The metallic screech of a train rolling by. The constant hum of traffic on the nearby Trans-Canada Highway. These are the sounds of the Brunette River in the fall, as it cuts through the suburbs of Burnaby, B.C. And rising above the din of Metro Vancouver, the splashing of chum salmon as they push upstream to spawn. The salmon in the river are looking haggard by mid-November, their skin patchy and worn as they near the end of their lives. But they continue the timeless cycle to produce the next generation of their keystone species. Jason Hwang, vice-president of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, recalled growing up in Delta, south of Vancouver, and thinking “salmon were something that came into the Fraser River but swam on by the Lower Mainland to better habitat” farther inland. Then, as a child, Hwang saw salmon spawning in Surrey’s Bear Creek. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “You might look out at the city and Vancouver and say, ‘Well, it’s a big city now and maybe the time to have salmon in our proximity is long passed.’ But that’s not true.” Efforts to rehabilitate urban waterways have helped bring spawning salmon back to parts of Metro Vancouver, including unlikely-looking streams surrounded by industrial and residential development. While it’s doubtful that city salmon will recover to their original numbers, those involved in restoration work say it has a host of side benefits, from boosting resilience to flooding to inspiring community connection and stewardship. Hwang said “an amazing thing happens” when people realize there are important natural assets in their communities, including spawning salmon. “There’s a pride of stewardship that exists that you see all over the Lower Mainland ... in the communities that are aware they’ve got salmon in their neighbourhoods.” Salmon are a keystone species, supporting the broader ecosystem, and they serve as a barometer for the state of their environment, Hwang said. “If you look at salmon, it’s one way to get a pretty good picture, and they’re showing us that we can do better, and we need to do better.” Francisca Olaya Nieto, a biologist with the Vancouver Park Board, said a century of urban development had altered the landscape to the point that aiming for healthy, sustainable salmon populations across the city is probably not realistic. About 100 kilometres of stream were covered up as Vancouver grew, she said, and just a handful of salmon-bearing waterways continue to flow naturally. Some of those original streams were diverted into pipes and connected to the city’s water system, while others were filled in, buried and paved over. Nieto said salmon in urban waterways must contend with pollution, sediment, warming waters, and infrastructure blocking their passage. Still, they have been returning to streams where the City of Vancouver and its park board have undertaken restoration work, said Nieto, who has been involved in efforts to recover or “daylight” sections of once-buried or degraded waterways. “The main goal is to find those opportunities where we can improve the water quality, and if salmon can return, that will be a win, but also we can benefit many other species,” she said. “We’re working more toward creating healthy habitat across the city, working toward connectivity and improving our biodiversity.” Amir Taleghani,asenior engineer with the City of Vancouver, said restoring salmon habitat may have started with naturalization and beautification in mind, but the work also provided an opportunity to tap into the broader benefits of natural assets. He pointed to Still Creek, flowing from the east side of Vancouver into Burnaby. The creek has been the site of restoration efforts over several decades, and Taleghani recently captured a video showing salmon spawning in the stream surrounded by parking lots, train tracks, big-box stores and industrial buildings. But Still Creek plays a role beyond providing salmon habitat, said Taleghani, whose work is focused on floodplains and watercourses in Vancouver. “Increasingly, we’re seeing the creek as a natural drainage asset, important to ... adapting to climate change and managing flood risk,” he said. “You need room for water to safely be stored in a flood. So, by widening the creek and lowering the surface where we can, we provide the space that in an extreme rainfall event can be flooded in a safe way, but the rest of the year, it can be habitat.” Taleghani said the city was incorporating Still Creek in its draft land-use plan for the area, which includes two SkyTrain stations, and looking at how the waterway can help manage run-off and flood risk as more housing and infrastructure is built. Hwang, too, said it was crucial to include natural assets in city and regional planning given the population increases expected for the Lower Mainland. “As a salmon biologist, I would advocate for all of the reasons that (restoration) can be helpful for salmon, but it’s also helpful for your community,” he said, pointing to flood mitigation as well as recreational opportunities in naturalized areas. While salmon will likely never return to streams in Metro Vancouver as they once did, Hwang said the target should be to restore as much habitat as possible. He recalled attending the British Columbia Institute of Technology as a post-secondary student, where there is an ongoing effort to restore a creek that runs through the Burnaby campus and eventually flows into Still Creek. “Maybe Guichon Creek used to produce thousands of salmon, and now it produces a couple of dozen ... but isn’t that still awesome? Isn’t it awesome that in the (school’s) parking lot area, you can make salmon, still, in a stream?”
The incident occurred on a quiet Tuesday morning in a bustling city, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit business community. The victim, a prominent figure in the insurance industry known for his philanthropic endeavors, was gunned down in broad daylight outside his office building. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and confusion as the suspect fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of devastation.Gafisa (OTCMKTS:GFASY) Trading Down 25.9% – Should You Sell?As the situation at Yawang Valley continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of coming together in times of crisis. The road ahead may be long and arduous, but with determination, cooperation, and perseverance, the community of Yawang Valley will weather this storm and emerge stronger than ever before.As Small Red Book embarks on this new chapter with the establishment of the Application Algorithm Department and the appointment of Xiahou as its head, users can expect to see an enhanced and more personalized experience on the platform. With an increased focus on data-driven insights and algorithmic enhancements, Small Red Book is well-positioned to deliver on its promise of connecting users with the products and content that matter most to them.
As the negotiations near completion and the transfer edges closer to reality, the excitement and anticipation among Real Madrid fans continue to grow. The prospect of seeing a new star don the famous white shirt and make an impact on the pitch is a thrilling prospect for supporters who are hungry for success.On the other hand, Manchester City and Real Madrid face a more challenging path to secure their spots in the knockout stage. The simulation suggests that both teams will finish second in their respective groups, leading them to the playoffs where they will need to battle it out against other runners-up for a place in the round of 16.
In the world of technology, speculations and rumors often swirl around upcoming devices, keeping tech enthusiasts on their toes. One such device that has caught the attention of many is the Xiaomi YU7. As Xiaomi continues to make waves in the smartphone market, the anticipation surrounding their next release is palpable. Let's delve into some of the speculations and predictions surrounding the Xiaomi YU7.Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Virat Kohli will play for a few more years but when it comes to Rohit Sharma , he said that it is a call that needs to be taken by the India skipper. The two star batters have not enjoying a good run of form in the ongoing Test series against Australia and their lack of form has resulted in a lot of criticism from both fans as well as experts. During Day 5 of the fourth Test match in Melbourne, commentator Mark Nicholas asked Shastri on Star Sports on whether he believes that this can be the end of the road for both Virat and Rohit. “I think Virat will play for some time. Forget the way he got out, or whatever. I think he'll play for another three or four years. As far as Rohit is concerned, it's a call. At the top of the order, you know, just feel the footwork isn't the same. He's probably at times, late in meeting the ball so it's his call at the end of the series,” Shastri said. Rohit Sharma's ultra-defensive approach and Virat Kohli's unending saga of failures outside the off-stump left India reeling at 33 for 3 at lunch after Australia set the visitors a challenging 340-run target on day five of the fourth Test on Monday. Rohit (9 off 40 balls) did all the hard work during the first hour before opposition skipper Pat Cummins (2/10) got his bunny for the tenth time in Test matches. Kohli (5 off 29) could never control his urge of playing the cover drive again and was caught at first slip after Mitchell Starc pushed one across with the angle. Rahul was out without troubling the scorers after getting a second good ball in the game. Yashasvi Jaiswal , who didn't look convincing at all, survived 83 deliveries to score 14 going into lunch. The approach by the Indian team was also a reflection of its mindset as a slim chance of victory evaporated in the morning session. Shortly after play began on day five, Jasprit Bumrah completed his 13th five wicket haul in Test cricket as Australia were all out for 234 in their second essay. One would have expected to Rohit to play his natural aggressive game at the top of the order but in the middle of a lean run, he tried to get into a safety first mode that did not work. At the other end, even Jaiswal curbed his natural instincts. He got one delivery from Pat Cummins that moved a shade late as he shaped for a whip down the square leg with the leading edge flying to Mitchell Marsh at gully. Cummins then produced another delivery with late away movement to consume Rahul. (With PTI inputs) Advertisement (function(v,d,o,ai){ai=d.createElement('script');ai.defer=true;ai.async=true;ai.src=v.location.protocol+o;d.head.appendChild(ai);})(window, document, '//a.vdo.ai/core/v-ndtv-v1/vdo.ai.js');
Scouting for ‘subversives’ — Book traces an RCMP informant’s lifeChina's November Import and Export Value Increased by 1.2% Year-on-Year
One of the unique features of the "Rail + Land" demonstration line is its emphasis on integrating transportation infrastructure with urban development. The new metro line will not only provide convenient and efficient transportation services but will also serve as a catalyst for the development of urban land along its route. By combining transportation with land development, the project aims to create a more livable and sustainable urban environment for residents.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report Thursday revealing that the FBI had more than two dozen confidential human sources in the crowd of protesters on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. The 79-page delved into the FBI’s handling of confidential human sources and the bureau’s intelligence collection efforts in the lead-up to the Capitol incursion. There were a total of 26 on the ground on Jan. 6. Of that group, four entered the Capitol and an additional 13 entered the restricted area around the building. “None of these FBI CHSs were authorized to enter the Capitol or a restricted area, or to otherwise break the law on January 6, nor was any CHS directed by the FBI to encourage others to commit illegal acts on January 6,” the report said. “The [Office of Inspector General] determined that many of these 26 CHSs had provided information relevant to the January 6 Electoral Certification before the event and that a few CHSs also provided information about the riot as it occurred.” The OIG also uncovered records indicating one confidential human source who entered the Capitol was reimbursed for his travel expenses for being present at the incursion and later, President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021. According to the DOJ IG report, one of the FBI’s confidential human sources who entered the Capitol on January 6 — a crime for which countless people have gone to jail for years — got his travel expenses to DC on J6 reimbursed by the FBI. — Greg Price (@greg_price11) George Washington University law professor reacted to the IG’s report posting on social media platform X that it “may raise more questions than answers. It confirms that confidential sources did indeed enter the Capitol and restricted areas. “The question is whether the presence of these sources were revealed to the defense in the hundreds of prosecutions.” The new IG report on January 6th may raise more questions than answers. It confirms that confidential sources did indeed enter the Capitol and restricted areas. The question is whether the presence of these sources were revealed to the defense in the hundreds of prosecutions... — Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) He further noted, “The IG suggests that they were not engaged in the core criminal conduct prosecuted on that day. Yet, if revealed to the defense, including hundreds who pleaded guilty, defense counsel would not just take the government’s word for what these sources did on that day.” ...The IG suggests that they were not engaged in the core criminal conduct prosecuted on that day. Yet, if revealed to the defense, including hundreds who pleaded guilty, defense counsel would not just take the government’s word for what these sources did on that day... — Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) Turley anticipated that House committees will have additional questions about the role of these FBI sources on Jan. 6. In Jan. 2022, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas then FBI Assistant Executive Director Jill Sanborn during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing regarding how many confidential human sources the FBI had on the ground during the Capitol incursion. “How many FBI agents or confidential informants actively participated in the events of Jan. 6?” Cruz asked. “Sir, I’m sure you can appreciate that I can’t go into the specifics of sources and methods,” Sanborn answered. Cruz then asked the broader question, “Did any FBI agents or confidential informants actively participate in the events of Jan. 6? Yes or no.” “Sir, I can’t answer that,” replied Sanborn. CRUZ: “Did any FBI agents or confidential informants actively participate in the events of January 6th?” “I can’t answer that.” — Townhall.com (@townhallcom) “Did any FBI agents or confidential informants commit crimes of violence on Jan. 6?” Cruz then queried. Sanborn would not say. The senator continued, “Did any FBI agents or FBI informants actively encourage and incite crimes of violence on Jan. 6?” “Sir, I can’t answer that,” Sanborn said. closed his line of questioning saying, “Ms. Sanborn, a lot of Americans are concerned that the federal government deliberately encouraged illegal and violent conduct on Jan. 6.” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .Investors have taken notice of Kaidrive's potential, leading to a surge in demand for its IPO shares. The company's market value has skyrocketed, surpassing all expectations and setting a new benchmark for IPOs in Japan this year. Analysts predict that Kaidrive's IPO will be one of the most successful offerings in recent memory, drawing interest from both institutional and retail investors.
For women experiencing chronic sleep issues, it is essential to consult with a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions or sleep disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, relaxation techniques, and medication can also be effective treatments for improving sleep quality.The combination of these policies has had a synergistic effect on the real estate market, leading to a notable resurgence in both residential and commercial properties. Property developers have seen increased demand for their projects, leading to the construction of new housing developments and commercial spaces. This, in turn, has created job opportunities and injected vitality into the economy.
Earlier today, a fire broke out at an Aliyun data center, causing concern among users and the public. However, in a swift and efficient response, Aliyun officials announced that the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes, and reassured users that their cloud services remained unaffected by the incident.DENVER (AP) — Amid renewed interest in the triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family’s home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note had been left behind. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet’s killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey.” In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. “What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come into detectives,” he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the “media circus” surrounding the case. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet’s clothing that pointed to the involvement of an “unexplained third party” in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys “victims of this crime.” John Ramsey has continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado’s governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he has been for several items that have not been prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators have identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be “consumed” if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review had ended but that police continue to work through and evaluate a “lengthy list of recommendations” from the panel. ____ Amy Beth Hanson contributed to this report from Helena, Montana. Colleen Slevin, The Associated PressCryptocurrency markets are trading lower on Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange . Cryptocurrency Price Gains +/- Bitcoin BTC/USD $99,666.97 -1.7% Ethereum ETH/USD $3,882.77 +1.8% Solana SOL/USD $228.16 -0.9% XRP XRP/USD $2.36 -3.2% Dogecoin DOGE/USD $0.404 -3.2% Shiba Inu SHIB/USD $0.00002804 -4% Notable Statistics: IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume increasing by 5.3% and daily active addresses falling by 11.9%. Transactions greater than $100,000 remained relatively flat while exchanges netflows are up by 308.9%. Coinglass data reports 100,126 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $290.48 million. Notable Developments: BlackRock Advocates For 2% Bitcoin Allocation In Multi-Asset Portfolios EXCLUSIVE: Experts Share Their Top Crypto Predictions For 2025 Waterfall Network Raises $11.6 Million To Enhance Blockchain Scalability And Decentralization Japan’s Coincheck Crypto Exchange Enters Wall Street With Nasdaq Listing Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy Slam SEC: ‘Just Another Weaponized Institution’ Top Gainers: Cryptocurrency Price Gains +/- Aave AAVE/USD $359.71 +23.9% Lido DAO LDO/USD $2.27 +20% Chainlink LINK/USD $26.98 +12.9% Trader Notes: With Bitcoin prices breaking the $100,000 mark, crypto trader Jelle sees a potential drop back to $97,000 from here. He added that this could be for scaring traders and then a "real breakout." Jelle is expecting a "true breakout before Christmas — 2025 is going to be a crazy ride." Would be classic #Bitcoin to drop back to $97,000 from here – make everyone scared as shit & then pump back for the real breakout 'muh dead cat bounce! 🥲' pic.twitter.com/V22GRQqWbX Crypto trader Javon Marks sees Bitcoin trading well above the $67,559 level, indicating a bullish setup. The next target is $116,652, representing a potential 15% move higher. A breakout above this level could pave the way for further gains, with more than $165,000 as the subsequent target. Crypto trader Nic predicts an "explosive BTC price action" as the 20-day Bollinger band bandwidth is at its lowest level in months. He advises, "Keep an eye out for an upside breakout above the upper band." Read Next: How Bitcoin ETFs Are Changing The Way Institutions Manage Risk According To Experts Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
In achieving this milestone, Greenwood joined the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar, who are the only other players this century to have scored two goals in as few matches in a major European league. This is a testament to Greenwood's talent and potential, and it is clear that he has a bright future ahead of him in the game.
Srinagar, Nov 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday said that government jobs cannot resolve the entire employment crisis. “Reality is that we can’t give government jobs to everyone,” the CM said after laying the foundation stone for the upgradation of a hi-tech flower nursery and the development of Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood (Chrysanthemum Theme Garden) here in Srinagar. “Unemployment will not end with government jobs in J&K. We will give as much as we can. But until we increase the private sector, we will not be able to treat this disease of unemployment. We hope that big owners will come from abroad and set up factories here, but they will not.” The hi-tech flower nursery and the development of Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood projects are being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 4.83 crore and Rs 1.87 crore. The upgraded nursery at the Poloview facility aims to serve not only as a resource centre for plants but also as an education hub. Workshops and training sessions will be conducted to empower growers and citizens with sustainable gardening practices. The Chrysanthemum Theme Garden, to be spread over 100 kanal, is poised to become a major autumn attraction. It will showcase vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, red, pink, and purple, adding charm to Kashmir’s tourism landscape during the traditionally quieter autumn months. CM Omar emphasised the significance of gardens in Kashmir’s heritage and tourism. He said: “The Kashmir valley is renowned worldwide for its breathtaking beauty, and within that charm, our gardens hold a special place. From the time people began visiting Kashmir, they either established gardens or made it a point to visit them. The Mughals, for instance, created iconic gardens like Cheshma Shahi, Nishat, Shalimar, and Harwan. Over time, visitors, even if they saw nothing else, ensured they visited these Mughal Gardens.” The CM highlighted how the introduction of the Tulip Garden transformed Kashmir’s tourist season. “Our tourism season was once limited to two periods: winter, when people came to witness snowfall or in May when visitors explored gardens and other scenic spots. However, with the establishment of the Tulip Garden, this pattern transformed. It extended our tourist season into March and April,” he said. “Today, people of Srinagar know how bustling the area around the Tulip Garden becomes during this time. It’s a challenge even to navigate through the traffic near the garden.” Addressing the need for a similar boost to autumn tourism, CM Omar commended the efforts of the Parks and Gardens Department and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K). “While the Tulip Garden has had a remarkable impact, a new challenge lies in utilising the ‘off-season’ months of October and November, before snowfall draws tourists to destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. To address this, I commend the Parks and Gardens Department and SKUAST-K for their role in introducing Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood – the Chrysanthemum Garden,” he said. The CM explained the potential of the Chrysanthemum Garden saying: “The chrysanthemum, a flower that blooms in autumn, has the potential to do for October and November what the Tulip Garden does for March and April. Visitors to this garden will also explore other parts of Kashmir, benefiting the entire ecosystem of tourism – be it Shikarawalas, taxi operators, houseboat owners, or others.” On the sustainability of the initiative, he said, “Importantly, unlike tulips, which require costly bulb imports to maintain the garden, chrysanthemums can be grown locally without external dependence. Our efforts are already underway to develop tulip bulbs locally to reduce imports and even export them in the future. With chrysanthemums, however, we are self-reliant from the start. I hope this initiative will be fully developed and marketed by next year, providing Srinagar with a new tourist destination in the form of the Chrysanthemum Garden.” On the occasion, the CM also spoke about the importance of promoting high-value, low-volume products like essential oils. “Lavender oil, mint oil, and similar products are already being exhibited, alongside cut flowers and contributions from progressive growers,” he said. CM Omar congratulated progressive farmers on their success and pledged government support, saying: “If you face any difficulties, do let us know so we can support you.” He emphasised the need to bolster the private sector to tackle unemployment. “It’s a reality that we cannot provide government jobs to everyone. Addressing unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir requires a shift beyond government employment. While we will create as many government jobs as possible, the solution lies in boosting the private sector. Unless we empower this sector, unemployment cannot be effectively tackled,” the CM said. He said that expecting large-scale foreign investments here (Kashmir) was a challenge. “Instead, we must focus on sectors with strong local foundations, such as agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, and floriculture,” CM Omar said. “To those already in these fields or those aspiring to enter them, I assure you that our government is committed to supporting you in every possible way. Together, we can strengthen floriculture and allied industries, paving the way for sustainable growth and opportunities.” Advisor to Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani; Member of Legislative Assembly Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Parks and Gardens, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad; Director Floriculture Kashmir also attended the event. The Chrysanthemum Theme Garden, located within the Botanical Garden in Srinagar, is being developed at Rs 1.87 crore. With its blooms expected to colour late autumn, the garden is set to open to the public in Autumn 2025, marking a new chapter in Kashmir’s tourism story.Rumble Sues California Over Censorship Law
1. Lack of Clear Communication: Lelarcho failed to establish clear lines of communication with Tenghag, leading to misunderstandings and confusion.BEIRUT/LONDON: The world has largely welcomed a ceasefire deal which ends 13 months of fighting betrween Israel and Hezbollah that has claimed the lives of at least 3,700 Lebanese and more than 130 Israelis. The deal between the governments of Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the US and France, came into effect on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time. From the Israeli army’s perspective, the war in Lebanon was coming to a point of diminishing returns. It has succeeded in weakening Hezbollah’s military standing and eliminating its top leadership but has been unable to wipe it out entirely. For its part, Hezbollah has been seriously debilitated in Lebanon; the war has eroded its military capabilities and left it rudderless. Looking at it optimistically, the diplomatic breakthrough — which unfolded on Tuesday night as Israel unleashed a barrage of bombs on central Beirut — could be the beginning of the end of the long-standing “Israel-Iran shadow war,” as a new administration prepares to assume power in Washington. Hezbollah and the Israeli military began to exchange cross-border fire on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a deadly Hamas-led attack. The conflict dramatically escalated on Sept. 23 this year, when Israel began heavily bombing several parts of Lebanon, including Hezbollah’s stronghold in the south. The airstrikes killed thousands of Lebanese, displaced some 1.2 million others, flattened residential buildings, and devastated 37 villages. While the ceasefire deal calls for a 60-day halt in hostilities, President Joe Biden said that it “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Negotiators have described it as laying the groundwork for a lasting truce. Under the terms of the deal, Hezbollah will remove its fighters and arms from the region between the Blue Line and the Litani River, while Israeli troops will withdraw from Lebanese territory during the specified period. Thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers will deploy to the region south of the Litani River. A US-led international panel will oversee compliance from all sides. However, uncertainty persists, as both Hezbollah and Israel have warned that they will resume fire if the other party breaches the agreement. Hezbollah stated it would give the ceasefire pact a chance, but Mahmoud Qamati, the deputy chair of the group’s political council, stressed that Hezbollah’s support for the deal depends on clear assurances that Israel will not resume its attacks. Likewise, Israel said it would attack if Hezbollah violated the agreement. The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, also urged residents of southern Lebanese villages — who had fled in recent months — to delay returning home until further notice from the Israeli military. David Wood, a senior Lebanon analyst with the International Crisis Group, believes that while the ceasefire is desperately needed, it “will almost certainly not bring Lebanon’s troubles to an end. “Many of the country’s displaced may not be able to return home for months, as Israel has razed entire villages near the Blue Line border,” he said. “Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s domestic foes claim they will no longer accept the group’s dominance over Lebanese politics — a pledge that promises still more instability.” Firas Maksad, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, also cannot see this ceasefire bringing an end to Lebanon’s problems as the war has already triggered shifts in internal alliances. Describing the deal as a “capitulation,” he said during an interview with the BBC that “the majority of the Lebanese people, including Hezbollah's own support base, did not want to see Lebanon dragged into this war.” “After all this devastation, after Hezbollah having now to capitulate and withdraw away from that border north of the Litani River, having to accept an American-led mechanism led by a general who is part of CENTCOM in the region, this is going to be highly embarrassing,” he said. “And there's going to be a day of reckoning for Hezbollah in Lebanon once the ceasefire actually goes into effect.” He added that politically, this means that “the various Lebanese parties and the various also alliances that had been in place before this war are no longer going to be there.” “We saw, for example, Hezbollah’s crucial Christian ally distance itself from the group now, very much moving towards the center or even in opposition to Hezbollah.” Gebran Bassil, leader of the Maronite Free Patriotic Movement and a close ally of Hezbollah since 2006, said earlier this month that his party is “not in an alliance with Hezbollah.” In an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, he added that Hezbollah “has weakened itself and exposed its military strength, leaving Lebanon as a whole vulnerable to Israeli attacks.” Also acknowledging the toll on Hezbollah is Lebanese political analyst Ali Al-Amin. He expressed concern that, while the ceasefire deal is a positive development, its terms signal a significant shift for Hezbollah. “People were happy at first glance about the ceasefire agreement, as it is a basic demand after a fierce, destructive war,” he told Arab News. “However, there are many (unanswered) questions, starting with the nature of the agreement and its content. “In a first reading, I believe that Hezbollah’s function has ended. The prohibition of military operations and weapons, the necessity of destroying and dismantling weapons facilities, and the ban on the supply of weapons are all preludes to ending the party’s function.” Hezbollah’s main ally, Tehran, expressed support for the ceasefire. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, welcomed the end of Israel’s “aggression against Lebanon.” He also reaffirmed his country’s “firm support for the Lebanese government, nation and resistance.” Before the Israeli cabinet approved the deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire would allow his country to “intensify” pressure on the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza and focus on the “Iranian threat.” Mairav Zonszein, a senior Israeli analyst with the ICG, believes that “for Israel, the ceasefire is not necessarily an end to the war, but a pause” in fighting. She said: “It will free up forces and resources to Israel’s other fronts in Gaza, the West Bank, and Iran, and is a chance to test out Israel’s ability to take military action to enforce the ceasefire, which is being sold as the main difference between the resolution that ended the 2006 war and this time around.” Al-Amin believes Iran, Israel’s biggest adversary, has accepted this shift affecting its ally Hezbollah. However, he stressed that while the deal remains “subject to implementation,” it raises questions about the enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and Washington’s role in overseeing its execution. Echoing Al-Amin’s concern, Heiko Wimmen, ICG project director for Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, said: “The ceasefire is based on the commitment of both Lebanon and Israel to finally implement Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. “The challenges are the same as 18 years ago, namely, how to make sure that both parties comply in the long term and what to do with Hezbollah’s military capabilities, which constitute a threat to the security of Israel, and potentially other Lebanese, whether they are present on the border or a few kilometers away.” Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who welcomed the ceasefire deal, reiterated on Wednesday his government’s commitment to implementing Resolution 1701. UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted to resolve the 2006 Lebanon war, called for a permanent ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, the establishment of a buffer zone free of armed personnel other than UN and Lebanese forces, Hezbollah’s disarmament and withdrawal from south of the Litani River, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. However, Maksad of the Middle East Institute, emphasizes that implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon — US-led and otherwise — will demand more than just adhering to the deal’s terms, especially on the domestic front. “There is a crucial need to rearrange the deck in Lebanon,” he said in an interview with the BBC. “You need to elect a president in Lebanon, one that is a sovereign-minded president that would work with the Lebanese army and provide it with the political cover it needs to help and implement this resolution together with the UN troops that are there and also the international community.” He added: “You also cannot begin the task — the mammoth task — of rebuilding, the reconstruction, the tune of billions of dollars if you don’t have a reform-minded government.” And while the ceasefire brings a faint hope for Lebanon’s displaced population, many of those affected perceive its terms through the prism of personal loss, questioning what, if anything, had been gained from the war. Nora Farhat, whose family home in Anqoun in Beirut’s southern suburbs was reduced to rubble, lamented that the agreement “will not restore our destroyed homes or bring back those who were killed — loved ones we have yet to bury.” The scale of destruction in southern villages means return is not an option for many, who are left wondering about Hezbollah’s future and its ability to maintain its influence in the region. Analyst Al-Amin believes that Hezbollah’s immediate focus will likely shift to managing the domestic narrative. “Hezbollah’s priority now will be how to reverse the defeat into victory at home, and how to prevent the Lebanese from questioning what happened and why it happened,” he said. Some of those displaced from Shiite-majority villages in the south expressed frustration at being caught in the crossfire of Hezbollah’s conflicts with Israel. For Ahmad Ismail, who was displaced from his home in south Lebanon, the war and its aftermath seemed “futile.” He told Arab News: “There was no need to open a southern front under the slogan of supporting Gaza, as those who sought this war sought to humiliate us. “If only we had implemented the May 17 agreement in the 1980s with Israel, we would have been spared wars, killing and destruction, and the Shiite sect would not have reached the point of displacement, death, and frustration it has reached today.” Ismail, who was previously imprisoned in Israel, believes the ceasefire is the only positive aspect of the US-brokered truce deal. “It is a good initiative toward making this the last of the wars and a step toward disarming illegal weapons,” he said. “It also paves the way for restoring the state to its role, which Hezbollah undermined by monopolizing decisions of war and peace without consulting anyone.” Despite the Israeli military’s warning, Lebanese people displaced from their homes in the south began flocking to their villages. Ismail believes “people are currently in shock. Some still cannot believe that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has been killed, and many have not yet seen what happened to their homes and villages. “When they wake up from the trauma, we will see the repercussions.” Ismail added: “A disaster has befallen the Lebanese people, and Hezbollah must be held accountable. Hezbollah is no longer able to mobilize the people through the power of weapons, excess force, and money.” As Lebanon begins to pick up the pieces, many still wonder if this ceasefire will offer more than just a temporary reprieve — or if it will be the beginning of an uncertain future.As the investigation into the shooting continues, questions remain about the motivations and circumstances that led to this senseless act of violence. The case serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of addressing underlying issues that can contribute to such tragic events.Political leaders in Vanuatu are preparing to present candidates for a potential snap election, which hinges on the final court decision regarding the dissolution of Parliament. As the legal dispute over the dissolution continues, political parties and leaders are already making plans to finalise their candidate lists for the upcoming election. As recently reported by the Daily Post newspaper , the Nagriamel Political Movement is preparing to field two candidates for the upcoming snap election. Meanwhile, the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) is set to receive the finalised list of candidates from across Vanuatu, from the north to the south, by the end of this week. Daily Post understands that in addition to the major political parties, the moderates are also preparing to announce their candidates for the upcoming snap election. Both parties are actively finalising their lists of candidates, with announcements expected soon, also several independent candidates and movements are also gearing up to contest the election. Many political parties' intermediaries, or middlemen, are currently on the ground in various constituencies across Vanuatu, working hard to engage with party supporters in preparation for the anticipated snap election. These individuals are tasked with rallying and mobilising support, ensuring that party backers are ready and informed once the election is officially called. They are actively reaching out to voters, strengthening party networks, and reinforcing loyalty among constituents to maximise their parties' chances in the impending election. The Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO) is expected to announce the official timeline soon, with general elections to be held within 30 to 60 days of any dissolution, as per Article 28(4) of the Constitution. This provision ensures that, once the dissolution is confirmed, the election process will move forward swiftly within the specified timeframe. The VEO is hosting a public event at Independence Garden today to announce and promote the Political Party Registration process. The event will include speeches from key officials, including representatives from the VEO who will outline the importance of the registration process and the guidelines that political parties must follow.
ResMed CEO Michael Farrell sells $499k in stockDespite their best efforts, the passenger's condition continued to deteriorate rapidly, ultimately leading to a tragic outcome. The loss of a life under such circumstances is a stark reminder of the unpredictability of health emergencies and the importance of prompt and decisive action in responding to such crises.There's a story from the earliest days of cinema that seems applicable to Sora, the text-to-video creation tool launched by OpenAI this week. And given that Sora's servers are struggling with demand , with many OpenAI subscribers still waiting to try it out, we've got time for stories. You probably know of Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station (1896) by the Lumiere brothers, even if you've never seen it. Like Sora, the Lumieres created very short movies that showcased the latest tech. We're talking cinematograph rather than AI rendering, and a luxurious 50 seconds of film rather than the maximum 20 seconds allowed in Sora videos. Still, it's the same principle: This was an early peek at a shockingly new form of entertainment. According to legend — a legend cemented in Martin Scorcese's charming movie about a boy in the Lumiere era, Hugo (2011) — Arrival of a Train audiences ran in terror from a steam engine that appeared to be heading straight for them. A similar sense of panic clings to Sora — specifically, panic about what AI videos might do to further crack up our "post-truth" media landscape. The average viewer is already having a hard time judging what is real and what isn't, and the problem is worse if they're depressed . We're living in a golden age of conspiracy theories. The world's richest man already shared an AI deepfake video in order to help swing an election. What happens when Sora can make any prompt look as real as something you might see on the evening news — ready-made to spread on social media? OpenAI seems to think its watermarks, both visible and invisible , would prevent any shenanigans. But having downloaded dozens of Sora videos now, I can attest that the visible watermark is tiny, illegible, and fades into the background more often than not. It would be child's play for video editing software to clip it out altogether. So a world of deliberate disinformation, either from bad political actors or influencers trying to gin up their engagement, is barreling down on us like a train. Right? Wrong. Because as the actual story of the Lumiere movie tells us, humans are actually a lot smarter about new video entertainment than we give them credit for. Here's the thing about Arrival of a Train : the legend is almost certainly wrong. We have zero first-hand evidence that audiences fled the cinema, or even flinched when they saw a train approaching in a 50-second clip. Media studies professor Martin Loiperdinger calls the panic tale " cinema's founding myth ," and notes it can be traced back to books written in the second half of the 20th century. It's possible that authors conflated it with the Lumieres' later experimental 3-D version of Arrival of a Train , which screened a handful of times in 1934 and was — like a lot of 3-D movies to come — a novelty, and a commercial failure. So no, early audiences likely did not confuse a moving image of a train with a real train. Rather, they seem to have adapted to the whole concept of movies very quickly. Contemporary accounts of the Lumiere shorts (of which there were dozens; Arrival of a Train was not seen as a stand-out) are filled with excitement at the possibilities now unlocked. "Why, if this continues," wrote one newspaper, Le Courier de Paris , in 1896, "we could almost overcome memory loss, almost put an end to separation, almost abolish death itself." (Spoiler alert: we did not, although that sounds like a great premise for a 19th century Black Mirror episode.) Another periodical, La Science Francais , enthused about the "most unbelievably wonderful sorcery" that had created the cinematograph's "hallucinatory phantasmagoria." Even today's most tech-happy AI boosters would have a hard time endorsing Sora in the same terms. Because like most AI, Sora is often "hallucinatory" — and not in a good way. As I discovered in the moments that OpenAI servers weren't slammed, almost every Sora-generated video has some detail that looks wrong to human eyes. I typed a prompt for "journalist slams desk in frustration at not being able to access AI videos," then noticed a pen that appears and disappears in the journalist's hand. The mistakes went on and on. The novelty factor diminished fast. Friends were amused and a little freaked out by the realness of the swag in "hip-hop artist models a cozy Christmas sweater" — until we spotted that the rapper's gold chain had become a gold pony tail at the back, and the reindeer on the sweater had eight legs. Sora's response to "a funeral mass with circus clowns" pretty much nailed the prompt ... except that the colorful-wigged, red-nosed figure in the casket was missing his body. That's not to say Sora won't have an immediate impact on the moving image industry. Given less outlandish prompts, it could certainly replace a lot of the generic B-roll often seen in YouTube explainers and corporate training videos. (That's assuming OpenAI isn't going to be forced to cease and desist training Sora on internet video footage without the makers' permission.) It is to say that there's a significant barrier to entry when it comes to creating videos featuring anything unusual, anything you're trying to lie about, anything that Sora hasn't been specifically trained on. Rooting out all those mistakes, to the point where we won't immediately notice, can be an exercise in frustration. And perhaps these early mistake-filled AI videos will serve as a kind of mass inoculation — a small dose of the post-truth disease, one that effectively gives our brains AI-resistant antibodies that can better prepare us for a future epidemic of visual fakes. AI video needs to board the clue train I'm certainly less impressed with AI after I prompted Sora for a new take on the Lumieres' Arrival of a Train. I asked for a video where a locomotive does actually break through the projection screen at the end, crushing the cinematograph audience. But Sora couldn't even access the original 50-second short, which is way out of copyright and widely available online (including a version already upscaled by AI ). It hallucinated a movie called "Arrival of a tal [sic] train," apparently released in the year "18965." As for breaking a literal fourth wall, forget about it: despite multiple prompt-rewording attempts, Sora simply couldn't grok what I was asking. The projection screen remained intact. Still, this version of Sora may still be a harbinger of some terrifying visual fakery to come — perhaps when more robust AI video tech falls into the hands of a future D.W. Griffith. Two decades passed between Arrival of a Train and Griffith's infamous movie The Birth of a Nation (1915) — the first real blockbuster, a landmark in the history of cinema, which also happened to be a skewed take on recent American history stuffed with racist lies. Griffith's movie, protested at the time by the NAACP, was hugely influential in perpetuating segregation and reviving the Ku Klux Klan. So yes, perhaps Sora's release is slowly nudging us further in the direction of a fragmented post-truth world. But even in an AI-dominated future, bad actors are going to have to work overtime if they want to do more damage to society than the cinematograph's most dangerous prompts.While the process of contacting multiple financial institutions may seem daunting, Waterdrop Credit emphasized the importance of proactively addressing the issue to safeguard Mr. Zhang's credit reputation. By engaging in direct communication with these companies and providing proof of identity, Mr. Zhang was able to successfully resolve the misunderstanding and prevent any further unauthorized access to his credit information.
One of the key advantages of using CIBTC for barter trade is the opportunity it provides for businesses to access new markets and reach potential customers who may not have access to traditional payment methods. By participating in the barter trade network, businesses can showcase their products and services to a wider audience, thus increasing their sales and revenue.Seadrill (OTCMKTS:SDRLF) Trading Up 6.9% – Time to Buy?As the trading day progresses, market participants will be closely watching for any developments that could influence the market sentiment. The volatility in the morning trading session serves as a reminder of the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with investing in the Chinese stock market.