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nice88app The German government pledged Sunday to fully investigate whether there were security lapses before the Christmas market car-ramming attack that killed five people and injured over 200. Political pressure has built on the question of potential missed warnings about Saudi suspect Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old psychiatrist who had made online deaths threats and previously had trouble with the law. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the heads of Germany's domestic and foreign intelligence services are due to answer questions at parliamentary committee hearings on December 30, a senior lawmaker told AFP. Faeser vowed Sunday that "no stone will be left unturned" in shedding light on what information had been available to security services ahead of last Friday's bloody attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg. She stressed that the attacker did "not fit any previous pattern" because "he acted like an Islamist terrorist although ideologically he was clearly an enemy of Islam". Abdulmohsen has in the past called himself a "Saudi atheist" who helped women flee Gulf countries and charged Germany was doing too little to help them. In online posts, he also strongly criticised Germany for allowing in too many Muslim refugees and backed far-right conspiracy theories about the "Islamisation" of Europe. In one post, he wrote: "Is there a path to justice in Germany without blowing up a German embassy or randomly slaughtering German citizens?... If anyone knows it, please let me know." News magazine Der Spiegel, citing security sources, said the Saudi secret service had warned Germany's spy agency BND a year ago about a tweet in which Abdulmohsen threatened Germany would pay a "price" for how it treated Saudi refugees. Die Welt daily reported, also citing security sources, that German state and federal police had carried out a "risk assessment" on Abdulmohsen last year but concluded that he posed "no specific danger". The city of Magdeburg has been in deep mourning over the mass carnage on Friday evening, when an SUV smashed through a crowd at its Christmas market, killing four women and a nine-year-old child and injuring 205 people. Surgeons at overwhelmed hospitals have worked around the clock, and one health worker told local media of "blood on the floor everywhere, people screaming, lots of painkillers being administered". Scholz on Saturday condemned the "terrible, insane" attack and made a call for national unity, at a time Germany is headed for early elections on February 23. But as German media dug into Abdulmohsen's past, and investigators gave away little, criticism rained down from opposition parties. Conservative CDU lawmaker Alexander Throm charged that "many citizens feel... that the Scholz government has completely failed in terms of internal security". He demanded greater police powers to monitor and analyse data from social media platforms, telecommunications and surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology. The far-right AfD called for a special session of parliament, and the head of the far-left BSW party, Sahra Wagenknecht, demanded that Faeser explain "why so many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand". Mass-circulation daily Bild asked: "Why did our police and intelligence services do nothing, even though they had the Saudi on their radar?... And why were the tips from Saudi Arabia apparently ignored?" It charged that "German authorities usually only find out about attack plans in time when foreign services warn them" and called for sweeping reforms after the election for a complete "turnaround in internal security". Senior MP Dirk Wiese of Scholz's Social Democrats said the December 30 hearings will summon the heads of the BND, the domestic intelligence service BfV and the Office for Migration and Refugees. Media meanwhile reported more details on Abdulmohsen, who had worked at a clinic that treats offenders with substance addiction problems, but had been on sick leave since late October. Der Spiegel reported that in 2013 a court fined him for "disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit crimes" after he had darkly referenced the deadly attack on the Boston marathon. The chairwoman of the group Central Council of Ex-Muslims, Mina Ahadi, said Abdulmohsen "is no stranger to us, because he has been terrorising us for years". She labelled him "a psychopath who adheres to ultra-right conspiracy ideologies" and said he "doesn't just hate Muslims, but everyone who doesn't share his hatred." bur/fz/gvPlayers must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

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Up 146% in a year, ASX 200 stock marches higher on $950 million acquisition news(Note to subs: amends byline error) The world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”

Five Key Takeaways From the Proposed PTEP Regulations

In the world of gaming, Roblox has revolutionized how gamers not only play but also earn. As the platform grows, a new economy emerges, challenging traditional career paths and hinting at broader economic possibilities for the future. Traditionally, gaming was seen as a pastime with limited financial prospects. However, Roblox, with its user-generated content model, is turning this notion on its head. Unique to the platform, users can create and monetize their own games and experiences, leveraging Roblox’s Robux currency, which can be converted into real money. This innovation has transformed teenagers into entrepreneurs, some earning thousands of dollars monthly. The introduction of the metaverse concept has further amplified Roblox’s earnings potential. As a blend of social networking and gaming, the platform has become a digital playground for brands, artists, and developers, creating diverse revenue streams. From virtual concerts to branded in-game content, the options for monetization are expanding rapidly, offering endless possibilities for creators. This new landscape poses questions about the future of work and education. Skills typically honed in business or computer science programs are now being cultivated in a virtual context, suggesting that future professions may rely heavily on creativity and digital literacy. Moreover, Roblox’s success illustrates how new technologies can disrupt traditional business models, paving the way for alternative economic structures. The rise of Roblox earnings is more than a gaming trend; it’s a glimpse into how digital economies could redefine success in the modern age. Unveiling the Dynamic Future of Digital Economies with Roblox The technological landscape is rapidly evolving, and Roblox is at the forefront, shaping the digital economy in unprecedented ways. As more creators flock to the platform, intriguing new trends and insights emerge, revealing a potential business model transformation across industries. Trends and Insights With its user-generated content model, Roblox has not only transformed gaming but is actively impacting the economic environment. A noteworthy trend is the increasing number of younger users gaining entrepreneurial experience by developing games on the platform. This shift indicates a rising interest in entrepreneurial ventures among digital natives, driven by creative freedom and real financial incentives. The burgeoning metaverse concept creates vast opportunities within Roblox, encouraging large and small developers to explore different niches in virtual commerce. The innovative approach to virtual events, such as concerts and branded partnerships, is redefining marketing strategies, offering a unique space to engage with younger audiences more dynamically. Innovations Roblox’s robust ecosystem encourages continuous innovation by providing tools that enable users to create more immersive and engaging content. The introduction of features like layered clothing and advanced avatar enhancements signals a push towards more customizable and personalized user experiences. This adaptability promotes sustained user engagement, crucial for maintaining the platform’s relevance in a fast-paced digital world. Limitations and Challenges Despite its successes, Roblox faces challenges in terms of user safety and content quality. Ensuring a safe gaming environment remains a priority, as the platform caters to a diverse age demographic. Developers and the broader community must collaborate to uphold high standards and responsible content creation to maintain the platform’s integrity and inclusivity. Predictions Looking ahead, Roblox is expected to further integrate advanced technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to expand its capabilities and offerings. This integration could lead to more sophisticated game design, richer user interactions, and a seamless blend between the physical and digital realms, paving the way for a truly immersive metaverse experience. Conclusion As a leader in digital innovation, Roblox is setting the stage for an economy where digital interactions hold substantial value. This platform exemplifies the potential for new revenue streams and entrepreneurial pathways in a digital-first world. With ongoing advancements and a growing community, Roblox continues to illuminate the prospects of a redefined global economy empowered by creativity and technology.30 Subic companies honored in Mabuhay Business Awards

Why 2024 was a record-breaking year, according to the dataBEMIDJI — Chad Bullock is no stranger to the Bemidji area. The new leader of Paul Bunyan Communications is a graduate of Bemidji State University, and two of his three children were born here when he worked for Blackduck Telephone Company. “So we feel like we’re moving home,” Bullock said. He actually joined the cooperative 12 months ago and has spent the past year learning the ropes from Gary Johnson, the man he is replacing next week as chief executive officer and general manager. “It was a great opportunity,” Bullock said. “Gary’s a great mentor. He’s a leader in our industry, and the fact that I could spend a year learning from him, I’m going to soak it up as much as I can and use that as an opportunity to grow myself.” Bullock grew up in the Remer, Minn. area, and studied technology at what is now Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Wadena before landing his first job in Iowa. After being hired at Blackduck Telephone, he attended BSU and earned a management degree. He was in Blackduck for 12 years, then spent seven years managing Emily (Minn.) Cooperative Telephone and nine years managing West Central Telephone in Sebeka. Bullock looks forward to leading Paul Bunyan Communications as it continues to grow into areas that are unserved with broadband. “Paul Bunyan’s goals have always revolved around their commitment to the cooperative membership,” he said. “That idea of serving communities will continue. Our expansion focus will still be on areas that don’t have service, growing our membership. Paul Bunyan is always going to be at the forefront of technology. That won’t change.” He also is excited to follow Johnson’s lead in serving the Bemidji community and the telecommunications industry. “I worked in the industry as a colleague of Gary’s for the last 10 to 12 years,” Bullock said. “He has always carried the Paul Bunyan Communications banner wherever he went. They’re definitely big shoes to fill, but the team that has been built here and the board’s focus is consistent, and that consistency is going to carry through regardless of who’s leading us.”DEM Party expected to hold face-to-face meeting with Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in prison for 25 years. Turkiye will allow parliament’s pro-Kurdish party to visit the jailed founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on his island prison, setting up the first such visit in nearly a decade. The Justice Ministry approved a request by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) to meet Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving life in solitary confinement, a DEM spokesperson said late on Friday. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed the move in remarks to the TGRT news channel. “We responded positively to DEM’s request for a meeting. Depending on the weather conditions, they will go to Imrali tomorrow [Saturday] or Sunday,” he said, referring to the prison island where Ocalan has been held for 25 years. Friday’s decision came after DEM requested the visit last month, soon after a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expanded on a proposal to end the 40-year-old conflict between the state and Ocalan’s outlawed PKK. Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, made the call a month after suggesting that Ocalan announce an end to the rebellion in exchange for the possibility of his release. Erdogan described Bahceli’s initial proposal as a “historic window of opportunity”. After the latest call last month, Erdogan said he was in complete agreement with Bahceli on every issue and that they were acting in harmony and coordination. “To be frank, the picture before us does not allow us to be very hopeful,” Erdogan said in parliament. “Despite all these difficulties, we are considering what can be done with a long-range perspective that focuses not only on today but also on the future.” Bahceli regularly condemns pro-Kurdish politicians as tools of the PKK, which they deny. Regional changes DEM’s predecessor party was involved in peace talks between Ankara and Ocalan a decade ago, last meeting him in April 2015. The peace process and a ceasefire collapsed soon after, unleashing the most deadly phase of the conflict. DEM MPs Sirri Sureyya Onder and Pervin Buldan, who both met Ocalan as part of peace talks at the time, will travel to Imrali island to meet him this weekend, the party said. Turkiye and its Western allies designate the PKK as a “terrorist group”. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the fighting, which in the past was focused in the mainly Kurdish southeast but is now centred on northern Iraq, where the PKK is based. Growing regional instability and changing political dynamics are seen as factors behind the bid to end the conflict with the PKK. The chances of success are unclear as Ankara has given no clues on what it may entail. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria this month, Ankara has repeatedly insisted that the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, which it sees as an extension of the PKK, must disband, asserting that the group has no place in Syria’s future. The YPG is the main component of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). SDF commander Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani) acknowledged the presence of PKK fighters in Syria for the first time last week, saying they had helped fight ISIL (ISIS) fighters and would return home if a total ceasefire was agreed upon with Turkiye, a core demand from Ankara. Authorities in Turkiye have continued to crack down on alleged PKK activities. Last month, the government replaced five pro-Kurdish mayors in southeastern cities for suspected PKK ties, in a move that drew criticism from DEM and others.

Kolkata: Senior West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim on Sunday said that the Centre should be held responsible for unabated illegal migration from Bangladesh. His assertion came in the wake of the BJP attacking the West Bengal government following the arrest of suspected Ansar-al-Islam Bangladesh members who were allegedly trying to spread the terror outfit's network in the eastern state. He was asked about reports that two of the eight arrested terrorists were working to set up a sleeper cell in Murshidabad district and one of them, a Bangladeshi national, had even procured fake identity card and passport to carry on subversive activities. "The onus lies with the Union Home Ministry which is helmed by Amit Shah . Why is he not taking steps to strengthen security along the Bangladesh border? Why is the Border Security Force not succeeding to stop infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals? "We have been repeatedly asking the Centre to step up border surveillance but it seems Shah is more busy belittling B R Ambedkar and flaunting his anti-Dalit mindset than stopping infiltration by forces that are a threat to the security of the country," Hakim told reporters on the sidelines of an event. Hakim was alluding to certain comments made by Shah in Parliament early this week which triggered a massive row and countrywide protests by opposition parties, including Congress and TMC, against Shah and the BJP. 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"We have zero tolerance for any subversive activity and illegal immigration. But the Centre should do its job," he said. BJP's IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya said in a post on X, "Illegal infiltrators obtaining voting rights have become a significant part of the TMC's voter base, enabling their continued grip on power. Immediate and decisive action is essential to address this grave threat to democracy and national security." Claiming that West Bengal urgently needs a thorough revision and cleanup of its voter list to address alarming security and electoral integrity concerns, Malviya said, "Assam Police Special DGP Harmeet Singh has revealed that after a regime change in Bangladesh, the caretaker government released Jasimuddin Rahmani, leader of Al-Qaeda's South Asian affiliate, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), from prison. Since then, Rahmani has ramped up efforts to expand ABT's operations in India, focusing on Assam and West Bengal to establish footholds and incite unrest across the region." "Currently, ABT's activities are concentrated in Murshidabad, where evidence links them to trafficking women into terror networks. Police have recently arrested eight terrorists associated with the group," Malviya said. "In a startling development, it was discovered that one of these terrorists, Shada Rati Sheikh, operating under the direction of Farhan Ishraq, right-hand man of Ansarul Bangla chief Jasimuddin Rahmani, holds voter ID cards for two separate constituencies -- Kandi and Hariharpara -- in Murshidabad, West Bengal... Notably, after the Khagragarh bomb blast involving Bangladeshi terrorists, she dismissed it as an RSS conspiracy, and her administration allegedly destroyed evidence under the then Bardhaman OC's supervision. This incident is just the tip of the iceberg," he alleged. Reacting to the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of politicising the serious issue of national security, forgetting the Centre's role in guarding the frontiers. He also commended the state police for tracking the terrorists and arresting them, busting the terror module with support from police forces of other states. On Friday, ADG Supratim Sarkar had told reporters that the duo was part of a group of eight people apprehended by West Bengal, Kerala and Assam Police. Inquiries revealed they had specific plans to target the 'chicken's neck corridor' in Siliguri which connects Northeast with the rest of the country, Sarkar had said. Sarkar also pointed out that Murshidabad had become a transit route for members of banned Bangladeshi outfits like Ansar-al-Islam. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.

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Thrissur (Kerala): LDF-backed Thrissur Mayor M K Varghese on Saturday accused CPI leader V S Sunil Kumar of making baseless allegations against him and questioned whether the former minister's intention was to push him toward joining the BJP. He alleged that Sunil Kumar seemed uninterested in him working with the ruling CPM, cooperating with the Left Democratic Front, and bringing changes to Thrissur by implementing new projects. Varghese's criticism came a day after Sunil Kumar vehemently attacked him over his meeting with BJP state president K Surendran on Christmas Day. Sunil Kumar had contested as the LDF candidate from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the general election this year and lost to BJP's Suresh Gopi, who later became a Union Minister. A former minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Cabinet, Sunil Kumar claimed on Friday that receiving a cake from Surendran was part of a planned political move. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Mayor rejected the allegations and said that the CPI leadership had not sought any explanation from him over the issue. He also mentioned that many of the councillors were convinced that the controversy was unnecessary, and that sharing a cake was not a "big deal". Claiming that he did not understand Sunil Kumar's real intentions, the Mayor said he had doubts about whether the CPI leader's goal was to get him expelled from his current position and push him toward the BJP. Varghese accused Sunil Kumar of trying to make him a scapegoat for his loss in the recent Lok Sabha polls in Thrissur. He also defended BJP state chief Surendran's visit and the sharing of a cake on Christmas Day. "I am convinced that Surendran's visit with the cake was very sincere," the Mayor said. Varghese also urged Sunil Kumar to explain BJP state president Surendran's revelation that the CPI leader had visited his house in Ulliyeri in Kozhikode, and in turn, he had visited Sunil Kumar's house in Anthikad in this district. Hours after the Mayor's strong-worded reply, Sunil Kumar stood by his statements but said he did not wish to add anything more. "I have said things very clearly, and there is no doubt about that. I don't want to create any fresh controversy or offer a new reply," he told reporters. CPI district secretary K K Valsan also sought to tone down the row, stating that there was no need to "politicise people sharing sweets during festivals and celebrations". "It should be seen as a personal matter... There is no need to see politics in it... That is CPI's stand," he said. The controversy reignited after CPI leader V S Sunil Kumar told a TV channel on Friday that the issue was not about the cake but reflected a larger concern regarding Varghese retaining the Mayor's post despite his apparent allegiance to the BJP. The CPI had previously demanded Varghese's removal, citing his allegedly shifting political loyalties. Varghese had also faced earlier criticism for meeting and welcoming Suresh Gopi, the BJP candidate at the time. During the BJP's Sneha Sandesha Yathra campaign, Surendran visited Varghese and offered him a Christmas cake, which sparked a political backlash. Sunil Kumar alleged that the gesture was deliberate, stating, "K Surendran did not offer cakes to any other mayor." He further claimed that Varghese, who was appointed under unique political circumstances, had previously worked for the BJP during the Lok Sabha elections. In the 55-member council, both the LDF and UDF hold 24 seats each, with the BJP holding six, making Varghese's position as an Independent councillor crucial to the balance of power. Malayalam actor and BJP leader Suresh Gopi defeated CPI candidate Sunil Kumar by a margin of 74,686 votes in the Thrissur constituency in the Lok Sabha elections.None

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are dragging down the market as Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.6%, with more than 80% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The benchmark index was managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 475 points, or 1.1%, to 42,850 as of 11:35 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 2%. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 2.4%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 1.9% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 2% and Best Buy slipped 1%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy was the only sector within the S&P 500 rising. It gained 0.4% as crude oil prices rose 1.2%. Investors don't have much in the way of corporate or economic updates to review as the market moves closer to another standout annual finish. The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of just under 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though Inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Amedisys rose 4.5% after the home health care and hospice services provider agreed to extend the deadline for its sale to UnitedHealth Group. The Justice Department had sued to block the $3.3 billion deal, citing concerns he combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The move to extend the deadline comes ahead of an expected shift in regulatory policy under Trump. The incoming administration is expected to have a more permissive approach to dealmaking and is less likely to raise antitrust concerns. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.59% from late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.31% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.