slot game big win
WASHINGTON — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Foldable smartphones have become one of the most exciting innovations in the mobile market. Offering the best of both worlds— smartphones and tablets—these devices provide larger screens without compromising portability. As the holiday season approaches, major brands are rolling out impressive deals on foldable phones, making this the perfect time to upgrade. This article explores the best holiday deals on foldable smartphones and gives insights on how to get the most value during the festive season. In the last few years, a number of top-of-the-line foldable smartphones have been released. Samsung and Motorola have led the charge. These foldable devices are known for their advanced technology and sleek designs, making them versatile for work and play. With discounts and holiday offers now available, high-end foldable smartphones are more affordable than ever. The most popular models are the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which are known for their smooth folding displays, high-performance specs, and durability. Motorola also creates waves in the foldable market with the Motorola Razr+, which combines nostalgia with modern functionality. Samsung is still the market leader in foldable smartphones, and its sales during the holiday season offer great discounts on its flagship. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is sure to find a place in holiday deals as retailers provide tremendous price cuts. In the form of bundle offers with Galaxy Buds or wireless chargers, deals are expected. Another hot item of the season is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, especially for all those seeking a more compact foldable smartphone. Many deals include holiday sales with trade-ins that let the customers save even further by trading in older devices; some retailers also offer finance options to make these expensive foldable devices more affordable during the holiday shopping period. Usually, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best places for the best deals; however, other discounts also follow through the entire holiday season. One can look on Amazon, Best Buy, or on the official website of Samsung not to miss any limited-time offers. Motorola has recalled its foldable Razr series. The Motorola Razr+ is one of the best-selling foldable devices, and it will sell during the holiday season with very strong deals. The razor-sharp clamshell design makes this device a great option for users who want an even smaller foldable without sacrificing high-end feature sets. Holiday offers on Motorola foldable phones come with trade-in promotions where a customer can exchange their old smartphone for a huge discount. The carriers, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile also bundle these devices with service plans for their customers to save even more. Holiday offers from Motorola often come with free accessories such as cases or extended warranties, which make the offer even more attractive. Other companies do not lag behind though; firms like Huawei and Google have been gradually coming in with their foldable units to the market. Since the company has to share the pie with other dominant firms in the market, it will be forced to come with holiday season promotions. Google Pixel Fold would also be an option for consumers since buyers will want to acquire foldable Android smartphones. End. Other than this, stores also have flash sales or discounted deals on lesser-known brands of foldable phones ; hence, it is wise to monitor e-commerce companies such as Amazon or retailers selling imported devices. For this reason, the holiday season is the best time to buy foldable smartphones since the leading foldable smartphone brands are offering discount offers. This is the perfect chance to have it for this holiday season, being more affordable with the latest foldable technology, whether it's either the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, or Motorola Razr+. Look out for large sales events, use trade-in offers, and take advantage of holiday bundles for a better value on your purchase.OTTAWA—NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday his party won’t support the Trudeau government’s unless the Liberals put a proposal to pause the GST in a separate bill and expand the number of Canadians who would be eligible to receive $250 cheques. But as he said he wanted Canadians to get an immediate “GST holiday,” the New Democrats leader also made an ultimatum that puts at risk Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s GST plan, a proposal that would pause the federal tax on a number of items including grocery and holiday essentials. Canadians repeatedly tell pollsters that the high cost of living is a top priority, and Justin “If they want New Democrat support, first, put the GST holiday separate, and let’s get that done right away, so people get that GST holiday right away, and then fix the cheques to include seniors and people living with disabilities and people that weren’t able to work in 2023,” he told reporters in Ottawa following a town hall event with the Canadian Labour Congress. “We will not support what they presented with putting it together.” Last week, the government introduced a $6.3-billion plan to cut the federal GST on a long list of items from Dec. 14 to Feb. 15 and also send one-time $250 cheques in April to 18.7 million Canadians who worked and made under $150,000 last year. That tax cut would cover pre-made meals, salads and snacks, children’s toys, clothes, car seats, Christmas trees, beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks, as well as restaurants meals. But the Liberals must now find another party willing to break a weeks-long and support the legislation to pass those measures. Although the NDP — which a week before presented its own plan for on several “essential” items — initially signalled its support, both the New Democrats and the Bloc Québécois that eligibility for the cheques be expanded. On Monday, Singh said the cash handouts should include seniors and people with disabilities, while Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet described the cheques as a crude move to win votes and said those “who have actually worked all their lives” must be included. They were joined by Liberal MP Chad Collins who said he was not the only Liberal to feel that way. Singh upped the stakes on Tuesday, saying he wants to see the GST relief measures in separate legislation first, and reiterated his calls for the Liberals to “fix” eligibility for the cheques. He said his party “is not prepared to pause” the debate that has paralyzed the House of Commons unless the Liberals meet their demands. For more than a month now, government legislation and most parliamentary business has been halted as MPs debate a “privilege motion” over the federal government’s refusal to hand over documents related to a green fund scandal. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on Tuesday his party would decide its stance on the Liberals’ plan on Wednesday, but suggested Conservatives would not support it. “With our GDP collapsing, with half a trillion dollars pouring out of our country, and with Canadians lined up at food banks, our priority is not to save you 10 cents on a bag of potato chips right before quadrupling the carbon tax on your heat, housing, gas and groceries,” Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland did not answer reporters’ questions about whether the government was willing to expand eligibility for the cheques on Tuesday.
Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing
Foldable Smartphone Deals: Best Holiday Discounts on Samsung, Motorola, and MoreNYPD captain under investigation over fracas with another commander over credit for gun bust
Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace are heading in right direction after Ipswich winNigerians across ethnic and religious divides, at home and in the diaspora, have nominated the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, for the ‘Governor of the Year’ category in the ThisDay Awards 2024. This year’s edition of the yearly awards, organised by the ThisDay/Arise Group Board of Editors, and tagged ‘When the Going Gets Tough... the Tough Get Rewarded!’, will be held on January 22, 2025. According to the organisers, the ‘Governor of the Year Award’ would be won by the Governor who combines vision, passion, dedication and courage to make the lives of the people of his state better. Leading the nomination of Obaseki as ‘Governor of the Year’ is the immediate past Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology in Edo State, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-isibor, who said in his eight years of leadership of Edo, Obaseki’s milestone achievements in education, healthcare, innovation, tourism, agriculture, pension, city planning, security, science, civil service and corporate governance are laudable footprints that will stand the test of time. He said, “His landmark achievements in the creation of the Edo State Tier-3 Data Centre, which facilitated digital services management for government agencies, the deployment of Health Information Management System, Electronic Health Records and Telemedicine Services, helped to streamline healthcare delivery, improve patient management and extend healthcare access to rural communities.” Ifaluyi-isibor described Obaseki as a man of vision with passion for excellence and unequalled zeal to impact the lives of his people. The former Edo State commissioner added, “Obaseki’s eight years leadership in Edo was outstanding. He not only utilised his experiences in the private sector to the benefit of the state, he also ensured that no one was left behind during his tenure in office by providing key infrastructure that added great value to the lives of the people of the state.” Ifaluyi-isibor stressed that he was not surprised at Obaseki’s achievements in office because of his track record of excellence, saying he found him fit for the ‘Governor of the Year’ award and urged him to continue to find other ways to make life better for his people. In nominating Obaseki for the award, an international journalist in the United Kingdom, Mayozi John, said since 1999 Obaseki is the best governor Edo State has produced, noting that in all ramifications he stood out. “In all sectors, his presence was felt and is still being felt, even by thousands of Nigerians in the diaspora”, he said. John, who spoke to journalists on his visit to Nigeria for the Christmas holiday, said across the streets of the United States, the UK and across Europe, many sing his (Obaseki) praises after they must have visited Nigeria and visited Edo State. “Many Nigerians plan to hold a solidarity protest for Obaseki in the United States as soon as Donald Trump is sworn in as President in January 2025.” He added, “Obaseki’s tenure as Edo governor will continue to inspire and serve as a reference point for future leaders of the state.” John said it would take an extraordinary human being like Obaseki to best his own records, adding that the extraordinary person is yet to arrive the scene. According to him, “The digitisation and reforms of the pension management with the Edo State Pension Management System and an online pension portal are laudable projects that continue to attract local and global accolades. “The Smart City Initiative and investments in fibre optic infrastructure enabled high-speed Internet access across the state, laying the foundation for further digital services and urban planning within the state. “The EdoBEST programme helped to revolutionise primary and junior secondary education by integrating technology into teaching and learning processes. “Other key categories in the award include ‘Titans of The Year’ for the men and women who, through their vision, action, guts and courage made a lasting impact on Nigeria, and ‘Man of the Year’ for the man who significantly influenced major events that defined the outgoing year, 2024”.
OTTAWA - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says while he supports the Liberal plan to give Canadians a GST break during the holidays, he won’t back the $250 rebate proposal unless the government expands eligibility to the most vulnerable. The Liberals announced a plan last week to cut the federal sales tax on a raft of items such as toys and restaurant meals for two months, and to give $250 to more than 18.7 million Canadians in the spring. Speaking after a Canadian Labour Congress event in Ottawa, Singh said he’s open to passing the GST legislation, but the rebate needs to include seniors, students, people who are on disability benefits and those who were not able to work last year. Singh said he initially supported the idea because he thought the rebate cheques would go to anyone who earned under $150,000 last year. But the so-called working Canadians rebate will be sent to those who had an income, leaving out people Singh said need the help. A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said it would be “categorically false” to say seniors and people with disabilities are excluded from the rebate. “In order to qualify, you just need to have made less than $150,000 in net income in 2023 and meet one of the three following criteria: received EI benefits, paid EI premiums or made CPP contributions,” press secretary Katherine Cuplinskas said in a statement. “Many, many seniors and Canadians with disabilities work.” The government intends to include the measures in the fall economic statement, which has not yet been introduced in the House of Commons. The proposed GST holiday would begin in mid-December, lasting for two months. It would remove the GST on prepared foods at grocery stores, some alcoholic drinks, children’s clothes and toys, Christmas trees, restaurant meals, books, video games and physical newspapers. A privilege debate has held up all government business in the House since late September, with the Conservatives pledging to continue a filibuster until the government hands over unredacted documents related to misspending at a green technology fund. The NDP said last week they had agreed to pause the privilege debate to pass the legislation to usher in the GST holiday. Singh said Tuesday that unless there are changes to the proposed legislation, he will not support pausing the debate. The Bloc Québécois is also pushing for the rebates to be sent to seniors and retirees. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024.
Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has also resigned as vice-president of the animal welfare organisation, with both of them expressing their “sadness” over leaving the roles. It comes after an Animal Rising investigation made claims of cruelty at “RSPCA Assured” slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, with the campaign group sharing footage of alleged mistreatment. RSPCA Assured is a scheme whereby approved farms must comply with the organisation’s “stringent higher welfare standards”, according to its website. Mr Packham shared the news of his resignation on social media, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that I have resigned from my role as president of the RSPCA. “I would like to register my respect and admiration for all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty.” Ms Lucas said she and Mr Packham failed to get the charity’s leadership to act. She posted on X, formerly Twitter: “With huge sadness I’m resigning as VP of the RSPCA, a role I’ve held with pride for over 15 years. “But their Assured Schemes risk misleading the public & legitimising cruelty. “I tried with @ChrisGPackham to persuade the leadership to act but sadly failed.” In June, the RSPCA commissioned an independent review of 200 farms on its assurance scheme which concluded the scheme was “operating effectively” to assure animal welfare on member farms. Following Animal Rising’s release of footage last week, the charity said it was “appalled” by what was shown, adding that it launched an immediate investigation and suspended three slaughterhouses from the scheme. In the wake of Mr Packham and Ms Lucas’ resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it is “simply not true” that the organisation has failed to take urgent action. They said: “We agree with Chris and Caroline on so many issues and have achieved so much together for animals, but we differ on how best to address the incredibly complex and difficult issue of farmed animal welfare. “We have discussed our work to drive up farmed animal welfare standards openly at length with them on many occasions and it is simply not true that we have not taken urgent action. “We took allegations of poor welfare incredibly seriously, launching an independent review of 200 farms which concluded that it was ‘operating effectively’ to improve animal welfare. “We are taking strong steps to improve oversight of welfare, implementing the recommendations in full including significantly increasing unannounced visits, and exploring technology such as body-worn cameras and CCTV, supported by £2 million of investment.” The charity insisted that while 94% of people continue to choose to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy, it is the “right thing to do” to work with farmers to improve the lives of animals. “RSPCA Assured visit all farms on the scheme every year, but last year just 3% of farms were assessed for animal welfare by state bodies,” the spokesperson continued. “No-one else is doing this work. We are the only organisation setting and regularly monitoring animal welfare standards on farms. “We have pioneered change through RSPCA Assured, which has led to improvements throughout the industry including CCTV in slaughterhouses, banning barren battery cages for hens and sow stalls for pigs, giving salmon more space to swim and developing slower growing chicken breeds who have better quality of life.”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
Labour Party disassociates self from Interim Executive Committee
What both sides are saying about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's HezbollahTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2024 / Seventy Ninth Resources Limited ("Seventy Ninth"), a Gibraltar-based resource exploration firm focused on acquiring and developing undervalued land assets globally, has completed its first reconnaissance trip to the McKellar copper-zinc project and Enable gold project in Ontario, Canada. Highlights: Will Slater, Chief Geologist of Seventy Ninth Resources said, "The reconnaissance program at both McKellar and Enable has been very encouraging, identifying multiple promising areas of interest and follow-up targets at both projects. We have successfully defined key priority zones and put into place clear, next steps to advance both projects." "At McKellar, sampling was focused around areas of historical small-scale mining where previous sampling returned grades of 32.3% zinc and 678g/t silver. The geological setting and historical sampling indicate that McKellar is prospective for Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") style base metal mineralization," Slater added. "At Enable, a geological contact zone between granite and metavolcanics/metasediments was sampled along strike from previous areas, which returned grades including 7.04 g/t, 5.25 g/t and 2.04 g/t gold. The program covered approximately 1 km of the 5 km long contact zone." Natalie Bellis, CEO of Seventy Ninth Resources said, "We are excited by our initial visit to Enable and McKellar projects and we look forward to receiving the assay results shortly. The visit to the area also gave us the opportunity to introduce the Company to members of the First Nation communities who are key stakeholders on these projects. We look forward to developing these relationships into strong long-term partnerships as the projects become more advanced." McKellar Location McKellar is a 12.5 sq km base metal project located in Ontario, Canada. The project is situated immediately north of the Trans Canada Highway, approximately 25 km west of Marathon. The project is located 55 km west of Barrick's Hemlo gold mine and 25 km west of Generation Mining's Marathon Deposit (palladium and copper). Mineralization hosted on these mines and projects is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted at McKellar. Access to the project is via helicopter, however during the recent reconnaissance, tracks suitable for All Terrain Vehicles ("ATV's") were identified close to priority targets. McKellar Project Geology and Mineralization The McKellar project is situated in the Schreiber-Hemlo greenstone belt and is prospective for VMS style base metals mineralization. The project's geology is interbedded felsic and mafic metavolcanics and metasediments located in the hinge zone of a fold. The project is host to numerous historical small-scale workings which are believed to be targeting silver mineralization. Enable Location Enable is an 8.7 sq km gold project located in Ontario, Canada. The project is situated just north of Terrace Bay town and it easily accessible by numerous vehicle tracks across the project. The project is located 85 km west of Barrick's Hemlo gold mine and 55 km west of Generation Mining's Marathon Deposit (palladium and copper). Mineralization hosted on these mines and projects is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted at Enable. Enable Project Geology and Mineralization The Enable project is situated in the Schreiber-Hemlo greenstone belt and is prospective for gold mineralization. The project sits at the contact between a granitic igneous intrusion and metavolcanics/metasediments. Historical sampling close to the contact zone has identified high grade gold rock chip samples including 7.04 g/t Au and 5.25 g/t Au. Figure 1: Project Location Map Figure 2: McKellar Project Figure 3: Enable Project Figure 4: Photos For further information please visit the Company's website https://79thresources.com/ . For Further Information Contact: Seventy Ninth Resources Ltd Natalie Bellis, CEO info@79thresources.com Investor and Media Relations Ira M. Gostin mining@allianceadvisors.com About Seventy Ninth Resources Limited Seventy Ninth Resources holds a unique and advantageous position in the natural resources sector, specialising in the acquisition, management, and development of desirable assets leveraging the group's global footprint to seek out new opportunities. The Company follows a Project Generator model, whereby it identifies high‐quality exploration projects diversified by commodity and jurisdiction, acquires these projects at a low cost and creates value through early-stage exploration, focusing on the most prospective projects, dropping licences that are unlikely to attract a partner. The next stage is to sell or JV these projects with reputable partners generating royalties as part of the transaction alongside potential milestone cash payments and equity. The partner funds exploration through feasibility, construction, and into production, providing long-term exposure to highly prospective ground. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is at the heart of everything Seventy Ninth Resources does in the communities in which it operates. Discover more at www.79thresources.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information included in this announcement, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of the Directors or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programmes on schedule and the success of exploration programmes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this announcement and the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or any forward-looking statements contained in any other announcements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law or regulations. SOURCE: Seventy Ninth Resources View the original on accesswire.com
Congress faces government funding deadline after ThanksgivingPM Modi meets Indian expats at labour camp in KuwaitWildlife TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham has resigned as president of the RSPCA after an investigation made allegations of animal cruelty at some of the charity’s approved abattoirs. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has also resigned as vice-president of the animal welfare organisation, with both of them expressing their “sadness” over leaving the roles. It comes after an Animal Rising investigation made claims of cruelty at “RSPCA Assured” slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, with the campaign group sharing footage of alleged mistreatment. RSPCA Assured is a scheme whereby approved farms must comply with the organisation’s “stringent higher welfare standards”, according to its website. Mr Packham shared the news of his resignation on social media, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that I have resigned from my role as president of the RSPCA. “I would like to register my respect and admiration for all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty.” Ms Lucas said she and Mr Packham failed to get the charity’s leadership to act. She posted on X, formerly Twitter: “With huge sadness I’m resigning as VP of the RSPCA, a role I’ve held with pride for over 15 years. “But their Assured Schemes risk misleading the public & legitimising cruelty. “I tried with @ChrisGPackham to persuade the leadership to act but sadly failed.” In June, the RSPCA commissioned an independent review of 200 farms on its assurance scheme which concluded the scheme was “operating effectively” to assure animal welfare on member farms. Following Animal Rising’s release of footage last week, the charity said it was “appalled” by what was shown, adding that it launched an immediate investigation and suspended three slaughterhouses from the scheme. In the wake of Mr Packham and Ms Lucas’ resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it is “simply not true” that the organisation has failed to take urgent action. They said: “We agree with Chris and Caroline on so many issues and have achieved so much together for animals, but we differ on how best to address the incredibly complex and difficult issue of farmed animal welfare. “We have discussed our work to drive up farmed animal welfare standards openly at length with them on many occasions and it is simply not true that we have not taken urgent action. “We took allegations of poor welfare incredibly seriously, launching an independent review of 200 farms which concluded that it was ‘operating effectively’ to improve animal welfare. “We are taking strong steps to improve oversight of welfare, implementing the recommendations in full including significantly increasing unannounced visits, and exploring technology such as body-worn cameras and CCTV, supported by £2 million of investment.” The charity insisted that while 94% of people continue to choose to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy, it is the “right thing to do” to work with farmers to improve the lives of animals. “RSPCA Assured visit all farms on the scheme every year, but last year just 3% of farms were assessed for animal welfare by state bodies,” the spokesperson continued. “No-one else is doing this work. We are the only organisation setting and regularly monitoring animal welfare standards on farms. “We have pioneered change through RSPCA Assured, which has led to improvements throughout the industry including CCTV in slaughterhouses, banning barren battery cages for hens and sow stalls for pigs, giving salmon more space to swim and developing slower growing chicken breeds who have better quality of life.”
Washington, Dec 28 (AP) The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, US officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. Also Read | US Embassy in India Scripts Record, Issues 1 Million Visas for Second Consecutive Year. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine's power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Also Read | Brazil Bridge Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 9, With 8 Other People Unaccounted For. Earlier this month, senior defence officials acknowledged that that the Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many US and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won't provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine's hand, should Zelenskyy decide it's time to negotiate. One senior defence official said while the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the US has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)