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jiliko gcash Tweet Facebook Mail When Lizzie Pearl looks back to the Sydney siege it's not the long hours, or blurry 2am phone call that's engraved into her memory. Instead, the seasoned Nine journalist can still envisage the sea of flowers at Martin Place. "I was there the first morning and one lady came to drop off some flowers, then there were two bunches, and then a few hours later it just got so big," Pearl recalls. "People would come by and drop their flowers, wait a few seconds and move on. "It was beautiful and it was just so sad. I remember sitting there in tears." Pearl was on the scene for 9News covering the 16.5-hour Lindt Cafe siege as it unfolded on December 15 a decade ago. She spent long hours reporting on the nightmare situation, watching it happen in real-time along with the rest of Australia. Pearl said she watched grown men sob as they looked at the flower memorial. (Supplied) In the aftermath, she was stationed at the flower memorial at Martin Place to honour Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson. "It just grew to this absolute sea of flowers, and it was quite traumatic as a journalist," she recalled. "Every day I would be sent back there, and I wanted to go back but it was a lot. Grown men in their business suits would be crying, politicians would be crying... mums with their kids would be crying." It was beautiful and it was just so sad. I remember sitting there in tears. Pearl has reported on countless horrible events in the 10 years since, including gun massacres during her time in the US. But it's the flowers which still prick tears in her eyes every time. The pile grew so big so quickly, it had to be gently moved across the road, bunch by bunch, by council workers. (Supplied) Hours after the siege ended Martin Place became a "sea of flowers". (Supplied) "When I was a correspondent in the US, there's always those flower memorials. Even now, whenever I go to a flower memorial, I just... I don't like it," Pearl said. "I just have to get away. It's a necessary part of grieving, and it's beautiful for the families of people who've been lost in tragic circumstances. But it's not something I like going to." Pearl was a state politics reporter on the Sydney in 2014 and it still takes a lot to shake her stoic professionalism. Among the other cases and stories she's covered, though, the reporter said the siege had a very different, chilling effect on the city she loves – and on herself. "I have covered awful tragedies that affect people on a smaller scale. For that individual person, it's probably a bigger tragedy for them, but in terms of the effect it had on a city. "It's had the most impact on the most people," she said. "In terms of the scale and the impact and just the shock that people were in, I've never really seen anything like it in Australia." Pearl remains proud to be one of the voices who guided Sydney through the siege. When talking about and sharing memories about the day since 2014, she realised everyone had a story to tell. "It's kind of like that Princess Diana or JFK moment, everyone wants to tell you what they were doing when it was happening," she said. "That's when you know an event has had an impact."

Murdoch loses 'Succession' battle for son's control of media empire: reportMusk says SEC is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchasesIsraeli aircraft have bombed Syrian army facilities in Latakia and Tartus provinces, where Russian military bases are located, a Lebanese television channel Al Mayadeen reported, citing a correspondent. According to the channel, the strikes targeted command posts and military warehouses used by the Syrian army, however, no information on possible casualties was provided. Russian military forces are present in Syria at Khmeimim Air Base and a logistics support center in Tartus, located in the western part of the country along the Mediterranean coast. In 2017, Moscow and Damascus agreed to station Russian troops at these bases for a period of 49 years. After militant groups led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus last weekend, prompting Syrian President Bashar Assad to flee to Russia where he was granted asylum, the fate of Khmeimim and Tartus bases was under question. However, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian diplomats have already discussed these issues with the HTS political committee. Al Mayadeen's correspondent also claims that the Israeli forces “continue its incursion” towards Damascus. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier Friday ordered the country’s troops to prepare to stay in newly seized Syrian territory over the winter. Katz also said he'd ordered that the IDF “set up appropriate facilities and make special preparations for the soldiers to remain on Mount Hermon” inside Syria, which lies near the border with Lebanon and is a strategic location overlooking Damascus. IDF seized the territory, which is a demilitarized buffer zone established in 1974 after an armistice agreement that paused a conflict between Syria and Israel, on Sunday after HTS took power. It also expanded beyond the area of the Golan Heights it has been illegally occupying since 1967. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later announced that the agreement with Syria had “collapsed” with the HTS takeover of the country.

After-hours movers: Oracle, MongoDB, C3 AI, Lilly and more(ZENIT News / Rome, 12.12.2024).- In the wake of Pope Francis’ creation of 21 new cardinals, a groundbreaking digital platform has been launched, offering unprecedented access to detailed profiles of the Catholic Church’s cardinalate. This innovative project, « Collegio Cardinalizio: Una Rassegna » (The College of Cardinals: A Review), sets a new standard for understanding the individuals shaping the Church’s future, especially as the next conclave approaches. A Modern Lens on an Ancient Institution Developed by an international team of Catholic journalists and researchers led by Vatican expert Edward Pentin and executive director Diane Montagna, the site serves as a comprehensive database for exploring the Sacred College of Cardinals. Supported by Sophia Institute Press and Cardinalis Magazine, this project bridges historical precedent and modern technology to offer a uniquely interactive user experience. The platform provides visitors with a wealth of information, from biographical sketches to analyses of cardinals’ leadership styles in the core roles of sanctifying, governing, and teaching. Users can filter data by geography, age, and ecclesiastical roles, navigate interactive maps, and propose updates to cardinal profiles, making this a living and collaborative resource. Insights into Potential Papal Candidates A particular highlight is the in-depth profiling of 40 prominent cardinals, including those widely regarded as “papabili”—potential successors to Saint Peter. Key figures include: Emerging figures also feature prominently, such as: Notably, African leadership is spotlighted through Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa, reflecting the Church’s growing focus on the continent. Reviving a Historical Practice While “Collegio Cardinalizio: Una Rassegna” is pioneering in its digital format, its intent echoes historical traditions. Pentin and Montagna noted that centuries ago, detailed biographies of cardinals were meticulously compiled by scribes and shared among diplomatic circles. Today’s platform aims to replicate this depth of knowledge, albeit on a global and accessible scale. Addressing an Emerging Need The initiative responds to the evolving dynamics within the Sacred College under Pope Francis. Many newly appointed cardinals hail from “peripheral” regions and are less familiar to their peers. With fewer regular consistories and limited opportunities for in-person meetings, the cardinals often lack comprehensive insights into each other’s backgrounds and perspectives. This tool seeks to fill that gap, particularly as the conclave nears. “In an age of information and globalization, it’s paradoxical how little the cardinals know about one another,” observed Montagna. “This resource not only enhances transparency but fosters connection among the Church’s highest leaders.” A Vision for the Future As the project evolves, the platform plans to expand its profiles, integrate multilingual options, and continue refining its database to meet the needs of clergy, media professionals, and laypeople alike. Pentin emphasized the enduring value of the project: “While we avoid speculation about papal elections, our aim is to offer a reliable resource that enables informed perspectives. By fostering familiarity among the cardinalate, we hope this platform supports the Church’s leadership in navigating its critical challenges ahead.” Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link .

WARMINGTON: 'We are already the 51st state,' says Trudeau's half-brotherHannah is one of thousands of children across Scotland who have been regularly missing school. Some are absent for days, others for years. Twelve-year-old Hannah missed most of her primary school education. Right from her first day she barely spoke and would get very upset, so the school would phone her mum daily to ask her to pick her up. By the time she got to primary four she refused to go altogether. She would take off her uniform, cry and scream. Psychologists say the rise in the number of children absent from school is not about bunking off but because many are too anxious to step through the school gates. And since Covid the numbers just keep rising. The latest figures from the Scottish government, to be published on Tuesday, are expected to continue that trend. Hannah's mum Ashly says her daughter, who is autistic, struggled with the noise and busyness of the school environment. "Obviously she didn't feel safe in school," Hannah says. "She didn't feel comfortable. I tried everything to get her to school." Then almost two years ago they started working with a project from the charity Quarriers called Reach, which involves a trained member of staff going to their home in Glasgow to help increase their confidence. "For the first six weeks she wouldn't even speak to her," Ashly says. The support worker began by going to the primary school with Hannah for an hour a day and sitting with her in a quiet room doing crafts and games. Over last summer, before Hannah started at secondary, she and her worker spent days in the school baking cakes and having fun. After almost two years, Hannah's worker has gradually got her to a point where she is attending her S1 secondary school class most days. Ashly told the BBC: "Even getting Hannah to school without crying and being upset was a big thing and now she gets herself ready and gets herself organised for school so that is a big difference." The latest statistics from Glasgow City Council show that every year for the past five years, school absence has increased. The council is now working on a campaign to encourage parents in particular to remember the importance of attending. A report by Reform Scotland last year found that 200,000 children in Scotland are missing more than one day a fortnight. And almost 80,000 pupils miss at least one day a week - with attendance of less than 80%. Official figures released earlier this year suggested that 22.3% of pupils in England were persistently absent in the 2022-23 academic year - roughly double pre-pandemic levels. The lead educational psychologist for Glasgow, Barry Syme, told the BBC that absence is not generally about kids skipping school. "I think the days of children just bunking off is a very simple way of looking at it," he said. "We've seen a significant increase in the number of young people with mental health concerns, particularly anxiety and stress. "That was still an issue pre-pandemic but certainly the pandemic has not helped in any way with that." Mr Syme said there had been an increase in the number of young people identified with neurodiversity and the associated challenges of the school environment such as noise and large numbers of people. He also said that children were picking up on the pressures felt by their parents, such as cost of living issues. Colin Simpson, who runs the Quarriers service, said they had seen huge benefits from offering one-to-one support to families. In the first two years, the project worked with about 200 children but there are another 400 still waiting. "There's a huge waiting list for this service because there's an awful lot of young people across the city of Glasgow and beyond who have chronic non-attendance challenges and they all deserve that kind of support," he said. "But it takes time to give a child the support that they need. "And it takes a lot of effort and energy and a really, really well established relationship." Professor Edward Sosu of the University of Strathclyde said the fall in average attendance was a serious concern and that Scotland needed to tackle the problem. He said a rise in poverty, mental health problems and additional support needs were the major reasons for the increase in absences. And he said that regardless of social class or background, it was almost impossible to make up for the lost time in school. His research looked at people who were aged between 34 and 42, and the impact their school attendance rates had on their outcomes. "What we found is that missing an average of just 10 days aged 10 was linked to not having any qualifications age 42 or not being in employment. So missing that small amount of school in that time had a negative impact," he said. "This was irrespective of their socioeconomic background, irrespective of cognitive outcomes, irrespective of all the background characteristics. "Our assumption originally was that those from middle class backgrounds will be able to help their children catch up - but what we found is that irrespective of your background, absences have a negative impact on your educational achievement."

Trump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction

Alameda County divested $32 million from the construction equipment company Caterpillar on Tuesday in response to outrage by activists over the use of the equipment by Israel’s military to . With the Board of Supervisors’ vote this week approving the move, Alameda County becomes the to strip public funds from corporations that support Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as part of a new effort to craft an ethical investment policy. “I have initiated the sale of three bonds from the Caterpillar corporation. Two of our three positions have already been sold,” Alameda County Treasurer Henry C. Levy, the only Jewish elected official in the county, said at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “I am committed to working with community members to ensure the fiscal policies of our county create safe and sound impacts within the county with our investment’s impact.” The bonds represent 0.3% of Alameda County’s $11 billion investment portfolio. Levy said Caterpillar’s investments would become a “distraction” to creating a new ethical investment policy because of concerns around the company’s reputation. He said divestment from other companies in the county’s portfolio can not be decided until a full analysis is performed. Caterpillar did not respond to the Bay Area New Group’s request for comment. The strategy of divestment is heralded by activists for removing financial support from targeted entities by selling off bonds, contracts, and other investments. Divestment has historically been used to oppose apartheid in South Africa, spurring global support and the eventual collapse of the regime in 1994. Violence in Gaza escalated after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis. Israel’s war in Gaza following the attack has killed nearly 45,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Around the Bay Area, pro-Palestinian activists have demanded divestment from Israel and many companies that do business with it. For months, the organization Bay Area Divest! has called for divestment from Caterpillar, which they claim knowingly sold its powerful D9 bulldozer to Israel’s military for use in the demolition of Palestinian homes to make way for future Israeli settlements. The international nonprofit Human Rights Watch has to the Israeli military since 2004. “By challenging corporations like Caterpillar, we are paving the way for a future where human rights are non-negotiable,” said economist Michelle Williams, a representative of Bay Area Divest! in a statement. “Our success shows that divestment is not just a tool for accountability—it’s a way to reshape public expectations and redefine what we collectively accept as just and ethical.” At the meeting Tuesday night, pro-Palestinian supporters spilled out of the Board of Supervisors chambers, forcing officials to open an overflow room. More than 100 residents spoke during the public comment period that extended well into the evening. Supervisor Keith Carson led the Board of Supervisors in calling for an ethical investment policy and the divestment from companies that support Israel’s occupation efforts. He said he had traveled to the Middle East last week and observed the human toll of the war in Gaza and the escalating conflict across the region. “Alameda County has a history of making investment decisions in alignment with our values such as the September 1985 unanimous action to divest from South Africa and the September 1996 unanimous decision to bar investing in companies that do business with Burma,” Carson said. “This is an attempt for us to pump the breaks, if not for us to continue to show that we all have to learn to co-exist. The vast majority of speakers during public comment supported the divestment. “I want to look you each in the eyes as you vote for or against this, and I will never forget any of these votes,” a District 3 resident who identified themselves as E said. “I want to watch you adopt the ethical investment strategy.” Though Levy had already initiated the sale of Caterpillar Inc. bonds, the county treasurer sought more prescriptive language for a formal ethical investment policy to be applied for the county. The crux of this issue, he said, came between positive screening – investing in favor of industries aligned with the county’s values – versus negative screening, which he feared could change with political headwinds. “You begin to put this laundry list of bad things – tobacco, private prisons – you begin to long list of things on it and I don’t think that’s a good way to write policy,” Levy said. “People are here for one particular issue, but next year there might be a different issue. And I don’t want to write a policy specifically about one issue.” Supervisor David Haubert was skeptical of the divestment strategy’s effectiveness in countering Israel’s occupation of Palestine and its use of Caterpillar bulldozers. He questioned whether Caterpillar should be held to the same standard as weapons manufacturers whose products are used by the Israeli military. “I don’t believe that Caterpillar said, ‘Please go use our tractors this way.’” Haubert said, drawing groans from the audience. “My fear is, if it’s not one tractor, then it’s another tractor. And where do you draw the line? If you divest from all tractors, then how do we build homes?” Where to draw the line for divestment will be the central question over the next 90 days for Levy and the Treasury Oversight Committee, who will craft a comprehensive investment policy to present to the Board of Supervisors. For pro-Palestinin activists, however, the county’s decision to proceed with divestment from Israel is the most significant victory in over a year of campaigning for an end to the war in Gaza. When the Board of Supervisors gave their unanimous approval, the supervisors’ chambers filled with the sound of activists’ cheers and the waving of Palestinian flags. Divestment is just one tool, Levy said, but he hoped the decision would lead to a more secure and safe community in Alameda County for Jews and Palestinians alike. “I feel a great sorrow that long histories of trauma have triggered fear, still trigger fear and other emotions when issues like this emerge,” Levy said. “This decision, and any future divestment decision that our office may make, is about adhering to the values of Alameda County and the principles of a more profound understanding of socially responsible investing.”New College of Florida Receives $1 Million Gift from Beruff Family to Build 'Field of Dreams'