fishing knots

fishing knots

CHEMISTRY NAMED A 2024 ADWEEK FASTEST GROWING AGENCY AND A 2025 CHIEF MARKETER AGENCY OF THE YEARRCBC Exec leads dialogue on digital disruption and sustainability at Asian Bankers Conference

WXYZ DETROIT — The year is winding down, so time to catch up on our viewer mail. Reaction to our Channel 7 Editorial making everyone aware of the U.S. Senate Debate between Elissa Slotkin and Mike Rogers promoted the normal partisan reaction. But we singled out two comments that weren’t partisan. Cheryl Phillips succinctly wrote: “Voted yesterday!” Early voting seemed to be a big hit this past election year. David Garner sent us this comment: “I won’t have to change batteries in my remote again for a while. I used the mute button so much on the political ads that they wore out twice in the last month.” Our station editorial about Lighting Up the Season” prompted this reaction. Marci Edwards said: “The Christmas Tree at Campus Martius Park is magnificent! Wow, love this time of year.” Another viewer wrote: “Downtown Detroit is the place to be this holiday season. Can’t wait to take my kids to see the tree and go ice skating on the rink.” - A. Jackson Our editorial on giving and volunteering during this holiday season inspired this message from Julian Little. He said: “People need help all year but if you have money or time to give back this holiday season, please do so. Trust me, you’ll feel good after you take that step.” And finally, this reaction to our Detroit aglow editorial. “Thank you for so many suggestions on where to see the holiday lights this December. My family is going to take in as many as we can.” - Tonya K. That’s it for Community Comments this year. Thanks for writing and watching. I’m Chuck Stokes. Editorial Director Broadcast: December 5 - 8, 2024

For travelers, Puerto Rico is a floating island of desirabilityThousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus’ main square and a historic mosque for the first Muslim Friday prayers since former President Bashar Assad was overthrown , a major symbolic moment for the country’s dramatic change of power. The rebels are now working to establish security and start a political transition after seizing the capital on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday, pressing ahead with efforts to unify Middle East nations in support of a peaceful political transition in Syria. It’s part of Blinken’s 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year in Gaza but his first after Assad was ousted. The U.S. is also making a renewed push for an ceasefire in Gaza, where the war has plunged more than 2 million Palestinians into a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The October 2023 attack by Hamas in southern Israel that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has transported out of Syria an American who disappeared seven months ago into former President Bashar Assad’s notorious prison system and was among the thousands released this week by rebels, a U.S. official said Friday. Travis Timmerman was flown out of Syria on a U.S. military helicopter, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Timmerman said he was released Monday morning alongside a young Syrian man and 70 female prisoners, some of whom had their children with them. He had been held separately from Syrian and other Arab prisoners and said he didn’t know of any other Americans held in the facility. — By Lolita C. Baldor THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid from human rights groups to block weapons exports to Israel and trading with the occupied territories, after finding there were sufficient checks already in place to comply with international law. The ten organizations told The Hague District Court last month that they thought the Netherlands was in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up following World War II, by continuing to sell weapons to Israel more than a year into the conflict in Gaza. “The government uses my own tax money, that I pay, to kill my own family. I’ve lost 18 members of my own family,” Ahmed Abofoul, a legal adviser for the pro-Palestinian organization Al-Haq, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit, told the court during a hearing in November . The court ruling said that “it is not up to the interim relief judge to order the state to reconsider government policy. That is primarily a political responsibility.” Lawyers for the government argued it wasn’t up to a judge to decide foreign policy for the Netherlands. The activist groups pointed to several emergency orders from another court, the International Court of Justice, as confirming the obligation to stop weapons sales. In January, the top U.N. court said it was plausible Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention. The coalition said it will review the court’s ruling and is considering an appeal. CAIRO — Israeli attacks in and around a hospital in northern Gaza wounded three medical staff overnight into Friday and caused damage to the isolated medical facility, according to its director. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said Israeli quadcopter drones carrying explosives deliberately targeted the emergency and reception area of Kamal Adwan Hospital, where one doctor was wounded for a third time. Abu Safiya said “relentless” drone and artillery strikes throughout the night exploded “alarmingly close” to the hospital, heavily damaging nearby buildings and destroying most of the water tanks on the hospital’s roof and blowing out doors and windows. Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahiya has been hit multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation against Hamas in northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. “We demand international protection for the hospital and its staff,” Abu Safiya said in a statement released via the U.K.-based aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians, “as well as the entry of delegations with surgical expertise, medical supplies, and essential medications to ensure we can adequately serve the people we are treating.” Abu Safiya said there were 72 wounded patients at the hospital, one of the few medical facilities left in northern Gaza. He said he expected Israeli forces would allow a World Health Organization aid convoy to bring supplies to the hospital on Friday or Saturday, as well as a team of doctors from Indonesia. Israel has allowed almost no humanitarian or medical aid to enter the three besieged communities in northern Gaza — Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp — and ordered tens of thousands to flee to nearby Gaza City. Israeli officials have said the three communities are mostly deserted, but the United Nations humanitarian office said Tuesday it believes around 65,000 to 75,000 people are still there, with little access to food, water, electricity or health care. Experts have warned that the north may be experiencing famine . BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced stop in Iraq on Friday on his latest visit to the Middle East aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria to prevent further regional turmoil. Blinken met in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani as part of the hastily arranged trip, his 12th to the region since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad. Blinken has already been to Jordan and Turkey on his current tour and will return to Jordan for urgent meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers to try to unify support for an inclusive post-Assad transition that does not allow the Islamic State group to take advantage of the political vacuum in Syria and secures suspected chemical weapons stocks. In Baghdad, Blinken “will underscore U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” the State Department said. “He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring U.S. support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition,” it said in a statement. His trip comes as the Biden administration winds down with just over a month left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has been highly critical of Biden’s approach to the Middle East and skeptical of the U.S. military presence in both Iraq and Syria. The U.S. and Iraq agreed in September to wrap up U.S.-led military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq next year, although Assad’s ouster and the potential for the group taking advantage of a political vacuum in Syria could complicate the timing of the withdrawal, according to American officials. DAMASCUS — The kingdom of Bahrain sent a message Friday to Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It said Bahrain is “fully prepared to consult with you continuously and to provide support in regional and international organizations to achieve what is in the interest of the brotherly Syrian people.” It added, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.” Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit. Syria was readmitted to the Arab League last year after 12 years of ostracization. It is still unclear how the international community will deal officially with the new interim government in Syria. JERUSALEM - Israel’s defense minister told troops to prepare to remain through the winter months on the peak of Mount Hermon, Syria’s highest point, located in a swath of southern Syria that Israeli troops moved into after the fall of Damascus to insurgents. The comments by Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that the military will extend its occupation of the zone along the border, which Israel says it seized to create a buffer zone. In a statement Friday, Katz said that holding the peak was of major importance for Israel’s security and that it would be necessary to build facilities there to sustain troops through the winter. The summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak on the eastern Mediterranean coast at 2,814 meters (9,232 feet), gives a commanding view over the plains of southern Syria. It also positions Israeli troops about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the center of Damascus. The mount is divided between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Lebanon and Syria. Only the United States recognizes Israel’s control of the Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli troops would remain in the zone until another force across the border in Syria could guarantee security. Israeli troops moved into the zone -– set as a demilitarized area inside Syrian territory under truce deals that ended the 1973 Mideast war -- after the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell last weekend. ANKARA, Turkey -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. “There’s broad agreement on what we would like to see going forward, starting with the interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said in joint statements with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The insurgent groups that toppled Assad in Syria have not made clear their policy or stance on Israel, whose military in recent days has bombed sites all over the country, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. Blinken also said it was crucial to keep the Islamic State group under control. “We also discussed the imperative of continuing the efforts to keep ISIS down. Our countries worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of ISIS to ensure that that threat doesn’t rear its head again,” Blinken said. The Turkish foreign minister said the two discussed ways of establishing prosperity in Syria and ending terrorism in the country. “Our priority is establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant,” Fidan said, in a reference to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party. Blinken said: “We’re very focused on Syria, very focused on the opportunity that now is before us and before the Syrian people to move from out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future for the Syrian people, one that the Syrian people decide for themselves.” Blinken and Fidan said they had also discussed a ceasefire for Gaza. “We’ve seen in the last couple of weeks more encouraging signs that (a ceasefire) is possible,” Blinken said. Blinken, who is making his 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but first since the weekend ouster of Assad, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Thursday. The outgoing Biden administration is particularly concerned that a power vacuum in Syria could exacerbate already heightened tensions in the region, which is already wracked by multiple conflicts, and create conditions for the Islamic State group to regain territory and influence. Later Friday, Blinken is to return to Jordan for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers and senior officials from the European Union, the Arab League and the United Nations. ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey has appointed a temporary charge d’affaires to reopen its embassy in Syria, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported. The Turkish Embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in 2012 due to the escalating security problems during the Syrian civil war and embassy staff and their families were recalled to Turkey. The Anadolu Agency said late Thursday that Turkey appointed Burhan Koroglu, its ambassador in Mauritania, to the post. UNITED NATIONS- – Two U.N. aid convoys were violently attacked in Gaza, making it virtually impossible for humanitarian agencies to operate without putting staff and civilians at risk, the U.N. food agency says. On Wednesday, a 70-truck convoy from Kerem Shalom was waiting for personnel to safeguard the food and other aid destined for central Gaza when there were reported attacks by Israeli forces in the nearby humanitarian zone, the U.N. World Food Program said Thursday. More than 50 people are now estimated to have died in the attacks, including civilians and local security personnel who had been expected to ensure the convoy’s safety, WFP said. The Rome-based agency said the convoy was forced to proceed from Kerem Shalom to central Gaza without any security arrangements, using the Philadelphi corridor, an Israeli-controlled route that had been recently approved and successfully utilized twice. On the way, WFP said, conflict and insecurity led to a loss of communication with the convoy for more than 12 hours. ”Eventually, the trucks were found but all food and aid supplies were looted,” the U.N. agency said. In a second incident, Israeli soldiers approached a WFP convoy moving out of the Kissufim crossing into central Gaza, fired warning shots, conducted extensive security checks, and temporarily detained drivers and staff, the agency said. “As the trucks were delayed, four out of the five trucks were lost to violent armed looting,” WFP said. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief has a message for Israel: Stop the attacks on Syria. Secretary-General António Guterres is particularly concerned about several hundred Israeli airstrikes on several Syrian locations and stresses “the urgent need to de-escalate violence on all fronts throughout the country," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday. The Israeli military said Tuesday it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the previous 48 hours, hitting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following last week’s overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The buffer zone was established after Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1973 war. Dujarric said Guterres condemns all actions violating the 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries that remain in force. And the U.N. chief calls on the parties to uphold the agreement and end “all unauthorized presence in the area of separation” and refrain from any action undermining the ceasefire and stability in the Golan Heights, the spokesman said.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Dejounte Murray plans to return to the New Orleans Pelicans ' lineup on Wednesday night for the first time since fracturing his left hand in a season-opening victory over Chicago on Oct. 23. And when Murray takes the court against the Toronto Raptors , his mother will be on his mind. After practice on Tuesday, Murray discussed his impending return and disclosed more details about the previously unspecified “personal matters” that caused him to leave the team during the final days of the preseason. His mother had a stroke, he said. “It was tough to leave and go deal with that. As she got better, she wanted me to come play,” Murray said of his last-minute decision to start against Chicago. He added that his hand injury near the end of that game was God's way of telling him, “‘Nah, you need to stay with your mom.’” “I was more concerned about my mother. That was my priority,” Murray continued. “I wasn’t really worried about my recovery.” Murray's mother has recovered well, he said, while he is “healthy and ready to help this team.” “I’m ready to hoop. Play for my mother — she’s going to be watching," Murray said. “I’m ready to compete, bring that winning spirit.” The Pelicans (4-14) certainly could use the help, having lost 14 of 16 games since opening the season with a pair of victories. Injuries have ravaged the roster. At times, all five starters have been out. Star power forward Zion Williamson has missed 12 games this season — one with an illness and 11 with a hamstring injury. Herb Jones has been sidelined by a shoulder strain and Brandon Ingram's status is in doubt after he sat out practice on Tuesday with calf soreness that also sidelined him during a loss on Monday night at Indiana. But at least two starters — Murray and fellow guard CJ McCollum — are expected to play against the Raptors. “I don’t care how many games we’ve lost. I just know every time I step on the floor I feel like we can win games,” said Murray, who had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his lone game with the Pelicans. "That’s just my mentality, and I feel like it can carry over to a lot of guys.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Radical Jaguar rebrand and new logo sparks ire online NEW YORK (AP) — A promotional video for a rebrand of British luxury car brand Jaguar is being criticized online for showing models in brightly colored outfits — and no car. The rebrand, which includes a new logo, is slated to launch Dec. 2 during Miami Art Week, when the company will unveil a new electric model. But Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of India’s Tata Motors Ltd., has been promoting it online. The Jaguar brand is in the middle of a transition to going all-electric. “Copy Nothing,” marketing materials read. “We’re here to delete the ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing.” Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations DALLAS (AP) — The nation is set to mark 61 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed through downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Even after over six decades, conspiracy theories about what happened that day still swirl and the desire to follow every thread of information hasn’t waned. President-elect Donald Trump made promises over the summer that if reelected he would declassify the remaining records. At this point, only a few thousand of millions of pages of records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released. And those who have studied what's been released so far say that the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations even if the remaining files are declassified. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused the firms of selling counterfeit clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Defense lawyers declined to comment on the verdict and whether they planned an appeal. Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum? NEW YORK (AP) — A previously unknown musical work written by composer Frederic Chopin appears to have been found in a library in New York City. The Morgan Library & Museum says the untitled and unsigned piece is the first new manuscript of the Romantic era virtuoso to be discovered in nearly a century. Robinson McClellan, the museum’s curator, says he stumbled across the work in May while going through a collection brought to the Manhattan museum years earlier. He worked with outside experts to verify the document's authenticity. But there’s debate whether the waltz is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. Volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for the 7th time in a year GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland is spewing lava from a fissure in its seventh eruption since December. Iceland's seismic monitors said the eruption started with little warning late Wednesday and created a long fissure but looked to be smaller than eruptions in August and May. Around 50 houses were evacuated after the Civil Protection agency issued the alert, along with guests at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, according to the national broadcaster. The repeated eruptions over the past year have caused damage to the town of Grindavík and forced people to relocate. Australian teen and British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died, bringing toll to 5 VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia’s prime minister said was every parent’s nightmare. Officials earlier said an American and two Danish tourists also had died following reports that multiple people had been sickened in town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment in a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, remains hospitalized in Thailand. Later Thursday, Britain said a British woman also died and the media in the U.K. identified her as 28-year-old Simone White. US ahead in AI innovation, easily surpassing China in Stanford's new ranking The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. There’s no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the “vibrancy” of the AI industry across a variety of dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm. Following the U.S. and China were the United Kingdom, India and the United Arab Emirates. Pop star Ed Sheeran helps favorite soccer team sign player before getting on stage with Taylor Swift It turns out British pop star Ed Sheeran is also good at recruiting soccer players. Sheeran is a minority shareholder at English soccer team Ipswich Town and it needed his help over the summer to get a player to join the club. Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton tells a Soccerex industry event in Miami: “Ed jumped on a Zoom call with him at the training ground, just before he stepped on stage with Taylor Swift. Hopefully that was a key part in getting the player across the line.” Ashton didn’t disclose the player in question, saying only: “He’s certainly scoring a few goals.”Where are graves and bodies, Dar questions PTI claims Security personnel are martyred during PTI’s protest but found no evidence of any citizen’s death, says Asif ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif made it clear on Saturday that the Centre had no intention to impose governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, being ruled currently by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government. Addressing a press conference here, he said the PTI tried to sink the country’s economy. “PTI launched a third onslaught on the Centre which was thwarted.” Rubbishing the PTI’s claim about causalities at the hands of law enforcers, the minister said: “Security personnel were martyred during the PTI’s protest but found no evidence of any citizen’s death.” He said: “The KP government attacked Centre with [official] weapons and equipment.” He advised the provincial government to focus on the law and order situation in the province in general and in Parachinar in particular. Separately, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday the state had decided that all ‘miscreants’ involved in the recent violent protests would be tried speedily and severe punishments would be awarded to them. He told a news conference in Rawalpindi and said in a statement issued earlier that the state had decided that no one would be given concessions, so that an example could be set for future. Referring to PTI leaders’ press conference held the other day, he said a series of allegations were levelled by the party about killing of its activists by the law-enforcers. However, three days have passed, but the party had not been able to present a single picture or video of the firing. The PTI leaders, he pointed out, presented contradictory figures about the death of protesters, but PIMS and Polyclinic hospitals said that no bodies were brought to them. “You are playing old pictures and AI-generated footages,” he told the PTI leaders. “Why did they not share the videos of their protesters firing and throwing shells at the police? Why was there a need to bring a false narrative about the bodies? A picture was also shared with blood on the road in the Blue Area, after which I went to that road and made a video and showed every inch where there was not even a single spot of blood,” he noted. Tarar said that a man, who had reportedly fallen from a container during the PTI’s protest in the federal capital, was injured but was completely fine now. He refuted outright claims circulating online about his death. Tarar lamented that propaganda was done that a person was offering prayers and was killed by pushing him down. However, he made it clear that the man was a resident of Mandi Bahauddin and was completely fine. His video had emerged, he got hurt on the arm and had bandages as well. Tarar condemned the humiliation of senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja in the PTI meeting recently and said “he is my teacher; Sahibzada Hamid Raza is the son of a great father; he was also treated inappropriately; we still respect his father’s grave”. The minister said there was an internal turmoil with [Bushra] ‘Bibi’ wanting dead bodies, which were not found. Therefore, these people started propaganda. He alleged these people even eat apples and post on social media, so where are pictures and videos of the dead? And where are their graves, he asked. “What will happen to the 35 Afghan citizens, who have been arrested; the weapons that have been found from your people; you will know all this. “I have also told journalists belonging to the international media that all this is despicable propaganda; firearms are not given to the forces in any protest. Do they have evidence, we have shown CCTV footage of their people firing and attacking officials,” the minister asked. He pointed out that there is a video available of their escape. Why is there no firing in it and why are people not seen dying? The minister claimed that many of their important leaders were absent from the protest. There was an Aleema group and a Bushra Bibi group in the PTI; today Bushra Bibi’s spokesperson Mashal Yousafzai was removed from her post. Attaullah Tarar said: “Whenever Pakistan starts developing, these miscreants come to the streets.” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Saturday also questioned the PTI claims about protesters allegedly killed by the law-enforcers. He said that stories about gunshot wounds and indiscriminate firing by the law enforcement agencies were malicious and absolutely false. Taking to X, the foreign minister asked, “Where are the graves and dead bodies? The so-called protestors came armed with heavy ammunition and tear gas canisters. The mob was determined to create chaos and ready to kill.” He added that the security and law enforcement agencies exercised maximum restraint with patience despite deaths within their ranks. “PTI leaders abandoned their workers and are now developing a ridiculous and lies-based narrative of state brutality,” he tweeted. Separately, PMLN parliamentary leader in Senate and Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Irfan Siddiqui took strong exception to PTI leader Sardar Latif Khosa’s statement on Nov-26 protest call. He said “if a lie is made into a political weapon, there is no limit to it”. On social media platform ‘X’, he said, “Senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa first revealed that “278” PTI workers were killed by the security forces”, and then said in a TV show, “In the entire human history, there is no such instance of massacre. This bloodshed has left far behind Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir and Israeli massacres in Palestine”. Irfan Siddiqui said India and Israel never imagined that such a worthy advocate would have been available to them from the PTI ranks in the anti-Pakistan campaign. “Does the incompetent group that shames Pakistan all over the world by telling unfathomable lies have the right to be called a political party,” he questioned. Also, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari claimed exposing false propaganda of the PTI by sharing a video of a person, who was falsely declared dead. She said after yet another failed rebellion, the “vultures of the PTI movement” are resorting to present fake videos and images. The propaganda cell of PTI was desperately trying to sell lies and search for dead bodies. She questioned whether these lies and propaganda should be given a free pass. Such actions were a disgrace, and strict action would be taken against those spreading fake news and false propaganda.

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New Delhi: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Congress always favoured power over the Constitution and took a veiled dig at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi by saying that many Opposition leaders move around with a copy of the Constitution as they have seen this legal document being kept in the pockets of the leaders of their family over generations. Singh's swipe at Gandhi was for showing the Constitution during political rallies and while taking oath as MPs and in a reference to the Emergency imposed by his grandmother and former PM, the late Indira Gandhi . Initiating the 'Discussion on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India", in the Lok Sabha he said: "Whenever the Congress had the opportunity to choose between Constitution and power, it has always favoured power." He said the Opposition party could never tolerate independence and autonomy of institutions and always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution. "The Congress destroyed the basic spirit of the Constitution and words like protecting the Constitution do not suit them," he claimed. Singh mentioned several cases of governors "unconstitutionally suspending BJP governments " in the past, including the one in Uttar Pradesh after the Babri Masjid demolition of which he was also part. He also mentioned his solitary confinement in jail during Emergency. Singh asserted that the Constitution was not a contribution of any single party, but an unparalleled, transformative document aligned with the values of India. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )David Beckham posts emotional tribute to Man United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps and shares image of his last visit to 'the heartbeat of the club' after her death at the age of 85 Man United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps passed away at the age of 85 David Beckham was one of several former United stars to pay tribute to Phipps By WILL PICKWORTH Published: 22:36 GMT, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 23:39 GMT, 5 December 2024 e-mail 5 shares 6 View comments David Beckham has paid tribute to Manchester United 's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps after she passed away at the age of 85. United announced news of her passing on Thursday and shared a heartfelt 454-word statement to honour Phipps, who worked for 55 years in a variety of roles at the club. In the tribute, United hailed Phipps as an 'omnipresent figure since the late 1960s' and a 'one-woman institution'. Several former United players and staff members also paid tribute to Phipps and Beckham penned his own message to her on Thursday evening. Taking to Instagram alongside a photo of him holding Phipps' hand, Beckham said: 'Forever in our hearts... The first and last face I would always see was Kath sat at reception at Old Trafford waiting to give me my tickets for the game. 'She was the heartbeat of Manchester United, everyone knew who Kath was and everyone adored her. David Beckham has paid tribute to Manchester United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps Beckham hailed Phipps, who appeared in his Netflix documentary, as the 'heartbeat of Manchester United' and said 'Old Trafford will never be the same without your smile' United announced news of Phipps' passing at the age of 85 on Thursday and paid tribute to her 'I moved up to Manchester at 15 and Kath made a promise to my mum and dad: "I'll look after your boy for you don't you worry", and from that first day till the last day I spent with her that's exactly what she did ❤️. 'Old Trafford will never be the same without your smile as we walk through those doors... We love you.' Phipps, who appeared in Beckham's Netflix documentary about his life, started working at United as the club's first switchboard operator back in 1968 during Sir Matt Busby's reign. In May 2022, after over five decades of service, she was honoured with a Service to Football Award - with Beckham admitting the 'amazing' receptionist 'really deserved' the honour for her services to football and United in general. In a statement earlier on Thursday, United had said: 'We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved colleague Kath Phipps at the age of 85. 'An omnipresent figure at Manchester United since the late 1960s, Kath worked for the club for over 55 years in a variety of roles, but her contribution went beyond any particular job title. 'Having become a key member of the club's office staff in the ensuing years, Kath later became a matchday fixture at Old Trafford's directors' entrance and took on the role of training ground receptionist, ensuring that any visitor to Carrington was greeted by the cheeriest of welcomes. 'For regulars, that greeting would extend to warm hugs and friendly chats as Kath came to embody the familial atmosphere underpinning the club's culture. Wayne Rooney was among the first to pay tribute to Phipps with an emotional post on Instagram Harry Maguire (left) and Patrice Evra (right) also paid tribute with heartfelt social media messages United legend Paul Scholes described Phipps as 'the heart and soul' of the football club 'If Kath ever had a bad day, she never brought it to work; her positive attitude helped set the mood for everyone entering the training ground, always ready to lend an ear and offer words of encouragement to anyone who needed them – be they megastar footballers, casual staff or occasional visitors. 'Kath was a one-woman institution, whose memory will be cherished by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her. She said last year: "I can't imagine doing anything else." Well, we can't imagine the place without her. 'Rest in peace, Kath.' Several of Beckham's former team-mates also shared similarly heartfelt messages towards Phipps. This included Wayne Rooney, who said: ' The heart and soul of Manchester United. Everything what the club is about. A legend who will be greatly missed. Thanks for the memories Kathy. Thoughts with family and friends.' Manchester United defender Harry Maguire also posted: 'A legend that will never be forgotten. I will miss you. We will miss you. RIP Kath.' Meanwhile, former Red Devils captain Gary Neville shared the club's emotional tribute, simply adding a broken heart emoji. Fellow ex-United skipper Patrice Evra, displayed a photograph of him hugging Phipps and said: 'Losing a family member is never easy.' The long-serving receptionist meeting new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in 2024 Phipps with Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Carrick after winning her Service to Football Award Man United loanee Jadon Sancho - who currently plays for Chelsea - also penned an emotional farewell to Phipps on social media. Sancho wrote: 'I'm grateful that I've had the pleasure of meeting you. Such a lovely kind hearted soul. She always made sure I was OK and always put a smile on my face whenever I felt down, I appreciate you Kath. 'My condolences go out to her family through this tough time'. Former Red Devil Scott McTominay, now at Italian club Napoli, added: 'You were loved and adored by everybody Kath. You made me smile each and every time I saw you and could brighten up any room you walked into. Rest in peace'. Mike Phelan - who worked alongside legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson - also paid a touching tribute to Phipps. He said: 'RIP Kath Phipps. The Real Assistant Manager'. United legend Rio Ferdinand added: 'Kath. An absolute mainstay of Manchester United. 'Always welcomed me and everyone else who visited with a warm smile! Looked at life positively, incredibly selfless & would put others first! RIP'. Club legend Paul Scholes was another who shared an emotional tribute to Phipps as he posted: 'The heart and soul of our special football club, will be sadly missed by all and impossible to replace... RIP Kath'. Former Man United assistant coach Mike Phelan shared a touching tribute to Phipps online Ex-United defender Ferdinand labelled Phipps 'an absolute mainstay' at the Red Devils In loving memory of Kath Phipps: friend, confidant and treasured colleague. United will never be the same. pic.twitter.com/CHJCIcohz2 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 5, 2024 It didn't take long for United to release an emotional tribute to Phipps in the form of a two minute video on social media. The caption to the video read: 'In loving memory of Kath Phipps: friend, confidant and treasured colleague. United will never be the same.' Speaking in 2022 after she collected her Service to Football Award alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Carrick, Phipps had reflected on the 'great honour' and opened up on her role at the club. 'In September 1968, I just applied for the job to Les Olive and got it within a couple of days,' she told United's website. 'Sir Alex was my longest-serving manager. He's always been there for me, every time. He's absolutely brilliant to work for. 'I don't think we've ever had a cross word all these years I've known him. Even on matchdays. We're like brother and sister – he talks to me like that. 'I just get up every morning as a happy person. I come here and I just love seeing them all. I'll miss them one day, when I'm not here, but I don't want to give it up just yet.' David Beckham Instagram Manchester United Share or comment on this article: David Beckham posts emotional tribute to Man United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps and shares image of his last visit to 'the heartbeat of the club' after her death at the age of 85 e-mail 5 shares Add comment