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Beirut, Dec 7 (AP) Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated on Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumours that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader's base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. Also Read | 'Matter of Immense Pride for India': PMO on Archbishop George Jacob Koovakad's Elevation As Cardinal by Pope Francis. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria's third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began November 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. Also Read | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Survives Impeachment Over Martial Law Declaration As His Party Leaders Boycott Vote. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”. Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people”. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a years-long siege. The UN said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria's state media denied social media rumours that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a UN resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkiye and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians”. They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group's image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began November 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and the central city of Hama, the country's fourth largest city. Opposition activists said on Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area”, apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkiye, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkiye is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country's underlying problems. “Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria's “territorial integrity”. He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT) declared a dividend of $0.47 per share of class A common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. This dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024. About Blackstone Mortgage Trust Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT) is a real estate finance company that originates senior loans collateralized by commercial real estate in North America, Europe, and Australia. Our investment objective is to preserve and protect shareholder capital while producing attractive risk-adjusted returns primarily through dividends generated from current income from our loan portfolio. Our portfolio is composed primarily of loans secured by high-quality, institutional assets in major markets, sponsored by experienced, well-capitalized real estate investment owners and operators. These senior loans are capitalized by accessing a variety of financing options, depending on our view of the most prudent strategy available for each of our investments. We are externally managed by BXMT Advisors L.L.C., a subsidiary of Blackstone. About Blackstone Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which we invest. Our more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com . Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn , X (Twitter) , and Instagram . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect BXMT’s current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance, its business plans and the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, including interest rate changes. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “objective,” “indicator,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. BXMT believes these factors include but are not limited to those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the filings. BXMT assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Blackstone +1 (888) 756-8443 BlackstoneShareholderRelations@Blackstone.comPublic Affairs Blackstone +1 (212) 583-5263 PressInquiries@Blackstone.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY SOURCE: Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/en

The Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy is the first stroller accessory designed to help shield babies and young children from air pollution . Put simply, it is a mobile air purifier. Just like much bigger domestic appliances, it works by trapping airborne particles — dust, pollen and pet dander, for example — to provide cleaner, fresher air for your child. The Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy promises to deliver more than 150 liters of purified air every minute, without disturbing the baby with excessive noise or strong airflow. But is it a game changer for parents living in areas with poor air quality, or is it just a gimmick? We are not experts in baby stroller design and functionality, and do not claim to be; nor are we able to determine whether there are any health benefits to using the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy. But we do know a thing or two about spotting the very best air purifiers — and, at least in theory, this innovative device has what it takes. Developed in partnership with the Swedish technology start-up bubl.AB, this mobile air purifier uses near-silent fans and Efficiency Particulate Air (EPA) filters capable of capturing up to 90% of airborne pollutants. The Thule canopy is powered by a battery that can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, and it can be controlled remotely via an app. It also has a built-in air quality sensor and three fan speeds. We tested the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy in line with our air purifier testing protocol, using an industry-grade Perfect Prime air particle monitor and decibel-counting apps. We also looked at its features, ease of use and connectivity with third-party devices. Read on to find out how we got on. Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy review Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy: Set up and usability Available only in the UK and select European countries Compatible only with the Thule Shine bassinet and pushchair Confusing, picture-only instruction manual This mobile air purifier was only announced by Thule in July last year, so it is still very much in its infancy (pun intended). As we were writing this review, the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy was available only in the United Kingdom (for £429.99) and select European countries (for roughly $490). It is unclear when this product will go on sale in the U.S. We also need to point out that the canopy is only compatible with the Thule Shine bassinet (intended for infants and babies up to approximately six months), and the Thule Shine stroller, which was designed with toddlers in mind. These two products are available to purchase in the U.S., and cost $199.95 and $599.95, respectively. The setup process is relatively straightforward — once you figure it out, that is. The paper manual provided in the package is picture-only, in a form that closely resembles IKEA’s how-to assembly booklets. The problem is that these depictions are somewhat confusing. There are no written instructions to refer to, either. For such a novel product, this lack of clarity is a massive downside. But again, getting the Thule canopy up and running is not too difficult. First, you have to charge the power bank provided in the package — it will function as a removable battery. Then, you will need to insert the EPA filters, download the Thule app and sync it with the canopy, either by scanning a QR code provided on the air purifier or using the product’s serial number. Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy: Design Light, compact and relatively discreet Conveniently controlled with the panel at the back of the canopy Lids for filter replacements feel flimsy Canopy comes with a maximum sun protection rating for fabrics It is tricky to assess the design of the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy knowing that it is the first of its kind. However, it does seem to be doing some things right. The built-in air purifier unit is relatively small, light and discreet. It does not stick out of the canopy or move within it, even when the canopy is folded up. The control panel is located at the back of the canopy and hidden behind a flap, both for parents' convenience and to keep it out of the baby’s reach. We also liked that the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy offers UPF 50+ UV protection — the maximum sun protection rating for fabrics. What we did not like, however, was the process of replacing filters. The two lids that cover them are tricky to pull out and even trickier to put back in. You have to wedge in the gaps and gently push them up to access the filters, and that is not easy given how tiny they are. We also found the lids to be relatively fragile and prone to damage. That said, they remained intact and in place throughout the testing period. Speaking of the EPA filters, Thule recommends replacing them around three to four times a year, depending on the usage. Each two-pack costs £44.99, which is on the expensive side, but not wildly different from other air purifiers we tested. Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy: Features Controlled remotely via the Thule app Three fan speeds Air quality sensor, but no auto mode The Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy is not overwhelmed with features, but it has most of the basic settings you can expect from an air purifier these days. It has three fan speeds, a 2.5-micron air particle sensor and a filter life indicator. The canopy can be controlled remotely, too. However, the Thule canopy does not have an auto mode. Even though it comes with a built-in sensor that measures the amount of airborne particles both inside and outside of the canopy, it does not use these values to adjust the fan speed. Also, while the app can continuously display air quality readings from inside the canopy, for measurements of air quality around the bassinet you have to do a separate spot check — the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy can’t measure both of these values at the same time. We found this to be a glaring oversight. Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy: Performance Up to 16 hours of battery life Good air-cleaning performance in at-home tests Whisper-quiet Gentle airflow The Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy performed surprisingly well in our at-home tests. However, we only tested it in combination with the Thule Shine Bassinet, mainly indoors and always in dry conditions. It is hard to assess how the Thule canopy would perform in real-life scenarios. To start with, we were impressed by its battery life. Thule promises up to 16 hours of use on a single charge, and that is probably right. We say “probably” because we had no battery life indicator to refer to. However, we tested the canopy over several days and during that time we did not have to top up the battery even once. Moreover, we accidentally left the canopy running for hours on end on at least two separate occasions. We simply did not realize it was switched on — which brings us to the next point. The Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy is surprisingly quiet, or at least much quieter than most air purifiers we tested. It makes a pleasant, gentle hum, even when kicked into the highest fan speed. During our tests, we measured the sound level with a decibel-counting app placed where a baby’s head is supposed to be. On the lowest fan speed, we noted 28 decibels (dB), which is comparable to a whisper. At the highest fan speed, we noted 40 dB — the equivalent of a quiet library or refrigerator humming. We also found the airflow to be surprisingly gentle and unobtrusive. However, we do not know exactly how comfortable that would be for a baby. The Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy impressed us with its air-cleaning capabilities. We conducted a series of performance tests using an industry-grade air particle monitor, a piece of kit capable of detecting pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. In each of these tests, we compared the measurements taken outside of the bassinet with data we obtained from the inside of the bassinet (where a baby’s head is supposed to be) after running the canopy for 15 and 30 minutes. We started with ambient tests. We placed the Thule Shine canopy in a closed, middle-sized room. We measured the room’s air quality and then ran the canopy for 15 and 30 minutes at the lowest fan speed, taking note of any air quality changes inside the bassinet. We also did control measurements of the room’s air quality to ensure it stayed the same throughout the test. After 15 minutes, the number of air particles measuring 0.3 microns decreased by 11%, while 2.5-micron particles were reduced by 80%. After 30 minutes, these values rose to 90.5% and 99.99%, respectively. Then, we repeated the ambient test at the highest fan speed. Within half an hour, the Thule Shine canopy filtered out 92.5% of 0.3-micron particles and all of the particles measuring 2.5 microns. No 10-micron particles were detected at any stage. Next, we challenged the Thule canopy to smoke tests. We used five burnt matches to create heavy smoke pollution in an enclosed, middle-sized room. We measured the room’s air quality and then ran the canopy at the highest fan speed for 15 and 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, particles measuring 0.3 microns were down by a whopping 96.78%, and this value rose to nearly 98.5% after 30 minutes. We noted a similar trend with 2.5-micron particles: they dropped by 97.04% after 15 minutes, and then by 98.65% after 30 minutes. The biggest 10-micron particles were reduced by an impressive 99.99% after just 15 minutes. When we repeated the smoke test using burnt incense sticks, we obtained similarly good results. On the other hand, we were left underwhelmed by the Thule app. In all fairness, it was easy to use and refreshingly straightforward in design. However, the app connectivity could be better. For example, we noticed that the air purifier was sometimes very slow to respond to our commands from the app. Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy: Verdict The Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy has a lot of potential. This innovative stroller accessory delivered a surprisingly good performance in our at-home tests. It effectively reduced the levels of airborne particles inside the canopy, without being noisy or generating a disruptive airflow. We also found it compact, discreet and relatively easy to use. However, it is difficult to determine how the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy would perform in real-life situations. There are many different weather conditions and air pollutants to account for, and we did not test it for long enough to assess its efficiency over time. Still, the Thule canopy could be a sign of an upcoming shake-up in the air purifier market. Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy: How we tested We tested the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy in combination with the compatible Thule Shine Bassinet, mainly indoors and in dry conditions. Over several days, we assessed its setup, design, features, ease of use and connectivity with third-party devices. We also used a decibel-counting app to measure its noise levels at different fan speeds. Finally, we put the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy through a series of performance tests using an industry-grade air particle monitor, a piece of kit capable of detecting pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. In each test, first, we took measurements outside of the bassinet, then we compared them to measurements that we obtained by placing our monitor inside the bassinet, right at the front where the baby’s head is supposed to be. First, we conducted ambient tests. We put the Thule Shine Air Purifier Canopy in a medium-sized room, with a window closed. We measured air quality in the room and then in the bassinet after running the canopy for 15 and 30 minutes. Next, we used matches and incense sticks to create smoke in an enclosed, medium-sized room. We started by obtaining air quality measurements in the room, then ran the canopy for 15 and 30 minutes, taking notes of any changes to the air quality measurements inside the bassinet.The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed his identity as their person of interest, crediting his arrest to a tip from a McDonald's worker. He has been connected by police to the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in broad daylight, in a case that has laid bare deep frustrations and anger with the nation's privatized medical system. News of his capture triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media try to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine, though no explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, per the club's website. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. He went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive. Mangione has linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nro

Phnom Penh, Nov 23 (IANS): Representatives of Asian political parties on Saturday reiterated the significance of global and regional cooperation in enhancing civilisational connectivity, inter-generational solidarity and cultural diversity, said a Phnom Penh statement. Such cooperation will transform cultural assets into resources for peace and reconciliation, the statement said. The statement was issued after the third meeting of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which was held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. The meeting was attended by representatives of 49 political parties from 28 countries and regions. The representatives supported the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in its endeavours to encourage all stakeholders to fulfill their duty of ensuring the identification, protection, and conservation of their cultural and natural heritage by upholding a culture of respect of civilisations as a compass for a human future. "We emphasised that the Silk Road is millennia-old route of exchanges of trade, culture and religion, as well as dialogue and knowledge between the East and the West that has contributed greatly to the common prosperity of humankind," the statement said. The representatives recognised the lack of intercultural understanding and interfaith dialogue as root causes of extremism and conflicts, intolerance, discrimination, social tensions and political instability in recent years, and emphasised the importance of a multilateral framework as a mechanism to enhance cultural dialogue in promoting better understanding of civilisations, Xinhua news agency reported. They recognised that a culture of innovation is best understood as the adoption of novel solutions, practices and processes to address existing problems and emerging challenges, with the ultimate aim of securing peace and promoting sustainable development. "In this regard, we stressed that digital technology and digitalization can contribute to promoting better appreciation of various civilisations as a foundation of a shared humanity," the statement said.

Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive acceleratesBillionaire property tycoon Nick Candy said he would take up the fundraising role in the new year. Holly Valance’s husband is to become Reform UK’s treasurer, after renouncing his Conservative Party membership over what he described as “too many broken promises.” Billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy accused the Tories of a “complete breach of trust with the wealth creators in our country” and said he would take up the fundraising role in the new year. Ms Valance is also a prominent Reform backer. The Australian-British actress and singer was pictured with her husband, Donald Trump and party leader Nigel Farage at the US president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022. Reform has been buoyed by a series of Tory defections, including former minister Andrea Jenkyns, and described Mr Candy’s appointment as its “latest coup” as it prepares for the local elections in May. Mr Candy said: “I have today resigned my membership of the Conservative Party after many years of active support and substantial donations to the party. “I am sorry to say there have been too many broken promises and a complete breach of trust with the wealth creators in our country. “Nigel Farage is a close personal friend of mine, and Reform UK represents the future of British politics. “I am pleased to announce that I will now become the treasurer for Reform UK and intend to raise enough funds for them to win the next general election. “I will take up the role in the new year.” Reform leader Nigel Farage MP said: “I warmly welcome this decision. We are the fastest-growing movement in British politics today and Nick’s efforts will help Reform UK transform our country.”

Bokaro: Temperature dropped to 10-11 degrees Celsius amid light rainfall on Monday. The chill is intensified by brisk wind blowing at approximately 8 km/hour, affecting both day and night temperatures. The district administration is yet to implement winter relief measures such as arranging bonfires at key intersections and distributing blankets to the needy. Assistant director of social security, Piyush, said that the blanket procurement process is underway at the state headquarters. "Distribution will begin as soon as the tendering process is finalized," he said. Sources stated that the recent assembly elections have delayed the blanket procurement and distribution process across the state. "We are desperately waiting for blankets. It's extremely cold outside," said Vikas Kalindi, a rickshaw puller, in the city. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .On the brisk night, Santa arrived just in time, at the tail end of the two hour spectacle, for everyone to rush home, or out, and enjoy some hot chocolate.

A court challenge over a Stormont vote on extending post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland has been dismissed, and the Assembly debate will go ahead as planned on Tuesday. Ruling on Monday after an emergency hearing at Belfast High Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden rejected loyalist activist Jamie Bryson’s application for leave for a full judicial review hearing against Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The judge said Mr Bryson, who represented himself as a personal litigant, had “very ably argued” his case with “perseverance and cogency”, and had raised some issues of law that caused him “some concern”. However, he found against him on the three grounds of challenge against Mr Benn. Mr Bryson had initially asked the court to grant interim relief in his challenge to prevent Tuesday’s democratic consent motion being heard in the Assembly, pending the hearing of a full judicial review. However, he abandoned that element of his leave application during proceedings on Monday, after the judge made clear he would be “very reluctant” to do anything that would be “trespassing into the realms” of a democratically elected Assembly. Mr Bryson had challenged Mr Benn’s move to initiate the democratic consent process that is required under the UK and EU’s Windsor Framework deal to extend the trading arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland. The previously stated voting intentions of the main parties suggest that Stormont MLAs will vote to continue the measures for another four years when they convene to debate the motion on Tuesday. After the ruling, Mr Bryson told the court he intended to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Any hearing was not expected to come later on Monday. In applying for leave, the activist’s argument was founded on three key grounds. The first was the assertion that Mr Benn failed to make sufficient efforts to ensure Stormont’s leaders undertook a public consultation exercise in Northern Ireland before the consent vote. The second was that the Secretary of State allegedly failed to demonstrate he had paid special regard to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory in triggering the vote. The third ground centred on law changes introduced by the previous UK government earlier this year, as part of its Safeguarding the Union deal to restore powersharing at Stormont. He claimed that if the amendments achieved their purpose, namely, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, then it would be unlawful to renew and extend post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the trading arrangements for Northern Ireland are lawful. The appellants in the case argued that legislation passed at Westminster to give effect to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement conflicted with the 1800 Acts of Union that formed the United Kingdom, particularly article six of that statute guaranteeing unfettered trade within the UK. The Supreme Court found that while article six of the Acts of Union has been “modified” by the arrangements, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament, and so therefore was lawful. Mr Bryson contended that amendments made to the Withdrawal Agreement earlier this year, as part of the Safeguarding the Union measures proposed by the Government to convince the DUP to return to powersharing, purport to reassert and reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional status in light of the Supreme Court judgment. He told the court that it was “quite clear” there was “inconsistency” between the different legal provisions. “That inconsistency has to be resolved – there is an arguable case,” he told the judge. However, Dr Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Government, described Mr Bryson’s argument as “hopeless” and “not even arguable”. He said all three limbs of the case had “no prospect of success and serve no utility”. He added: “This is a political argument masquerading as a point of constitutional law and the court should see that for what it is.” After rising to consider the arguments, Justice McAlinden delivered his ruling shortly after 7pm. The judge dismissed the application on the first ground around the lack consultation, noting that such an exercise was not a “mandatory” obligation on Mr Benn. On the second ground, he said there were “very clear” indications that the Secretary of State had paid special regard to the customs territory issues. On the final ground, Justice McAlinden found there was no inconsistency with the recent legislative amendments and the position stated in the Supreme Court judgment. “I don’t think any such inconsistency exists,” he said. He said the amendments were simply a “restatement” of the position as set out by the Supreme Court judgment, and only served to confirm that replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the Windsor Framework had not changed the constitutional fact that Article Six of the Acts of Union had been lawfully “modified” by post-Brexit trading arrangements. “It does no more than that,” he said. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. Advocates of the arrangements say they help insulate the region from negative economic consequences of Brexit. A dispute over the so-called Irish Sea border led to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, when the DUP withdrew then-first minister Paul Givan from the coalition executive. The impasse lasted two years and ended in January when the Government published its Safeguarding the Union measures. Under the terms of the framework, a Stormont vote must be held on articles five to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire. The vote must take place before December 17. Based on the numbers in the Assembly, MLAs are expected to back the continuation of the measures for another four years, even though unionists are likely to oppose the move. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has already made clear his party will be voting against continuing the operation of the Windsor Framework. Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, the motion does not require cross-community support to pass. If it is voted through with a simple majority, the arrangements are extended for four years. In that event, the Government is obliged to hold an independent review of how the framework is working. If it wins cross-community support, which is a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years. The chances of it securing such cross-community backing are highly unlikely.Prospera Financial Services Inc Sells 1,252 Shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR)Recently Simple Flying interviewed James McDanolds the Program Chair of Sonoran Desert Institute’s School of Uncrewed Technology about some future expectations of drone technology. Among other things discussed was Beyond Visual Line Of Sight or BVLOS technologies for drones , implications for air taxis , and US domestic manufacturing of drone components. Discussing Beyond Visual Line Of Sight or BVLOS Beyond Visual Line of Sight or BVLOS is critical to using drones in serious capacities. BVLOS is defined as where a drone can be safely operated beyond the line of sight of the operator by using sattelites or another means to relay visual and position signals back to the operator. Otherwise it's just a remote control airplane without much merit to the world's armed forces. Currently the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that drones operated under Part 107 are operated under line-of-sight only where the operator can always see the drone, which means only one drone per operator. However, remote operation, according to McDanolds, allows for one drone operator to operate multiple drones remotely. This can be useful when checking out wind farms on the civilian side or multiple targets on the military side. To McDanolds, “[BVLOS] makes it so now you don't necessarily have to worry about having that operator on site flying one drone at a time. You could have one operator flying one drone at different locations throughout the day, and have it be a more effective and efficient operation.” McDanolds added that this capability's lower costs allow for more coverage at lower costs, which could help Ukraine after 1,001 days of air war. But remote BVLOS can have other uses. For instance, after Simple Flying mentioned what happened to US Senator Tammy Duckworth during her service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying a logistics run in her UH-60 and getting severely hit, McDanolds felt resupply drones could benefit much from BVLOS. This can translate into package delivery and organ delivery services for peacetime, especially with reformed FAA drone regulations. In wartime, the US Army has already shown interest in having drones do casaulty evacuations : Drones could be the answer for effective casualty evacuation, offering a swift and safe alternative. Can drones handle the Battlefield conditions? These drones, as covered above, will require reliable autonomy and not be dependent on GPS to navigate. Autonomy can become safety for drones McDanolds shared with Simple Flying that some of this defense technology can transfer over to civilian technology and air taxis like Archer’s and Joby’s that are in final test and development and may fly autonomously at a latter date. To McDanolds, air taxis and drones should be able to trigger a parachute based on flight characteristics. There are some general aviation aircraft that pack parachutes, like the Icon A5 and Cirrus Vision Jet already, so this is not new technology. However, some of those aircraft require a human to unfurl the parachute. Additionally, already entering general aviation and mentioned by McDanolds are additional safety features the drones should have, like an automatic return. One can review those safety features below : These technologies and systems enhance the safety of General Aviation aircraft. As to drones, McDonalds shared, “We need to make sure that there's enough data to support that it reaches a certain safety percentage, right? Because I don't believe anyone would make a decision readily or willingly to allow these air taxis scale to fly over people, over urban areas ...over really anything, without thoroughly testing.” McDonalds also added in the event of GPS jamming either for civilian or defense drones, there should be other sensors on board. Range finders and AESA radar were suggested, as appropriate for drone carriage capacity. Inertial navigation systems – which Simple Flying produced a guide about how airliners navigate – that measure where an aircraft has been and how fast it’s been traveling on a heading was suggested also. Manufacturing drones for US needs to be in US Finally, McDonalds timely added that there needs to be a conversation about bringing drone manufacturing facilities to the United States . Companies such as Anduril were discussed, and this was before the big news broke that Red Cat won a contract to build short-range reconnaissance Black Widow drones . Rucksack portable drones with advanced reconnaissance capabilities. Additionally, a Red Cat spokesperson confirmed with Simple Flying that the Black Widows have a BVLOS range of 8 KM (5 miles), and all drones will be built in a new Salt Lake City, Utah facility. Additionally, the Black Widow drones and WEB ground control station (GCS) will be built by Red Cat, increasing dramatically domestic parts content. Keep up with the latest Simple Flying coverage of military aviation here . As McDonalds shared with Simple Flying, “Drones are built of a multitude of components, you know, motors, electronic speed controllers, power distribution boards, the flight management system, or the flight management unit, and auto pilot.” McDonalds stressed that 3D printing can only be part of the solution, but that as the US Military adopts and adapts to additive manufacturing technology – this can help increase domestic production also.

The Ukraine missile crisis: Putin’s shadow war against the west finally breaks cover

I started dieting at 9 after a mean comment from a boy. A non-surgical procedure finally helped me lose over 100 pounds.LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Voters dejected by the presidential election results need to find a way to give back and remain involved, Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday as they celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Clinton presidential library. The former president urged audience members in a packed theater to remain engaged and find ways to communicate with those they disagree with despite a divisive political time. The two spoke about a month after former President Donald Trump's win over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Recommended Videos “We’re just passing through, and we all need to just calm down and do something that builds people up instead of tears them down,” Bill Clinton said. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state who was defeated by Trump in the 2016 election, said she understands the next couple of years are going to be challenging for voters who don't agree with the decisions being made. "In addition to staying involved and staying aware, it’s important to find something that makes you feel good about the day because if you’re in a constant state of agitation about our political situation, it is really going to shorten your life," she said. The Clintons spoke during a panel discussion with journalist Laura Ling, who the former president helped free in 2009 when she was detained in North Korea with another journalist. The event was held as part of a weekend of activities marking the 20th anniversary of the Clinton Presidential Library's opening in Little Rock. The library is preparing to undergo an update of its exhibits and an expansion that will include Hillary Clinton's personal archives. Hillary Clinton said part of the goal is to modernize the facility and expand it to make it a more open, inviting place for people for convene and make connections. When asked about advice he would give for people disappointed by the election results, Bill Clinton said people need to continue working toward bringing people together and improving others' lives. “If that's the way you keep score, then you ought to be trying to run up the score,” he said. “Not lamenting the fact that somebody else is winning a different game because they keep score a different way." “And in addition, figure out what we can do to win again,” Hillary Clinton added, eliciting cheers. The program featured a panel discussion with cast members of the hit NBC show “The West Wing” and former Clinton White House staffers. The weekend amounted to a reunion of former Clinton White House staffers, supporters and close friends, including former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and adviser James Carville. McAuliffe said he and Carville ate Friday at Doe's Eat Place, a downtown restaurant that was popular with Clinton aides and reporters during Clinton's 1992 White House run. He said he viewed the library and its planned expansion as important for the future. “This is not only about the past, but it's more importantly about the future," McAuliffe said. “We just went through a very tough election, and people are all saying we've got to get back to the Clinton model.”