首页 > 

what does 9/9 mean

2025-01-24
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Filip Hronek is expected to be out until the end of January as he recovers from a lower-body injury. General manager Patrik Allvin issued a statement Tuesday saying Hronek underwent a successful procedure for the undisclosed ailment and is expected to miss about eight weeks. He says the 27-year-old Czech blueliner will not require surgery for an upper-body injury. Hronek hasn't played since going into the endboards hard late in Vancouver's 5-4 loss to the Penguins in Pittsburgh last Wednesday. He's been paired with captain Quinn Hughes for much of the season and registered eight points (one goal, eight assists) in 21 games. The Canucks (13-7-3) have dealt with a litany of notable absences this season, including all-star goalie Thatcher Demko, who remains sidelined with a knee injury, and star centre J.T. Miller, who's on an indefinite leave for personal reasons. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.what does 9/9 mean

The 39th president of the United States has died at 100. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the news with a post on X, stating the son of the former president said his father had died around 3:40 p.m. ET in his Plains home. People across the country and the world are reflecting on former President Jimmy Carter and his life, which was full of achievements. He died at the age of 100 at his longtime home in Plains, Georgia . While the 39th president will be remembered for setting a national energy policy and working on peace accords, it was his establishment of an agency aimed at responding to disasters that continues to impact many communities today. Since the country’s formation in the 1700s, local governments have faced disasters in which the needed response has been considered too great to handle. The federal government started providing aid and assistance in the early 1800s, but it wasn’t until Carter’s signing of Executive Order 12127 that an agency was solely tasked with responding to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. Before Carter was sworn in on Jan. 20, 1977, the country was reeling from natural disasters, with poor governmental responses that only made the catastrophes worse. In 1962, an extratropical cyclone slammed into the mid-Atlantic and became one of the most destructive storms ever to impact the states. The year 1964 brought the most powerful earthquake to ever strike North America, with a 9.2-magnitude quake shaking the ground underneath Alaska. Over the next five years, communities along the Gulf Coast would face double disasters from major hurricanes Betsy and Camille. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks as he tours homes being built by Habitat for Humanity in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in May 2008 during rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by James Edward Bates/Biloxi Sun Herald/Tribune News Ser All these disasters caused extensive devastation and were responsible for killing hundreds of people, but a common theme emerged – poorly coordinated responses . According to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum , the president had universal support from governors and interest groups to form an agency to combat the problem. With the political will in hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was born on April 1, 1979. The agency was tasked with emergency management response and merged the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, Federal Preparedness Agency, Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, Federal Insurance Administration, U.S. Fire Administration and half-a-dozen other programs. Gordon Vickery , a highly respected firefighter, who rose through the ranks to become the fire chief in Seattle, was selected as interim head of the then-2,400-person-strong agency. In the hours before the agency’s ramp-up, an accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania overshadowed the initial days of the agency and drew attention to inadequate preparedness surrounding highly volatile energy plants. Dangerous and now deadly severe weather is sweeping through the South Saturday evening, just hours after multiple tornadoes left damage in the southeastern part of Texas. Bill Bunting, Deputy Director of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center join LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to give the latest weather update. The event would trigger one of many expansions of powers for the newly-formed agency. Carter signed Executive Order 12148 , which directed FEMA to develop a plan to respond to nuclear emergencies. Now, the agency, once solely tasked with emergency management responses, also gained civil defense responsibilities. These changes were far from the last for the agency with a then-$600 million budget. The position of leading FEMA appeared to become a preverbal carousel with three leaders in just two months. Stability among government ranks took a further hit when Carter lost his reelection campaign to former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. The changing of the guard at the White House did little to stop the trend of temporary appointments, as 1981 brought three additional heads to the agency. In addition to the change at the top, a political landslide gave the Regan administration the political power to change course on many aspects of government operations and that included FEMA. According to an agency history , developments in Cold War diplomacy contributed to more wartime hazard planning. The leader at the time, retired Army officer Louis Giuffrida, made it to be the longest-serving head of FEMA, but questionable actions and congressional investigation ultimately led to his resignation in 1985. The agency once again fell into the pattern where it was anyone’s gig, but a disaster known as Hurricane Hugo in 1989 served as a reminder of the importance of a functioning FEMA. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper called the ongoing disaster "catastrophic," as the state manages its worst flooding in a century. Search and rescue teams from 19 states, as well as the federal government, are on the ground trying to help residents. Cell phone service is down, and the governor's office reports more than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters so far. FEMA's Acting Director of Response and Recovery, Keith Turi, joins LiveNOW from FOX with the latest operation details. Hugo was the strongest storm to strike the U.S. coastline in two decades and came ashore in the Carolinas as a Category 4 hurricane with estimated winds of at least 135 mph. The storm produced $11 billion in damage, and FEMA was in charge of the response. A government history of the time period stated: "FEMA, the agency in charge of the response process, received most of the blame; FEMA, not Hurricane Hugo, was referred to as the real disaster." Again, the agency was the subject of congressional ridicule, with U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings calling FEMA "the sorriest bunch of bureaucratic jackasses I’ve ever known." The administration of President George H.W. Bush pledged to set the course right on FEMA and searched high and low for its next head. The administration put their faith in Wallace Stickney from New England. No one could foresee that the agency would be tasked with its largest disaster in more than two years – Hurricane Andrew . The major hurricane made landfall on Aug. 24, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane in South Florida. A NOAA reanalysis in 2004 upgraded the costliest hurricane ever to a Category 5. Similar to Hurricane Hugo, the response to the catastrophe was considered inadequate and had local, state and even some federal officials asking if the agency’s response made the disaster even worse. A federal investigation into the agency’s response found that plans for disasters were not adequate, local governments were overwhelmed and the movement of materials and personnel into the impact zone was too slow. The administration of President Bill Clinton brought a slew of new faces into the federal government, including James Lee Witt. The Arkansan knew a thing or two about emergency services and was appointed as the sixth permanent administrator of FEMA. Similar to other leaders of the agency, Mother Nature did not provide a grace period for Witt, as hurricanes, massive floods and West Coast earthquakes left few areas of the country unaffected. One of the largest disasters was the Great Flood of 1993, which impacted nearly a dozen states and caused damages of more than $15 billion across the Midwest. During the recovery, officials lauded FEMA’s response and confidence grew in Witt being the right person to lead the agency. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter remains in home hospice after a series of hospital stays. Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of Social Sciences at Boston University joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow to discuss Carter's legacy. A series of disasters, including the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, proved the agency was at the beckoning of any municipality. Not long after the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, Clinton raised the FEMA position to cabinet-level status, underscoring the growing importance and reliability of the agency. During a 1998 interview , Witt was asked what adjustments were made that enabled outsiders to view FEMA in a more positive light versus the ridicule and scorn that had plagued it. "We worked hard at creating a more customer-focused agency," Witt said. "A major initiative was to provide customer service training to all FEMA employees, including senior management. This was a huge undertaking." After Witt’s reign, the agency would go on to have many ups and downs, including what news organizations reported was a botched response to Hurricane Katrina , which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. The major storm resulted in more than 1,300 fatalities and a damage figure that topped a 2023-cost-adjusted price tag of $191 billion. REPORT: 90% OF COUNTIES IN US EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 1 DISASTER IN PAST DECADE On significant anniversaries, FEMA leaders usually take to social media to reflect on the agency’s beginning, but on a daily basis, trainees are exposed to a message that reflects upon Carter’s role in its establishment. Located within FEMA training documents is a pledge that the commitment bestowed on the agency by Carter will never change. The passage reads: "On April 1, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the Executive Order that created the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). From day one, FEMA has remained committed to protecting and serving the American people. That commitment to the people we serve and the belief in our survivor-centric mission will never change." In many ways, the agency continues to follow one of the first lines ever uttered by the 39th president. During his inaugural address on that cold, 28-degree day in January, Carter boldly told the crowd of thousands: "To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others." The line was part of a 1,228-word speech that the White House Historical Association said was focused on rejecting mediocrity and restoring trust in the federal government. Read more of this story from FOX Weather.Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in OregonStock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close even as S&P 500 ekes out another record

8th African Nations Championship: Super Eagles team B to miss qualifier match against Ghana over fundsTeam Velocity® Announces Latest Breakthrough Technology with Automated Deal Alerts and Customer ScoringJimmy Carter: president, global mediator, Nobel laureate

Disability ministers will ‘champion’ inclusion and accessibility, says TimmsAmazing summer of incredible gigs will give multi-billion pound boost to economy – which show are you most excited for?

When Christ Church Santa Fe needed someone to lead its youth programs, Joni Brenneisen applied because she was convinced no one was better qualified for this high-energy, full-time role. It mattered little to Joni that she had zero seminary training. And with all due respect to Mark Twain’s mind over matter musings, let’s just say Joni didn’t fit the target audience demographic. The pastors at Christ Church gently said no. It might be the only time that Joni has been denied. Instead, they released Joni into the Santa Fe community. They gave her the title of faithful presence coordinator. The job description probably is one sentence and reads: GO BE JONI. There are many wonderful, go-getters in our community. But you’ll find few as positively pushy and relentlessly resourceful as Joni. More importantly, she teaches everyone to get involved personally with problems that may never go away. Backpacks in bright colors smothered the floor. Gallon-sized, plastic food bags formed a makeshift mound on a tiny table. In another corner were shoe boxes, neatly stacked on metal shelves. “Take a shoe box. Take two,” she says. I didn’t respond, instead pivoting to the question of why we were standing in a small, stuff-filled fire station no longer in use. “So, what do you need? Why are we here?” I recall saying. Joni wore a vintage Mickey Mouse cap. One of the backpacks filled with kid goodies had a smiling Minnie Mouse. But this wasn’t a Disney moment. My questions perplexed Joni in the way we all get when searching for the right words. The Santa Fe New Mexican wrote about Joni nearly two years ago in a story entitled “Faithful presence coordinator’s tireless cheer and work brighten days for some in Santa Fe.” Former reporter Michael Tashji’s opening paragraphs explains how a retired business owner who sold Hallmark cards became the caretaker of a nondescript, one-garage fire station: Then-Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Paul Babcock walked into Christ Church Santa Fe one day (in the summer of 2021), rattled a set of keys and told Joni Brenneisen she could have them. “He gave me Fire Station No. 6,” said Brenneisen, who organizes community aid programs from the decommissioned station — including food and clothes for the needy, sleeping bags for the homeless, running shoes to Native American children and backpacks full of school supplies to students. Such a smart move by city leaders. From this neighborhood bureau affectionately known as Joni's Fire Station No. 6, first responders and community connectors drop by to pick up food or other items for those who can’t get immediate help anywhere else. Clothes and shoes for women hang out in one room, suits for men in another, and backpacks and toys for children spread everywhere. And there are those shoe boxes. This column isn’t necessarily about Joni, although she makes a compelling storyline. So many good folks step up daily to help neighbors in need. Spend time with The New Mexican’s 10 Who Make a Difference section and be humbled by the extraordinary volunteerism in our communities. Or perhaps you witnessed the smiles on Saturday when La Fonda Foundation held a family resource summit for hospitality workers in need, offering food, immunizations, connections to assistance programs, and a visit from Santa Claus. Or notice how the Empty Stocking Fund grows daily with contributions meant to help individuals living within 50 miles of Santa Fe with rent payments, bills, and other vital needs. ( The New Mexican has been a longtime supporter of the Empty Stocking Fund and publishes a list of donors throughout December.) Joni asked again. Would I take a shoe box? That’s when I realized the problem wasn’t Joni being persistent. Writing a check? Yeah, that’s easy. Reaching out to someone needing help? That takes a personal commitment. I took a shoe box. Inside was a large jar of soup, a package of cooked rice and other personal items. On the short drive from Fire Station No. 6 to the office, my strategically spinning mind wondered what to do next. Within minutes of parking, I found someone who recognized the importance of the shoe box. There was no ceremony. No staff photographer or even a selfie to capture my sudden burst of humanity. Just a quick exchange and a slight nod. Maybe the lesson here is we all can GO BE JONI. Maybe Joni’s well-worn cap is a motif and message. How, by getting out of our comfort zone, we can make it a small world after all.It’s a testament to the energy and drive of Elon Musk that he’s now a key adviser to an incoming president of the United States that he helped elect this year — and this is a side project for him. What stamp-collecting is to most us — something we make time for when not engaged in our day jobs — influencing the future direction of the United States government is to Musk. This is not to minimize his significance. Far from it. The revolutionary businessman represents a distinctive and unexpected contribution to the Trump coalition. From the perspective of a decade ago, if you had said the most visionary and wealthy entrepreneur on the planet was at the right hand of a Republican president-elect, promising to cut a couple of trillion of dollars from the federal budget and bring massive innovation to the economy, you might have assumed Paul Ryan or someone in his ideological camp had gotten elected. The former Speaker of the House and vice-presidential nominee was a relentless advocate of entrepreneurship, economic dynamism and a slimmed-down government. Within the GOP, the rise of Trump the populist put the political squeeze on the likes of Ryan, whose business-oriented, free-market creed suddenly felt stale and out-of-touch. Now, a version of that worldview has returned via Musk. To be sure, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is a different animal. He has an in-your-face persona, a bit of a Silicon Valley version of Trump. He’s been radicalized on immigration, becoming a fierce opponent of Joe Biden’s open border. He’s cultural warrior seeking to destroy what he calls “the woke mind virus.” And he is hated with a passion by the other side, which would shut him down if it could. The Biden SEC has notably clashed with him, and is trying to sanction him for how he acquired Twitter. All of this, and especially that acquisition, have made him a populist hero in his own right, even as he champions an economic dynamism that would have thrilled conventional Republicans from the pre-Trump era. Trump contains multitudes. Part of him is an inward-looking protectionist who believes, almost no matter what, that we are getting ripped off by foreign countries. Part of him is also a champion of endless possibility. Part of him is a tribune of the working class. Part of him is also inclined to make the stock market the economic measure of all things. He’ll talk of American carnage, and of an American golden age. This is a protean mix, and subject to change depending on circumstances and who is around Trump at any given point. A danger of populism is that it can succumb to pure nostalgia and become overly defensive, giving in to a distrust of technology, big companies and economic change. So long Musk is a major player in Trump’s world, there is a strong counter to this tendency. Musk is the paladin of a future ripped from the covers of paperback science-fiction novels circa 1950 — rocket ships, futuristic cars, robots and giant tunnel-boring machines. He has almost single-handedly changed Republican attitudes toward Big Tech. He’s proven that you can be a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and not be woke or a cowardly fellow-traveler with left-wing politics. There’s still plenty of contempt of and distrust for tech companies on the right, but now it is Democrats who talk more of ideas like repealing Section 230 to hobble social-media companies. At the same time, Musk’s DOGE has made talk of cutting government fashionable again on the right, when this priority had mostly lost out to other concerns since the advent of the Trump era. The hope that DOGE will cut as much as $2 trillion from the budget is unrealistic, but any savings and efficiencies would be welcome. Who knows how effective Musk will be in his role as a change agent confronting government, the most difficult institution to change? Sending a man to Mars might be easier. But Musk brings a boundless optimism and can-do verve to the effort, and he’s a healthy new ingredient to Trump’s populist mix. Twitter: @RichLowryJapanese monkeys living in Launceston will be prevented from reproducing due to concerns of disease and inbreeding within the group. For more than 40 years, visitors to Launceston’s City Park have been able to view the macaques frolicking about in an enclosure. But by 20250 it is expected there will be no monkeys left in the park. In 2000, it was revealed the herpes B virus had spread through the monkeys, although previous discussions of euthanising the troop were politically unpopular. Now there are increasing concerns about a lack of genetic diversity within the group. The City of Launceston has decided to desex the male members of the macaque troop to prevent the animals from breeding. It is expected that the desexing of the troop will take two years to complete. The council said while it was grateful to receive the monkeys, by today’s standards they would not keep these animals in an enclosure. They also said it was important to take into consideration the needs of the monkeys and the greater community. On Thursday afternoon, a council meeting voted 10-1 in favour of sterilisation, after hearing there were signs of miscarriages and stillbirths in the troop. “We know the Launceston community cares very much about the welfare of the City Park monkeys,” Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said. “That’s a sentiment that’s also very much shared by both councillors and staff. “The inability to introduce new genetic stock and the serious impacts on their health and wellbeing means we need to begin to consider the future of the troop. “[The] decision was a difficult one, but it prioritises the welfare of the monkey troop so we can keep them as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible. Mr Garwood said he would write to the mayor of Ikeda following the decision. Councillor Andrea Dawkins said if the city was offered this same opportunity today the city would be unlikely take it. “There is a lot of interest in these monkeys as there should be because there is so much interest in the way humans react with animals and we take it for granted they are a part of our lives,” she said. “Communities have changed and animals in captivity for the enjoyment of humans is some; thing we’ve moved through.” Originally published as Launceston council to sterilise iconic Japanese macaques

Revolutionary Shift! Game Pass Unlocks Monster Hunter Wilds

( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish Pharmaceutical giant, is facing a securities class action lawsuit in the U.S. alleging the company misled investors about its business practices in China, a critical market that accounts for roughly 13% of its revenue. Hagens Berman has opened an investigation and urges investors in AstraZeneca American Depositary Shares who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. Class Period: Feb. 23, 2022 – Dec. 17, 2024 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Feb. 21, 2025 Visit: Contact the Firm Now: ... 844-916-0895 AstraZeneca (AZN) Securities Fraud Class Action: The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims AstraZeneca made false and misleading statements and omitted material information regarding the company's exposure to legal and regulatory risks in China. Specifically, the complaint alleges that AstraZeneca: The lawsuit highlights a series of events that began to unfold in late October 2024. On October 30th, AstraZeneca announced that Mr. Wang was cooperating with an ongoing investigation by Chinese authorities, without providing further details. This news sent AstraZeneca's share price down by approximately 3%. On November 5th, the Chinese business news outlet Yicai reported that dozens of AstraZeneca China executives had been implicated in the investigation, with some facing prison sentences exceeding 10 years. Yicai also cited an industry insider who attributed the company's compliance issues to "extreme pressure" placed on sales representatives to meet ambitious sales targets. This news further impacted AstraZeneca's stock price, causing a decline of around 7%. On November 12th, AstraZeneca confirmed Mr. Wang's detention and disclosed that the PRC investigation included allegations of medical insurance fraud, illegal drug importation, and personal information breaches. More recently, on December 18th, the Financial Times reported that AstraZeneca executives anticipate a revenue decline in China due to the arrests of Mr. Wang and other senior executives. The report cited an AstraZeneca executive who stated that "doctors are unwilling to interact with our salespeople and prescribe our medicines" following the investigation. This news resulted in a nearly 4% drop in AstraZeneca's share price. “If the allegations are substantiated, we believe AstraZeneca failed to adequately disclose the company's exposure for its operations in China,” said Reed Kathrein, an attorney leading the firm's investigation. If you invested in AstraZeneca and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now )) If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the AstraZeneca investigation, read more ) Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding AstraZeneca should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email ... . About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw . Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 MENAFN24122024004107003653ID1109028418 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Neal Maupay incurred the wrath of Everton fans once more after taking aim at his parent club on social media. French striker Maupay joined the Toffees from Brighton in the summer of 2022, but found the net just once after his big-money move. He was allowed to join Brentford on loan last term, and is spending the current campaign out on loan again - this time with Marseille . The 28-year-old is set to join the French club permanently at the end of the season, and has already scored more goals in just 11 games than in a full season with Everton. His parent club have been struggling, with no player scoring more than three league goals for Sean Dyche's side. Everton lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest on Sunday to leave themselves three points clear of the drop zone. That gap could narrow even further if Ipswich beat Chelsea on Monday night, and Maupay appeared to enjoy Everton's struggles. "Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile," the striker wrote . A number of Everton fans took the bait, with some pointing to his dismal goalscoring record at Goodison Park. "Craig Dawson scored more goals for us than you did mate," wrote one, referencing the Wolves defender's brace of own goals in a meeting this season. Another pointed to the fact that former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was able to match Maupay's tally of one goal for the club. While he only has two goals this term, Maupay added four assists in his last four Ligue 1 games after breaking into Roberto De Zerbi's starting line-up at Stade Velodrome. Three of those four matches ended in wins for Marseille, who sit second behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. What did you make of Neal Maupay's comments? Havr your say in the comments section Everton lost their first four Premier League matches of the season but had been beaten just twice in the next 13 outings before Nottingham Forest came to Goodison Park on Sunday. High-flying Forest came away with all three points, though, with goals from Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White sending them second. "At the end of the day, you know I thought their centre-forward Chris Wood, who I have worked with before, was excellent," Everton boss Dyche said after the defeat. "He didn’t get many touches of the ball but his work ethic, his belief, his consistency, his physicality – and then he gets his reward with a goal. "That can often be the difference. I've spoken to our centre-forwards about it because I want them to learn and continue to learn about what it is. It can't all be beautiful, it can't all be pure. I thought he was excellent doing the ugly, hard yards today. I think that gave them a focal point, which they've had all season. "I was speaking to our players about how I consider them to be top players and that's just doing the hard yards, you know, really working hard to fight and graft and work for your team and then your rewards come. That's something we've got to continually learn because we’ve got to find a way of scoring goals." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Vikings will be without cornerback Stephon Gilmore against FalconsHome | SA govt calls on Moz to commit to urgent dialogue amid protests The government of South Africa has called on all parties in Mozambique to commit to an urgent dialogue following the proclamation of the final electoral results by the Constitutional Council. The International Relations Ministry says Pretoria has noted with concern the ongoing violence and the subsequent disruptive protests in reaction to the announcement . The Highest Court in Mozambique declared Daniel Chapo of FRELIMO as the winner of the 9 October election. Minister Ronald Lamola says the South African government will continue working with SADC and other multilateral agencies in supporting a lasting solution. “South Africa calls on all parties to commit to an urgent dialogue that will heal the country and set it on a new political and developmental trajectory. Furthermore, South Africa is ready to assist Mozambique in any manner to facilitate this dialogue. “ VIDEO | A journalist in Mozambique Bright Sonjela reports that citizens continue to protest with some burning cars. The impact of the protests. SABC © 2024The NASA project NEOWISE, which has given astronomers a detailed view of near-Earth objects -- some of which could strike the Earth -- ended its mission and burned on reentering the atmosphere after over a decade. On a clear night, the sky is full of bright objects -- from stars, large planets and galaxies to tiny asteroids flying near Earth. These asteroids are commonly known as near-Earth objects , and they come in a wide variety of sizes. Some are tens of kilometers across or larger, while others are only tens of meters or smaller. On occasion, near-Earth objects smash into Earth at a high speed -- roughly 10 miles per second (16 kilometers per second) or faster. That's about 15 times as fast as a rifle's muzzle speed. An impact at that speed can easily damage the planet's surface and anything on it. Impacts from large near-Earth objects are generally rare over a typical human lifetime. But they're more frequent on a geological timescale of millions to billions of years. The best example may be a 6-mile-wide (10-kilometer-wide) asteroid that crashed into Earth, killed the dinosaurs and created Chicxulub crater about 65 million years ago . Related Smaller impacts are very common on Earth, as there are more small near-Earth objects. An international community effort called planetary defense protects humans from these space intruders by cataloging and monitoring as many near-Earth objects as possible, including those closely approaching Earth. Researchers call the near-Earth objects that could collide with the surface potentially hazardous objects . NASA began its NEOWISE mission in December 2013. This mission's primary focus was to use the space telescope from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer to closely detect and characterize near-Earth objects such as asteroids and comets. NEOWISE contributed to planetary defense efforts with its research to catalog near-Earth objects. Over the past decade, it helped planetary defenders like us and our colleagues study near-Earth objects. Detecting near-Earth objects NEOWISE was a game-changing mission, as it revolutionized how to survey near-Earth objects. The NEOWISE mission continued to use the spacecraft from NASA's WISE mission , which ran from late 2009 to 2011 and conducted an all-sky infrared survey to detect not only near-Earth objects but also distant objects such as galaxies. The spacecraft orbited Earth from north to south, passing over the poles, and it was in a Sun-synchronous orbit , where it could see the Sun in the same direction over time. This position allowed it to scan all of the sky efficiently. The spacecraft could survey astronomical and planetary objects by detecting the signatures they emitted in the mid-infrared range. Humans' eyes can sense visible light , which is electromagnetic radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers. When we look at stars in the sky with the naked eye, we see their visible light components. However, mid-infrared light contains waves between 3 and 30 micrometers and is invisible to human eyes. When heated, an object stores that heat as thermal energy. Unless the object is thermally insulated, it releases that energy continuously as electromagnetic energy, in the mid-infrared range. This process, known as thermal emission , happens to near-Earth objects after the Sun heats them up. The smaller an asteroid, the fainter its thermal emission. The NEOWISE spacecraft could sense thermal emissions from near-Earth objects at a high level of sensitivity -- meaning it could detect small asteroids. But asteroids aren't the only objects that emit heat. The spacecraft's sensors could pick up heat emissions from other sources too -- including the spacecraft itself. To make sure heat from the spacecraft wasn't hindering the search, the WISE/NEOWISE spacecraft was designed so that it could actively cool itself using then-state-of-the-art solid hydrogen cryogenic cooling systems . Operation phases Since the spacecraft's equipment needed to be very sensitive to detect faraway objects for WISE, it used solid hydrogen, which is extremely cold, to cool itself down and avoid any noise that could mess with the instruments' sensitivity. Eventually the coolant ran out, but not until WISE had successfully completed its science goals. During the cryogenic phase when it was actively cooling itself, the spacecraft operated at a temperature of about -447 degrees Fahrenheit (-266 degrees Celsius), slightly higher than the universe's temperature, which is about -454 degrees Fahrenheit (-270 degrees Celsius). The cryogenic phase lasted from 2009 to 2011, until the spacecraft went into hibernation in 2011. Following the hibernation period, NASA decided to reactivate the WISE spacecraft under the NEOWISE mission, with a more specialized focus on detecting near-Earth objects, which was still feasible even without the cryogenic cooling. During this reactivation phase , the detectors didn't need to be quite as sensitive, nor the spacecraft kept as cold as it was during the cryogenic cooling phase, since near-Earth objects are closer than WISE's faraway targets. The consequence of losing the active cooling was that two long-wave detectors out of the four on board became so hot that they could no longer function, limiting the craft's capability. Nevertheless, NEOWISE used its two operational detectors to continuously monitor both previously and newly detected near-Earth objects in detail . NEOWISE's legacy As of February , NEOWISE had taken more than 1.5 million infrared measurements of about 44,000 different objects in the solar system. These included about 1,600 discoveries of near-Earth objects. NEOWISE also provided detailed size estimates for more than 1,800 near-Earth objects. Despite the mission's contributions to science and planetary defense, it was decommissioned in August. The spacecraft eventually started to fall toward Earth's surface, until it reentered Earth's atmosphere and burned up on Nov. 1. NEOWISE's contributions to hunting near-Earth objects gave scientists much deeper insights into the asteroids around Earth. It also gave scientists a better idea of what challenges they'll need to overcome to detect faint objects. So, did NEOWISE find all the near-Earth objects? The answer is no. Most scientists still believe that there are far more near-Earth objects out there that still need to be identified, particularly smaller ones. To carry on NEOWISE's legacy, NASA is planning a mission called NEO Surveyor . NEO Surveyor will be a next-generation space telescope that can study small near-Earth asteroids in more detail, mainly to contribute to NASA's planetary defense efforts. It will identify hundreds of thousands of near-Earth objects that are as small as about 33 feet (10 meters) across. The spacecraft's launch is scheduled for 2027. Toshi Hirabayashi is an associate professor of aerospace engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology . Yaeji Kim is a postdoctoral associate in astronomy at University of Maryland . This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

Warm, colorful lights sparkle in nearly every window. Christmas carols herald the season of family get-togethers, parties, and other celebrations. Classmates seem to talk of nothing else but the holidays. For many people, especially children facing the loss of a parent, grandparent or sibling, the holidays are a painful reminder of their loss. There are ways to help children through the season while dealing with their loss. West Virginia has the highest concentration of bereaved children with 13.7% – or 1 in 7 children – projected to experience the loss of a parent or sibling by age 18, according to the 2024 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model. Nationwide, the model indicates approximately 8% of children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18 – roughly 1 in 12 children. No matter how or why a parent or sibling dies, the demise hits family members the same and the holidays seem to magnify that loss. Why does grief seem worse during the holidays? “You don’t just lose someone once,” explained Cody Frye, Wyoming County Schools’ Respect and Protect coordinator as well as the counselor at the Alternative Education School. “You lose them over and over, and sometimes many times a day. “The holidays are hard because kids are losing their parent every holiday as they’re reminded by the empty chair at the table.” Frye earned his bachelor and master degrees in Human Services and Counseling at Lindsey Wilson College, then received his school counseling certificate at Marshall University. Currently, he is completing his leadership certification at West Virginia State University. Now in his fifth year as a school counselor, he began his career at Logan Mingo Area Mental Health in Logan County. “I worked as a day trainer in the Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities Waiver program, where I helped clients develop life skills so they can reach the highest level of independence in their life,” Frye said. “Once I graduated with my BA, I accepted a new position at Logan Mingo Area Mental Health as a substance abuse counselor/case manager. I worked in a total of four substance abuse rehabs and worked with hundreds of clients,” he said. “For example, some of the programs were for felons only (in an eight-month out-patient program), eight-week out-patient for men/women, 28-day residential in-patient for men only. “I heard stories every day from people in recovery and how their choices affected their children, so it sparked a desire to work with children more than adults as prevention. “I then took a job at KVC once I earned my masters degree. I worked as a Safe at Home facilitator/therapist.” Currently, Frye spends his days working with students from kindergarten through 12th grade and, as the county Respect and Protect coordinator, visits every school at least once a year and provides extra support to students being bullied. “It’s important to let children experience their emotions and feel what they are feeling,” Frye emphasized. “If we shut them down, then they’ll never understand how to process their emotions. “As an adult or a teacher, it’s important to help students label their emotions, because a lot of kids don’t know the emotion they are feeling. “For example, when you see a student sad, you can say, ‘Hey, you are sad. Hey, you’re frustrated.’ “Identifying what emotion they’re feeling is important, but it’s important to let them process their emotions.” While children and adults grieve differently, age also factors into how children mourn a family member’s loss. “My daughter is one year old,” he said. “Turning Minnie Mouse on works wonders, but Minnie Mouse wouldn’t work for an adult. “I’ve also learned that you don’t always need to have the magical words to improve their emotions. I utilize a lot of play therapy. I’ll bring a student into my office and, through Legos, puppets, or other social emotional toys, students will share how they are feeling and, often times, solve their own problems through play therapy. “In regard to a senior in high school, if you treat the student like a human being in a non-judgmental lens and help them understand you’re in their corner and you want to help them reach their full potential in life, they will often respect you, and a trusting relationship is developed. “A senior last year was walking out of the school counselor office, and he turned around and said, ‘Mr. Frye, you treat me different.’ “I said, ‘What do you mean?’ “He said, ‘You treat me with respect and don’t judge me.’ “I told the student, ‘I’d prefer to look out the windshield instead of the rearview mirror’.” Adults often try to protect children from their own sadness, but adults who express their emotions allow children to more readily express theirs. “I think our world has normalized hiding their emotions,” Frye said. “If a child sees their guardian sad, it gives them permission to express their emotions. “Both of my own children, Tucker and Tatum, know when to give dad a hug or mom a hug. Both of my boys will often pray for one another when they know something bad is happening. “The bottom line, it’s okay to show your emotions. I don’t think a kid needs to hear parents screaming at each other.” For most people, time eases the grief. However, the grieving process is different for each individual. “I believe there is no expiration date to grief,” Fyre said. “Grief is like a stone. You carry it in your pocket. You always notice. You always feel it. You know it’s there; but, as time goes on, you get stronger and, it’s not that the stone goes away, it gets lighter. “While school counselors cannot provide formal diagnoses, they can offer support and guidance,” he explained. “If a child's grief significantly impacts his or her daily life, such as causing excessive absences from school or severe emotional distress, seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor may be beneficial. “School counselors are here to listen,” Frye noted. “We encourage parents and guardians to remind their students that it’s okay to talk to a counselor. Let's work together to normalize seeking help.”

OASIS, Coldplay and Dua Lipa will help drive a predicted £7billion into the UK economy next year. The British acts’ huge tours are contributing to what people in the industry are dubbing the biggest year ever for live music. Advertisement 21 Britain is set for a huge year of gigs and music tours in 2025 from stars including Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Oasis The massive appetite for tickets means concerts in the UK will help trounce the £6.1billion brought to our economy in 2023. And it is even ready to top the boost given to Britain by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour this summer, which is now the highest-grossing tour of all time. Leading talent manager Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, whose company Chosen Music has worked with many international artists, said: “People are embracing the live music experience more than ever before. “With the rise of social media, many younger people are spending more time online and less time together in person. Advertisement READ MORE ON MUSIC FAT CHANCE Huge Brit DJ reveals he'll NEVER release another album & has lost love for music SLADE ON THE SLIDE Rows & tragedy saw Slade go from UK's biggest band to playing tiny gigs “As a result, the demand for shared, memorable, communal experiences, such as live concerts, has never been higher. “The UK’s 2025 live music calendar is already packed with huge names such as Dua Lipa , Oasis, Katy Perry, Sabrina Carpenter, Coldplay, Gracie Abrams, Teddy Swims and Billie Eilish , all contributing to the anticipation for what will surely be a landmark year for live music. “Moreover, record companies are recognising the power of live shows to boost music sales by offering bundled concert tickets with album purchases, catering to passionate fans eager for exclusive experiences. “With so much competition in the market, artists are being forced to be more creative with their offerings and their performances, ensuring their live shows are an unforgettable experience.” Advertisement Most read in Music BLANKED SPACE Taylor Swift 'ghosted' £1,000 tartan gift from Scots council be the one Dua Lipa looks loved up with Callum Turner in first snap since engagement CHLOE SO GLOWY Chloe Bennet shows some leg in split yellow skirt at LA premiere of new show Love lessons Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher opens up about family after brief split from wife Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo , 50 Cent , Sam Fender and Iron Maiden have already helped drive huge revenues with their shows for 2025. R&B stars including Nelly , Sean Paul, Ashanti and Eve will also be helping to boost takings with nostalgia-driven shows. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin stops show in Sydney to save young boy in heartwarming A music industry source said: “Billions have already been generated in ticket sales, but there will be even more added from hotels, travel, food and drink. “It is becoming an increasingly lucrative market and 2025 will be the biggest year ever for live music. Advertisement “The industry is braced for a bumper year.” Billy Joel 21 Billy Joel is coming to Edinburgh and Liverpool Credit: Getty THE Piano Man will play his only Europe shows of 2025 in Edinburgh on June 7 and in Liverpool on June 21 – his first appearances in both cities for 46 years. Iron Maiden 21 Iron Maiden’s Run For Your Lives world tour includes shows in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Glasgow Credit: Getty Advertisement MARKING 50 years as a group, Iron Maiden’s Run For Your Lives world tour includes shows in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Glasgow in June. Billie Eilish 21 Billie Eilish will bring her Hit Me Hard And Soft tour to Glasgow and Dublin Credit: Getty TOURING the nation in July for the Hit Me Hard And Soft tour, beginning at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro. Her final night is at Dublin’s 3Arena on July 27. Advertisement Katy Perry 21 Katy Perry is back in Britain in October Credit: Getty SEVEN years after her last arena tour, she is back here in October for the Lifetimes Tour, hitting Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham and London. Imagine Dragons 21 Imagine Dragons will bring their LOOM World Tour to London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for two nights in July Credit: Getty ONE of the most popular pop-rock bands around, they will bring their LOOM World Tour to London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for two nights in July, with support from Declan McKenna. Advertisement Scissor Sisters 21 The Scissor Sisters will reunite for a UK tour in May Credit: Getty CELEBRATING the 21st anniversary of their self-titled debut album, the American Take Your Mama group will reunite for a UK tour in May. Dua Lipa June 20 – 27 21 Dua Lipa is doing a stadium tour Credit: Getty Advertisement SHE sold out her Future Nostalgia arena tour last year and this time is upgrading to stadiums. Dua has two nights at London’s Wembley Stadium and will play a further two dates at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, plus another at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. It follows her Glasto headline performance this summer. Coldplay Aug 22–Sep 8 Advertisement 21 Coldplay are the first band ever to sell out ten nights at Wembley Stadium in a single year Credit: Getty THEY are the first band ever to sell out ten nights at Wembley Stadium in a single year – and they follow six sold-out shows there in 2022 on the same tour. Coldplay will kick off the final swansong of their Music Of The Spheres world tour with two nights at Hull’s Craven Park, before their residency in London. The tour has grossed more than £1billion. Advertisement Olivia Rodrigo Jun 24–Jul 1 21 On top of many other shows, Olivia Rodrigo will headline her own day at BST Hyde Park in London Credit: Getty SHE only completed the Guts World Tour in October, but Olivia will now keep the party going into 2025. As well as two rescheduled shows in Manchester, she will top the bill at Dublin’s Marlay Park and is heavily rumoured to be a headliner at Glastonbury. Advertisement The singing sensation, who has had hits including Deja Vu, Vampire and Drivers License, will also headline her own day at BST Hyde Park in London. Robbie Williams May 31–Jun 14, Aug 23 21 Robbie Williams will play two nights at London’s Emirates Stadium and concerts in Manchester, Bath and Dublin in 2025 Credit: Getty ROBBIE will be embarking on a huge tour, 30 years after his departure from Take That. Advertisement Fresh from his biopic Better Man hitting cinemas, he will headline Newcastle’s inaugural Come Together Festival on June 4. Then there will be two nights at London’s Emirates Stadium and concerts in Manchester, Bath and Dublin. Sabrina Carpenter March 3 -14, Jul 5 21 Popstar Sabrina Carpenter is at the height of her fame Credit: Getty Advertisement AFTER an incredible 21 weeks at number one this year, Sabrina is ready to take the UK by storm with her Short 'N' Sweet tour. She sold out all eight arena shows in Dublin, Birmingham, London Glasgow Manchester as well as a 65,000 ticket headline concert at BST Hyde Park in July. The Espresso singer's tour which began in the states in September has received rave reviews. Lana Del Rey Jun 23-Jul 4 Advertisement 21 Lana Del Rey will play her first stadium tour here in the UK Credit: Getty THE brooding American will play her first stadium tour here in the UK. She will start in Cardiff, before shows in Glasgow, Liverpool and London, most of which has sold out. Fans will also get to hear new music from the six-time chart-topper as she will release her record, The Right Person Will Stay, in May before hitting the road. Advertisement Oasis Jul 4-Aug 17, Sep 27-28 21 The Oasis reunion announcement made headlines around the world IT is the reunion that no one thought would ever happen. Noel and Liam Gallagher have put aside their 16-year rift to kick off Oasis’s comeback at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on July 4. Advertisement They then play shows in Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin, and return to London in September for two more shows following a stint in the US. Bruce Springsteen May 14-20 and Jun 4, 7 21 Hundreds of thousands of fans are ready to turn out for three Bruce Springsteen shows Credit: Getty HE has been in music for more than 50 years and The Boss will continue to bring in the crowds. Advertisement Hundreds of thousands of fans are ready to turn out for three shows at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena and a further two nights at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium. Bruce will be accompanied by his E Street Band for the shows. Usher 21 Usher will play ten nights at London’s O2 Arena Credit: Getty THE American R&B superstar will play ten nights at London’s O2 Arena between March and May as part of his Past Present Future tour. Advertisement Busted v McFly 21 Busted will go head-to-head against McFly - pictured Busted's James Bourne Credit: Getty THE two Noughties pop-rock groups will go head-to-head on a 32-show tour across the UK and Ireland, kicking off in September. Kylie Minogue 21 Kylie Minogue fans will be looking forward to May Credit: Getty SIX years after her last tour, the Aussie pop princess will return to the stage for her Tension Tour, in the UK from May to early June. Advertisement ELO 21 ELO will bow out permanently in July Credit: Getty - Contributor JEFF LYNNE’s Electric Light Orchestra will bow out of music for ever in July, with gigs in Birmingham and Manchester and their final show at BST Hyde Park on July 13. Read more on the Scottish Sun GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ VAX HORROR Striken Scots 'gaslit' by health bosses after complications from Covid vaccine Olly Murs 21 Olly Murs will tour the length and breadth of the country from April to May Credit: Getty X FACTOR’s cheeky chappy will tour the length and breadth of the country from April to May before a packed schedule of summer shows from June to August. Advertisement Sam Fender 21 Sam Fender headlines London Stadium on June 6 Credit: Getty HIS album People Watching will be out in February, which gives fans plenty of time to learn it before he headlines London Stadium on June 6, and three nights at Newcastle’s St James’ Park later in the month.Man accused in the burning death of a woman on a New York subway appears in courtNEW DELHI: The political faceoff over BR Ambedkar, triggered by Amit Shah 's remarks in Rajya Sabha during the Constitution debate, has spilled over from Parliament to the streets with opposition parties trying to make the most of the controversy while the BJP launching a coordinated counter offensive to control the damage. Launching an all-out offensive on the issue, the Congress today took out protest march in several states demanding the resignation of Amit Shah. The grand-old-party has announced to take up the issue of "insult" to B R Ambedkar at its CWC meeting to be held in Karnataka's Belagavi from December 26 and has promised a "strong follow-up" action. "Over the last week, Congress party workers all over India have been participating in agitation. Today, all district committees are holding demonstrations and will be submitting a memorandum to the President of India, through the district collectors, demanding the resignation of home minister Amit Shah," Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said. In Lucknow, Bahujan Samaj Party workers held protests in parts of the state demanding Amit Shah's resignation. BSP chief Mayawati had earlier described Shah's remarks as deeply hurtful to Ambedkar's followers. Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has announced to organize 'PDA Charcha (discussion)' programme across all assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh from December 26 to January 25. The initiative aims to safeguard the Constitution and propagate the ideals of Dr BR Ambedkar, party chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said. "The statement made by the Union home minister in Parliament was 'disrespectful' to Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution," the party said in a statement. The Samajwadi Party contends that dominant, feudal forces have historically opposed Ambedkar's principles of equality, as these challenged their traditional authority and sought to empower oppressed and underprivileged communities, it said. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh also demanded either resignation or apology from Amit Shah and said the BJP needs to clarify its stand. "Union Home Minister Amit Shah insulted Dr BR Ambedkar and the spirit of the Constitution. Many parties including TMC, condemned and opposed the statement of Union home minister Amit Shah. He should reconsider his statement, beg your pardon or resign. Every party including TMC is protesting and after all this BJP is under pressure. They (BJP) have to take some stand and clarify their stand with the nation," Kunal Ghosh said. The BJP responded strongly to the opposition attack and launched a coordinated counter offensive. Almost all BJP chief ministers came out in defence of Amit Shah and attacked the Congress for distorting the statement of Union home minister. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath demanded an apology from Congress for continuously insulting Bharat Ratna Baba Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party has worked to build the country of Baba Saheb's dreams. The UP CM said the Congress has a "history of insulting" Dalits and the underprivileged in the country. Last week, Parliament saw dramatic scenes following Amit Shah's remarks. There were parallel protests from both the treasury and the opposition benches. The protests outside Parliament led to a huge scuffle between the two sides with two BJP MPs, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, sustaining injuries. Both parties alleged that their party members had been pushed around. Later, Delhi Police registered an FIR based on BJP's comlaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is also the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha. A delegation of Congress MPs, including women MPs, also approached Parliament Street Police Station, accusing BJP leaders of misbehaving with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge during the scuffle in Parliament premises. With elections in Delhi scheduled early next year, the opposition will continue to rake up the issue to put the BJP on the defensive. Moreover, with the Congress making it clear that it will not stop protesting till Amit Shah resigns and apologises, we may continue to see this controversy play out for some more time. (With inputs from agencies) Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .

Previous: nuebe999 gaming
Next: gaming for 10 year olds