, 2024 10:45 AMHarris has ‘no knowledge’ anyone tried to get RTE to take down viral clip
SM approaches 2025 with cautious optimism
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet has overwhelmingly approved a cease-fire deal with Hezbollah, Netanyahu’s office said on November 26, marking a major development toward peace between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants. The move was immediately welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said it represents a fresh start for Lebanon and shows that peace is possible after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting that forced tens of thousand of Israelis to flee and killed thousands of Lebanese. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the cease-fire agreement as he recommended his security cabinet adopt the plan, vowing to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. In the hours leading up to the meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. In a televised address, Netanyahu did not say how long the truce would last but noted that the length of the cease-fire “depends on what happens in Lebanon." He added: "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and attempts to rearm, we will strike. If they try to renew terror activities near the border, we will strike. If they launch a rocket, dig a tunnel, or bring in a truck with missiles, we will strike." A cease-fire would mark the first major step toward ending the violence triggered by the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. Biden said that, under the deal reached between Israel and Hezbollah, the cease-fire will take effect at 4 a.m. local time on November 27. He stressed that Israel reserved the right to resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce. “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” Biden said at the White House shortly after Netanyahu announced the security cabinet approval of the truce. If any party breaks the terms of the deal, “Israel retains the right to self-defense.” He said that over the next 60 days civilians on both sides will be able to safely return to their own communities. The deal requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon's army to deploy in the region, while Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the cease-fire and said it was a "fundamental step towards establishing calm and stability in Lebanon." The cease-fire does not address the war in Gaza, but Biden said it deserves a cease-fire deal as well. Netanyahu said Israel would now focus its efforts on Hamas militants and his top security concern, Iran. "From day two of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own," he said. "We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier that a cease-fire would save lives and livelihoods in Lebanon and in Israel. “It will make a big difference in creating the conditions that will allow people to return to their homes safely in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon,” Blinken said at a briefing at the conclusion of a Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting in Fiuggi, Italy. He said he also believed that de-escalating tension could help end the conflict in Gaza by letting Hamas know that it can’t count on other fronts opening up in the war. “In terms of Gaza itself, I also think this can have a significant impact.... Because one of the things that Hamas has sought from day one is to get others in on the fight, to create multiple fronts, to make sure that Israel was having to fight in a whole series of different places,” Blinken said. The war has killed at least 3,799 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, the hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say. The war in Lebanon escalated after nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah. The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas after its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries expressed their support for Ukraine on November 26 in the final statement following their summit in Italy. They also condemned what they described as Russia's "irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric." The G7 ministers’ statement also warned that North Korean support for Russia marked a dangerous expansion of the war, condemning the development and saying Russia’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles and munitions was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. “We stand firm against Russia’s war of aggression. We vehemently condemn the brutal attacks against Ukraine’s cities and critical civilian infrastructure and its unacceptable toll on the civilian population,” the minister said in a joint statement at the conclusion of their two-day meeting. The foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States noted Russia’s use of an intermediate range ballistic missile on November 21, saying it is “further evidence of its reckless and escalatory behavior.” They also said their support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence “will remain unwavering.” The ministers, who were joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and the EU’s foreign policy chief at their meeting in Fiuggi, a spa town southeast of Rome, added that they hoped to start distributing a $50 billion loan package stemming from frozen Russian assets by the end of the year. They also pledged to act against groups helping Russia to evade sanctions and called on China, a long-standing ally of North Korea, to act against the deployment of North Korean troops to the battlefield. The ministers also tried to raise the pressure on Israel to accept a cease-fire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying "now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement." They called on the Israeli government to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. "We express our strongest condemnation for the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace," the statement added. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has written an autobiography in which she reaffirms her decision to push back against offering Ukraine future membership in NATO at a summit in 2008 despite criticism that such a move may have prevented Russia from invading Ukraine. In the book, Merkel reflects on how that decision and others during her 16 years in office have fared over time and recalls her relationships with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021 was launched in Berlin on November 26 nearly three years to the day after she left office and ahead of a promotional tour of major European cities and the United States. The 70-year-old Merkel, known for her calm and unflappable leadership style, in the book rejects blame for any of the current strain in the West's relations with Russia in a rare commentary on her time in office. Concerning the 2008 Bucharest NATO summit, Merkel noted a pledge that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually join the western military alliance was a "battle cry" to the Russian leader, adding that he later told her: "You won't be Chancellor forever. And then they'll become a member of NATO. And I want to prevent that." Six years later Putin launched the Russian occupation and annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and followed that with the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which the Russian president has justified in part by citing Kyiv's NATO membership desires. Russia Is 'An Indispensable Geopolitical Factor' Putin was always on guard not to be treated badly and engaged in power games, according to the book. Merkel wrote about his inclination to make others wait and recalls how, despite her fear of dogs, he allowed his black Labrador to be in the room during a meeting in 2007 in Sochi. “You could find all this childish, reprehensible, you could shake your head at it,” she writes. “But that didn’t make Russia disappear from the map. Russia with its nuclear arsenal exists and remains “an indispensable geopolitical factor.” Merkel also details her experience with Trump during his first term as president, saying he “judged everything from the perspective of the real estate developer he had been before entering politics.” She writes that they “talked on two different levels,” in their March 2017 meeting at the White House. “Trump on an emotional level, me on a factual one.” Trump 'Captivated' By 'Dictatorial Tendencies' She added that Trump, who won a second non-consecutive term on November 5, did not share her conviction that cooperation could benefit all but instead believed that all countries were in competition with each other. “He did not believe that prosperity of all could be increased through cooperation,” she writes of the U.S. president, who "was captivated by politicians with autocratic and dictatorial tendencies." Merkel also writes about the difficulties of being the first female candidate for chancellor and her decision to welcome large numbers of migrants and displaced people in 2015 in the 700-plus page memoir, which is being simultaneously published as an audiobook and translated into more than two dozen languages, including French and English. She will make a special presentation in Washington on her book tour to to present it in the United States on December 2 alongside former U.S. President Barack Obama. The book is being published as Germans rethink her legacy, including her policy on migration, which many in Germany believe led to a surge in the far right. The former leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) uses the book to justify the decisions she made regarding Russia, which launched its invasion of Ukraine just five months after Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats (SPD) was elected to succeed Merkel, who had decided not to seek reelection. Under Scholz the German economy has stagnated. The war in Ukraine prompted Berlin to wean itself off cheap Russia gas. At the same time the country has had to deal with a reduction in exports to China. Scholz now faces a challenging campaign for reelection after the collapse of his coalition government. The flight recorders of a cargo plane belonging to global courier DHL that crashed near Vilnius on November 25 have been found as investigators continue to search for the cause of the deadly accident. The Boeing 737-476 aircraft crashed as it attempted to land at Vilnius International Airport, killing the jet's Spanish pilot and injuring another Spanish crew member, a German, and a Lithuanian. The crash came amid concerns among Western security officials that Russian intelligence is preparing acts of sabotage targeting Western cargo aircraft, though officials have said so far they have no evidence of a link. The plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, the so-called black boxes, "were found and removed from the wreckage," Lithuania's Justice Ministry said in a statement , adding that investigators are analyzing the data on the two devices. "The goal of a safety investigation is to prevent future accidents," the statement said, adding the probe "does not seek to determine who is at fault or responsible." Lithuanian Chief Prosecutor Arturas Urbelis separately said at least 19 witnesses were interviewed in connection with the incident but so far no indication has been found of "more serious actions." The plane that departed Leipzig, Germany, about 90 minutes before the crash hit several buildings as it skidded hundreds of meters, according to the police and DHL. One of the buildings hit by the plane was a house whose occupants survived, authorities said. Firefighters were not able to determine whether the plane began burning or breaking up while still in the air, and authorities have appealed to the public to hand over possible video recordings of the crash. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the crash could have been a "hybrid incident" with outside involvement. "We must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or whether it was another hybrid incident," Baerbock told reporters at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy. "We have recently seen multiple hybrid attacks in Europe, often targeting individuals and infrastructure, whether underwater or hard infrastructure," she said, alluding to the recent severing of telecom cables in the Baltic Sea that officials have said could have been sabotage. German authorities are working very closely with the Lithuanian authorities to get to the bottom of the crash, she added. Lithuanian authorities have so far stopped short of making the same link. "We cannot reject the possibility of terrorism...but at the moment we can't make attributions or point fingers because we don't have such information," Lithuanian counterintelligence chief Darius Jauniskis told reporters. Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe, which they have said are aimed at destabilizing allies of Ukraine as it relies on Western governments in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. Lithuanian Commissioner-General of Police Arunas Paulauskas said surviving crew members told investigators there was no smoke, fire, or other emergency situation in the cabin prior to the crash. He also said the probability of an external force impact was very low. The crash came after a series of fires at DHL depots in Britain and Germany during the summer. Western security officials were quoted in a news report earlier this month linking the fires to a test run of an alleged Russian operation aimed at igniting fires on cargo or passenger aircraft bound for North America. The Wall Street Journal quoted security officials as saying devices that ignited in July in DHL depots in Leipzig and the British city of Birmingham were part of the test run. Last month, Polish officials said four people had been detained as a result of the investigation into parcels that caught fire while en route to United States and Canada. The activities of the four people "consisted of sabotage and diversion related to sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to European Union countries and Great Britain, which spontaneously ignited or detonated during land and air transport," Polish prosecutors said in a statement on October 25. "The group's goal was also to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada," the statement said, adding that foreign intelligence services were to blame. The statement did not directly accuse Russia of involvement. Canada in early November expressed concern to Russian officials after he arrests were announced. Russia responded by summoning a Canadian diplomat on November 8 to rebut allegations that Russia's secret services had orchestrated the campaign to mail explosive packages. Russia has expelled Edward Prior Wilks, a second secretary in the Political Department of the British Embassy in Moscow, accusing him of espionage under diplomatic cover. The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the decision on November 26, claiming Wilks was part of an "undeclared intelligence presence" in Russia, deepening tensions between Moscow and London. According to the FSB, Wilks entered Russia with false information and engaged in "intelligence and subversive activities" that posed a threat to national security. The diplomat, reportedly linked to the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Directorate for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has had his accreditation revoked. Russian authorities have given him two weeks to leave the country. The expulsion follows the removal of six British intelligence officers in August amid strained relations between the two nations over issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to alleged interference in domestic affairs. The move comes on the same day Russia’s Foreign Ministry expanded its sanctions list, barring 30 prominent U.K. officials, military personnel, and journalists from entering the country. The list includes Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and high-profile figures in the defense and technology sectors. In a statement, Moscow accused Britain of pursuing an "aggressive, Russophobic policy," including support for Ukraine, disinformation about Russia, and direct involvement in the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin warned London to abandon its "futile course" and engage in constructive dialogue. The announcements mark a further escalation in the strained relations, reflecting the deepening crisis in relations between the Kremlin and the West over Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s actions highlight a deliberate strategy to challenge what it perceives as Western interference. By targeting both diplomatic channels and influential figures, Moscow is signaling that it will not tolerate perceived provocations. At the same time, these moves are part of a broader pattern of Russia asserting its geopolitical stance against the West amid ongoing tensions over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The diplomatic expulsion, coupled with expanded sanctions, reflects the Kremlin’s view of the United Kingdom as a central player in the Western coalition supporting Ukraine, escalating an already hostile dynamic. The so-called Supreme Court in Ukraine's Russian-occupied Donetsk region has sentenced Mamuka Mamulashvili, leader of the Georgian Legion, to 23 years in prison in absentia. The court, operating under Russia’s authority in the illegally annexed region, accused Mamulashvili of recruiting and training foreign mercenaries to fight against Russian forces in Ukraine. According to the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, the 46-year-old Mamulashvili, who says he has been the focus of several poisoning attempts, was found guilty under several articles of the Russian Criminal Code. While the ruling will likely have no practical impact on Mamulashvili or the Georgian Legion’s operations, it provides valuable propaganda for the Kremlin as it continues its campaign to suppress dissent and isolate Ukraine diplomatically. For Ukraine and its allies, the verdict underscores the ongoing challenges in countering Russia’s narrative both on and off the battlefield. The charges allege that from 2014 to 2024 Mamulashvili recruited ex-military personnel from Georgia and other nations not directly involved in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Prosecutors claimed Mamulashvili provided training, weapons, and logistical support to these recruits, enabling their participation in military operations. The court further stated Mamulashvili received compensation equivalent to over 23 million rubles ($221.500) for his activities. Russian authorities also highlighted an April 2022 interview Mamulashvili gave to the Khodorkovsky-LIVE YouTube channel where he voiced staunchly anti-Russian sentiments and criticized Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In addition to Mamulashvili, three other Georgian fighters -- Giorgi Rusitashvili, Nodar Petriashvili, and Vano Nadiradze -- were sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison each. They were convicted of participating as mercenaries in an armed conflict. The Russian prosecutor’s office stated that all four individuals would serve their sentences in a strict-regime penal colony if captured. The Georgian Legion, founded in 2014, is a volunteer military unit supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Composed primarily of Georgian ex-soldiers, the group has been actively involved in key battles across eastern Ukraine. Russia has labeled the Georgian Legion a terrorist organization, aligning with its broader narrative of framing foreign support for Ukraine as illegitimate and criminal. The in absentia sentencing of Mamulashvili and other Georgian fighters appears to serve several purposes beyond legal action. It reinforces Moscow’s portrayal of foreign volunteers aiding Ukraine as mercenaries and terrorists, undermining their legitimacy. By focusing on Mamulashvili’s recruitment efforts and financial rewards, Russian authorities aim to discredit the broader network of international support for Ukraine’s resistance. The verdict also underscores Russia’s effort to project authority over Donetsk, a region it annexed in violation of international law. Issuing high-profile verdicts from a “Supreme Court” in the occupied territory serves to normalize its judicial and political structures in the eyes of its domestic audience, despite their lack of international recognition. Russia's Investigative Committee announced on November 26 that it had opened a criminal case against James Scott Rhys Anderson, a British citizen accused of committing terrorism and mercenary activities. Anderson, who is alleged to have fought for Ukraine's International Legion, was detained in Russia's Kursk region after crossing the border in mid-November. His case underscores the growing complexities of international involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war and the heightened risks faced by foreign volunteers. According to the Investigative Committee , Anderson, alongside other members of Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries, illegally entered Kursk with weapons, military equipment, and drones armed with explosive devices. Russian authorities claim the group carried out actions intended to intimidate the local population, cause "significant" property damage, and destabilize government operations. A statement from the Investigative Committee said Anderson and his associates were armed with automatic firearms, missile systems, and drones, underscoring the technological capabilities of Ukraine's forces and their international allies. The authorities allege these actions constitute terrorism under Russian law. A video circulated on pro-Russian Telegram channels and by the state news agency TASS over the weekend showed a man identifying himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson, a 22-year-old former British Army signalman who joined Ukraine's International Legion after leaving military service in 2023. Speaking with a clear British accent, Anderson confirmed his identity and discussed his role in the ongoing war. However, the footage has not been independently verified, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding its recording. Anderson's situation highlights the dangers faced by foreign volunteers in Ukraine's resistance, as well as the propaganda value such incidents hold for Russia. The Kremlin has consistently sought to portray foreign fighters as illegitimate actors, using their presence to bolster its narrative that Ukraine's defense is dependent on mercenaries and extremists. Since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's 2022 call for international recruits, thousands of foreign volunteers have joined Ukraine’s International Legion. The elite unit, integrated into Ukraine’s military, has attracted fighters from across the globe, including Western nations. For many, the war represents a fight against Russian aggression and a defense of democratic values, but their participation also exposes them to legal and physical risks. Anderson's case is not the first instance of a foreign fighter being captured or accused by Russia. Moscow has consistently sought to criminalize foreign involvement, labeling such fighters as mercenaries -- a status not protected under international law -- and often accusing them of terrorism. This tactic not only targets individual fighters but also aims to deter further international participation in Ukraine's defense. The announcement of Anderson's detainment comes amid shifting dynamics in the border regions, including Kursk. Ukraine's recent cross-border operations signal an escalation in tactics, challenging Russian defenses within its own territory. These incursions, while symbolic of Ukraine's bold resistance, also amplify Moscow's narrative of external aggression threatening its sovereignty. At the same time, reports of Russia employing North Korean soldiers and pushing to reclaim territory lost during Ukraine's August counteroffensive suggest a deepening of the conflict. Russia's efforts to portray foreign fighters like Anderson as central to these operations serve as both a legal and propaganda tool, distracting from its own controversial use of international personnel and tactics. A court in the Siberian city of Chita has sentenced journalist Nika Novak, a former RFE/RL contributor, to four years in prison. Sources close to the investigation told RFE/RL on November 26 that Novak was found guilty of "collaboration with a foreign organization on a confidential basis." Novak was arrested in Moscow last year and transferred to Siberia. Her case was marked as classified, and the details were not publicized. Novak had worked for ChitaMedia and was editor in chief of the Zab.ru website. She contributed to programs by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities in 2022. RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus condemned Novak's conviction, saying the charges against her were politically motivated and "intended to silence individual reporters and cause a chilling effect." He also called for her immediate release. The law criminalizing collaboration with foreign organizations on a confidential basis allows prosecution for sharing nonclassified information with foreign organizations. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities, click here . Russia overnight launched 188 drones and four cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine -- a record number of projectiles in a single attack, Kyiv's air force said, as NATO and Ukrainian envoys prepared to gather in Brussels to assess Moscow's launching last week of an experimental missile at a Ukrainian city. Ukrainian air-defense systems "tracked 192 air targets -- four Iskander ballistic missiles and 188 enemy drones," the air force said in a message on Telegram. It added that 76 Russian drones were shot down over 17 Ukrainian regions, while another 95 drones "were lost in location" after their navigation systems had been jammed by Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. Five more drones changed course and flew toward Belarus, it said. No casualties were immediately reported in any of the 17 regions targeted, but critical infrastructure facilities such as the country's power grid and high-rise apartment buildings were damaged in several regions, officials said. During the attack, the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil was temporarily left without electricity. For the past several months, Russia has been battering Ukrainian cities with increasingly heavy drone, missile, and glide bomb strikes, causing casualties and damaging energy infrastructure as the cold season settles in. In Brussels, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) is to discuss on November 26 Russia's launching of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile at Ukraine last week. The NUC was established at a NATO summit in Vilnius last year to step up the alliance's collaboration with Kyiv and support Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership. The NUC meeting of envoys from Ukraine and the 32 member states of the alliance was called by Kyiv after Russia on November 21 struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with what President Vladimir Putin said was a new missile called Oreshnik. Putin said the move was part of Moscow's response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Putin said the Oreshnik is new and not an upgrade of previous Soviet-designed weaponry. The United States said the new missile is "experimental" and based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Ukraine initially accused Russia of having used an ICBM in the Dnipro attack. An ICBM has never been used in a war. Pakistani police and security forces launched a massive crackdown on thousands of supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on November 26 after they refused to call off a protest march demanding his release. The protesters were dispersed and the capital cleared after security forces conducted a sweeping late-night raid, said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at a briefing. A security official told RFE/RL that around 500 people had been arrested. It was unclear whether the leaders of the march were among those arrested or whether they managed to escape to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party holds power. The Pakistani military deployed troops earlier on November 26 following the deaths of at least three army rangers. Dozens of security forces were wounded in clashes between them and the protesters, some seriously. Naqvi told journalists in Islamabad at the late night briefing that the protesters had been successfully dispersed. He announced that schools would reopen on November 27 and all roads would be cleared. The minister also said that details regarding the involvement of Afghan nationals in the protest would be shared with the media on November 27, adding that "an important decision has been taken about Afghan nationals," which would be announced in the next few days. The Interior Ministry issued a statement during the day strongly condemning the killing of security forces by supporters of PTI. The ministry said on X that a policeman and four rangers were killed in the violence, but according to an RFE/RL correspondent at the scene, the number of rangers killed was three and their deaths were the result of an accident. Before the raids security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Khan supporters after thousands defied roadblocks to march some 150 kilometers from the northwest toward Islamabad despite a lockdown and a ban on public gatherings. PTI claimed on X that the police in Islamabad fired directly at protestors and published a video in which a top Karachi official said that in the history of Pakistan there has not been an injustice equal to what he says is going on in Islamabad. The city has been locked down since late on November 23 and mobile Internet services have been sporadically cut. The Islamabad city administration last week announced a two-month ban on public gatherings, but convoys of Khan supporters traveled from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on November 25 determined to enter the city. The leadership of PTI went ahead with their plans to travel to the capital even as Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka arrived for a three-day visit. He was received at an airport near the capital by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late on November 25. PTI's chief demand is the release of Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The 72-year-old former cricket superstar turned politician, has been in jail for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, although he enjoys huge popularity among Pakistanis. PTI has said the cases are politically motivated. PTI has defied a government crackdown since Khan was barred from running in elections in February with regular demonstrations aiming to seize public spaces in Islamabad and other large cities. The party is also protesting alleged tampering in the February polls and a recent government-backed constitutional amendment giving it more power over the courts, where Khan is tangled in dozens of cases. Sharif's government has come under increasing criticism for deploying heavy-handed measures to quash PTI's protests, which have largely cut off Islamabad from the rest of the country, with travel to other parts of Pakistan almost at a standstill. The key Grand Trunk Road highway in Punjab Province has been blocked by authorities with shipping containers, prompting protesters to use heavy machinery to remove the containers. The ongoing clashes also have affected Afghan refugees living in Islamabad or nearby cities who say they cannot leave their homes and are afraid of getting arrested. One of them, Fazel Saber, who lives in a guesthouse in Islamabad, told RFE/RL by phone on November 26 that the security situation has disrupted his life. “We have been banned from going out for three or four days, not even to the park near the guesthouse. Children and women also cannot go out," Saber said. "This is a deprivation of freedom, even though we are not illegal immigrants.” Thousands of protesters calling for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan defied roadblocks and tear gas on November 25 to march toward Islamabad despite a lockdown and a ban on public gatherings. Protesters clashed early on November 26 with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at Khan supporters to stop them from entering the capital. The government said one police officer had been killed and dozens were critically wounded in clashes with demonstrators as they closed in on Islamabad. Islamabad has been locked down since late on November 23 and mobile Internet services have been sporadically cut. The Islamabad city administration last week announced a two-month ban on public gatherings, but convoys of Khan supporters traveled from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province determined to enter the city. Security officials say they expected between 9,000 and 11,000 demonstrators, while Khan's party, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), said the number would be much higher. Video on social media showed Khan supporters donning gas masks and protective goggles. The leadership of Khan's party went ahead with their plans to travel to the capital even as Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka arrived for a three-day visit. He was received at an airport near the capital by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late on November 25. Meanwhile, the government was in talks with Khan's party to avoid any further violence, officials said. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the government was willing to allow Khan supporters to rally on the outskirts of Islamabad, but he threatened extreme measures if they entered the city to protest. Khan, who has been in jail for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, remains popular. PTI has said the cases are politically motivated. PTI has defied a government crackdown since Khan was barred from running in elections in February with regular demonstrations aiming to seize public spaces in Islamabad and other large cities. PTI's chief demand is the release of Khan, the charismatic, 72-year-old former cricket star who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The party is also protesting alleged tampering in the February polls and a recent government-backed constitutional amendment giving it more power over the courts, where Khan is tangled in dozens of cases. Sharif's government has come under increasing criticism for deploying heavy-handed measures to quash PTI's protests. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the deadly crash of a cargo plane in Lithuania on November 25 could have been a " hybrid incident " with outside involvement. "We must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or whether it was another hybrid incident," Baerbock told reporters at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy. "We have recently seen multiple hybrid attacks in Europe, often targeting individuals and infrastructure, whether underwater or hard infrastructure," she said, alluding to the recent severing of telecom cables in the Baltic Sea that officials have said could have been sabotage. German authorities are working very closely with the Lithuanian authorities to get to the bottom of the crash, she added. Lithuanian authorities have so far stopped short of making the same link. "We cannot reject the possibility of terrorism.... But at the moment we can't make attributions or point fingers because we don't have such information," Lithuanian counterintelligence chief Darius Jauniskis told reporters. Marius Baranauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, said the communications between the pilots and the control tower indicated nothing extraordinary, adding that investigators need to examine the black-box recordings to know what was happening in the aircraft. Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe, which they have said are aimed at destabilizing allies of Ukraine as it relies on Western governments in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. The cargo plane, which belonged to global courier DHL, crashed as it attempted to land at Vilnius airport, killing the jet's Spanish pilot and injuring another Spanish crew member, a German, and a Lithuanian, according to airport and police officials cited by Reuters. At least one of the injured was in critical condition. The plane, a Boeing 737-400 jet that had departed Leipzig, Germany, about 90 minutes before the crash, hit several buildings as it skidded hundreds meters, according to the police and DHL. A spokesperson for the governmental National Crisis Management Center said one of the buildings hit was a house whose occupants survived. Firefighters were not able to determine whether the plane began burning or breaking up while still in the air, and authorities were still looking for the black boxes that record flight data. A DHL statement said the plane "made a forced landing" about 1 kilometer from the Vilnius airport and the cause of the crash was still unknown. Lithuanian Commissioner-General of Police Arunas Paulauskas said surviving crew members told investigators there was no smoke, fire, or other emergency situation in the cabin prior to the crash. He also said the probability of an external force impact was very low. The crash came after a series of fires at DHL depots in Britain and Germany during the summer. Western security officials were quoted in a news report earlier this month linking the fires to a test run of an alleged Russian operation aimed at igniting fires on cargo or passenger aircraft bound for North America. The Wall Street Journal quoted security officials as saying that devices that ignited in July in DHL depots in Leipzig and the British city of Birmingham were part of the test run. Last month, Polish officials said four people had been detained as a result of the investigation into parcels that caught fire while en route to United States and Canada. The activities of the four people "consisted of sabotage and diversion related to sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to European Union countries and Great Britain, which spontaneously ignited or detonated during land and air transport," Polish prosecutors said in a statement on October 25. "The group's goal was also to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada," the statement said, adding that foreign intelligence services were to blame. The statement did not directly accuse Russia of involvement. Canada in early November expressed concern to Russian officials after he arrests were announced. Russia responded by summoning a Canadian diplomat on November 8 to rebut allegations that Russia's secret services had orchestrated the campaign to mail explosive packages . Serbian lawmakers scuffled in parliament on November 25 after opposition members accused the ruling coalition of failing to address the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at the railway station in Serbia's second-largest city earlier this month. A scuffle broke out after Radomir Lazovic, a member of the opposition Green-Left Front party, placed a poster showing a red hand imprint with the words "You have blood on your hands" on the speaker's platform. After Health Minister Zatibor Loncar approached Lazovic and started arguing, other deputies rushed in shouting, pulling, and hitting one another. Lazovic told N1 television that he was "attacked" by Loncar, and after a fight with him, there was a "general fight" in the assembly hall. Lazovic said several deputies were injured. The audio of the parliament's internal broadcast was turned off, so it was not possible to hear what the deputies were saying to each other. They were separated by security guards. While the government accused the opposition of trying to "seize power by force," opposition members said they were also attacked by government representatives in the hall of the parliament building and accused them of starting the fight. The collapse of the concrete canopy on November 1 at the station in Novi Sad has turned into a political headache for President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling party. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad announced on November 21 that 11 people had been arrested. The huge canopy collapsed on November 1, killing 15 people and seriously injuring another two. The accident occurred after the railway station, built in 1964, had been renovated twice in recent years by the consortium China Railway International and China Communications Construction Company. The most recent renovation was included in a project involving several companies that were in charge of the expert supervision of the reconstruction of the railway line from Novi Sad to the border with Hungary. The main contractor for the project was the company Project Biro Utiber of Novi Sad. The opposition has called on Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who was mayor of Novi Sad when construction started, to resign. The ruling coalition denies the allegations and accuses the opposition of triggering clashes with police in protests at the station. The parliament was due to debate the 2025 budget on November 25, but the opposition demanded a debate on the collapse of the canopy. They also filed a no-confidence motion against the government, but speaker Ana Brnabic said it would not be on the agenda. The session was interrupted for almost two hours before resuming, but opposition deputies continued disrupting the session as Brnabic spoke surrounded by security guards who prevented opposition legislators from approaching her. "This is what freedom of speech looks like in their interpretation," Brnabic said as opposition deputies blew whistles in the hall. Brnabic accused the opposition of an "attempt to seize power by force." She told reporters at a news conference that opposition deputies damaged a microphone and a monitor in the hall after the session was adjourned. The session began with a minute of silence for those killed in at the railway station and with Brnabic asking that the session be dignified. "Unfortunately, this is anything but a dignified tribute to the deceased and their families," Brnabic said at the news conference. Nikita Zhuravel, a Russian political prisoner who was beaten by the teenage son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov while in pretrial detention, has been sentenced to 13 1/2 years in prison for high treason. The Volgograd regional court sentenced the 20-year-old Zhuravel on November 25 after finding him guilty of sending a video to a representative of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) that allegedly contained footage of military equipment being transported by train, images of military aircraft, and details of a service vehicle's movements. Zhuravel is already serving a 3 1/2-year prison sentence handed down by a court in Chechnya in February after being convicted of hooliganism for publicly burning a Koran in his hometown of Volgograd. He was also sentenced to 300 hours of community service for insulting religious believers. It was not immediately clear whether the sentences would be served concurrently or consecutively. During the trial, Zhuravel apologized to the Muslim community, acknowledging his actions but claiming he had no intention of offending anyone. The case drew widespread attention when it was revealed that while Zhuravel was in custody in Chechnya, he was attacked by Adam Kadyrov, the then-15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov. A video of the assault in a jail was shared on social media by the elder Kadyrov, sparking public outrage. Despite this, law enforcement in Chechnya declined to pursue a criminal investigation, citing a lack of evidence. Kadyrov defended his son's actions, publicly stating that it would have been better if his son had killed Zhuravel. Adam Kadyrov was later awarded the title of "Hero of the Republic of Chechnya," the highest honor in the region, and received further accolades from several Russian regions. The human rights group Memorial has recognized Zhuravel as a political prisoner, raising doubts about the Koran-burning accusations and criticizing his transfer from Volgograd to mostly Muslim-populated Chechnya for investigation and trial. The organization has also condemned the violence Zhuravel endured in detention as a serious legal violation. RFE/RL journalist Andrey Kuznechyk marked his third year in prison on November 25 on charges , he, his employer, and human rights organizations call politically motivated. Kuznechyk, a father of two, was arrested on November 25, 2021, and initially sentenced to 10 days in jail on hooliganism charges that he rejected. After serving that penalty, Kuznechyk was not released but charged with creating an extremist group, a move that officials didn't reveal to Kuznechyk's relatives and colleagues for months. On June 8, 2022, the Mahilyou regional court in the country's east found Kuznechyk guilty and sentenced him to six years in prison. The trial lasted just one day. Human rights groups in Belarus have recognized Kuznechyk, who works for RFE/RL's Belarus Service , known locally as Radio Svaboda, as a political prisoner. Kuznechyk, who has maintained his innocence, and some 150 other Belarusian political prisoners, including another RFE/RL journalist, Ihar Losik, and former would-be presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, are serving sentences at the same prison in the northern city of Navapolatsk. The facility is known as one of the most restrictive penitentiaries in the country. Initially, the site was occupied by a number of temporary houses built for workers at a then-newly built oil refinery in 1958. The territory was later turned into a prison where mostly members of organized criminal groups, noted crime kingpins, and so-called thieves-in-law served their terms. Belarusian authorities started sending political prisoners there in 2010. Since a disputed August 2020 presidential election sparked mass protests over authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's victory, tens of thousands of Belarusians have been arrested for voicing any dissent against the regime. The crackdown has pushed most opposition politicians, who say the vote was rigged, to leave the country fearing for their safety and freedom. Many Western governments have refused to recognize the results of the election and do not consider Lukashenka to be the country's legitimate leader. Many countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions against his regime in response to the suppression of dissent in the country. Kuznechyk is one of three RFE/RL journalists -- Losik and Vladyslav Yesypenko are the other two -- currently imprisoned on charges related to their work. Rights groups and RFE/RL have called repeatedly for the release of all three, saying they have been wrongly detained. Losik is a blogger and contributor for RFE/RL’s Belarus Service who was convicted in December 2021 on several charges including the "organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order" and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Yesypenko, a dual Ukrainian-Russian citizen who contributed to Crimea.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, was sentenced in February 2022 to six years in prison by a Russian judge in occupied Crimea after a closed-door trial. He was convicted of “possession and transport of explosives,” a charge he steadfastly denies. A British national fighting for Ukraine has reportedly been captured by Russian forces in Russia's Kursk region, marking a significant development in the ongoing war. A video released on pro-Russian Telegram channels and TASS news agency over the weekend shows a man in a military uniform identifying himself as 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson from the United Kingdom. Speaking with a clear English accent, Anderson says he previously served as a signalman in the British Army until 2023 and later joined Ukraine's International Legion to fight against Russia. The footage has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear when or where the video was recorded. Anderson's alleged capture highlights the broader involvement of foreign volunteers in Ukraine's resistance against Russia. Since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's 2022 call for international recruits, thousands of fighters have joined the conflict, many enlisting in the International Legion, a highly selective unit integrated into Ukraine's ground forces. The British man's capture also comes amid shifting dynamics in the Kursk region. While Ukraine initially gained significant ground in its August offensive, recent reports suggest it has lost over 40 percent of the territory it seized. Russia’s apparent use of North Korean soldiers in the region and its push to reclaim lost ground signal a deepening of the war, while Ukraine’s cross-border operations represent a bold challenge to Moscow’s defenses. As the war drags on, the fate of foreign fighters like Anderson remains emblematic of the broader stakes and human costs of this conflict. The United Arab Emirates on November 25 disclosed the names of three suspects detained in the killing of a 28-year-old Israeli-Moldovan ultra-Orthodox rabbi saying they were Uzbek nationals. The suspects were arrested a day earlier after the body of Zvi Kogan, who ran a Kosher grocery store in Dubai and was also a representative of the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad, was discovered by security services. U.A.E. authorities identified the suspects as Mahmudjon Abdurahim, 28, Olimboi Tohirovich, 28, and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33, apparently giving patronymic names of the last two men instead their last names. They did not say if official charges have been filed against the suspects. "Hate has no place in our world. Our thoughts are with his family, the Jewish community, and all who grieve. We are in contact with Israel and the U.A.E.," Moldovan President Maia Sandu said in a statement . Kogan had been reported missing on November 22. His body was found later in the city of Al Ain. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the killing of Kogan, calling it a "heinous anti-Semitic terrorist act." While Israeli officials have not publicly accused archrival Iran for the deadly attack, analysts noted that Tehran has been threatening retaliation against Israel for recent air strikes it carried out on Iranian soil after Iran launched a missile attack against Israel. Tehran has denied any involvement in the murder of Kogan. The Muslim-majority Gulf state with an overwhelmingly expatriate population prides itself on its safety, stability, and religious tolerance. The Chabad Hasidic movement is known for its outreach efforts worldwide. The U.A.E. normalized relations with Israel in 2020 alongside Bahrain and Morocco in a series of U.S.-brokered agreements known as the Abraham Accords. There is no figure for the number of Jews in the U.A.E., but an Israeli official has told AFP there were about 2,000 Israelis in the Gulf country, with the Jewish community estimated to be up to twice that figure. The White House also condemned the killing on November 24. "This was a horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence. It was an assault as well on U.A.E. and its rejection of violent extremism across the board," the White House said in a statement on November 24. Georgia's new parliament met for its first session since the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party won elections last month that ignited calls for fresh polls amid accusations the balloting was rigged, as protesters gathered outside and pelted the building with eggs. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the session on November 25 after calling on foreign diplomats not to legitimize the new parliament by attending the first session. EU and other Western officials have expressed serious doubts about the October 26 elections in which Georgian Dream officially won 53.9 percent of the vote. The first item on the agenda for the opening session, which will be attended by the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), is recognizing the authority of all 150 parliament members. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, however, has refused to recognize the result validated by the CEC. Zurabishvili has filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court "requesting annulment of the election results as unconstitutional." Protesters allege there was widespread fraud during the campaign and vote and that Russia heavily influenced the outcome favoring Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012. They gathered outside the parliament but were not able to block the entrance amid a heavy police presence. "Black Monday in Georgia: Police...guarding the doors behind which 'Georgian Dream slaves' are killing our Constitution and making a mockery of our Parliament," Zurabishvili said in a post on X. Police have moved quickly -- sometimes using violence -- to shut down previous demonstrations, but no altercations were reported on November 25. Georgian Dream's billionaire founder and "honorary chairman," Bidzina Ivanishvili, attended the session and holds the right to nominate a prime minister. Ivanishvili, who is widely regarded as dominating the government even though he does not hold an official position, is expected to push for lawmakers to approve current Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to continue as head of the government. Georgia has been a candidate for EU membership since last year, but a "foreign influence" law and anti-LGBT measures enacted under Georgian Dream's leadership have stalled that effort. The United States in July announced it would pause more than $95 million in assistance to the Georgian government, warning that it was backsliding on democracy. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza are "not enough." Khamenei told a gathering of the Basij volunteer corps on November 25 that the two Israeli leaders should face the death penalty. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan issued the warrant and judges said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival" as part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza." Israel has called the warrants "absurd." The current war in the Gaza Strip was sparked by an attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. Some 1,200 people died in the attack, with around 240 more taken hostage back to Gaza. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here . Ukraine's military said it struck an oil depot overnight in Russia's western Kaluga region and "a number of important targets" in two other Russian regions after Russia shelled the center of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement on social media that the early morning attacks focused on Bryansk, Kaluga, and Kursk. "There is confirmation of a successful impact of the oil base in the Kaluga region," it said. Vladislav Shapsha, the governor of Kaluga, said on Telegram that eight Ukrainian drones were shot down in the region, with debris from one of the downed drones sparking a fire at an industrial site. The fire has been extinguished, and no casualties were reported, Shapsha said. Unconfirmed reports from the Telegram channels Ostorozhno, novosti , and Baza claim the fire affected a tank at a local oil depot and the Kaluga instrument-making plant Typhoon. Videos allegedly showing the fire at the refinery have surfaced online, though official verification is pending. The attack came as the mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, said at least 15 people were wounded in an attack that targeted residential areas, adding to the series of strikes the city has faced in recent weeks that have caused significant casualties and damage to civil and energy infrastructure. In Ukraine’s southern Mykolayiv region, Russian strikes hit energy infrastructure overnight, regional Governor Vitaliy Kim reported. Engineers managed to restore power to most affected areas, and no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, in the southeastern Zaporizhzhya region, Russian forces launched attacks on industrial facilities using "dozens of drones," according to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. One child was reportedly wounded in these strikes. Sources at the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (HUR) told Ukrayinska pravda that the attack on the Kaluga oil depot was planned by Ukrainian special services. The targeted depot is reportedly linked to Russia’s military operations against Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that on the night of November 25, air-defense systems intercepted and destroyed 23 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions. These included eight drones over Kaluga, seven over Kursk, five over Bryansk, and three over Belgorod, the ministry said. The overnight strikes highlight the growing intensity of Ukraine's efforts to stop Russia's ongoing invasion that Moscow launched in February 2022. The situation continues to evolve as both sides accuse the other of escalating the violence. BUCHAREST -- Pro-Russian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu has won a surprise victory in the first round of EU and NATO member Romania's presidential vote and will face pro-Western center-right candidate Elena Lasconi in the December 8 runoff. Complete preliminary results of the November 24 election showed independent Georgescu -- who has been criticized for his anti-NATO and anti-Semitic statements -- won with 22.94 percent of the vote. Lasconi, a former TV journalist and small-town mayor for the center-right Save Romania Union (USR), trailed in early results reporting, but edged ahead of the initial favorite, leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. With 19.17 percent of the vote, Lasconi advanced by a wafer-thin margin over Ciolacu's 19.15 percent, which prompted Ciolacu to concede and announce his resignation as leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The margin between the two was just 2,742 votes. "I sent a message to Mrs. Lasconi and extended my congratulations," Ciolacu told the media. Ciolacu's third-place finish means that for the first time since 1989, the PSD, the heir to Romania's Communist Party, won't have a candidate in the presidential runoff. Lasconi has yet to declare victory, telling journalists just that "it's been devilishly difficult." Hundreds of pro-Lasconi protesters, mostly students and other young people, demonstrated on the evening of November 25 in downtown Bucharest on University Square in front of the National Theater to show their dissatisfaction with Georgescu. They shouted, "Do not vote for a dictator" as they gathered peacefully, though there was a minor incident with a pro-Georgescu supporter carrying a Bible. Georgescu frequently quoted biblical phrases in his campaign. When the man appeared in front of the demonstrators, they booed him and he started running between cars on the road. Romanian police said he tried to provoke the demonstrators. Police officers intervened to prevent a possible conflict, the police said in a statement. The man tried to flee and was "immobilized and taken to the police station," the statement said. The protest continued without further incident. Some demonstrators expressed surprise that Georgescu came first in the elections. "Like everyone else, I expected this man to take what he had in the polls, somewhere around 5 percent," Alex Zlavog said. "It was a surprise, and I think we have to ask ourselves very serious problems about polling agencies and what happens with these polls." Georgescu thanked his voters, telling them, "Your voice was heard." He also rejected the accusations of extremism and fascism, saying they were "totally false" and he is "completely dedicated to the Romanian people." The runoff will be held a week after the parliamentary elections on December 1 -- a faceoff the media is portraying as a battle between East and West. George Simion of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) had 13.86 percent, a surprisingly low score after many predicted he would advance to the runoff together with Ciolacu. Critics have charged Simion with also being Russian-friendly and, while he wants Romania to remain in NATO, he has also said Bucharest should be neutral. The winner of the second round will succeed the outgoing center-right incumbent, Klaus Iohannis, who is completing his second and final term after a decade in office. Fourteen candidates officially registered in the race, but liberal ex-Prime Minister Ludovic Orban last week announced he was withdrawing and threw his weight behind Lasconi. Election officials put the turnout at just over 52 percent, or about 9.44 million voters casting their ballots. In 2019, total first-round turnout was 51.18 percent. In the second round, it rose to 55.1 percent. Georgescu, an obscure figure who held positions in Romania's Foreign Ministry and at the UN environmental agency UNEP, started as a member of AUR and was twice put forward as a possible prime minister by Simion's party. But Georgescu's anti-Semitic statements made him too radical even for AUR, which eventually broke with him when the authorities opened a criminal investigation on his radical views. However, even without the overt backing of a party, Georgescu performed unexpectedly well both inside the country and in Romania's Western diaspora, where he took more than 43 percent of the vote, ostensibly by using the TikTok social media platform to call for an end to Romania's aid to Ukraine. Under the incumbent Iohannis, Romania has turned into a key ally of Ukraine, not only providing training and military equipment but playing a key role in transporting Ukrainian grain and other agricultural goods to global markets. The 62-year-old, who has been criticized in the Romanian media for his pro-Russian and anti-NATO statements, claimed his shocking victory was a vote for "peace," echoing statements by other pro-Moscow European leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace. And they shouted very loudly, extremely loudly", he said late on November 24. In previous interviews, Georgescu urged closer ties with Moscow, claiming that "Russian wisdom" was Romania's best chance, although he has not publicly backed Russia's war in Ukraine. Asked about Georgescu's upset victory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on November 25 said Russia did not know much about him or his opinions. "I would not make any predictions yet. We probably cannot say that we are that familiar with the world view of this candidate as far as relations with our country are concerned." Lasconi, a former small-town mayor and TV journalist, was the only presidential candidate who opposed the idea of Ukraine giving up land to Russia in a peace deal, saying doing so would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If Ukraine cedes territory, Putin won't stop," she had said. "We need to help Ukraine win this war," she said during the only presidential debate, held last week. She was also the most bullish among the top candidates on NATO, calling for the military alliance to have a greater presence in Romania. Lasconi garnered 56 percent of the Romanian vote in Moldova, where more than 80,000 Romanian passport holders showed up to vote. Moldova was part of Romania before World War II and the countries share a common language and history. Many Moldovans have acquired Romanian citizenship, which gives them the right to travel and work in the West. Some analysts said Georgescu's shock victory was also a result of mounting disillusion with Romania's entrenched political elites among young Romanians, many of whom leave the country because of what they say is a lack of opportunities. Rima, a voter at a Bucharest polling station, told RFE/RL, "There should be more opportunities for young people, so we don't have to leave the country after we graduate from high school or college." "The president should be more open-minded on some topics, especially international ones. That's what I want: to live in a free country where we as young people have a voice," she said, without specifying her candidate. Romania's president has significant decision-making powers, including on matters of national security and foreign policy. Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments. The White House has condemned the killing in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi in an assault that Israel called an anti-Semitic "terrorist attack." "This was a horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence. It was an assault as well on UAE and its rejection of violent extremism across the board," the White House said in a statement on November 24. Hours earlier, U.A.E. authorities said three suspects have been arrested in the killing of a man identified as Zvi Kogan, who worked in the U.A.E. for the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad, which supports Jewish visitors and residents in the country. The victim had been reported missing on November 22. His body was found in the city of Al Ain near the Omani border, but it was not clear where he had been killed. The U.A.E. Interior Ministry did not provide further details on the suspects held in the matter. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denounced the killing of the 28-year-old rabbi, calling it a "heinous anti-Semitic terrorist act." Moldova's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it is "in contact with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates to clarify the circumstances of this case." It gave no further details. According to Reuters, Iran quickly rejected any implication that it was involved in the killing. The Iranian embassy in the UAE "categorically rejects the allegations of Iran’s involvement in the murder of this individual," the news agency quoted the embassy as saying. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) on November 24 said three suspects have been arrested in the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi in an assault that Israel called an anti-Semitic "terrorist attack." The victim, who was reported missing on November 22, was identified as Zvi Kogan, who worked in the U.A.E. for the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad, which supports Jewish visitors and residents in the country. His body was found in the city of Al Ain near the Omani border, but it was not clear where he had been killed. The U.A.E. Interior Ministry did not provide further details on the suspects held in the matter. The first train carrying goods from China to Afghanistan arrived in Mazar-e Sharif on November 23 after crossing through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the de facto Taliban rulers said. The Taliban said 55 containers arrived in Afghanistan after a 22-day journey, marking the inauguration of the first direct train link between China and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The train is expected to take Afghan goods back to China for sale there. Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, no country, including China, has formally recognized the extremist group -- which has been accused of massive rights violations -- but Beijing has attempted to increase ties as part of its economic push in the region, including its Belt and Road initiative. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, click here . Aleksandr Darchiyev is slated soon to be appointed as Russia's ambassador to Washington, the Kommersant newspaper reported on November 24, citing three unidentified sources. Darchiyev, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's North American section, was ambassador to Canada from October 2014 to January 2021. He would succeed Anatoly Antonov, who concluded his term in October. The move would come at a time of high tensions between Washington and Moscow and just ahead of the return of Donald Trump to the presidency on January 20. The United States, under President Joe Biden, has been the top foreign supporter of Ukraine in its battle against Russia's full-scale invasion, while Trump has suggested aid could be curtailed.