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nice verse in the bible President-elect Trump dished out a fiery Christmas message on Wednesday in which he wished a "Merry Christmas" to "Radical Left Lunatics," told the 37 prisoners whose death row sentences were recently commuted by President Biden to "GO TO HELL!" and more. "Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics, who are constantly trying to obstruct our Court System and our Elections, and are always going after the Great Citizens and Patriots of the United States but, in particular, their Political Opponent, ME. They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing," Trump declared on Truth Social. "Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky "souls" but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! We had the Greatest Election in the History of our... Alex NitzbergHaiti’s health minister loses his job after a deadly gang attack on a hospital in the capital

A lead organization monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel's “near-total blockade,” after the U.S. asked for its retraction, U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The move follows public criticism of the report from the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The rare public challenge from the Biden administration of the work of the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System, which is meant to reflect the data-driven analysis of unbiased experts, drew accusations from aid and human-rights figures of possible U.S. political interference. A finding of famine would be a public rebuke of Israel, which has insisted that its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the Hamas militant group and not against its civilian population. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 U.S. ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew earlier this week called the warning by the internationally recognized group inaccurate and “irresponsible." Lew and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza. Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of U.S. political interference in the world's monitoring system for famines. The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined comment. FEWS officials did not respond to questions. “We work day and night with the U.N. and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs — which are great — and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible,” Lew said Tuesday. USAID confirmed to the AP that it had asked the famine-monitoring organization to withdraw its stepped-up warning issued in a report dated Monday. The report did not appear among the top updates on the group's website Thursday, but the link to it remained active. The dispute points in part to the difficulty of assessing the extent of starvation in largely isolated northern Gaza. Thousands in recent weeks have fled an intensified Israeli military crackdown that aid groups say has allowed delivery of only a dozen trucks of food and water since roughly October. FEWS Net said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. FEWS was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and is still funded by it. But it is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. Its findings help guide decisions on aid by the U.S. and other governments and agencies around the world. A spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, Oren Marmorstein, welcomed the U.S. ambassador's public challenge of the famine warning. “FEWS NET - Stop spreading these lies!” Marmorstein said on X. In challenging the findings publicly, the U.S. ambassador "leveraged his political power to undermine the work of this expert agency,” said Scott Paul, a senior manager at the Oxfam America humanitarian nonprofit. Paul stressed that he was not weighing in on the accuracy of the data or methodology of the report. “The whole point of creating FEWS is to have a group of experts make assessments about imminent famine that are untainted by political considerations,” said Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and now a visiting professor in international affairs at Princeton University. “It sure looks like USAID is allowing political considerations -- the Biden administration’s worry about funding Israel’s starvation strategy -- to interfere." Israel says it has been operating in recent months against Hamas militants still active in northern Gaza. It says the vast majority of the area’s residents have fled and relocated to Gaza City, where most aid destined for the north is delivered. But some critics, including a former defense minister, have accused Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza’s far north, near the Israeli border. North Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its war with Hamas militants. Global famine monitors and U.N. and U.S. officials have warned repeatedly of the imminent risk of malnutrition and deaths from starvation hitting famine levels. International officials say Israel last summer increased the amount of aid it was admitting there, under U.S. pressure. The U.S. and U.N. have said Gaza’s people as a whole need between 350 and 500 trucks a day of food and other vital needs. But the U.N. and aid groups say Israel recently has again blocked almost all aid to that part of Gaza. Cindy McCain, the American head of the U.N. World Food Program, called earlier this month for political pressure to get food flowing to Palestinians there. Israel says it places no restrictions on aid entering Gaza and that hundreds of truckloads of goods are piled up at Gaza’s crossings and accused international aid agencies of failing to deliver the supplies. The U.N. and other aid groups say Israeli restrictions, ongoing combat, looting and insufficient security by Israeli troops make it impossible to deliver aid effectively. Lew, the U.S. ambassador, said the famine warning was based on “outdated and inaccurate” data. He pointed to uncertainty over how many of the 65,000-75,000 people remaining in northern Gaza had fled in recent weeks, saying that skewed the findings. FEWS said in its report that its famine assessment holds even if as few as 10,000 people remain. USAID in its statement to AP said it had reviewed the report before it became public, and noted “discrepancies” in population estimates and some other data. The U.S. agency had asked the famine warning group to address those uncertainties and be clear in its final report to reflect how those uncertainties affected its predictions of famine, it said. “This was relayed before Ambassador Lew’s statement,” USAID said in a statement. “FEWS NET did not resolve any of these concerns and published in spite of these technical comments and a request for substantive engagement before publication. As such, USAID asked to retract the report.” Roth criticized the U.S. challenge of the report in light of the gravity of the crisis there. “This quibbling over the number of people desperate for food seems a politicized diversion from the fact that the Israeli government is blocking virtually all food from getting in,” he said, adding that “the Biden administration seems to be closing its eyes to that reality, but putting its head in the sand won’t feed anyone.” The U.S., Israel’s main backer, provided a record amount of military support in the first year of the war. At the same time, the Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more access to aid deliveries in Gaza overall, and warned that failing to do so could trigger U.S. restrictions on military support. The administration recently said Israel was making improvements and declined to carry out its threat of restrictions. Military support for Israel’s war in Gaza is politically charged in the U.S., with Republicans and some Democrats staunchly opposed any effort to limit U.S. support over the suffering of Palestinian civilians trapped in the conflict. The Biden administration’s reluctance to do more to press Israel for improved treatment of civilians undercut support for Democrats in last month’s elections. ___ Sam Mednick and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.LG’s new lamp puts a mini garden inside your home

Victorious Wolves boss Vitor Pereira was anxious to play down comparisons between his immediate impact at Wolves and the tortuous bedding-in process fellow countryman Ruben Amorim is enduring at Manchester United. "It was not Vitor v Ruben, it was Wolves v Manchester United," said Pereira after his side's 2-0 win at Molineux. "Ruben is a top coach in my opinion and with time he will show his level." However, it is hard to ignore some basic mathematical realities. In two matches since replacing Gary O'Neil at Wolves, Pereira has guided his new club to two victories. Those six points are one fewer than Amorim has managed in his seven league games as head coach following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy's short spell as interim. Amorim's five defeats in his first 10 matches in all competitions is the worst performance by any new United manager since Walter Crickmer in 1932. He lost six out of 10. That is quite some statistic. Some may argue it is also completely meaningless. Crickmer was part of a bygone age when there was no such thing as a manager - twice he stepped up from his day job as club secretary to "take charge of team affairs", according to United's own website. Amorim is not a manager either. His title as coach was a change from the past, part of the collective responsibility the new structure instigated by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that has been put in place. But Amorim is the man who must find answers, starting with his side's continual inability to defend set-pieces. "Of course, we analyse every match and try to understand the spaces we can explore," was Pereira's almost sheepish reaction when asked if Wolves had targeted United goalkeeper Andre Onana by trying to score directly from a corner. Goalscorer Matheus Cunha had already given the game away speaking to Amazon Prime. "I meant to go for the goal," he said. "We trained that during the week." United must have been setting some kind of unwanted record in English top-flight football by conceding twice directly from corners in the space of a week given Son Heung-min did exactly the same thing for Tottenham in the EFL Cup. It would be embarrassing enough if that was the extent of United's set-piece woe. That would be to forget the two goals they conceded at Arsenal in that fashion, Nottingham Forest's early goal at Old Trafford earlier this month and, after that, Dean Huijsen's opener for Bournemouth on 22 December. "When you are jumping, the slightest touch - against Tottenham it was on the arm, today it was the back - makes it really hard to catch the ball," said Amorin. "That's it." Amorim dismissed Wolves' second goal, in the ninth minute of stoppage time, because it came at a point when United were chasing the game. That task was not made any easier by the dismissal of skipper Bruno Fernandes for the third time this season when, having already been booked in the first-half, clipped Wolves captain Nelson Semedo at the start of the second to trigger a second yellow, a red, and suspension for Monday's Old Trafford visit of Newcastle. "I am always frustrated with a red card but it can happen," said Amorim. "He wants to go for the ball but the other guy touches it first. There is contact but it is tough on him." If there was fortune in this success for Wolves it came only through the fact Cunha has yet to face the Football Association over a misconduct charge for his actions in the melee after the home defeat by Ipswich earlier this month. So crucial is the Brazilian to Wolves, it is difficult to imagine they would have achieved this success without him. The potential for a long ban hung as heavy over Molineux as the mist that remained throughout the evening. "He is a top player, a special player," said Pereira. "He knows he lost emotional control [after the Ipswich game] but he is a very good person." Pereira also spoke about the "energy" in his dressing room, the determination of his players and the connection with the supporters. This he has achieved, in less than a fortnight. For Amorim, the struggle goes on. After Newcastle comes a visit to Anfield and a meeting with old rivals Liverpool. Two years ago, United lost 7-0 there. They have already been beaten 3-0 at home by Arne Slot's side this season. The worry about what is to come from a period that also includes a trip to Arsenal in the FA Cup third round is palpable. "It's a tough moment and we are far from the end of this moment," said Amorim, who left Marcus Rashford out of his matchday squad for the fourth game running. "I manage but I haven't trained. They [players] need time to train because they are changing completely their way of playing. It is hard on them. "In this moment we just have to survive and win sometimes. Like I said on the first day, we have to fight these bad moments." Asked how long this might take, Amorim offer no cause for optimism: "I have no idea. No idea."DAEJEON (Reuters) : South Korean researchers have developed a lightweight wearable robot that can walk up to paraplegic users and lock itself onto them, enabling them to walk, maneuver obstacles and climb staircases. The Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said their goal is to create a robot that seamlessly integrates into the daily lives of individuals with disabilities. Kim Seung-hwan, who is himself a paraplegic and part of the KAIST team, demonstrated the prototype which helped him walk at a speed of 3.2 kph (2 mph), climb a flight of stairs, and take sideways steps to slide into a bench. “It can approach me wherever I am, even when I’m sitting in a wheelchair, and be worn to help me stand up, which is one of its most distinct features,” Kim said. The powered exoskeleton, named “WalkON Suit F1,” features an aluminum and titanium composition to weigh in at 50 kilograms (110 pounds) and is powered by 12 electronic motors that simulate the movements of human joints while walking. Park Jeong-su, another member of the KAIST team, said he was inspired by the movie “Iron Man.” “After watching Iron Man, I thought it would be great if I can help people with a robot in real life.” To ensure the user’s balance while walking, the robot is equipped with sensors on its soles and in the upper body that monitor 1,000 signals per second and anticipate the user’s intended movements. Lenses on the front of the robot work as eyes that analyze its surroundings, identify the height of stairs and detect obstacles to compensate for the lack of sensory ability of users with complete paraplegia, Park said. Kim Seung-hwan won the gold medal while wearing the WalkON Suit F1 in the exoskeleton category at Cybathlon 2024, which saw developers with varying physical disabilities demonstrate assistive robots in eight categories. “I wanted to tell my son that I also used to be able to walk. I wanted to share a diverse range of experiences with him,” said Kim.Korea IT Times celebrates its 20th anniversary with Insightful columns from local and international thought leaders. Following contributions from experts from all walks of life in July , August , September , and October , the column will continue in November and December. By Columnist Byoung Min Im Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy consisting of 13 states, three federations, and direct territories, and the Malay Peninsula and Borneo Island region is divided by the South China Sea. Its land borders are Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and its maritime borders are Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, but the federal government is in Putrajaya, and it is connected to Singapore about 700 meters across from Malaysia's Johor State, making it a treasure trove that can create a new Singapore in Malaysia. This crucial region in Malaysia connects the world from Northeast Asia to South Asia. Malaysia has had a Western culture of Britain since the 18th century, and in August 1957, it regained its territory ultimately from Britain and became independent. Since independence, Malaysia has recorded the best economy in Asia. The Malaysian government system is close to the British constitutional monarchy and Westminster system, and the legal system is based on British law and the United States. Malaysia has had a continuous GDP growth rate for about 50 years. As a country with an average growth rate of 6.5%, the Malaysian economy has traditionally depended on natural resources. Still, recently, various industries such as advanced science, tourism, trade, and medicine have grown rapidly, and it has a good image worldwide. It is a country that processes everything with rational thinking, and its religion is Islam. Still, it is a country that embraces freedom of religion, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity, under the constitution. If we go back in history, it is a place with a long history of mankind, with records of human settlements forming on present-day Malaysia about 40,000 years ago. Islam was introduced to Malaysia by Arab merchants around the 14th century. In the early 15th century, the first independent state on the Malay Peninsula, the Malacca Sultanate, was established in the current Malacca region. It was a very important region at the time in terms of geography, economy, and military, and it greatly prospered as an international trading port. Singapore was a state of Malaysia in 1963, known as Negeri Singapura. However, the Singapore government had many conflicts with the Malaysian government; the most significant reason was racial issues. If you look at Singapore alone, the population is primarily Chinese, but the Malays are the majority in Malaysia. Lee Kuan Yew, the prime minister of Singapore at the time, criticized the then-Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, who favored and favored the Malays. This led to racial riots in Singapore in 1964, and after much friction, the Malaysian government effectively expelled Singapore, and Singapore voluntarily withdrew under pressure from the government. After that, Singapore separated from Malaysia and became independent in August 1965. The two countries seemed to have a somewhat good relationship through exchanges, but in reality, there was a grudge that was difficult to wash away, and in 2002, there was even a war between the two countries. Now, Malaysia should not be conscious of the small territory of Singapore and should create a new Singapore that the next generation wants in the new Malaysian state of Johor. Here are six ways the new Malaysia can outperform today's Singapore. Today, Singapore is one of the world's most developed and prosperous economies, with various revenue sources that contribute significantly to its economic growth. Singapore's primary revenue sources are First trade and export ports and logistics. Singapore is one of the busiest ports in the world, and its revenue from serving as a major global shipping and logistics hub accounts for about 8% of Singapore's GDP. Malaysia is building a new quantum AI silicon belt and port in Johor. Second, Singapore exports a wide range of goods, including electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, refined petroleum products, and food. This is also something Malaysia can build in Johor, a more extensive and more competitive state than Singapore. Third, Singapore is a global financial hub that attracts companies and investors worldwide with financial services. The financial services sector also accounts for a significant portion of the country's GDP, with numerous multinational banks, investment firms, and foreign financial institutions, including banking, insurance, asset management, and investment services. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regulates the financial markets to ensure stability and innovation in banking, fintech, and capital markets. Malaysia also has the best economic credit record in Asia, with honesty and integrity, following the British and American systems. Malaysia is trustworthy because of its trustworthiness. Fourth, Singapore is said to have a highly developed manufacturing sector, with major industries including electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical. However, the Singapore government has problems with high prices, such as selling real estate land lease rights. It also generates significant corporate tax revenue thanks to its status as a business-friendly tax haven for government revenue (taxes and duties). The vast and nature-friendly Malaysian state of Johor is a competitive and attractive place for pharmaceutical and biotechnology, as it has cheap land compared to expensive Singapore. Fifth, In the oil and energy sector, Singapore is one of the world's leading crude oil refiners and is a center for energy trading, with numerous oil and gas companies contributing to exports and revenues. Recently, the energy sector, including natural gas and renewable energy, is striving to become a leader in sustainable energy. This is possible because Korea and Malaysia can actively cooperate in the most advanced technologies in the oil refining and shipping ports sectors. Sixth, It is famous for its national wealth funds, the Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and Temasek Holdings. These funds manage national savings and investments to generate revenue for the government, contributing to Singapore's long-term economic stability. These funds are used to become a global leader in technology and innovation. However, the Malaysian government is also investing heavily in research and development (R&D) and is striving to position itself as a hub for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, fintech, and green technology. Malaysia's technology sector is growing rapidly, and companies in various digital fields, such as software AI, quantum computers, and semiconductors, are expanding their businesses. The young brains produced in Malaysia every year can outpace Singapore. Frankly, historically speaking, if Malaysia is the main, Singapore is the sub. The next generation of young Malaysians can make a new leap forward centered on the state of Johor in Malaysia. Johor means “jewel.” The entire state area is about 20,000 square kilometers, and the population is about 3 million. While Singaporeans enjoy shopping in Johor Bahru on weekends, the development of communication technology allows smartphone communication anytime and anywhere. Now, Johor is an administratively very important place in Malaysia, and it should not just act as a hinterland for Singapore, but should become a center that leads Malaysia, with a population of about 30 million, as a leader. The next generation of Malaysians will be able to make a leap forward because Johor is like a “jewel.”

A step-by-step guide to renovating a neglected gardenBy MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now National Politics | Republicans scramble to fill JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat National Politics | Gaetz’s withdrawal highlights how incoming presidents often lose Cabinet nominees National Politics | What to know about Pam Bondi, Trump’s new pick for attorney general National Politics | Democrat Bob Casey concedes to Republican David McCormick in Pennsylvania Senate contest Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana.

Protest over Bihar PSC exam paper leak, police lathi charge job aspirantsNoneRestaurant near Guwahati serves 'beef' in chicken biryani, stirs controversy

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], December 25 (ANI): On the occasion of Good Governance Day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel carried forward the tradition of honouring the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with renewed vigour. Reflecting on Atal Ji's inspirational words, "Chalo Jalaye Deep Wahan, Jahan Abhi Bhi Andhera Hai" (Let us light a lamp where darkness still prevails), the Chief Minister emphasized the state's commitment to bringing transparency, accountability, and progress to every corner of Gujarat. Also Read | Delhi Metro Completes 22 Years of Operation: DMRC Says 'Its Mission To Transform Urban Transportation, Enhancing Quality of Life of Residents of Delhi NCR'. Marking the day, CM Patel unveiled several new initiatives on Wednesday, aimed at the state's vision of effective governance, ensuring that the benefits of development reach all sections of society, according to a press release. The "Mari Yojana" unified digital platform was launched, providing citizens with detailed information on over 680 schemes of the Central and State Governments. Developed by the Information Department, this portal empowers citizens, including those in remote areas, to access scheme-related information conveniently from their homes. Also Read | The Satanic Verses: Salman Rushdie's Controversial Book Returns to India After 36-Year Ban by Rajiv Gandhi, Selling at Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi (Watch Video). According to a press release, the launch of 'SWAGAT 2.0' Auto Escalation Metrics and the SWAGAT Mobile App introduced an efficient system for handling citizen representations and complaints. These are categorized into GREEN, YELLOW, and RED channels based on severity or complexity, with specific resolution timeframes assigned to each. If a designated officer fails to respond within the given timeframe, the representation automatically escalates to the next higher authority for prompt action. Additionally, dissatisfied complainants can provide feedback, triggering automatic escalation for further review. The SWAGAT Mobile App improves convenience by enabling citizens to submit representations online and track the status of their applications effortlessly. The Chief Minister inaugurated several initiatives by the Department of Science and Technology, including the Semiconductor Training Center established under the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gandhinagar. This ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marketing, and Packaging) Training Center aims to equip 1,000 youths with specialized skills in the semiconductor sector over the next five years. Under Bharat Net Phase-2, the Science and Technology Department, through Gujarat Fiber Grid Network Ltd. (GFGNL), is working to improve connectivity in rural areas. The initiative includes linking 40,000 rural government institutions to the state capital, Gandhinagar, providing 25,000 Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections under the "Har Ghar Connectivity" initiative, and leasing 30,000 kilometres of optical fibre cables through the "Fiber-to-Far Flung Towers" project. These efforts will connect over 1,000 rural towers, enhancing mobile coverage and connectivity quality in the state's remote rural areas. The country's first space observatory, established at the Regional Science Center in Bhuj by the renowned American company "Plane Wave Instruments," has become operational. In addition, the largest CDK24 telescope in the country, now available for use by citizens and students, has been launched. Additionally, the Government of India's digital learning platform i-GOT has introduced Gujarat's state page on the Karmayogi portal. This initiative provides government employees in the state with access to training modules in the Gujarati language on the i-GOT Karmayogi portal. On this occasion, Citizen Civic Centers have been made operational in 34 municipalities across the state to facilitate easy access to government services for citizens. The Department of Labour and Employment, through the State Government's Skill Development University, has distributed 100 drones to 19 ITIs across the state for drone pilot training. As part of the Good Governance Day celebrations, the state government has launched the "Connect Gujar@t" campaign to ensure that the people are informed about various citizen-centric initiatives through different mediums. Through Connect Gujar@t, people will be made aware of the government's actions and various programs, and the government will also receive accurate feedback regarding any shortcomings. On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's vision of Surajya Kranti (Good Governance Revolution) has been transformed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi into technology-driven good governance through the dimensions of smart governance, m-governance, and e-governance. He mentioned that through the digitization of governance by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has become easier to deliver rights to the most marginalized sections of society, lifting 25 crore people out of poverty. The Chief Minister regarded this year's Good Governance Day as a harmonious occasion, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the 75th anniversary of the Constitution, and the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Chief Minister stated that the "SWAGAT Online" program initiated by Narendra Modi has addressed numerous critical issues for common people. He conveyed that the "SWAGAT 2.0" mobile app would prove to be extremely useful for grievance redressal and feedback mechanisms. For good governance, he urged both citizens and the government to remain committed to their duties and work towards realizing the goal of "Sauno Sath, Sauno Vikas." In the presence of the Chief Minister, MoUs were signed by Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) with esteemed organizations such as the National Center for Good Governance (NCGG), Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA), Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPT), and Art of Living. The Minister of Forests and Environment Mulubhai Bera, Minister of State for Cooperation Jagdish Vishwakarma, Minister of State for Forests and Environment Mukesh Patel, Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department Kamal Dayani, along with senior government officials, officers and employees from various departments, and leaders from various organizations were present at this occasion. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pause

‘Unsustainable burden’ of everyday theft forces family to close 13-year-old Portage clothing storeOutside of megacap technology companies, I'd argue that data analytics specialist Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 2.09% ) is the hottest name in the artificial intelligence (AI) realm. Palantir marked a lot of milestones this year -- most recently the company's entrance into the Nasdaq-100 index. While Palantir's early days as a public company were pretty rocky, the company has really come into its own over the last two years. Of course, Palantir can credit its current growth trajectory to unprecedented demand for AI. But with shares gaining 764% since its initial public offering (IPO), is now a smart time to invest in Palantir? Below, I'm going to break down Palantir's foray into the AI landscape and take a close look at the company's tailwinds. Moreover, I'll detail a thorough valuation analysis to help you determine if buying Palantir stock is right for you. Why does Palantir stock keep climbing? In April 2023, Palantir launched its fourth software suite, called the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). AIP has been nothing short of a smash for Palantir, helping the company quickly penetrate the private sector and win business over legacy enterprise software incumbents. Palantir's revenue diversification (away from its almost exclusively public sector base up until two years ago) resulted in better margins, consistent profitability, and excess cash flow. Furthermore, throughout much of 2024 Palantir has partnered with several names in big tech including Microsoft , Oracle , Meta Platforms , and Amazon . The primary focus of many of these partnerships is to marry their respective cloud computing infrastructures with AIP, specifically in classified environments with the U.S. military and adjacent defense operations. In other words, while Palantir continues to make headway in its commercial segment, the company has quietly found new avenues to reaccelerate growth in its legacy government business . Palantir's success in the AI landscape has led to a flurry of buying activity in the stock from a combination of retail investors and notable institutional funds. While this all appears like a recipe that makes Palantir a no-brainer investment, the company's run may be becoming disconnected with reality when it comes to valuation. Valuing Palantir is tough Valuing Palantir is pretty challenging. In the graph below, I've benchmarked the company against a cohort of other enterprise software companies using the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio. At a P/S of 73, Palantir is approximately 3 times more expensive than the next closest comparable stock in this cohort. However, I personally don't see the P/S ratio as all that useful. To me, profitability is a more important measure of a company's growth as it illustrates the ability to reinvest into the business and fund future projects. While Palantir does generate positive net income and free cash flow, the company's profitability profile is nowhere near mature. To add some context here, Palantir currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 403, and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 167. In either case, it's simply not appropriate to measure Palantir using traditional earnings-based valuation methodologies. PLTR PS Ratio data by YCharts . One final line of defense is to look at the PEG ratio . The PEG ratio can be useful because it accounts for earnings growth over the course of several years. A general rule of thumb is that a PEG ratio above 1 signals the stock could be overvalued. Right now, Palantir's PEG ratio is 3.5. By all accounts, Palantir is an expensive stock to own at its current valuation. Moreover, the stock's current valuation expansion (as seen above) isn't over, and the momentum doesn't appear to be slowing down. Is Palantir stock a buy right now? While Palantir stock is undoubtedly pricey, I don't see it as a stock to ignore. The company has done an impressive job diversifying its business by penetrating the private sector, while also identifying creative ways to reaccelerate its government business through the power of strategic partnerships with big tech and other defense contractors. I do see Palantir as a company that will remain a leader in the AI revolution, and so I think it's likely that even better days are ahead for investors. I think the best strategy regarding an investment in Palantir is to dollar-cost average over a long-term time horizon, as well as looking to bolster a position by taking advantage of sell-offs and valuation resets.

KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, representatives of the military-industrial complex and developers of missile systems at the Kremlin in Moscow. Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. People are also reading... Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” In this photo taken from a video released Friday, a Russian serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speaks to journalists Friday during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine. Evgeniy Maloletka, Associated Press Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. From tuberculosis to heart disease: How the leading causes of death in America have changed From tuberculosis to heart disease: How the leading causes of death in America have changed We're all going to die someday. Still, how it happens—and when—can point to a historical moment defined by the scientific advancements and public health programs available at the time to contain disease and prevent accidents. In the early 1900s, America's efforts to improve sanitation, hygiene, and routine vaccinations were still in their infancy. Maternal and infant mortality rates were high, as were contagious diseases that spread between people and animals. Combined with the devastation of two World Wars—and the Spanish Flu pandemic in between—the leading causes of death changed significantly after this period. So, too, did the way we diagnose and control the spread of disease. Starting with reforms as part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, massive-scale, federal interventions in the U.S. eventually helped stave off disease transmission. It took comprehensive government programs and the establishment of state and local health agencies to educate the public on preventing disease transmission. Seemingly simple behavioral shifts, such as handwashing, were critical in thwarting the spread of germs, much like discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines, and increased access to deliver them across geographies. Over the course of the 20th century, life expectancy increased by 56% and is estimated to keep increasing slightly, according to an annual summary of vital statistics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000. Death Records examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see how the leading causes of death in America have evolved over time and to pinpoint how some major mortality trends have dropped off. Smith Collection/Gado // Getty Images Infectious diseases lead causes of death in America According to a report published in the journal Annual Review of Public Health in 2000, pneumonia was the leading cause of death in the early 1900s, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 deaths. By the time World War I ended in 1918, during which people and animals were housed together for long periods, a new virus emerged: the Spanish Flu. Originating in a bird before spreading to humans, the virus killed 10 times as many Americans as the war. Many died of secondary pneumonia after the initial infection. Pneumonia deaths eventually plummeted throughout the century, partly prevented by increased flu vaccine uptake rates in high-risk groups, particularly older people. Per the CDC, tuberculosis was a close second leading cause of death, killing 194 of every 10,000 people in 1900, mainly concentrated in dense urban areas where the infection could more easily spread. Eventually, public health interventions led to drastic declines in mortality from the disease, such as public education, reducing crowded housing, quarantining people with active disease, improving hygiene, and using antibiotics. Once the death rates lagged, so did the public health infrastructure built to control the disease, leading to a resurgence in the mid-1980s. Diarrhea was the third leading cause of death in 1900, surging every summer among children before the impacts of the pathogen died out in 1930. Adopting water filtration, better nutrition, and improved refrigeration were all associated with its decline. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks killed or paralyzed upward of half a million people worldwide every year. Even at its peak, polio wasn't a leading cause of death, it was a much-feared one, particularly among parents of young children, some of whom kept them from crowded public places and interacting with other children. By 1955, when Jonah Salk discovered the polio vaccine, the U.S. had ended the "golden age of medicine." During this period, the causes of mortality shifted dramatically as scientists worldwide began to collaborate on infectious disease control, surgical techniques, vaccines, and other drugs. Death Records Leading causes of death tip toward lifestyle-related disease From the 1950s onward, once quick-spreading deadly contagions weren't prematurely killing American residents en masse, scientists also began to understand better how to diagnose and treat these diseases. As a result, Americans were living longer lives and instead succumbing to noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The risk of chronic diseases increased with age and, in some cases, was exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Cancer and heart disease shot up across the century, increasing 90-fold from 1900 to 1998, according to CDC data. Following the post-Spanish Flu years, heart disease killed more Americans than any other cause, peaking in the 1960s and contributing to 1 in 3 deaths. Cigarette smoking rates peaked at the same time, a major risk factor for heart disease. Obesity rates also rose, creating another risk factor for heart disease and many types of cancers. This coincides with the introduction of ultra-processed foods into diets, which plays a more significant role in larger waistlines than the increasing predominance of sedentary work and lifestyles. In the early 1970s, deaths from heart disease began to fall as more Americans prevented and managed their risk factors, like quitting smoking or taking blood pressure medicine. However, the disease remains the biggest killer of Americans. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death and rates still indicate an upward trajectory over time. Only a few types of cancer are detected early by screening, and some treatments for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma—the most common type of brain cancer—have also stalled, unable to improve prognosis much over time. In recent years, early-onset cancers, those diagnosed before age 50 or sometimes even earlier, have seen a drastic rise among younger Americans. While highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyles may contribute to rising rates, a spike in cancer rates among otherwise healthy young individuals has baffled some medical professionals. This follows the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. At its peak, high transmission rates made the virus the third leading cause of death in America. It's often compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, though COVID-19 had a far larger global impact, spurring international collaborations among scientists who developed a vaccine in an unprecedented time. Public policy around issues of safety and access also influences causes of death, particularly—and tragically—among young Americans. Gun control measures in the U.S. are far less stringent than in peer nations; compared to other nations, however, the U.S. leads in gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (around 2 in 3 are homicides, and 1 in 3 are suicides), and deaths from opioids remain a leading cause of death among younger people. Globally, the leading causes of death mirror differences in social and geographic factors. NCDs are primarily associated with socio-economic status and comprise 7 out of 10 leading causes of death, 85% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, one of the best health measures is life expectancy at birth. People in the U.S. have been living longer lives since 2000, except for a slight dip in longevity due to COVID-19. According to the most recent CDC estimates, Americans' life expectancy is 77.5 years on average and is expected to increase slightly in the coming decades. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Death Records and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Canva Be the first to knowIt was in December 2021 that I wrote a piece titled 'Future of Warfare' published here, sequel to a series of write-ups on warfare that covered the technical, technological and theoretical aspects of warfare. Discussion included the shift of traditional construct of warfare broadly from 'Limited' to 'Total' to 'Full Spectrum' warfare. 'Full Spectrum' conflict being limited and/or full employment of all "hybrid" capabilities - including non-traditional tools like networks (including social media - SMNs), media in all forms, electronic and digital tools, space and nuclear leverages, etc - in symmetric and/or asymmetric military, perceptual, virtual and societal domains, etc. This discussion concluded that: a) waging war today may seem "easier" as distant killing by remote-controlled machines (killer robots, drones, etc), in a more abstract combat, makes violence more tolerable and palatable, hence more likely. We are seeing this in Gaza; b) uneven technological innovation among states may cause misperceptions about adversary's military capabilities (and actual balance of power), leading to miscalculations. Such misperceptions and potential miscalculations might increase fear, uncertainty and risk. This is especially true for the nuclear domain; c) autonomous, AI-driven machines might run amok at some stage. Human casualties - in a US Army wargame - caused machines to escalate in unexpected ways that humans couldn't control; d) greater investment by private sector in AI-specific R&D has weakened state control of talent. The entailing price reduction has caused proliferation of these dual-purpose technologies in surveillance, drones, encryption, AI and genomics, accessible to unwanted, state and non-state actors; e) social media-savvy Millennials and Generation Z under the globe-sweeping currents of 'populism' are defending citizenry against state control, upending the national security paradigms; f) cyber-crime in the technology-rich environment under hacker-soldiers is becoming ubiquitous threat to states, multinational companies and even influential individuals; g) given that there is no agreed code of conduct for conflict over the 'four global commons' (outer space, high seas, atmosphere and Antarctica), the potential conflict may be unregulated, hence may spin out of control. The nom-de-gore assigned to the prevalent mode of warfare is "Hybrid Warfare". It loosely means the application of military and non-military force (especially media including SMNs, IT, espionage, surveillance, propaganda and perception management, etc) to target military and non-military components of an adversary. In relational terms, war in Europe and the broader Sino-Russia-Iran-North Korea versus the US comflict (competition plus conflict) has and would hamper global economic potential, gravitating the global economic order towards Asia, which has remained relatively unscathed during the Corona pandemic and the ravages of recent wars. States monopoly over violence will weaken, due to outsourcing of war to public-private enterprise, and cheaper availability of tools of warfare to non-state actors and proxy forces. As a consequence, the less capable, weak and less sophisticated global south and other actors would resort to asymmetric capabilities, employing what is called the "gray-zone tactics" - using incremental aggression, information warfare, proxy forces and covert special operations, without tripping adversary's large-scale conventional response. Large scale wars between conventional armies, as we have known, may phase out. Environmentally, rising temperatures would negatively affect health, economic productivity and basing of military forces, necessitating stand-off application of military force, as preferred option. Water scarcity, greater urbanization and weather-induced migrations would enhance violence. Such war fighting requires substantial security resources. Mega cities complicate differentiating military and civilian targets, particularly for air power and other stand-off weapons. The widespread destruction in the Middle East by the Israeli Air power and other stand-off munitions is incidental as well as intentional. "Foreign Subversion", involving non-state actors targeting states, creating ungoverned spaces to enhance bargaining leverage for the sponsor would proliferate, as the preferred norm. Russian subversion of Ukraine and Georgia, Pakistani subversion of Afghan state, TTP subversion of Pakistan and Iranian subversion in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Saudi Arabia are cases in point. The emergence of "Virtual Societal Warfare" enabled by advanced IT/SMNs, morphing into cyber-aggression, in order to manipulate and disrupt economic and social order has and would increase in scope. Non-attributable misinformation and disinformation and fake content these days is a harbinger of things expected. "Battlefield Swarming" using low-cost technological tools would possibly address the asymmetry between belligerents to some extent, as cited earlier. Iran's response to Israel more recently is an example. The emerging technologies - robotics, AI, unmanned systems, data manipulation and networking, etc - would need compatible military policies, doctrine, operational strategy, training and force-development strategy. AI is one such disruptive technologies with no state monopolising its access. Cyberspace is beginning to become the primary arena of espionage with more data digitisation and cloud-based storage. There is already talk about possible deployment of space-based weapons including nukes. For Pakistan, the way to go is: 1) forming academic-industry centers of excellence jointly under Academia, JSHQ and SPD to develop organisational structures expandable into force structures; 2) explore and develop civil and military-grade AI; 3) build an outline space structure, translatable into space force; 4) deter and respond to virtual, societal and perceptual warfare; 5) continue technical collaboration with China/allied countries; and, 6) actively pursue legislation regarding global commons. During the Sino-India stand-off in Aksai Chin in October 2022, this scribe maintained the near impossibility of a broader Sino-India war due to 'difference in potential'. However, with Pakistan, India will continue its policy of attempted politico-military coercion, incremental operational/tactical escalation, economic strangulation and diplomatic legitimacy for its behaviour. India will continue to employ extensive perception-management tools like SMNs, deep and shallow fakes, AI-driven "social bots", etc. Our strategic conundrum of preparing for future war, and inability to completely break from conventional mode, under a challenged economic situation, can be resolved through a bold and aggressive nuclear policy. Through increased range, precision and stand-off in the air-delivered, sea-launched or even ground-based weapons, Pakistan can comfortably maintain a credible second-strike alternative-platform capability. Modi and his hysterical mob know no other language. It is now or never! Continues COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourKwanzaa across Chicago encourages unity, strength: 'It's relevant to all people'

Drones Attack Defense Plant In Russia's Tambov RegionKYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, representatives of the military-industrial complex and developers of missile systems at the Kremlin in Moscow. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. People are also reading... Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” In this photo taken from a video released Friday, a Russian serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speaks to journalists Friday during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. From tuberculosis to heart disease: How the leading causes of death in America have changed From tuberculosis to heart disease: How the leading causes of death in America have changed We're all going to die someday. Still, how it happens—and when—can point to a historical moment defined by the scientific advancements and public health programs available at the time to contain disease and prevent accidents. In the early 1900s, America's efforts to improve sanitation, hygiene, and routine vaccinations were still in their infancy. Maternal and infant mortality rates were high, as were contagious diseases that spread between people and animals. Combined with the devastation of two World Wars—and the Spanish Flu pandemic in between—the leading causes of death changed significantly after this period. So, too, did the way we diagnose and control the spread of disease. Starting with reforms as part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, massive-scale, federal interventions in the U.S. eventually helped stave off disease transmission. It took comprehensive government programs and the establishment of state and local health agencies to educate the public on preventing disease transmission. Seemingly simple behavioral shifts, such as handwashing, were critical in thwarting the spread of germs, much like discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines, and increased access to deliver them across geographies. Over the course of the 20th century, life expectancy increased by 56% and is estimated to keep increasing slightly, according to an annual summary of vital statistics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000. Death Records examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see how the leading causes of death in America have evolved over time and to pinpoint how some major mortality trends have dropped off. Infectious diseases lead causes of death in America According to a report published in the journal Annual Review of Public Health in 2000, pneumonia was the leading cause of death in the early 1900s, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 deaths. By the time World War I ended in 1918, during which people and animals were housed together for long periods, a new virus emerged: the Spanish Flu. Originating in a bird before spreading to humans, the virus killed 10 times as many Americans as the war. Many died of secondary pneumonia after the initial infection. Pneumonia deaths eventually plummeted throughout the century, partly prevented by increased flu vaccine uptake rates in high-risk groups, particularly older people. Per the CDC, tuberculosis was a close second leading cause of death, killing 194 of every 10,000 people in 1900, mainly concentrated in dense urban areas where the infection could more easily spread. Eventually, public health interventions led to drastic declines in mortality from the disease, such as public education, reducing crowded housing, quarantining people with active disease, improving hygiene, and using antibiotics. Once the death rates lagged, so did the public health infrastructure built to control the disease, leading to a resurgence in the mid-1980s. Diarrhea was the third leading cause of death in 1900, surging every summer among children before the impacts of the pathogen died out in 1930. Adopting water filtration, better nutrition, and improved refrigeration were all associated with its decline. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks killed or paralyzed upward of half a million people worldwide every year. Even at its peak, polio wasn't a leading cause of death, it was a much-feared one, particularly among parents of young children, some of whom kept them from crowded public places and interacting with other children. By 1955, when Jonah Salk discovered the polio vaccine, the U.S. had ended the "golden age of medicine." During this period, the causes of mortality shifted dramatically as scientists worldwide began to collaborate on infectious disease control, surgical techniques, vaccines, and other drugs. Leading causes of death tip toward lifestyle-related disease From the 1950s onward, once quick-spreading deadly contagions weren't prematurely killing American residents en masse, scientists also began to understand better how to diagnose and treat these diseases. As a result, Americans were living longer lives and instead succumbing to noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The risk of chronic diseases increased with age and, in some cases, was exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Cancer and heart disease shot up across the century, increasing 90-fold from 1900 to 1998, according to CDC data. Following the post-Spanish Flu years, heart disease killed more Americans than any other cause, peaking in the 1960s and contributing to 1 in 3 deaths. Cigarette smoking rates peaked at the same time, a major risk factor for heart disease. Obesity rates also rose, creating another risk factor for heart disease and many types of cancers. This coincides with the introduction of ultra-processed foods into diets, which plays a more significant role in larger waistlines than the increasing predominance of sedentary work and lifestyles. In the early 1970s, deaths from heart disease began to fall as more Americans prevented and managed their risk factors, like quitting smoking or taking blood pressure medicine. However, the disease remains the biggest killer of Americans. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death and rates still indicate an upward trajectory over time. Only a few types of cancer are detected early by screening, and some treatments for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma—the most common type of brain cancer—have also stalled, unable to improve prognosis much over time. In recent years, early-onset cancers, those diagnosed before age 50 or sometimes even earlier, have seen a drastic rise among younger Americans. While highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyles may contribute to rising rates, a spike in cancer rates among otherwise healthy young individuals has baffled some medical professionals. This follows the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. At its peak, high transmission rates made the virus the third leading cause of death in America. It's often compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, though COVID-19 had a far larger global impact, spurring international collaborations among scientists who developed a vaccine in an unprecedented time. Public policy around issues of safety and access also influences causes of death, particularly—and tragically—among young Americans. Gun control measures in the U.S. are far less stringent than in peer nations; compared to other nations, however, the U.S. leads in gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (around 2 in 3 are homicides, and 1 in 3 are suicides), and deaths from opioids remain a leading cause of death among younger people. Globally, the leading causes of death mirror differences in social and geographic factors. NCDs are primarily associated with socio-economic status and comprise 7 out of 10 leading causes of death, 85% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, one of the best health measures is life expectancy at birth. People in the U.S. have been living longer lives since 2000, except for a slight dip in longevity due to COVID-19. According to the most recent CDC estimates, Americans' life expectancy is 77.5 years on average and is expected to increase slightly in the coming decades. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Death Records and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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