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It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but also mindful. Over Christmas we generate more waste than any other time of the year with tonnes of wrapping paper, plastic packaging, unwanted gifts, glass bottles, cards, leftover food, fairy lights and Christmas trees ending up in landfill. Auckland Council WasteWise advisor Courtenay Hunt, who used to work for Mahurangi Wastebusters, says everyone can help reduce waste by having what she calls a conscious Christmas. “The benefits are that you buy less and simplify things. You can save money, reduce stress and spend more time on what’s important to your whanau, as well as protecting their environment.” Hunt says to keep it simple – it could be making just one change. “People can only do what they can do. We want to be encouraging and empowering. “You could make something for someone. One example is, a few years ago I actually grew loofah shower sponges just for fun. “So a conscious Christmas is about being mindful. Thinking, planning and having discussions with whomever you’re spending your holidays, with as well as the people that you want to acknowledge through a gift,” she says. • Consider gifts that create little or no waste, that can be reused again and again, or recycled at the end of their life • Join the #BuyNothingNew trend – challenge yourself to find preloved or upcycled gifts for your loved ones. Find your local ReUse Market • If you do buy something new, shop local and choose products with minimal packaging • Use reusable or recyclable gift-wrapping options, such as fabric, newspapers, or brown paper. Avoid glossy or metallic wrapping paper as these can’t go in the recycling bin • The Japanese art of Furoshiki involves wrapping gifts in reusable cloth. This is a beautiful way to show you care about your loved one and the environment • Place gifts in reusable bags or baskets that can be repurposed once the gift has been given Decorate with nature’s flair • Put up nature’s own decorations, like pine cones, branches, and fresh flowers. These can be composted after use • Create your own decorations using recycled materials or items you already have at home • Make your own Christmas stockings using fabric scraps or repurposed materials • If you prefer a real tree, consider one that is locally sourced and can be composted after use. Or get a potted tree that can be planted in your garden after the holiday season • If you choose an artificial tree, make sure it’s robust enough to be used for many years • Reduce food waste by planning your meals, buy only what you need, and use leftovers creatively. Check out Love Food Hate Waste for an impressive list of ideas and mouthwatering recipes • If you know you’ll be feeding the extended family, buy ingredients in bulk to reduce packaging waste • After you’ve used the chicken or turkey carcass for making soup or stock, put the leftover bones in your food scraps bin • Bring a plate (literally): Going to a Christmas BBQ? Help out your hosts by not only bringing a plate of kai, but also by taking your own dishes and cutlery to avoid using single-use products • Book a food waste collection service • Use reusable plates or offer food on napkins instead of plastic plates • Serve tap water or buy soft drinks in larger bottles or aluminium cans to reduce plastic waste • Offer takeaways – let people know to bring a reusable container to take extra food home with them • Set up Auckland Council recycling and food scrap bins at your function next to rubbish bins • You can also book loan gear for free from Auckland Council to support your event. Cards and invitations approved by Mother Earth • Send electronic cards or create a digital invitation to reduce paper waste • If you prefer traditional cards, choose eco-friendly greeting cards, or cards with seeds embedded into handmade paper that can be planted in the garden Get it sorted! • Our rubbish, recycling and food scraps elves will be working all the way through the holidays, so give them a great Christmas present – all waste sorted correctly; rinse your containers to avoid recycling contamination and remember only plastics number 1,2, or 5 (look for a number in the centre of a small triangle) • Christmas and New Year public holidays may affect council collections days. Please check your rubbish, recycling and food scraps collection day for your property at aucklandcouncil.nz/binday Join the movement and share your #LowWasteXmas on social media.

The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate. Last Updated: Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

Blame it on the food and drink?

ACT bureaucrats raced to change the draft Territory Plan so that any future developer of the Phillip swimming pool site would have to provide only a 25-metre pool because that would be cheaper to build and run, documents have revealed. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The public servants knew a shorter pool would be unpopular, but said the addition of extra facilities such as a learn-to-swim pool would sweeten the change. They also believed it was in line with other facilities being built around Australia, including the then-new aquatic centre in Batemans Bay. The changes to the draft Territory Plan allowing for a 25-metre pool ultimately went through just weeks before developer Geocon bought the lease to the Phillip site in 2022. Geocon this week revealed plans to build on the Phillip site almost 700 units and aquatic facilities, including a 25-metre indoor pool, available to the public. Supporters of the existing Phillip pool are campaigning for the current facilities, including an outdoor 50-metre pool, to be retained, saying the open-air pool and surrounding green space are valuable to the community. An email trail between various bureaucrats in late 2022 - showing how the decision for a shorter pool came about - has been released under a freedom of information request by a Woden resident. An outdoor aquatic centre for South Canberra Chief Minister Andrew Barr, meanwhile, was asked on Friday if Geocon's development was approved, whether that would rule out the government providing a new public aquatics facility for the Woden town centre. "I wouldn't necessarily say that, no," Mr Barr said. "I think if there's an indoor facility built as part of this project, then I'd rule out another indoor facility. "But if you look at an outdoor, seasonal facility for when demand is highest, that may be a feature of future pool planning for the territory. "We have undertaken, in the campaign, that we will undertake a feasibility study to look at future sporting facilities. See, the land take of a 50-metre pool is significant. There wouldn't be many locations in the town centre, other than Eddison Park, that could accommodate a large, outdoor pool. The Phillip pool and, inset, an artist's render of the new building, Mick Gentleman and Yvette Berry. Pictures by The Canberra Times, supplied "Phillip pool in its current outdoor form is only available for about four months of the year. The value of having an indoor facility is it's 12 months and it offers a range of other - it's not just a 25-metre pool - it's a range of other facilities like learn-to-swim and the like. "But Canberra, of course, will need a network of outdoor pools. There is one in Manuka and there is one in Dickson. There's Big Splash in Belconnen. So whether the southside may need an outdoor pool, is something we will look at in the future." An old Kambah High swimming carnival at the Phillip pool. Picture supplied The email trail The released email trail shows ACT bureaucrats knew the decision to cut the Phillip pool size from 50 metres to 25 metres in any future redevelopment would be unpopular with "some segments" of the community, not least because the pool would be shorter than those at other aquatic centres such as Gungahlin and Stromlo. The public servants also recognised the change would be a "departure from the existing Territory Plan requirements" which then required any lessee of the Phillip site to provide a 50-metre pool and continue to provide a pool in any future redevelopment. But future costs to a future developer appeared to push the decision over the line. "This [25=metre] option will provide a better all round outcome in relation to the capital cost, ongoing financial viability and future maintenance/upgrade requirements," Sport and Recreation senior director David Jeffrey wrote in one of the emails. The emails were sent in October, 2022, just before the completion of the draft Territory Plan, which was to provide a new planning system for the ACT. Schools such as Kambah High used to use Phillip pool for swimming carnivals. Picture supplied The emails are marked as "high" importance to ensure the draft plan includes new detail specifying that any future developer of the Phillip site only has to provide a 25-metre pool. The emails reveal a call for "urgent" review and action so the changes can get in before the cut-off date for the draft Territory Plan. Ministers on board The final email was sent on October 20, 2022, with the changes outlined for consideration and with the tacit approval of the offices of two cabinet ministers, Yvette Berry and Mick Gentleman. The draft Territory Plan went out for public consultation on November 1, 2022, including the detail about the 25-metre pool for Phillip. Just weeks later, developer Geocon bought the lease to the Phillip swimming pool and ice skating rink - in December 2022. The email trail in October 2022 shows the offices of then-planning minister Mick Gentleman and Sport Minister Yvette Berry were aware of changing the requirement at Phillip to a 25-metre pool should the site be redeveloped. "We have shared this information with Minister Berry's office to ensure they are across it," Mr Jeffrey wrote. Tom Rosser, Ms Berry's advisor at the time, also wrote an email that the changes "seem sensible to us and the Gentleman office so happy for it to put forward for inclusion". The emails also show the changes were the result of conversations between ACT Chief Planner Ben Ponton and Kareena Arthy, deputy director-general of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. A render of the first stage of a proposed 696-unit development by Geocon on the site of the Phillip swimming pool and ice skating rink. Picture supplied "My deputy director-general (Kareena Arthy) has had a couple of conversations with Ben Ponton recently and it has suggested there might be a small window to amend the stated requirements for the Phillip site as part of the current planning work that is underway (ie tighten the words around what the minimum requirements should be for a new pool should the site be redeveloped in the future)," Mr Jeffrey wrote in an email on October 17, 2022. At one point in the email trail, Mr Jeffrey writes that without a more specific spelling out of the minimum requirements for a pool in any future development at Phillip, a lessee could interpret the current wording as them only needing to provide a "50 metre pool that only has 1 lane". He also says while there is a risk the changes will not be well-received by the community, "reducing the main pool, down from 50 metres to 25 metres, justifies the inclusion of the other pool facilities" such as the learn-to-swim pool. The previous Territory Plan stated a 50-metre pool must be provided on the Phillip site. But should there be any redevelopment of the site, the lessee would be required to provide "an all year with reasonable opening hours, publicly available indoor swimming pool". The new Territory Plan ultimately spelt out that if the site was redeveloped, a publicly available, indoor facility was to be provided that included a minimum: 25m x 20m eight-lane swimming pool - water depth of 1.35m to 2.0m. Warm water program pool - minimum dimensions of 20m x 10m. Toddlers/leisure pool, learn to swim pool and/or water play splash pad - minimum size 500 square metres . A transition from within the centre to the outdoors (including to external gardens, decks and outdoor eating areas to support indoor/outdoor activities. Associated amenities to support the operation of the pool facilities. The design and inclusions of the pool would also have to be approved by the ACT government. The Geocon proposal is for an indoor public pool facility with cafe, splash pad, learn to swim area, toddlers' swimming area, leisure swimming area, 25-metre lap pool, program pool with relaxation area, steam and sauna room and outdoor area with water play/splash pad and entertainment area. Geocon has said, if approved, the development of almost 700 units and the aquatic centre at Phillip would be done in three stages. The ACT government says it will need to maintain the operation of the existing pool and ice skating rink until alternatives are provided. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Megan Doherty Journalist I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au More from Canberra 13 years ago six kinder kids were front page news. 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When Bernard Jones Jr. and his wife, Doris, built their dream home, they didn't hold back. A grotto swimming pool with a waterfall for hot summer days. A home theater for cozy winter nights. A fruit orchard to harvest in fall. And a vast underground bunker in case disaster strikes. "The world's not becoming a safer place," he said. "We wanted to be prepared." Under a nondescript metal hatch near the private basketball court, there's a hidden staircase that leads down into rooms with beds for about 25 people, bathrooms and two kitchens, all backed by a self-sufficient energy source. With water, electricity, clean air and food, they felt ready for any disaster, even a nuclear blast, at their bucolic home in California's Inland Empire. "If there was a nuclear strike, would you rather go into the living room or go into a bunker? If you had one, you'd go there too," said Jones, who said he reluctantly sold the home two years ago. Global security leaders are warning nuclear threats are growing as weapons spending surged to $91.4 billion last year. At the same time, private bunker sales are on the rise globally, from small metal boxes to crawl inside of to extravagant underground mansions. Critics warn these bunkers create a false perception that a nuclear war is survivable. They argue that people planning to live through an atomic blast aren't focusing on the real and current dangers posed by nuclear threats, and the critical need to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, government disaster experts say bunkers aren't necessary. A Federal Emergency Management Agency 100-page guide on responding to a nuclear detonation focuses on having the public get inside and stay inside, ideally in a basement and away from outside walls for at least a day. Those existing spaces can provide protection from radioactive fallout, says FEMA. But increasingly, buyers say bunkers offer a sense of security. The market for U.S. bomb and fallout shelters is forecast to grow from $137 million last year to $175 million by 2030, according to a market research report from BlueWeave Consulting. The report says major growth factors include "the rising threat of nuclear or terrorist attacks or civil unrest." Building bunkers "People are uneasy and they want a safe place to put their family. And they have this attitude that it's better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it," said Atlas Survival Shelters CEO Ron Hubbard, amid showers of sparks and the loud buzz of welding at his bunker factory, which he says is the world's largest, in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Hubbard said COVID lockdowns, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war have driven sales. On Nov. 21, in the hours after Russia's first-ever use of an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile to attack Ukraine, Hubbard said his phone rang nonstop. Four callers ended up buying bunkers in one day, he said, and more ended up ordering doors and other parts for shelters they were already building. Hubbard said his bunkers are built for all disasters. "They're good for anything from a tornado to a hurricane to nuclear fallout, to a pandemic to even a volcano erupting," he said, sweeping his arms toward a massive warehouse where more than 50 different bunkers were under construction. A loaded shotgun at arm's length and metal mesh window shields to block Molotov cocktails nearby, Hubbard said he started his company after building his own bunker about 10 years ago. He says callers ask about prices — $20,000 to multimillions, averaging $500,000 — and installations — they can go just about anywhere. He said most days he sells at least one bunker. Under Hubbard's doomsday scenario, global tensions could lead to World War III, a situation he is prepared to live through. "The good news about nuclear warfare," he said, "if there ever was any, that it's very survivable if you're not killed in the initial blast." He's not wrong, say U.S. government disaster preparedness experts. "You want to go to your most robust building" "Look, this fallout exposure is entirely preventable because it is something that happens after the detonation," said Brooke Buddemeier a radiation safety specialist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where the U.S. government designs nuclear weapons. Buddemeier and his colleagues are tasked with evaluating what could happen after an attack and how best to survive. "There's going to be a fairly obvious nuclear explosion event, a large cloud. So just getting inside, away from where those particles fall, can keep you and your family safe." Buddemeier and others in the U.S. government are trying to get Americans — who decades ago hid under desks during nuclear attack drills — educated about how to respond. After a deadly and deafening blast, a bright flash and a mushroom cloud, it will take about 15 minutes for the radioactive fallout to arrive for those a mile or more away from ground zero, said Michael Dillon, a scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "It's going to literally be sand falling on your head, and you're going to want to get out of that situation. You want to go to your most robust building," he said. In their models, they estimate people may need to stay inside for a day or two before evacuating. The government's efforts to educate the public were reinvigorated after a false alarm missile alert in Hawaii in 2018 caused widespread panic. The emergency alert, which was sent to cellphones statewide just before 8:10 a.m., said: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." For the next 40 minutes there were traffic jams, workers running into and out of buildings, families huddling in their bathrooms, students gathering in gyms, drivers blocking tunnels, all in an attempt to seek shelter, without any clear idea of what "seek immediate shelter" actually meant. Today the federal government offers a guide to prepare citizens for a nuclear attack that advises people to find a basement or the center of a large building and stay there, possibly for a few days, until they get word about where to go next. "Gently brush your pet's coat to remove any fallout particles" it says, adding that the 15-minute delay between bomb and fallout allows "enough time for you to be able to prevent significant radiation exposure." Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, who directs the FEMA-backed National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, said "the scenarios of a nuclear detonation are not all or nothing." If a small number of weapons detonate rather than all-out war, he said, sheltering inside a large building to avoid the fallout could save lives. "Underground bunkers aren't going to protect people" Nonproliferation advocates bristle at the bunkers, shelters or any suggestion that a nuclear war is survivable. "Bunkers are, in fact, not a tool to survive a nuclear war, but a tool to allow a population to psychologically endure the possibility of a nuclear war," said Alicia Sanders-Zakre at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Sanders-Zakre called radiation the "uniquely horrific aspect of nuclear weapons," and noted that even surviving the fallout doesn't prevent long-lasting, intergenerational health crises. "Ultimately, the only solution to protect populations from nuclear war is to eliminate nuclear weapons." Researcher Sam Lair at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies says U.S. leaders stopped talking about bunkers decades ago. "The political costs incurred by causing people to think about shelters again is not worth it to leaders because it forces people to think about what they would do after nuclear war," he said. "That's something that very, very few people want to think about. This makes people feel vulnerable." Lair said building bunkers seems futile, even if they work in the short term. "Even if a nuclear exchange is perhaps more survivable than many people think, I think the aftermath will be uglier than many people think as well," he said. "The fundamental wrenching that it would do to our way of life would be profound." That's been a serious concern of Massachusetts Congressman James McGovern for almost 50 years. "If we ever get to a point where there's all out nuclear war, underground bunkers aren't going to protect people," he said. "Instead, we ought to be investing our resources and our energy trying to talk about a nuclear weapons freeze, initially." Next, he said, "we should work for the day when we get rid of all nuclear weapons." Year after year he introduces legislation pushing for nonproliferation, but looking out his office window at the Capitol, he said he's disappointed by the lack of debate over what will be a $1 trillion expenditure to build and modernize the U.S. arsenal. "The stakes, if a nuclear weapon is ever used, is that millions and millions and millions of people will die. It really is shocking that we have world leaders who talk casually about utilizing nuclear weapons. I mean, it would be catastrophic, not just for those that are involved in an exchange of nuclear weapons, but for the entire world." McGovern pushed back against FEMA's efforts to prepare the public for a nuclear attack by advising people to take shelter. "What a stupid thing to say that we all just need to know where to hide and where to avoid the most impacts of nuclear radiation. I mean, really, that's chilling when you hear people try to rationalize nuclear war that way," he said. Nuclear war was far from a couple's mind when they went house-hunting in Southern California a few years ago. They wanted a home to settle down and raise their family, and they needed extra garage space. They spotted an online ad for a home with at least eight parking spots. On the basketball court, there was a metal hatch. Beneath it was a bunker. This was Jones' former home, which Jones said he put up for sale for family reasons. The husband, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns about his family's privacy, went ahead and bought Jones' home, bunker and all. They aren't particularly worried about nuclear war, and haven't spent a night in the bunker, but they have stored food and medical supplies down there. "We have told some of our friends, if something goes crazy and gets bad, get over here as fast as possible," the husband said. "It does provide a sense of security."Steelers vs. Chiefs: What they're saying in Kansas City after win

isn’t the only person upset with the data reporting from streaming giant . Just as users’ frustration caused by their results, the has swooped in to spark a generational ruckus. Yesterday (December 21) on , Spotify revealed its most-streamed holiday songs of all time. To the surprise of absolutely no one, the list included among others. But Spotify’s most-streamed holiday songs by decade is where users are torn. Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” is the winner for the 1950s. For the 1960s Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” was declared the top tune. Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” grabbed the top spot for the 1970s. WHAM!’s “Last Christmas” reigned for the 80s and Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” held it down for the 90s. The 2000s is where things seem to get rocky for users. Britney Spears’ “My Only Wish (This Year)” was the crowned jewel of Y2K. For the 2010s and 2020s, reigned supreme. In the Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” was the victor for the 2010s and “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me” with Kelly Clarkson is the current winner for the 2020s. “The fact that ‘Fairytale Of New York’ isn’t on here is appalling,” penned one user advocating for The Pogues’ 80s track. “‘Fruitcake’ and Laufey took this year for me,” chimed another pushing for a Sabrina Carpenter and Laufey 2020s placement. Others were torn between Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga’s cover of “Santa Claus is Coming To Town.” While some were fuming that Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was seemingly disqualified due to it being officially released in 1949 despite charting in 1950. Apparently, everything can’t be filled with holiday cheer.

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Dr Manmohan Singh, the architect of India’s economic transformation and a two-time Prime Minister, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. Renowned for his calm demeanour and sharp vision, Singh’s legacy is defined by the landmark reforms he implemented in 1991, which opened India to the global economy and steered the country away from the edge of economic collapse. Important Reforms By Dr Manmohan Singh As Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh introduced several transformative initiatives, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005, which aimed to provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment annually to rural households. The Civil Nuclear Deal with the United States in 2008 remains one of his hallmark achievements. Singh's government skillfully navigated the political and diplomatic hurdles to secure a deal that was crucial for India's energy future. The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 was passed under the Manmohan Singh government to give citizens the power to request information from public authorities and make the government more accountable. Dr Singh's government introduced the Right to Information Act (2005), which enhanced transparency and accountability by giving citizens access to public information. Singh's government also introduced the National Food Security Act (2013) which guaranteed subsidised food grains to nearly two-thirds of India’s population. During his tenure, India experienced strong GDP growth averaging 8.5 per cent, and his personal commitment to fostering peaceful relations with Pakistan played a key role in stabilizing bilateral ties. From 1982 to 1985, during his tenure as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Manmohan Singh played a crucial role in stabilizing the Indian Rupee’s exchange rate against the US Dollar. In 1991, as Finance Minister under P.V. Narasimha Rao, Singh tackled India's economic crisis, marked by poor productivity and rising inflation. He drafted a successful policy that boosted India's foreign exchange reserves from under $1 billion to $10 billion between June 1991 and June 1993. Dr Singh stressed public investment to boost private sector involvement, viewing it as a major driver for expanding infrastructure. At the time, India's combined fiscal deficit was nearly 8 per cent of GDP, the highest among developing nations. By 2004, when Singh became Prime Minister, the economic reforms he implemented since 1991 began yielding results, with India's GDP growing over 8 per cent annually from 2003. Singh's liberal economic policies ushered in significant reforms in India's business landscape. IT giants like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and WIPRO, along with pharmaceutical companies such as Ranbaxy and Dr Reddy's, shifted from the earlier 'Bombay Club' mentality to embrace a more global outlook. His policies also strengthened India's relations with OECD countries, including the UK, the US, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Additionally, India's GDP and foreign exchange reserves saw significant growth, while external debt and the debt service ratio experienced a sharp decline. To strengthen the Indian economy, Singh signed Free Trade Agreements and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with several countries, including Mauritius and ASEAN nations. These agreements not only accelerated India's economic growth but also enhanced its international relations. Also Read: Manmohan Singh, The Finance Minister Who Rescued India From Economic Collapse: A Look Back

Steady leadership unmatched wisdom India's sports community mourns Dr Singh's demise