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jilibet apk Travel: Colorado’s winter huts blend adventure, luxury, and scenic beautyWestern intelligence agencies accuse Russia of increasingly engaging in hybrid warfare since invading Ukraine. What exactly constitutes hybrid warfare, and what's its intended goal? In the span of one week, a cargo plane belonging to German logistics company DHL crashed in Lithuania , two underwater data cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea, and pro-Russian right-wing extremist Calin Georgescu surprisingly won the first round of Romania's presidential election. Several Western politicians and intelligence agencies suspect that Russia was the driving force behind all three incidents, although nothing has been proven and no evidence backing the suspicions has so far been made public. While Kremlin-orchestrated hybrid warfare has always posed a danger, experts now warn that this danger has grown dramatically since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine . Hybrid warfare means broadening military operations to include espionage, sabotage and cyberattacks, as well as engaging in election interference, propaganda or disinformation campaigns to weaken and destabilize the enemy from within. Experts say Russia has continuously expanded its hybrid warfare arsenal in recent years. Sabotage suspected after Baltic Sea cables cut To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Espionage European countries have expelled around 500 Russian diplomats since early 2022. Britain's MI5 secret service said at least 400 of them are spies. Many Russian embassies and consulates are reported to be equipped with state-of-the-art communications and espionage technology. If any of this can be definitively proven, Western intelligence agencies have chosen not to make public the information they may have gathered. After all, the embassy and consulate buildings are considered Russian territory and cannot be entered by host states without Russian permission. The Dutch secret service has warned that Russia is equipping its spies with false papers and smuggling them into Western institutions disguised as businesspeople. Reports of suspected Russian espionage emerge regularly. Some drew attention to a hacked conversation between German army officials discussing the country's Taurus missile system . Others have dealt with suspected Russian drones spying on European air bases and industrial zones. Some reports have also focused on suspected spy ships, officially classed as research vessels, cruising the seas of northern Europe and mapping critical seabed infrastructure for possible acts of sabotage. Sabotage Last week, a Russian-captained Chinese freighter reportedly damaged two undersea cables by dragging an anchor over the seabed . The incident is similar to one that occurred in October 2023. Last month, a London warehouse used for storing aid for Ukraine was hit by an arson attack . In July, a parcel that should have been sent by air freight went up in flames at a DHL logistics center in Leipzig, Germany. It is thought Russian sabotage could have been at play in these and numerous other cases. Yet nothing has been proven so far. European intelligence services warn that the number of acts of sabotage and arson have increased dramatically over the past year in the EU and UK. Cyberattacks Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) warns that the risk of malicious cyberspace activity is "higher than ever." Online espionage and sabotage are ever-present. "Before Russia's attack on Ukraine, Russian-linked groups were very active in Germany engaging in cyberespionage and financially motivated ransomware attacks," the BSI said. "The scope of threats has expanded since Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine." The agency said "the number of DDoS attacks by pro-Russian hacktivists" has risen sharply. DDoS attacks involve flooding websites or servers with traffic until they crash due to overload. Hacks aimed at penetrating company and institutional networks are also on the rise. Disinformation and propaganda Another objective of hybrid warfare is trying to influence public opinion in a given target country. Falsehoods and pro-Russian or anti-Ukrainian narratives are disseminated to this end, whether on social media platforms through troll factories, or via Russian foreign media outlets. In early 2024, Germany's Foreign Ministry uncovered a Russian "Doppelganger" disinformation campaign. It involved 50,000 fake social media user accounts spreading falsehoods and pro-Russian opinions on social networks while linking to fake news outlets spreading Russian propaganda. Some of the sites appeared deceptively similar to well-known news sites. Election interference, meddling in the political process One of the aims of these disinformation campaigns is to undermine public support for Ukraine. Another objective consists of politically destabilizing a democratic target country by strengthening extreme parties and candidates, for example by providing financial support to them. Russian propaganda: Deepfake videos tougher to detect To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In April, the Czech secret service uncovered a propaganda website called Voice of Europe , believed to be financed by Moscow. The site is suspected of paying bribes to some members of European Parliament. One of the individuals suspected of having received such payments is Petr Bystron , an MEP with the far-right populist Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) party. He has denied the accusations. Western intelligence agencies also accused Russia of directly or indirectly influencing dozens of elections across Europe, North America and South America. Russian international broadcaster RT is said to have produced videos on controversial topics such as aid for Ukraine, migration and the economy during the US presidential election campaign. Right-wing US bloggers then spread some of the videos. Hack-and-leak attacks are also part of the hybrid warfare repertoire. They involve hacking politicians, political parties or other institutions to steal and publish confidential information, sometimes alongside falsified documents, before elections. This happened, for example, in the run-up to the 2016 US election and the 2017 French presidential election. Targeted killings Assassinating influential figures is another facet of hybrid warfare. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not shied away from attacking individuals abroad . This is clear from the killing of a Chechen ex-commander in Berlin's Tiergarten park, who allegedly fought against Russia during the Second Chechen War. This is also evident from the 2006 attack on Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko and the assassination attempt against Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in 2018 . All were carried out on British soil. It's mainly Russian citizens who have fallen victim to such attacks so far. In July 2024, however, news leaked that Russia was planning to assassinate Armin Papperger , CEO of the German armaments group Rheinmetall, which manufactures the Leopard II tanks and other munitions supplied to Ukraine. The Kremlin has denied all the accusations. How to deal with hybrid warfare? Russia is conducting many different hybrid warfare pinpricks across Europe, according to Sönke Marahrens, a German army officer and hybrid security expert. "Russian operators are trying out different things in many European states, which are individually tailored to the respective state," Marahrens told German public news outlet tagesschau.de. "Hybrid measures that work in Poland don't work in Germany; what works in Germany wouldn't work in Finland." That is why, he said, one must expect "a very broad spectrum of attacks in the future." Likewise, one should show flexibility in reacting to such attacks, he added. This article was translated from German .

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.Prioritize education to empower people with disabilities: Vice-Senior General

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Are you tired of battling with a hair dryer that takes forever to dry your hair and leaves it looking damaged and frizzy? If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of waiting for your hair to dry while trying to avoid heat damage, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with traditional hair dryers that simply don’t deliver the results they desire. Fortunately, this Black Friday, Dyson is offering a solution that can transform your hair care routine: it offers massive discounts on two of their most innovative products—the Dyson Airwrap and the Dyson Supersonic. The Dyson Airwrap is priced at $499, down from $599 , which is a 17% discount, while the Dyson Supersonic is available for $329, reduced from $429 , offering a 23% savings. Given that Dyson rarely discounts its premium products, this is a rare opportunity to invest in high-quality tools designed to elevate your hair care experience. See Dyson Airwrap at Amazon See Dyson Supersonic at Amazon As you consider these (incredible) options this Black Friday, remember that Amazon offers a best price guarantee: if the price drops further during the promotional period, they will refund you the difference. Plus, with an extended return policy until January 31, 2025—far beyond the usual 30 days—you can shop with confidence this holiday season. What Difference? The Dyson Airwrap uses the revolutionary “Coanda” effect to style and dry hair simultaneously without exposing it to extreme heat. This technology allows the device to attract and wrap hair around its barrels using only air and enables you to create beautiful curls, waves and smooth blowouts without the risk of damage. With 8 attachments—including four curling barrels and various brushes for smoothing and volumizing—the Airwrap caters to a wide range of hair types and styles for salon-quality results right at home. In contrast, the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is engineered for rapid drying: its powerful digital motor spins up to 6 times faster than traditional dryers and delivers supersonic airspeed that drastically reduces drying time. The Supersonic comes with 5 attachments—a smoothing nozzle, a wide-tooth comb, a flyaway attachment, a diffuser for curly hair, and a gentle air attachment for fine or sensitive hair. With intelligent heat control technology that measures airflow temperature over 40 times per second, it prevents extreme heat damage while enhancing shine. While both devices excel in their respective functions, they cater to different needs: the Dyson Airwrap is perfect for those who want to style their hair while drying it simultaneously . Meanwhile, if your primary goal is quick drying before styling with other tools, the Supersonic is the better choice. See Dyson Airwrap at Amazon See Dyson Supersonic at Amazon

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Until last week most Australians had probably forgotten about the existence of the Bali Nine. Since two of their number — the so-called ringleaders of the heroin smuggling gang, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran – were executed in 2015 and Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 — the others had dropped off the radar. That the five who have survived 19 years of their life sentences in Indonesian jails are now back on the diplomatic agenda is a mixed blessing for them. They will be full of fresh hope of moving to be closer to their families, and getting a potential release date. For all this to be part of a political debate before the deal is done, puts them in slightly risky territory. To know why, we need to recall the history of a different drug smuggler: Schapelle Corby. After years of diplomatic back-channelling, Corby – known in Indonesia as “the ganga queen” – was finally released early in 2014, after nine years. Schapelle Corby’s release in 2014 will play a part in the political discussion in Indonesia over the release of the remaining Bali Nine members. The then Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had taken the political risk of looking soft on drugs and too pro-West by allowing her parole on compassionate grounds, for mental health reasons. One stipulation was that she serve out her sentence at the family compound in Bali. Instead, she was whisked from the prison in a limousine procured by an Australian TV network (Seven), masked to preserve its exclusive story, and taken to a luxury compound to prepare for a planned highly paid interview. Then she was photographed in her prison clothes sipping a beer. The Indonesian public was furious. The way they saw it, their president had kowtowed to the West and now the TV network and the Corbys were making fools of them. At one point it seemed possible that she might be returned to prison. Then, as now, the S-word — sovereignty — was invoked. An editorial in the newspaper Media Indonesia said Corby had ridiculed Indonesian law and sovereignty. Attempts to bring the remaining five members of the Bali Nine home by December, carry some similar risks. Already firebrand international law professor Hikmahanto Juwana has said of the potential deal: “Our sovereignty is being ripped [to shreds].” As a former colony (invaded and run by the Dutch, then the Japanese in World War II), Indonesians are wary of anything that smacks of foreign interference, particularly by Western colonial powers. They also have a great political intolerance for drugs. Remaining Bali Nine members Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen – another member, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died from cancer in 2018 – were never as infamous in Indonesia as Chan and Sukumaran, but their story was still known. You can only imagine the trepidation they are feeling now as their transfer is discussed but unconfirmed. That said, much has changed since 2013. Indonesia is two presidents down the track. Yudhoyono was replaced in 2014 by Joko Widodo, who moved early to cement his populist-nationalist credentials with the show executions of Chan and Sukumaran. Now Prabowo Subianto is in charge. He was educated in the West and became famous as a military general. He appears more comfortable in his own strongman skin, and Indonesia seems once again willing to talk. How Australia now acts and speaks, though, remains important. When then-prime minister Tony Abbott reacted angrily to the proposed execution of Chan and Sukumaran in 2015, and reminded Indonesia of the billion-dollar contribution made by Australia in 2004 for post-tsunami aid, ordinary Indonesians made him the butt of a joke. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Peru earlier this month. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen They collected small coins (as they do for beggars at traffic stops in Jakarta) to “pay back” the aid, and dubbed their campaign #koinuntukabbott, or Coins for Abbott. Chan and Sukumaran were shot by firing squad, the date of the execution announced on Anzac Day. After the current talks became public, shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash muscled up, saying : “Drug offences are some of the worst offences our society sees because of the devastating consequences on people, including death.” This is no doubt true. But Cash should remember her words can be heard in Indonesia. I am biased. I knew some of the Bali Nine and I believe that 19 years is long enough. I also believe, as Sukumaran put it to me in 2012, that they had “f---ed up” and they knew it. “We were wrong, we know that. We’re paying for that.” And he had a message that, in my view, should still resonate today: “We’ve changed ... Our families shouldn’t have to suffer like this.” Michael Bachelard was this masthead’s Indonesia correspondent from 2012 to 2014. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .

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The value of domestic food demand is projected to double from $6.5 billion (approximately Rwf8.9 trillion) in 2020 to $13 billion (approximately Rwf17.7 trillion) by 2040, according to the 2024 Rwanda Country Economic Memorandum report by the Government of Rwanda and the World Bank. Much of this increased demand reflects a shift in consumption from a diet high in cereals and beans to one consisting of more livestock-sourced products, horticulture, and processed foods and beverages, the pointed out. The increase also reflects more meals consumed outside the home, the report indicated. ALSO READ: How pop culture is driving growth of fast-food business in Rwanda Rwanda’s food trade has increased sharply and is dominated by regional partners. The report suggests that the shifts in food consumption constitute an immense opportunity for increased jobs. Jules Ngango, an agricultural economist and a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, told The New Times that the demand indeed represents opportunities for local producers who will be guaranteed with market for their agricultural products. The demand, he said, is also expected to boost Rwanda’s economic growth through increased national production, but he called for scaling up of irrigation efforts to realise this demand. “Apart from population growth, improvements in living standards, understanding of nutrition, and level of education make people change their consumption habits,” Ngango said, citing adoption of animal-sourced products and horticulture items such as fruits. What should Rwanda prioritise? Based on projected population growth and changes in dietary patterns, the World Bank estimates food demand over the next two decades is estimated to be more than twice that of Rwanda’s production capacity, necessitating about 34,000 square kilometres of arable land compared to Rwanda’s 12,400square kilometres even under quite optimistic yield growth assumptions. Birasa Nyamulinda, another agricultural economist and agribusiness lecturer at Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), observed that this demand will be driven by an increase in purchasing power among the population, increased awareness about healthy products, and understanding the importance of animal-sourced products such as eggs, milk and meat, as well as fruits and vegetables in their consumption. To meet this demand, Nyamulinda said large-scale irrigation projects such as Gabiro Agribusiness Hubin Eastern Province are important, citing a focus on vegetables and fruits. “Investment should be made in post-harvest management so that the available produce is not wasted, but rather it is properly handled for sustainability in supply,” he noted. ALSO READ: Govt urged to leverage agric technologies to feed growing population Rwanda must also place focus on policies that boost productivity to meet the growing food demand, experts say. “Focus has to be put on the production of key food crops needed in the country such as rice, Irish potatoes, maize, fruits and vegetables, as well as livestock products,” Ngango said, adding that consistency of supply should be ensured and that policies that increase productivity should be put in place. Ngango suggested that there is a need to support large-scale farmers who can leverage the existingtechnologies, improved seeds, and irrigation mechanisms, to boost productivity. “Subsistence farmers who produce food on a small scale and own small land are not expected to meet the domestic food demand as it is difficult for them to the required technologies because of limited means,” he noted, adding that the focus should be on large-scale farming. ALSO READ: Agriculture land ‘must be protected’ to feed increasing population Farmers speak out For farmers, drought or shortage of rainfall, is one of the major challenges to food production. Marie Therese Uzamukunda, an Irish potato farmer from Bugeshi Sector, Rubavu District, told The New Times that while food demand keeps increasing, farm productivity is not sustainable in part due todrought. She is one of the farmers hit by a dry spell that started in May and ran through August in the district. “I was expecting to harvest 15 tonnes of Irish potatoes per a hectare, but I only harvested five tonnes,” she said of the dry spell impact. Uzamukunda highlighted that although irrigation would offer a solution, some parts of the country including Bugeshi in Rubavu have no access to water bodies, which makes setting up irrigation infrastructure costly. The World Bank shows in its report that the value of food imports rose from around $400 million in 2015 to $1.1 billion in 2022, or from 15.4 per cent of total imports to 22 per cent over the same period. The value of food exports rose by less, from $530 million in 2015 to $800 million in 2022, and the share of exports fell from 46.5 percent to 27.2 per cent. One driver of the increased food imports has been that the increase in food production did not keep pace with the increase in population. Intra-African food trade accounted for almost half of Rwanda’s total trade, with a sharp increase in recent years and the African market is likely to continue growing over the coming decades. To address the import-export imbalance, Birasa said that the country should identify and focus on agricultural and livestock products that can be produced locally at a relatively small cost, and only import those that would involve higher production cost domestically. Overall, he held, importing more foods than a country produces implies difficulties [such as pressure on its currency], calling for keeping momentum in the country’s efforts to set up infrastructure to boost local production. “It would not be good if the increasing [food] demand is satisfied by imports. So, we should look for ways to make sure that domestic production,” he said, citing irrigation among critical actions.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emmanuel Ntirenganya" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }

Should you invest in Kotak Transportation & Logistics NFO?Vikings QB Sam Darnold practices, ready for BearsNone

The world has gone crazy, we’ve recently discovered, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Major League Baseball offices in New York. In the media capital of the world, you’ll find Commissioner Rob Manfred, the nuttiest top executive in professional sports, who always seems to go that extra mile to troll baseball fans . Manfred’s mind is on his money, and the money is on his mind. His brilliant idea of having All-Star players wear generic jerseys representing their respective leagues instead of the time-honored tradition of wearing one’s team jersey was so reviled that MLB rescinded the plan in September. MLB also agreed to ditch the horrid uniforms used in 2024 — with the mismatched jerseys and see-through pants — that Manfred implemented. Manfred’s vision is so short-sighted and lacking in common sense he’s easily the most disliked baseball commissioner in history, surpassing Bud Selig, Bowie Kuhn and the rest. He said in February he plans to retire when his term is up in January 2029, adding: “You can only have so much fun in one lifetime.” Manfred’s version of “fun” is changing everything you know and love about baseball just to leave his mark on the game. Ads on helmets? Check. Ghost runners? Check. American League starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, of the Baltimore Orioles, right, hugs National League’s William Contreras, of the Milwaukee Brewers, during the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Now comes his latest inane idea, referred to by the commish as the Golden At-Bat. When he mentioned it on a podcast in October, it was so stupid that no one paid much attention. But when The Athletic chimed in this week with a lengthy story on how it might look, the idea was universally panned and Manfred’s already soiled reputation took yet another hit. In case you missed it, the Golden At-Bat rule would allow managers to pinch-hit for a player with another player who already is in the game. It would be a one-time-only move, so managers would have to pick the right situation. For example, if the 2016 Cubs wanted to use No. 2 hitter Kris Bryant in a clutch situation instead of No. 8 hitter Jason Heyward, manager Joe Maddon would’ve simply called on Bryant to take the Golden At-Bat. If the game continued into the next inning, Heyward would still go back to right field and Bryant would be back in his normal spot in the lineup. The idea is supposed to create a “magical” moment where one of the team’s best hitters can bigfoot his light-hitting teammate in a crucial situation, creating more strategy and fan excitement. The details aren’t available on exactly how it would work, and maybe we’ll never know. Hopefully, Manfred will get the message fans have sent by informing us he was just kidding. But so far, he hasn’t shot it down. Manfred, in fact, told the podcast there was a “little buzz” about the idea at a recent owners meeting, which suggests the owners are as ignorant about the game as him. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, a fine baseball writer with good sources, didn’t completely dismiss the idea in his long explainer, writing that “if the goal is to create moments and memories, the Golden At-Bat could be a vehicle to create more of those. So who could possibly complain?” Of course, Stark already knew the answer: Everybody. The reaction on social media was swift. Only a few appeared to be in favor of implementing a drastic rules change that would forever alter the way the game is played. Many pointed out that baseball’s biggest moments are organic and frequently feature players who aren’t stars. That’s why we love the game. Chicago Cubs third baseman Tommy La Stella is congratulated after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, in Milwaukee.(John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Tommy La Stella was an average player who mostly came off the bench during a 10-year career, finishing with a 3.6 WAR. La Stella would be a perfect candidate to get bigfooted in a Golden At-Bat situation. But in 2018 he arguably was the best pinch-hitter in the game, hitting .312 in the role and setting a Cubs record with 24 pinch-hits in 90 appearances. La Stella was a cult hero on the North Side, as beloved as some of the biggest stars. Not everyone can be Juan Soto or Shohei Ohtani. The game needs its Tommy La Stellas, too. That’s what Manfred and the foolish owners buzzing over the idea don’t understand about baseball. Size doesn’t matter in this sport. A hero can be 5-foot-4 or 6-foot-7. I don’t expect the Golden At-Bat to be adopted for anything outside of an exhibition like the All-Star Game, so no worries. Even then you’re possibly depriving someone who could be making the only All-Star appearance of his career of an at-bat for a superstar who probably prefers to leave the park and take his private jet home once he exits in the fourth inning. Related Articles MLB | Chicago Cubs agree with left-hander Matthew Boyd on a 2-year, $29 million contract MLB | Will Garrett Crochet be traded — and how will the rotation be filled out? 3 questions for the Chicago White Sox. MLB | How Chicago Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga found success as a rookie — and how he’s looking to build off it MLB | Chicago White Sox’s fan festival returns for 1st time since 2020: ‘SoxFest Live’ will be at Ramova Theatre Even if this isn’t adopted, Manfred still has four more years to come up with idiotic rule changes similar to the Golden At-Bat. I’m sure he’s already brainstorming. How about an extra run for home run balls that barely clear the wall, or land in the basket of Wrigley Field? Maybe allow fans to grapple with outfielders for foul balls, like the New York Yankees fans did to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts in the World Series? Sounds crazy? Remember, only a few years ago, MLB executive vice president Morgan Sword admitted: “We’ve never talked about this in any serious way, but we talked about allowing fans to throw home-run balls back and keep them in play. That’s one that I don’t even like.” Give him time. There’s no telling what kind of damage Manfred and his cohorts will do to the game if left unchecked. If ruining baseball for his own amusement is Manfred’s idea of “fun,” these next four years are going to be very painful.HONEYWELL AND BOMBARDIER SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO DELIVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY; HONEYWELL UPDATES 2024 OUTLOOK

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Belarus delegation arrives, president due today: Clashes, arrests as PTI convoys enter Punjab One convoy being led by KPK CM Ali Amin Gandapur, along with Bushra Bibi, from Peshawar to Islamabad ISLAMABAD: Amidst clashes with law-enforcers in various cities of the country and arrests of hundreds of party activists, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf convoy, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI founder’s spouse Bushra Bibi, entered Punjab late Sunday night as it marched on the federal capital. Islamabad was put under a security lockdown ahead of protests by supporters of jailed former premier Imran Khan, who are demanding his release. Highways leading to the capital were blocked and trenches were dug at various points along inter-provincial major roads to prevent the party activists’ march on Islamabad. The Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa border was totally sealed by placing dozens of shipment containers at the Punjab’s entry points. One major convoy was being led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, along with Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, from Peshawar to Islamabad. Sheikh Waqas Akram also confirmed that Bushra Bibi was a part of the PTI protest convoy and she was traveling in a separate vehicle. Additional convoys from other regions are expected to join Gandapur in Swabi after which the combined convoys would head towards Islamabad under Gandapur’s leadership. In Punjab, protest rallies were held in various cities, including Lahore, Multan, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Pakpattan, Faisalabad and other cities. In Lahore, clashes broke out between the PTI workers and police on Lytton Road, resulting in detention of several activists. Among those arrested were Lahore PTI Information Secretary Hafiz Zeeshan, former MPA Nadeem Abbas Bara, Chairman UC Azam Yousuf and Advocate Zameer Ahmed Jhidu. Female workers were also among those detained. However, political analysts believe the PTI Lahore failed to put up any noticeable show on the call of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. The main rally was seen in PP-150, in which a thick attendance of party workers was seen. In the areas of Gulberg, Garden Town, Faisal Town, Johar Town, workers also gathered to chant slogans in favour of Imran Khan. However, in other parts of the city, not much crowd was seen and people mostly preferred to stay indoors to avoid any clash with the police. Near Azad Chowk, a group of PTI workers exchanged heated arguments with Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari. Scores of PTI workers were arrested in Multan and police foiled their attempt to organise a protest at Ghanta Ghar Chowk on Sunday. Police arrested MNA Aamir Dogar from Multan, when he was on his way to Islamabad. Zain Qureshi, MPA Moinuddin Qureshi and Rana Tufail Noon were also taken into custody in Multan. All the PTI leaders were shifted to undisclosed locations. A police official said on Sunday the number of arrests might cross 100 in Multan. A heavy blanket of security descended on Gujrat district as local authorities sealed all major entry and exit points to thwart the PTI march on Islamabad. Key routes connecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and neighbouring towns were blocked by placing containers. However, no major arrests were reported, as many workers went underground or joined convoys advancing toward Islamabad. In Gujranwala, the district administration and police sealed the entrance and exit points of the city. Dozens of PTI workers were arrested by the police to foil their attempt to join the protest in Islamabad. Sources said a list of more than 1,500 PTI workers and leaders in Gujranwala and Wazirabad had been prepared for their arrest. In Pakpattan, the police allegedly arrested PTI District President Riaz Arshad Niazi, Chaudhry Naeem, Ibrahim, Raja Talha, Saeed and Murad Bhatti. According to sources in the police, 94 PTI workers had been detained in the district. Under the leadership of Rao Umar Hashim, Tariq Shah Khaga, Mehr Moinuddin Chishti, the departure posts of caravans for Islamabad were also posted on social media. In Faisalabad, the PTI convoys could not leave for Islamabad due to the police action and closure of roads including Motorway Interchange and GT Road. The PTI workers and police came face to face on Sargodha Road, workers pelted the police vans with stones while the police fired tear gas. The police said more than 400 PTI workers were arrested. Meanwhile, a PTI spokesman declared Nov 24 as the dawn of a new era with the shackles of oppression and slavery starting to shatter and the walls of tyranny crumbling. He criticised the government for turning Islamabad into an ‘open prison’, blocking the peaceful protestors from entering the federal capital. He alleged that the ‘illegitimate’ government had unleashed a reign of terror and violated sanctity of four walls to silence the PTI founder chairman’s loyalists. Separately, former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said on Sunday the country had been pushed towards anarchy and the situation was getting worse day by day due to the wrong policies of the government. Addressing the PTI workers at the rest area of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway, he said the country was facing many internal and external challenges. He was marching on Islamabad along with the party workers to attend the protest on the call of PTI founder Imran Khan. Also, former president Dr Arif Alvi Sunday accused the federal government of attempting to suppress political dissent by targeting the PTI supporters. Talking to Geo News here, the PTI leader criticised the government for its “crackdown” on the party. “PTI workers from Punjab are being prevented from joining us,” said Alvi, adding that the government was cracking down on PTI supporters. On the other hand, a high-level Belarusian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Maksim Ryazanov, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, with President Alexander Lukhshenko scheduled to reach the country on Monday (today), according to the Foreign Office. The delegation, comprising 68 members, included eight ministers and 43 business representatives. They were welcomed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Additional Secretary for Foreign Affairs Shafqat Ali Khan and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Belarus, Sajjad Haider Khan. During the visit, President Lukashenko would hold detailed talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields. Multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed. Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that those who would be found involved in breaching law, would not be spared and be arrested on the spot. “Strict action will be taken against troublemakers,” Naqvi warned, highlighting the administration’s readiness to handle any disruptions. Talking to the media on Sunday evening, he said that the purpose of PTI was to harm the country’s reputation, which was evident from the fact that when the Belarusian delegation had to pass through the highway, the PTI protesters suddenly appeared on the route and started stone pelting. However, Islamabad and Rawalpindi police foiled their attempt through a joint operation and arrested several protesters. He said that most of the protesters arrested were Afghans. In response to a question, he said the situation in Parachinar was deteriorating, but the provincial government’s first priority was to march towards Islamabad. He said the situation in the whole country was better but only KP was coming to disrupt the country’s peace. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached D-Chowk to boost the morale of police, FC and Rangers personnel. He met personnel on duty and commended their high morale. Mohsin Naqvi appreciated the personnel on duty for their dedication to duty and paid tribute to them. He praised the personnel on duty for the safety of citizens lives and property day and night. The minister conducted an aerial inspection of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock on Saturday to oversee security arrangements in light of potential political unrest. Following his tour, Naqvi expressed satisfaction with the measures in place, assuring citizens that the government was fully committed to ensuring their safety and maintaining public order. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Sunday said the PTI leaders were offering voluntary arrests. Talking to the media in Islamabad, he reiterated that the strictest legal action would be taken against those who spread chaos in the capital city. He claimed that many PTI people did not want their leader to come out of jail; similarly, many people contacted the administration and requested for their arrest. Separately, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said once again the PTI wanted to sabotage the country’s development journey through protests. “Courts are the only way out to get the PTI founder released. Pakistan will not be allowed to fall victim to the ego of any one person,” he said while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Sunday. The federal minister made it clear that the government could not release the PTI founder through any administrative order; he would have to file his case in courts for his release. “The PTI founder is not in jail to fulfil any legal requirement but for theft, fraud and sedition,” he added. Also, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Sunday questioned PTI’s repeated calls for strikes, terming them a well-thought-out conspiracy against the country’s prestige. In a press statement, he expressed his regret over PTI’s protest announced for Nov 24 in Islamabad. He said the party announced its protests at a time when important personalities were on a visit to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musaddik Malik claimed that the PTI leaders did not want the release of Imran Khan. Speaking at a news conference in Karachi, he alleged KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was trying to attack Punjab and Islamabad. Also, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the situation in Kurram, Bannu and Bara was sensitive, but unfortunately KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was busy in making preparations to run over the federation. In a statement issued here on Sunday, she said Gandapur should focus on welfare of people, but regrettably he was acting as puppet of Adiala jail’s prisoner. Separately, the PPP said the nation had rejected rioting in the name of PTI’s protest. “PTI has no concern for the lives and property of people,” said PPP Secretary Information Shazia Marri in a statement on Sunday.Twelve months ago recruiters didn't believe in the depth of 2024's draft pool. But a lot can change over a year. With the full 2025 season to play for the 2007-born cohort, a glut of club-tied talent looms at the top of the crop. There's a nice balance of talls at the pointy end, including two ruckmen who could push into top five calculations. Amongst the top 10 names is Willem Duursma, the fourth sibling bound for the big leagues. South Australian midfielder Dyson Sharp is the early favourite to land at pick 1, but he has stiff competition from two Academy-tied talents up north. Zeke Uwland and Daniel Annable were electric for the Allies as bottom-agers and will have the Suns and Lions anticipating early bids. A host of club-tied prospects just missed out, including Kalani White (Suns Academy & Melbourne father-son), Thomas McGuane (Collingwood father-son), Bailey Banfield (West Coast father-son), and Noah Chamberlain (Swans Academy). There's every chance the first round extends towards 30 again given the quantity of club-tied draftees in 2025. This is ESPN's way-too-early top 10 power rankings ahead of the NBA fantasy. Sharp is a goliath in the clinches, at home when the going gets tough, and the game enters its chaos phase. His work for South Australia as a bottom-ager rivalled the likes of Sid Draper and Ben Camporeale, and he looked adept against senior bodies in his step up to SANFL level. Sharp doesn't get moved off the ball, lays crunching tackles and wields a damaging kick on the outside of stoppages. Uwland will land at Gold Coast alongside older brother Bodhi. He possesses a wicked left boot that picks out targets deep afield with penetration, and has the run and dash to play both off halfback and through the midfield. He averaged 23 disposals and six rebound 50s over the carnival in a starring role. Uwland was the only bottom-ager to earn All-Australian honours. Recruiters still aren't sure what Duursma will be at the next level. He isn't the disciplined wingman like Xavier or a mercurial forward like Zane. Rather, Willem is often at his best intercepting and rebounding off halfback. He oozes confidence with ball in hand and has the size, speed, and skills to get himself out of trouble. Duursma's athletic profile will ensure he's a high selection next year, but his output for club and state will determine if he lands at no. 1. There is no weakness to Annable's game as an inside midfielder. He wins a lot of ball, can take it from the inside to outside of contests with a burst of speed, and uses it beautifully off both feet. Annable is an elite midfield prospect that should have no issues adjusting to the next level of competition. He projects to be Brisbane's first top 10 academy prospect ever. Duff-Tytler is fully invested in a football career after turning his back on a promising basketball pathway. He moves exceptionally well for his size and loves the ball in his hands either through the ruck or up forward. His mobility and skills, plus tantalising ceiling as an athletic ruckman, could see him taken very early next year. Rodriguez is Western Australia's top talent in a strong 2025 cohort that should challenge for the national championships title. The lightning quick midfielder is silky with ball in hand entering the forward 50, picking out chests with both feet or taking on opponents with his dash. Rodriguez is a hard two-way runner and looks more accustomed to an outside midfield role where he can find time and space to damage. Addinsall earned best-on-ground honours in the Futures game on the MCG to put his name firmly in this frame despite missing out on Allies selection mid-year. The smooth-moving midfielder can operate across half forward as well where he has strong goal nous, but his clearance work and running capacity are the hallmarks of an impressive game. Addinsall is another Suns Academy star on the rise. Emmett is another ruck prospect sitting inside the top 10 bracket for clubs at this juncture. Equally adept up forward where he takes marks on the lead with an insane reach, his rate of development across the year was huge for the Chargers in their finals push. Emmett has skill with the ball and offers good follow-up on-ball. Onley is blessed with overwhelming power at 194cm. His strength in the clinches is extraordinary against junior competition, but he also has strong running ability and finesse to his game. It makes him an exciting midfield package where he throws his weight around, wins a lot of contested ball, and can impact aerially around the ground. Hibbins-Hargreaves just kicks goals. A brilliantly creative and classy operator in the forward 50 and up on a wing, his inventive play is matched with one-touch hands and precision ball use. He works into the right spots to find plenty of ball and ended up earning a champs call-up for a stacked Country side. Hibbins-Hargreaves may graduate on-ball this year for the Stingrays, but could still become a top 10 pick as a forward, such is his quality.Taylor Swift wipes away tears at latest Eras Tour concert after receiving standing ovation

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