The sudden fall of Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad has rattled Moscow, warn Russian analysts, particularly psychologically. The Kremlin’s 2015 military intervention in Syria was Moscow’s first such post-Soviet operation outside its own region. Its perceived success drove a lot of Russia’s subsequent diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Now it has come crashing down. The Kremlin will need to absorb the likely loss of two military bases in Syria, and accept the devastating setback it means for another ally, Iran. But this is far from the first time Moscow has faced a debacle in its Mideast relations. Soviet-sponsored Syria lost two wars with Israel in 1967 and 1973, necessitating replacement of its military arsenal. Egypt canceled a treaty of friendship with the USSR in 1971, and kicked all Soviet advisers out of the country. Moscow’s disastrous war in Afghanistan in the 1980s poisoned its relations with the Muslim world. “We’ve got a long history of dealing with these countries, and we’re quite accustomed to seeing them defeated militarily,” says Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser. “So, the mood in Moscow [over the loss of Syria] is calm enough. It’s a bad setback, but we can get past this.” The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, which Moscow had helped to prop up for almost a decade, has dealt a serious setback to Russia’s global ambitions. But Russian foreign policy specialists insist it’s not a ruinous one. As they grapple with the rapid demise of Mr. Assad’s rule, Russian analysts say that the Kremlin will need to adjust to the shifting balance of power in the Middle East. That includes absorbing the likely loss of Russia’s two military bases in Syria, and accepting what analysts call the crushing defeat of Kremlin ally Iran. The psychological blow to Russia is also serious, they warn. The Kremlin’s 2015 military intervention in Syria was Moscow’s first such post-Soviet operation outside its own region. Its perceived success drove a lot of Russia’s subsequent diplomatic efforts in the Mideast, as well as its recent inroads into Africa . Igor Korotchenko, editor of National Defense, a Moscow-based security journal, says he’s still cautiously optimistic that Russian global influence can survive the loss of Syria, and perhaps the Kremlin can even forge a practical relationship with any new Syrian regime that emerges. “Let’s wait and see how things play out,” he says. “Russia is still a player in the region, maintaining good relations with countries like the UAE, Egypt, and Qatar. We never put our stakes on one person, and we have sufficient resources to pursue our goals” without a foothold in Syria. For now, the victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces have not touched the Russian Embassy or military installations – Iran’s Embassy in Damascus was trashed on the first day – even though Mr. Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Moscow was in contact with the new Syrian authorities in an effort to safeguard Russian assets. “We need to base our actions on the realities that exist at this moment on the ground,” he said. Russia reached out to the Taliban after the United States’ failure in Afghanistan, canceling its “terrorist” designation and discussing a broader normalization of relations; experts say Moscow may wish to make a similar outreach to HTS. But it will be much harder given Russia’s staunch backing of Mr. Assad and its armed efforts to suppress the Syrian opposition over the past decade. Whatever may happen, the blame game is already in full swing in the Russian media. Some are pointing at Turkey, which allegedly sidestepped the Astana peace process and went behind Russia’s back to sponsor the HTS rebel offensive that overran Damascus last weekend. Others say Israel’s successful war against major backers like Iran and Hezbollah made Mr. Assad’s fall inevitable, even though Moscow kept providing air support to the bitter end. Some accuse Mr. Assad himself of self-isolating and refusing all attempts to find a broader social compromise. “Assad didn’t take Russian advice,” says Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser. “He was told many times that he needed to initiate some real political reforms, include members of the opposition in government, reconcile with Turkey, and curb the excesses of his security forces. He didn’t listen. “So, Assad was already distanced from Russia. At the end, he was taking advice from Iran and his own family, not from us,” he says. Despite the Putin-era aura of success, this is far from the first time Moscow has faced a debacle in its Middle East relations. Soviet-sponsored Syria lost two wars with Israel in 1967 and 1973, necessitating replacement of its military arsenal. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat canceled a treaty of friendship with the USSR in 1971, and kicked all Soviet advisers out of the country. Moscow’s disastrous war in Afghanistan in the 1980s poisoned its relations with the Muslim world, and even contributed to the collapse of the Soviet state. “We’ve got a long history of dealing with these countries, and we’re quite accustomed to seeing them defeated militarily,” says Mr. Markov. “So, the mood in Moscow [over the loss of Syria] is calm enough. It’s a bad setback, but we can get past this.” Unlike the former Soviet Union, which based its foreign policy on ideological calculations, Vladimir Putin’s Russia tends to take a pragmatic and transactional approach, seeking advantage where it can, says Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia in Global Affairs, a Moscow-based foreign policy journal. “The Middle East is a region where you can’t expect any lasting success,” he says. “The big loser in this turn of events is Iran, and the winners are Israel and Turkey.” As for Russian relations with Ankara, he says, “Of course Moscow is angry, because the Turks knew about the HTS offensive and didn’t say a word to us about it. But that’s how Russian-Turkish relations work in general: A very low level of trust, but we try to find common ground and work together where we can.” Moscow’s formerly good relations with Israel will grow even worse with the implosion of Russian military power in Syria. “Israel is becoming much stronger as a regional power,” says Mr. Markov. “Russia needs to think about how to deal with Israel in these new conditions, where it is a clear winner.” Mr. Lukyanov argues that the fall of Mr. Assad illustrates a completely new trend in world affairs, in which regional players take the lead and the influence of their great-power sponsors diminishes. The main actors in the Syrian drama are relatively independent ones, including Israel, Turkey, Iran, and even HTS. The U.S. and Russia are still on the stage, but are not driving events and, Mr. Lukyanov says, are increasingly irrelevant. “It’s a seismic shift, in which outside powers are steadily losing influence and local actors are taking the lead,” he says. “Russian capacities are shrinking, but so are American ones. In future, regional powers will be the most important players, formulating their priorities in a regional way.” Russia already made the choice to put its own local interests first, declining to divert any resources from its war in Ukraine to help Mr. Assad. “Moscow needs to think about the implications of this,” Mr. Lukyanov says. “Maybe the race for global influence is obsolete, and Russia needs to reformulate its ambitions in terms of being an effective regional power.”Stock market today: Wall Street gets back to climbing, and the Nasdaq tops 20,000
The Washington Commanders are in prime position for a spot in the NFC playoffs this season, and they're looking to get back into the win column after last week's shocking loss to the Dallas Cowboys, their third consecutive loss this season. The Commanders will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but they'll do so without one player who they used a first-round pick to select in the 2023 NFL Draft. According to CBS Sports NFL reporter Jonathan Jones , the Commanders have elected to waive cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. less than two seasons into his tenure with the team. The Commanders took Forbes with the 16th overall pick last year. He was considered one of the best defensive backs in the NFL Draft last year due to his career at Mississippi State. Forbes was a former All-American and All-SEC honoree, but he struggled heavily in each of his first two NFL seasons. Washington had one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL last year, and Forbes was benched after a particularly poor performance against Chicago Bears receiver D.J. Moore. This season, Forbes missed a few games near the start of the year due to a torn ligament in his thumb, but he failed to make an impact after his return to the active roster. The Commanders made a midseason trade for former Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore this season, putting Forbes further down an already crowded secondary depth chart. Rich Storry/Getty Images Now, it appears that the Commanders have decided to part ways with Forbes after his numerous early career struggles. The Commanders will look to move to 8-5 this week as they try to keep pace with the rest of the NFC. As things currently stand, the Commanders would be the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, setting up another game against the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles. Other teams around the playoff line in the NFC include the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams. We'll see where Forbes ends up after being released by the Commanders, and if Washington can end their three-game losing streak against the Tennessee Titans at home on Sunday. Related: Tom Brady Loses Throwing Competition To High School QuarterbackBoston, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gordon Brothers , the global asset experts, announced store closing sales are underway at 692 Party City locations nationwide. The party store retailer is offering up to 50% off the original ticketed price on all merchandise. These sales provide a final opportunity for shoppers to take advantage of massive savings on top of Party City’s everyday low prices on everything needed for birthday and theme parties, the holidays and New Year’s Eve, wedding receptions, retirement parties, costumes and more. “Customers are encouraged to shop early and stock up for upcoming celebrations while supplies last,” said Durien Sanchez, Managing Director, Retail at Gordon Brothers . “Stores are fully stocked, and, with the announcement of these sales, top categories are expected to sell out fast.” The discounts will apply at retail stores. All sales are final during the store closing event. To locate the nearest store visit Party City's website . Party City Holdco Inc. recently announced plans to commence a wind down of its retail and wholesale operations following exhaustive efforts to find a path forward that would allow the company to remain operating. For nearly 40 years, Party City has served as the go-to one-stop-shop for all things celebration, offering a wide selection of merchandise to help customers mark life’s special moments and milestones. About Party City Holdco Inc. Party City is a global leader in the celebrations industry, delivering joy and inspiration to customers across more than 70 countries. As North America’s largest party goods retailer, Party City is the go-to shopping destination for every type of celebration, offering an extensive and innovative selection of products at exceptional value. The company has approximately 700 company-owned and franchise store locations across North America and sells online to consumers at www.partycity.com . The company also operates Amscan, a premier designer, manufacturer, and distributor of celebration products including décor, tableware, costumes, and accessories. Headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, N.J., with additional locations in the Americas and Asia, Party City is committed to helping customers create unforgettable moments for every occasion. About Gordon Brothers Since 1903, Gordon Brothers has maximized liquidity through realizable asset value by providing the people, expertise and capital to solve business challenges. Our solutions-oriented approach across asset services, lending, financing and trading gives clients the insights, strategies and time to optimize asset values throughout the business cycle. We work across the full spectrum of assets globally with deep expertise in retail, commercial, industrial, brands and real estate. We are headquartered in Boston with over 30 offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific.American and European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday after inflation data cemented expectations that the US Federal Reserve will trim interest rates next month. While the Dow fell slightly, the other two major US indices advanced, led by the tech-rich Nasdaq, which piled on almost two percent to close above 20,000 points for the first time. The consumer price index (CPI) rose to 2.7 percent last month from a year ago, up slightly from 2.6 percent in October. "With the CPI numbers broadly in line, it is likely that the Fed will not be derailed and will cut rates again next week," Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. "The data is not a showstopper for the current bull run on Wall Street," he added. Ahead of the data, investors priced in an 86 percent chance the Fed will cut interest rates next week by a quarter percentage point. That rose to more than 98 percent after the CPI data was published. Stocks in Paris and Frankfurt rose ahead of the European Central Bank's own interest rate announcement on Thursday, with analysts expecting another cut as it seeks to boost eurozone growth. Investors are also eyeing political developments in France, where officials said President Emmanuel Macron aims to name a new prime minister "within 48 hours" as he seeks to end political deadlock following the ouster of Michel Barnier. In company news, shares in German retail giant Zalando shed more than four percent on Frankfurt's DAX index, after it acquired domestic rival About You in a deal worth around 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). Shares in Zara owner Inditex slid more than six percent after a record quarterly profit for the group fell short of market estimates. Among US companies, Google parent Alphabet earned 5.5 percent as it announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date. That added to gains after Google also announced Tuesday details of a breakthrough quantum chip. Shares in Shanghai rose but Hong Kong gave up an early rally to end in the red. Traders were keeping tabs on China to see if it will announce further measures to support its struggling economy as leaders were to gather Wednesday for a conference to hammer out next year's agenda. President Xi Jinping and other top leaders on Monday announced their first major shift in policy for more than a decade, saying they would "implement a more active fiscal policy and an appropriately relaxed" strategy. Those remarks sparked hopes for more interest rate cuts and the freeing up of more cash for lending. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 44,148.56 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.8 percent at 6,084.19 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.8 percent at 20,034.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 8,301.62 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 7,423.40 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 20,399.16 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 39,372.23 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.8 percent at 20,155.05 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,432.49 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0498 from $1.0527 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2752 from $1.2771 Dollar/yen: UP at 152.40 yen from 151.95 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.31 from 82.42 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.8 percent at $73.52 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.4 percent at $70.29 per barrel burs-jmb/mlm
Credit: Matt Golding To submit a letter to The Age , email letters@theage.com.au . Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Wave the GP off Melbourne has hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix for 28 years. It’s time to let it go. It’s environmentally unfriendly, expensive and noisy. Besides, the $130 million of government money could be used in schools and hospitals in Victoria. Linelle Gibson, Williamstown Liveability in peril How about Carl of Collingwood, Francis of Fitzroy and/or Peter of Preston? The Karens of Brighton are not the only people to be victims of the ′′population growth at any cost′′ policies of state and federal governments. Our inner suburbs have been subjected to ugly, poorly built, oversized developments for the past 20 years, destroying the heritage character and adding little. I feel no schadenfreude at Brighton’s outrage, only sadness that yet another group of suburbs will be degraded. The economic ennui resulting from over-dependence on migration for growth is the worst of the issue but the liveability of our city is an issue that hits everyone living here. We do not want to be the size of London. Valerie Johnson, Fitzroy North Bad economics So, the RBA prefers that another 75,000 people lose their jobs (′′ Want a rate cut? 75k jobs must go ′′, 29/11) and, in some cases, their family home, so they can reach their inflation target. Has economic theory won over real life? Ian Wilson, Brighton East Not quite global effect Your correspondent states that Lidia Thorpe’s behaviour makes Australia’s parliament the laughing stock of the world (Letters, 30/11). No disrespect intended but I couldn’t help but visualise millions of people in war-torn and hunger-ravaged countries, glued to their televisions and radios guffawing at Thorpe. As if. Phil Labrum, Trentham How to focus your vote The sharpening focus of the two major parties has been to minimise the differences between them to join forces to protect the two-party Westminster system, which serves them so well. The sharpening focus of voters is their growing awareness from what is playing out in their daily lives, of how anything the two major parties say is unlikely to be quite as it appears. Probably the most important question for voters to ask candidates standing at the next federal election, who are not representing either of the two major parties, is ′′To whom will your preference go should you not win the seat outright?′′ and the most important advice for casting a vote is to first ′′Make sure you know′′. Ruth Farr, Blackburn South Independents’ motives Your correspondent is on the right track (Letters, 30/11). Lidia Thorpe’s behaviour will not only affect public perceptions of women in parliament but also in the wider community, as well as making it harder to attract good candidates to fill these positions. There seems to be something particularly toxic for women in the party system. It’s no surprise that so many of the recently elected women are genuine independents (not just party escapees) who are free to set a better and more responsible example. Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor How to tackle graffiti Hear hear to your correspondent (Letters, 30/11). Graffiti in Melbourne is at epidemic proportions and the best efforts of some individuals and companies to control the problem seem futile in comparison to the efforts of those who seem to think their mindless scribbles are in some way meaningful. But solutions are possible. I recently returned from a few weeks in the US including New York and Chicago. I did not see a single piece of graffiti anywhere, even on the New York subway, absolutely spotless. So it can be done. Melbourne just needs to ask how. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha A child’s full education I have taught in a secondary school for more than 40 years and I can say Dianne Kupsch ( Commen t, 27/11) explained so well the effect on students when they are given ways to enjoy their classes and extra-curricular time at school. I was proud to often hear a kid say something like ′′we did this cool thing in photography class today’!′ and I would know that kid went home feeling like their day had been a good one. The current push to devote more time to literacy and numeracy at the expense of more ′′hands-on′′ subjects can leave many students very disengaged and unhappy. Not to mention that in those practical subjects they are still learning new vocabulary, writing in journals, using maths to calculate and measure, presenting their work in front of the class, working in groups, etcetera. School shouldn’t be just about getting ATAR scores, not just about qualifying for a career or trade. It should give students skills and interests they can use in their life outside their future job, as a well-rounded person. Help them find what they enjoy. Melinda Dawson, Bairnsdale Taxi skivers Columnist Tony Wright laments the deplorable behaviour of taxi drivers (“ Scammed and stranded in the city by predatory taxi drivers ”, 28/11). I encountered more appalling and dangerous behaviour when trying to get home with my young niece at the Flinders Street taxi rank. More than five taxi drivers blatantly refused to take us “west side”. Several other people were complaining angrily to the drivers as they also repeatedly approached driver after driver who all refused to take people who were not going where they were headed. We finally managed to stop a taxi driving past who then proceeded to drive dangerously, swerving across lanes, not indicating, cutting the kerbs, leaving my niece and I in fear of our lives. Appalling. Vee McPavian, Williamstown Sudoku mania I blame COVID for developing my obsessive behaviour around Sudoku. During the lockdowns I stared at the completed puzzles and searched for patterns. The most obvious is the numbers in either ascending or descending order in a row or a column, taking eight steps to complete. Assuming you complete one Sudoku a day this should happen about once every four years. However, I haven’t seen it yet. The greatest number of steps going from 1 to 9 (39 steps) is easy to spot occurring on average precisely once every seven weeks. More recently, I have been considering diagonal steps as well and notice that 1 to 9 in eight steps occurs roughly every other day. I’m just recovering from having COVID for the second time and coincidently noticed that the Sudoku (30/11) contained five sequences of 1 to 9 starting with the same 1 and ending with five different 9s. What are the odds? I am hopeful that I will recover fully from COVID again but doubt that I will ever be cured from studying a completed Sudoku. Greg Baxter, Moonee Ponds Unwashed dreams Oh the irony ! That the “great unwashed”, as one correspondent refers to them, truly believe that conservative and hard-right governments will protect and look after them. We can already see a glimpse of that reality in America, and it is appears only the uber rich, the social elite, the tech billionaires , and the big boys of business will be cosseted. Julie Perry, Highton Watch and wait on PM Your editorial (30/11) is critical of the federal Labor government. But you ignore Anthony Albanese’s stated overriding aim for continuing ′′to help people′′ (′′Armed with new slogan, PM embarks on election march′′, 30/11). Yes, let’s be optimistic and stay tuned for the details in 2025. Barbara Fraser, Burwood History’s ironies How ironic that the two bidders for our new frigates are the ancestors of our World War II’s adversary’s industrial complex. George Stockman, Berwick. Many people in the Apple ecosystem love to stay on the latest and great iPhones, iPads, and Macs. If you’re trading in an old iPhone to one of your carriers, have you ever wondered what happens to them? Especially in recent years, old iPhones continue to offer a ton of value to new people, so I recently talked with the team at to learn more about their new facilities. When you trade in a device, it’s easy to think the story ends there, but that’s just the beginning. Behind the scenes, companies like Assurant play a critical role in breathing new life into your old tech. Their latest facility, a 259,000-square-foot Innovation and Device Care Center in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, shows the scale and sophistication of today’s device lifecycle process. Assurant’s new Nashville-area center, which doubles the size of their previous site in La Vergne, is set to process and repurpose millions of devices yearly. At this facility, about 800 people test, refurbish and prepare devices for new users or responsibily recycle if they’re beyond repair. In 2023 alone, their efforts kept 1.16M metric tons of carbon emissions out of the atmosphere. It’s a massive impact from the devices users once thought were bound for the trash. Once a device reaches Assurant’s “Device Care Center”, it goes through a series of carefully calibrated processes, many powered by AI and automation. A team of engineers works on-site to constantly improve these systems, using robotics and machine learning to enhance efficiency and quality. From diagnostics to software wipes, to component replacement and beyond, each step is part of a streamlined process designed to give devices a new purpose, often extending their lives by years. While others may outsource, this new facility demonstrates our investments in innovative technologies and our people, allowing us to continuously improve our customer and employee experiences by owning every step in the process, said Biju Nair, EVP and president, Global Connected Living and International. These investments, along with our talented team, contribute to greater sustainability in the connected device ecosystem by efficiently supplying the global secondary device market. Centrally located and in close proximity to our state’s capital, Mt. Juliet is primed to support Assurant and the opening of its new Innovation and Device Care Center,” said Stuart C. McWhorter, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Assurant will benefit from Nashville’s thriving tech talent pool and access to top-tier research institutions while also having the local support and resources needed for continued growth in Wilson County. I thank Assurant for its decision to stay in Tennessee, and we look forward to seeing the success that follows today’s grand opening. But Assurant isn’t just focused on refurbishing; it’s also making a significant investment in the future of the Tennessee region. The company’s $100,000 grant to Middle Tennessee State University will help fund the Assurant Engineering Innovation Lab, which will support the training of future engineers in mechatronics and automation. This investment underlines the ongoing shift toward a circular economy in tech, where keeping devices in circulation as long as possible is both a business model and an environmental mission. So, the next time you trade in an iPhone or iPad, remember that it likely ends up in a place like Assurant’s’s repair center, where it’s given a chance to power another person’s work—or at least help spare the planet a few more grams of waste . . Many people in the Apple ecosystem love to stay on the latest and great iPhones, iPads, and Macs. If you’re trading in an old iPhone to one of your carriers, have you ever wondered what happens to them? Especially in recent years, old iPhones continue to offer a ton of value to new people, so I recently talked with the team at to learn more about their new facilities. When you trade in a device, it’s easy to think the story ends there, but that’s just the beginning. Behind the scenes, companies like Assurant play a critical role in breathing new life into your old tech. Their latest facility, a 259,000-square-foot Innovation and Device Care Center in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, shows the scale and sophistication of today’s device lifecycle process. Assurant’s new Nashville-area center, which doubles the size of their previous site in La Vergne, is set to process and repurpose millions of devices yearly. At this facility, about 800 people test, refurbish and prepare devices for new users or responsibily recycle if they’re beyond repair. In 2023 alone, their efforts kept 1.16M metric tons of carbon emissions out of the atmosphere. It’s a massive impact from the devices users once thought were bound for the trash. Once a device reaches Assurant’s “Device Care Center”, it goes through a series of carefully calibrated processes, many powered by AI and automation. A team of engineers works on-site to constantly improve these systems, using robotics and machine learning to enhance efficiency and quality. From diagnostics to software wipes, to component replacement and beyond, each step is part of a streamlined process designed to give devices a new purpose, often extending their lives by years. While others may outsource, this new facility demonstrates our investments in innovative technologies and our people, allowing us to continuously improve our customer and employee experiences by owning every step in the process, said Biju Nair, EVP and president, Global Connected Living and International. These investments, along with our talented team, contribute to greater sustainability in the connected device ecosystem by efficiently supplying the global secondary device market. Centrally located and in close proximity to our state’s capital, Mt. Juliet is primed to support Assurant and the opening of its new Innovation and Device Care Center,” said Stuart C. McWhorter, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Assurant will benefit from Nashville’s thriving tech talent pool and access to top-tier research institutions while also having the local support and resources needed for continued growth in Wilson County. I thank Assurant for its decision to stay in Tennessee, and we look forward to seeing the success that follows today’s grand opening. But Assurant isn’t just focused on refurbishing; it’s also making a significant investment in the future of the Tennessee region. The company’s $100,000 grant to Middle Tennessee State University will help fund the Assurant Engineering Innovation Lab, which will support the training of future engineers in mechatronics and automation. This investment underlines the ongoing shift toward a circular economy in tech, where keeping devices in circulation as long as possible is both a business model and an environmental mission. So, the next time you trade in an iPhone or iPad, remember that it likely ends up in a place like Assurant’s’s repair center, where it’s given a chance to power another person’s work—or at least help spare the planet a few more grams of waste .
Cody Rhodes needs a better name for the modern WWE era
Michigan stuns Ohio St. for 4th straight in rivalryEx-PM's Guwahati Years: Rs 700 Rent, Modest Apartment, And A Grand Vision Of Dr Manmohan SinghWASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, U.S. officials said Friday. The State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation," according to a statement. The designation of Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the U.S. has slapped on Georgian politicians, lawmakers and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in U.S. jurisdictions or that might enter U.S. jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protestors, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia." Ivanishvili is a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze , announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia's bid to join the European Union, fueling further public outrage. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. READ:Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Increases Stake in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (NASDAQ:ESGU)
A freezer is an essential part of the home: storing leftovers from delicious meals shared with friends and family, ice cubes for your favorite drinks, and quick and easy mid-week meals. But, they can be difficult to organize – and keep organized – and no one likes searching through frosty containers and mountains of unidentified items. So, why not take it from those who have already perfected their freezer organization? Here, professional organizers share what people with organized freezers always do, so you can organize your freezer and keep your food accessible. 1. Use clear containers with tight lids While there are a long list of items not to store in the freezer , in terms of the organization itself, your freezer can present its own set of challenges. Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing , says, 'Deep freezing your leftovers can be appealing, but if we actually want to get them out again, avoid the aluminum foil guessing game,' he advises. 'All prepared foods, meals, and leftovers should go in clear containers with a tight lid.' Ideally, Soreff recommends a freezer-safe clear glass container as the best option, so it can be used in the freezer, oven and microwave. 'A clear lid would also be the gold standard,' he adds. Whilst the containers may be clear, it doesn't hurt to use freezer safe labels from Amazon , as once the items are frosty, it might not be easy to figure out what the contents are. More on labeling in section three, below. All prices correct at time of publication. BPA free This set of glass food storage containers comes in a variety of sizes, designed with hinge snap lock lids to prevent leaks and spillages. Dishwasher and microwave safe These food containers feature a non-toxic, perfect-fit lid, while the BPA-free glass resists stains and odor absorption. 100% airtight This set of two glass food storage boxes are modular, for space-saving stacking in your freezer. 2. Group similar items together A great way to find what you're searching for is by grouping like items together: keep frozen vegetables in one section, meat in another, and leftovers together for example. This makes it easy to organize and therefore find later. Sarah Moonshine, founder of Sunlight Home Organizing , says. 'Group similar items together, such as vegetables, nuts, fruit or frozen meals, and store them in clear bins for easy access. 'Bins create categories for each type of item so that everyone can find what they are looking for,' and are ideal for freezer storage and organization . These modular and stackable freezer bins are designed to fit most freezer drawers, and include a removable divider. 3. Label items Robyn Reynolds, founder of Organize2Harmonize , also recommends labeling freezer items to make identification easy. She says, 'In regards to organized freezers, prepared food is always labeled with the dates when it was cooked, and all plastic storage bags are labeled.' This is best done by writing on sticky notes or masking tape, such as Scotch Masking Tape available at Amazon , with a permanent marker, such as the Sharpie Permanent Markers available at Walmart , as this can then be easily peeled off when boxes and bags need relabeling. This is also a good way of organizing a refrigerator , too. 4. Eat the food regularly As professional organizer Soreff points out, 'Because we don't have the freezer door open long, and we don't browse the freezer like you would the pantry, items in the back of the freezer tend to fall into the out of sight out of mind category. 'Often because the freezer seems like such a long-term storage solution, we forget to actually eat the food. Build a freezer audit or freezer meal night into your schedule,' which is the perfect way to test out new party food recipes , Italian recipes and everything in between. Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens , Punteha van Terheyden uses a magnetic white board from Amazon to note all her freezer meals and other stock, which both she and her husband keep updated when they use or consume any items from the freezer. She adds, 'Sometimes, we don't keep on top of that list as closely as we should, so every three months, we pull everything out, get rid of the items we haven't eaten and never fancy, then reorganize and update the stock list.' With a weekly view and categorized shopping list, this meal planner is a brilliant way to meal plan around your frozen food. 5. Divide items into single use portions Finally, professional organizer Moonshine says, 'Divide items such as meats or berries into smaller, single-use portions to make defrosting easier.' This will also ensure that leftovers actually get eaten, which will make cleaning a freezer and keeping it in good, working condition, easier, too. Head of Solved freezers different portion sizes and labels them per family member. She says, ' This comes in very handy on nights when my husband is working, and my daughter eats before he's home. It stops wastage too.' If you're organizing a chest freezer , our expert-led guide breaks down the task to make it simple.Mark Cuban calls out NBA for ‘petty’ moveAustralia Ditches Plans to Fine Tech Giants for Misinformation