By LOLITA C. BALDOR and MATTHEW LEE WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.US Navy boosts EA-18G aircraft with next-gen jammers to disable enemy radars mid-airMore college men embrace GOP as misogynistic displays spike on campus
Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to from other nations. The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economistIsraeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials say
Sports on TV for Friday, Dec. 20In a stunning turn of events, Syrian rebels have ended President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule following a rapid offensive that took the world by surprise. With Damascus and Homs now under rebel control, the region faces a significant shift in power dynamics. President Assad reportedly fled Damascus to an undisclosed location as celebratory crowds took to the streets, chanting 'Freedom' after decades of Assad family rule. The fall is seen as a massive blow to Russia and Iran, who have long supported Assad, losing a strategic ally in the Middle East. The opposition promises a new era while international stakeholders express concerns about potential upheaval. As the rebellion's momentum grows, the world watches closely amid fears of further instability in an already volatile region. (With inputs from agencies.)
More people embracing leaves: ‘What falls in my yard stays in my yard’Trump’s tariffs could bring higher prices for groceries, cars, clothing
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Kochi (Kerala) [India], December 30 (ANI): Kerala Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan informed that Congress MLA Uma Thomas is being monitored after sustaining a head injury during a fall. The Congress MLA fell from the VIP Gallery of JN Stadium in Kochi while attending the Mridanga Naadam, Bharatanatyam Programme. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Woman Gives Birth to Child at Makeshift Hospital in Mahakumbh Nagar (See Pics). "She has sustained a head injury and multiple fractures. She needs to be monitored for the next 24 hours. We are providing all the medical help," Satheesan told ANI on Sunday night. "At the beginning, we thought it was a grave situation," he added. Also Read | Akash Sagar, Social Media Influencer, Will Be Arrested Soon for Chanting 'Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram' Inside Church in East Khasi Hills, Say Meghalaya Police (Watch Video). Kerala Minister P Rajeev informed that Thomas is under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after the fall. The Kerala Minister said that experts from different departments would come and consult with the doctors to decide on the next course of action. Speaking to ANI Rajeev said, "She is under treatment in the ICU. I have discussed this with the CM and the health minister and they will send the medical team. Experts from different departments will come and thereafter they will consult with the doctors here and decide what should be done." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
TIRUCHY: Gone are the days when the streets in the Railway Colony at Ponmalai would brim with love and joy as the members of the Anglo-Indian community would never miss the Christmas festivities but lately their celebrations have been confined to houses as the population has plummeted. “We are heartbroken,” says Hanzel Ross, a visibly shattered retired railway employee gazing at the empty streets. Hanzel’s frustration stems from an overwhelming decline in the number of Anglo-Indians from over 25,000 in Golden Rock and around 15,000 in other parts of Tiruchy to less than 500. Most of the Anglo-Indians were well-off in the past as most of them were employed in railways. The railways had built them quarters which, at present, are in a dilapidated condition. Gradually most of them left the place seeking a good fortune. “Once, music and songs would flow all along the streets but now, it looks pathetic and ghosty,” Hanzel said. Hanzel Ross’s grandfather had worked in the railways during the British period and his father worked post-independence. Hanzel noted how it was easy for them to secure a job in the railways as they had a good command of the English language. “We mingle with locals, but at the same time never compromise with our traditions. Many of us have Dutch or Portuguese roots, and our surnames have been passed down through generations. We were earlier referred to as Euro-Asians. ‘Anglo-Indian’ is a term of convenience,” says Lynda Peppin, a retired teacher. “We are all in touch though the younger generations started migrating abroad in the 1950s. But we ensure we never miss social gatherings, particularly the Christmas festivities. In those days, we used to gather in the Ponmalai Railway Institute. But now, as times changed, we book halls in the city and no one misses any gathering whether it is a birthday celebration or wedding event,” recalled Lynda. “Every family would have at least six children and the entire colony would be filled with children's laughter. During festival times, the place would turn into a carnival. We are a fun-loving community and weekends for us, mean get-togethers, dancing, singing, playing bingo, and fancy dress competitions,” Lynda said. Meanwhile, KC Neelamegam (59), a railway employee whose family lived in the railway colony for three generations said, “I lived in a street where the majority were Anglo-Indians. As children, even if we did small good things, they would appreciate and encourage us.” He further added during Christmas and New Year, the colony would be in a celebratory mood which is missing now. “I still remember them dancing on the wooden floor of the Railway Institute Hall throughout the night. The rhythmic sound from their dance steps is audible even till our houses,” recounts Neelamegam. Because there were many Anglo-Indian teachers in the Railways Mixed Higher Secondary School at Ponmalai, many children acquired the English language efficiently. “For instance, my youngest brother studied in that school. After finishing the catering course, he got a job in the USA and settled there mainly because he got well-versed in English with the help of those teachers,” said Neelamegam. However, gradually, many Anglo-Indians left the Railway Colony due to economic reasons as job opportunities dried up. Doulas Freeman, a retired employee of Golden Rock railway workshop, explains in the past, many Anglo-Indian girls pursued teacher training at Church Park Anglo-Indian Teacher Training School in Chennai and came to work as teachers in Tiruchy. “But now, even in private schools a degree in education is mandatory and so our people went abroad in search of employment as Anglo-Indians are most preferred,” he said, adding that many have obtained good jobs with better pay scales and settled in Australia, UK, USA, and Canada. Dilapidated railway quarters where Anglo-Indians lived in Tiruchy This was one main reason that rendered many households in Ponmalai quiet, pathetic, and ghostly because senior citizens are the only people living here now. Most of their children are abroad and they come to Ponmalai only during festivals, particularly Christmas. Ballroom at railway institute hall, a testimony of their joyful days The Railway Institute Hall in Tiruchy, built by the British in 1897, was considered the hub of Anglo-Indians’ social life in the city, especially towards the end of the year. The community comes together and makes merry during Christmas and New Year celebrations starting on December 23 and ending on January 2. According to senior members, the hall built in the colonial style with high ceilings was initially functioning as a staff recreation club. With arched doorways that open to passages on the side to accommodate large crowds, the stone-floored hall has hosted many social gatherings that involve music and dance. The hall is making a comeback as the railway authorities have been carrying out elaborate refurbishment works. A similar ballroom at Ponmalai railway colony once played a vital role in enhancing the social lives of Anglo-Indians. Music and dance were always part of their social gatherings. The ballroom had a wooden floor to accommodate dancing couples who would remain enticed in feet tapping sounds. However, the wooden floors have been replaced with stone floors now. “During the weekends and special occasions, the ballroom used to be filled with the community members whose celebrations span from dusk to dawn,” recalls J Benjamin (71), an auditor, whose family lived in the railway colony for three generations. The building has been renovated for other purposes. There is a library now and it has also become a meeting place for retired people now. Benjamin, a non-Anglo Indian, recalled that Anglo-Indians were very particular about their dress code, behaviour and attitudes. However, over time, the Anglo-Indian women started wearing sarees and have also started speaking in Tamil. The interracial marriages have rendered the community more ethnically diverse than before. Renovated 127-year-old ballroom near Tiruchy junction Speaking on how they were open to adapting different cultural practices, he said, “Many women started wearing saree, bindi, and mangalsutra. They even draw ‘kolams’, light kuthuvilakku (lamps) during celebrations, and even light small lamps for the Karthigai Deepam festival,” Benjamin said. Once experts in sports, now nowhere near railway ground The railway ground which is the centre of attraction in Ponmalai railway colony was once dominated by the Anglo-Indian community members as they excelled in the games like cricket, hockey, and football and even bagged several cups and trophies in national-level tournaments. “The non-Anglo-Indian people were just spectators,” recalls KC Neelamegam (59), a railway employee and environmentalist. Neelamegam, whose family has been residing in the railway colony for three generations, said that he would sit in the distance and watch how the Anglo-Indians played. “We used to admire their expertise and see how they move around. Every year, they bring laurels to Ponmalai and they used to tour across the country participating in tournaments,” he said. He pointed out that in a positive and healthy development, the youth from the Anglo-Indian community eventually started mingling with other youth and taught them sports. “Gradually the scenario changed and many non-Anglo-Indian youths ventured into the railway ground and various teams playing for Ponmalai railway colony,” he said. Railway ground in Ponmalai railway colony “In the past, the ground used to be filled with Anglo-Indian youth. But now only handpicked Anglo-Indians are in the sports as the population shrank due to migration abroad,” he explained.
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The United States has said it is the country's long-standing policy to deny support to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme, calling Pakistan an "important partner" that shares the US commitment to maintaining the global nonproliferation regime. The US statement came hours after Pakistan's forceful response in reaction to the State Department's December 18 announcement of additional sanctions on entities contributing to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme. Earlier today, Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Islamabad's conduct raised "real questions" about its intentions, saying nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets outside of South Asia, including the United States. "Candidly, it's hard for us to see Pakistan's actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States," Finer said in a speech to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Earlier today, the US reiterated that it would continue to use sanctions and other tools to protect its national security. "The US is committed to maintaining the global non-proliferation regime and Pakistan is an important partner in that. However, we have been clear and consistent about our concerns about Pakistan's long-range, ballistic missile programme," Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department said, addressing a weekly press briefing on Thursday. "It is long-standing US policy to deny support to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme. The Department of State will continue to use sanctions and other tools to protect our national security and ensure that US exporters and US financial systems cannot be abused by proliferators." The spokesperson said that the US hoped to continue to engage constructively with the Pakistani government on these issues. Replying to a question, Patel said that the US had concerns regarding Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme, but they don't affect great deal of other bilateral areas of cooperation. The US State Department said on December 18 that it was imposing additional sanctions related to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, targeting four entities that it said were contributing to the proliferation or delivery of such weapons. The statement, issued on the State Department's website, said that the decision was taken “in light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development”. It added that the four entities were being designated for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382, which targeted proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. "Pakistan’s National Development Complex – which is responsible for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program and has worked to acquire items to advance Pakistan’s long range ballistic missile program – and Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise – which have worked to supply equipment and missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long range missile program – are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 Section 1(a)(ii) for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use such items, by Pakistan," read the statement. However, Islamabad reacted strongly to the development, terming the the decision as "biased" and stressing that the step from the US has "dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond". "Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries. Such policies have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement. The Foreign Office stressed that the county's strategic programme is a sacred trust bestowed by 240 million people upon its leadership, adding that the sanctity of this trust, held in the highest esteem across the entire political spectrum, cannot be compromised. In September this year, Washington targeted five entities and one individual with sanctions, which were involved in the expansion of ballistic missiles and controlling missile equipment and technology to Pakistan. Similarly, the US — in October 2023 — imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan. The sanctions also affected China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co. Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national were sanctioned for knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions.London’s Metropolitan Police used facial recognition technology to make 540 arrests in 2024 for offences ranging from shoplifting to rape. LONDON - London’s Metropolitan Police force said on Dec 6 that it had used facial recognition technology to make more than 500 arrests in 2024 for offences ranging from shoplifting to rape. The force uses live facial recognition in specific areas of the UK capital, positioning a van equipped with cameras in a pre-agreed location. The cameras capture live footage of passers-by and compare their faces against a pre-approved watchlist, generating an alert if a match is detected. Civil liberties campaigners have criticised the use of such technology, and advocacy group Big Brother Watch has launched legal action to stop its expansion. “The technology works by creating a ‘faceprint’ of everyone who passes in front of camera – processing biometric data as sensitive as a fingerprint, often without our knowledge or consent,” the group says on is website. “This dangerously authoritarian surveillance is a threat to our privacy and freedoms - it has no place on the streets of Britain,” it adds. The Met says it is a “forerunner” in using the technology, adding that it helps “make London safer” by helping detect “offenders who pose significant risks to our communities”. Of the 540 arrests, more then 50 were for serious offences involving violence against women and girls, including offences such as strangulation, stalking, domestic abuse and rape. More than 400 of those arrested have already been charged or cautioned. “This technology is helping us protect our communities from harm,” said Ms Lindsey Chiswick, the Met’s director of performance. “It is a powerful tool that supports officers to identify and focus on people who present the highest risk that may otherwise have gone undetected,” she added. Responding to privacy fears, police said that the biometric data of any passer-by not on a watchlist is “immediately and permanently deleted”. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
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