s777 sabong

s777 sabong Germany to tighten criminal law as people-smuggling ‘action plan’ agreed with UK

Former Egypt star Haytham Farouk has sparked excitement among Liverpoo l fans by announcing that Mohamed Salah has penned a new deal with the club. Despite Salah's current contract set to expire at season's end, leaving him free to leave, the prolific forward had previously disclosed that Liverpool 's top brass hadn't extended a fresh offer. Since then, Salah has been in scintillating form for manager Arne Slot's team, delivering an assist and netting a spot-kick against Manchester City , followed by another assist and a brace in the pulsating draw with Newcastle . This surge in performance has amplified calls for Liverpool to meet Salah's contract demands, with pundit Jamie Carragher even reversing his earlier views on the matter. It seems Liverpool may have heeded these calls, as Farouk took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Salah on securing a new contract on his terms. Alongside a throwback photo with Salah, Farouk hinted that the 'Egyptian King' has triumphed in negotiations. His message read: "Congratulations on renewing your contract with the number you like and the period you want. The Egyptian king rules with his own judgments." Farouk is also a respected commentator on beIN Sports and shares a rapport with Salah. His intriguing tweet was posted on December 4, coinciding with Liverpool 's 3-3 draw with Newcastle . مبروك عليهم تجديد عقدك بالرقم الذي تحبه والمدة التى تريدها . الملك المصري يحكم بأحكامه . pic.twitter.com/QnbONcL0vl Salah's brace in the match propelled him to a tally of 13 Premier League goals this season, catapulting Liverpool to top spot in the table. Following the draw, manager Slot hinted at his anticipation for Salah to extend his stay at Anfield. "We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time," Slot expressed. "He was outstanding in the second half, he did many special things for us." "I have seen many games of last season but it is always difficult to judge a player if you are not there. What I did most was [look at] style of play and team performance and not that much the individual performance. "What I noticed from the start, when he came in [in preseason was] how fit he was, how ready he was to make it a very good season for him. That he led by example from the first day onwards in preseason where so many of his teammates who he usually plays with. "So the international players, were not there and to still be able to work that hard, he did, and train so hard: yeah, and then we all saw the quality in the training sessions. So it's not a surprising thing for me that he's done so well until now."Intel's next CEO needs to decide the fate of its chip fabs

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Players from Swiss team Young Boys held up teammate Meschack Elia's shirt as a tribute during their Champions League game at Stuttgart after his son died this week. Lukasz Lakomy gave Young Boys the lead with a powerful long-range shot in the sixth minute Wednesday and ran toward the sideline, where he held up Elia's shirt as his teammates gathered around him. Young Boys said in a statement earlier Wednesday that one of Elia's sons had “died completely unexpectedly following a short illness” in Elia's home country of Congo. The 27-year-old Elia had been informed Tuesday evening and was on his way to Congo to be with his family, the club added. Both teams wore black armbands during the game, and there was a moment of silence before kickoff. Stuttgart won the game 5-1 to leave the Swiss champion with its sixth loss from six games. Young Boys captain Loris Benito said the game and the result meant little to his team in the circumstances. “I honestly have to tell you that this evening is not about sport at all for us, but about the tragedy that we experienced yesterday,” Benito told broadcaster DAZN. “It is so unimaginable and everything else is irrelevant when you experience this.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerGatineau police say an abduction investigation Monday afternoon has been called off after the child was found. Police had been searching for a 5-year-old who was allegedly abducted by his mother at approximately 1:20 p.m. A post to social media at 5 p.m. said the child was found safe and sound. CTV News has removed any identifying information. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 21 Stocking Stuffers Under $5 For Everyone On Your List (And They're All From Amazon Canada) 19 Practical Gifts That Anyone Would Love To Unwrap 23 Great Secret Santa Gifts Under $15 From Amazon Canada Home The Good Stuff: Our Favourite Christmas Lights For 2024 Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Our Guide To The Best Electric Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts The Best Gifts For 10-Year-Old Girls 19 Gifts Under $50 That Are Better Than A Gift Card 20 Of The Best Gifts Worth Splurging On In 2024 Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 40% Off For Cyber Monday Ottawa Top Stories FREEZING DRIZZLE ADVISORY | Up to 5 cm of snow, freezing drizzle expected in Ottawa Treasury Board president accuses PSAC of sharing 'misleading information' on $1.9 billion public service pension surplus OC Transpo fare hike will cost Ottawa school bus authority extra $4.6 million this school year Heart transplant recipients celebrate the Ottawa Heart Institute's 40 years of transplants Child allegedly abducted in Gatineau, Que. found safe, police say City of Ottawa ends endorsement deal with water line insurer Ottawa councillor George Darouze nominated as PC candidate for Carleton BREAKING | Suspect in killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson in custody CTVNews.ca Top Stories LIVE UPDATES | Luigi Mangione, 26, arrested in connection with CEO shooting Luigi Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Penn., after he was spotted at a McDonald’s, authorities say. The suspect was born and raised in Maryland and graduated from Ivy League University of Pennsylvania. Canada Post warns no end in sight for strike after receiving latest union proposals As the Canada Post strike involving more than 55,000 workers neared the end of its 25th day, the postal service warned that a speedy resolution is unlikely. Liberal government survives third Conservative non-confidence vote Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's latest attempt to topple the minority Liberal government in a non-confidence vote failed on Monday, thanks to the New Democrats. Trudeau says dealing with Trump will be 'a little more challenging' than last time Justin Trudeau says dealing with incoming president Donald Trump and his thundering on trade will be 'a little more challenging' than the last time he was in the White House. Montreal man retiring early after winning half of the $80 million Lotto-Max jackpot Factor worker Jean Lamontagne, 63, will retire earlier than planned after he won $40 million on Dec. 3 in the Lotto-Max draw. Family spokesman says slain Edmonton security guard had only been working 3 days A spokesman for the family of a security guard who police say was murdered while patrolling an Edmonton apartment building last week says the man had only been on the job for three days. Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate. What the upcoming holiday GST relief will mean for consumers The federal government's GST break will arrive this Saturday, just in time for the last stretch of holiday shopping. 'Infuriating': Wait times grow amid Canada Post strike as backlogs, frustration mount Wait times for deliveries continue to grow as shoppers and businesses deal with the fallout from the Canada Post strike. Atlantic Eastern Canada storm to impact Maritimes with high winds Thursday An area of low pressure is forecast to develop into a strong storm as it moves from the northeastern U.S. into the St. Lawrence River Valley late Wednesday into Thursday. New report states cancer comes at a high physical and financial cost to Canadians A new report from the Canadian Cancer Society states, on average, a Canadian with cancer pays $33,000 out of their own pocket. Nova Scotia opens first transitional health centre in Bedford Nova Scotia’s first stand-alone, transitional health centre will open its doors this week in Bedford, N.S. Toronto A 'traffic crisis': Economic, social impact of congestion cost Ontario more than $50B in 2024, study finds The cost of lost economic opportunities in the GTHA due to congestion totaled more than $10 billion in 2024 and that number rose to more than $47 billion when factoring in the “social impacts” that diminish a commuter’s quality of life, according to a new report. Toronto police identify victim, suspect in deadly shooting south of Danforth The victim of a deadly shooting south of Toronto’s Danforth neighbourhood has been identified and police have charged a suspect with murder. LIVE UPDATES | Luigi Mangione, 26, arrested in connection with CEO shooting Luigi Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Penn., after he was spotted at a McDonald’s, authorities say. The suspect was born and raised in Maryland and graduated from Ivy League University of Pennsylvania. Montreal 'Looking for the Weinstein of Quebec': impresario Gilbert Rozon's civil trial begins Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon's civil trial for sexual assault opened today at the Montreal courthouse with his lawyer portraying him as the scapegoat in a hunt to find Quebec's Harvey Weinstein. Search for Quebec hiker missing in Adirondacks now likely a recovery mission Authorities in New York state say the search for a 22-year-old Quebec hiker who went missing in the Adirondacks more than a week ago is now likely a recovery mission. Police search for three men who escaped from immigration holding centre in Quebec Authorities are searching for three Chilean nationals who escaped from the Laval Immigration Holding Centre north of Montreal. Northern Ontario Sudbury family traumatized after hospital said loved one had been released, when in fact they had passed away Sudbury resident Angela Vitiello says a staff member at Health Sciences North told her that her brother, Allan St. Martin, was released from the hospital late last month when, in fact, he had passed away. Murder suspect from TO loses bid to have trial moved out of 'vermin' infested Sudbury jail A man charged with a 2022 murder on Manitoulin Island will be tried in Sudbury, after a judge rejected arguments from the defence that Toronto or North Bay would be more convenient for his client. Collision in Sudbury leads to suspect hiding in a closet and the discovery of weapons, drugs A suspect who failed to remain at the scene of an accident near Chelmsford late last month is now facing numerous weapons and drug charges. Windsor Woman dies after vehicle crashes into south Windsor home Windsor police say a 73-year-old woman has died after a vehicle hit a house in south Windsor. Windsor’s high unemployment rate doesn’t paint the whole picture: Experts New Statistic Canada number show there were over 18,000 people still unemployed in our area and looking for work in November. Windsor’s Syrian community celebrates Assad’s departure, hopes to return home The streets of downtown Windsor echoed with honking horns over the weekend as members of the city’s Syrian community celebrated major political developments in their homeland. London Crown closes its case at bush bash shooting trial, defense to begin Wednesday After recalling the father of the shooting victim to the stand, the Crown at the field party shooting trial closed its case in the London courthouse on Monday following several weeks of testimony. Train hits vehicle in Thames Centre: OPP The Middlesex OPP have confirmed a train collided with a vehicle in Thames Centre. Collapsed roof slowly being removed from historic Bayfield, Ont. hotel and restaurant Part of the collapsed roof of the Albion Hotel has been removed but it's unclear if the structure, built in the early 1840s can be saved. Kitchener Salvation Army says donations down almost 40 per cent in Kitchener-Waterloo The Salvation Army has seen a big drop in donations this holiday season. Will he or won't he? Signs that Ford may call an early Ontario election stack up Inside Ontario's legislature, the halls are decked, the sounds of children’s choirs singing Christmas carols waft down the corridors, and in the air there’s a feeling of an election. Waterloo homeowners will pay $99 more on property taxes in 2025 The City of Waterloo has officially passed its 2025 budget with a 6.34 per cent property tax increase. Barrie Man accused in Good Samaritan's death violates court-imposed order while in jail Brandon Aaron has been found guilty of violating a court-imposed non-communication order while behind bars in Penetanguishene. Freezing rain creates slick conditions in Simcoe County After all the snowfall that hit Muskoka and Simcoe County over the last week, Barrie and many other parts of the region are under a freezing rain warning as of Sunday evening. Horse-drawn buggy collision with straight truck sends 4 to hospital Four people were taken to the hospital after a collision involving a horse-drawn carriage and a straight truck in Southgate Township near Dundalk. Winnipeg The snow is here: How much snow fell in Winnipeg and parts of Manitoba? A low pressure system brought snow, freezing rain and freezing drizzle to much of southern Manitoba starting Sunday. Six train cars come off the tracks northwest of Portage la Prairie Six cars came off the tracks and Highway 16 was closed after a train derailment early Monday morning. Bob Odenkirk makes an appearance at the Winnipeg Jets game Another day, another moment of Bob Odenkirk enjoying what Winnipeg and Manitoba have to offer. Calgary Alberta cancels foreign worker recruitment trip to United Arab Emirates The Alberta government says it has pulled the plug on a foreign worker recruitment mission in the United Arab Emirates scheduled for early next year. BREAKING | Parents charged in toddler son's death plead guilty to manslaughter The parents accused in the death of their 18-month-old son pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in a Calgary courtroom Monday. What the upcoming holiday GST relief will mean for consumers The federal government's GST break will arrive this Saturday, just in time for the last stretch of holiday shopping. Edmonton Family spokesman says slain Edmonton security guard had only been working 3 days A spokesman for the family of a security guard who police say was murdered while patrolling an Edmonton apartment building last week says the man had only been on the job for three days. Investigators deem fire at Tofield police detachment as arson: RCMP A fire that occurred at the Tofield, Alta., RCMP detachment on Dec. 2 has been declared an arson by investigators. Alberta cancels foreign worker recruitment trip to United Arab Emirates The Alberta government says it has pulled the plug on a foreign worker recruitment mission in the United Arab Emirates scheduled for early next year. Regina Sask. Court of Appeal denies White City's request to annex 4,000 acres from RM of Edenwold A land dispute that's been taking place just east of Regina for the past six years has been put to rest, according to the Rural Municipality (RM) of Edenwold. Regina homicide suspect makes national most wanted list A man wanted in connection to a fatal shooting in Regina earlier this year is now among Canada's top 25 most wanted. Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate. Saskatoon Emergency crews searching the South Saskatchewan River for body of missing man Saskatoon police and firefighters have begun searching the South Saskatchewan River for the body of a 48-year-old man who went missing late last month. Sask. driver walks away without serious injury after car slides into train One lucky driver walked away without serious injuries after their vehicle slid into a train near Langham, the Saskatchewan RCMP says. Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate. Vancouver Inmate dies at B.C. minimum-security prison A 33-year-old man has died while in custody at a federal minimum-security prison in British Columbia. How to attend former B.C. premier John Horgan's memorial Sunday British Columbians are invited to pay respects to former premier John Horgan at his state memorial service on Sunday. B.C. driver who blamed boozing on low blood sugar after fatal crash found guilty A diabetic man who claimed he had been drinking alcohol to combat dwindling blood sugar the night he was involved in a fatal crash near Sicamous, B.C., has been found guilty of impaired driving causing death. Vancouver Island Inmate dies at B.C. minimum-security prison A 33-year-old man has died while in custody at a federal minimum-security prison in British Columbia. How to attend former B.C. premier John Horgan's memorial Sunday British Columbians are invited to pay respects to former premier John Horgan at his state memorial service on Sunday. Burnaby RCMP announce charges in 2021 murder case Mounties say two men have been charged in the 2021 murder of a 38-year-old man in Burnaby, B.C. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay ConnectedDALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract that was finalized Wednesday. The Mets also agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. Major League Baseball teams usually provide security for player families in seating areas at ballparks. New York also agreed to assist Soto's family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed Soto will have uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Soto wore No. 22 with all his previous major league teams: the Nationals, Padres and Yankees. Young third baseman Brett Baty wore No. 22 with the Mets the past three seasons. The Mets will formally introduce Soto in a news conference Thursday afternoon at Citi Field. “This is a seminal moment in franchise history,” owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “Juan Soto is a generational talent. He is not only bringing staggering historical statistics with him but also a championship pedigree." Soto's suite will be valued at the Mets' prevailing prices, presumably for tax purposes, and after 2025 he can by each Jan. 15 modify or give up his suite selection for the upcoming season. He can request the premium tickets, to be used by family members, no later than 72 hours before the scheduled game time. The Yankees had refused to offer Soto a free suite. “Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites they buy them ... whether it's CC (Sabathia), whether it’s (Aaron) Judge, whether it’s (Gerrit) Cole, whether it’s any of these guys," general manager Brian Cashman said. "We've gone through a process on previous negotiations where asks might have happened and this is what we did and we’re going to honor those, so no regrets there." Cashman said the Yankees have a shared suite for player families and a family room with babysitting. Soto gets a $75 million signing bonus, payable within 60 days of the agreement’s approval by the commissioner’s office. The deal for the 26-year-old slugger, which tops Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, was reached Sunday pending a physical that took place Tuesday. Soto receives salaries of $46,875,000 each in 2025 and 2026, $42.5 million in 2027, $46,875,000 apiece in 2028 and 2029 and $46 million in each of the final 10 seasons. Soto has a contingent right to opt out of the agreement within three days of the end of the 2029 World Series to become a free agent again, but the Mets have an option to negate the opt-out provision by increasing the yearly salaries for 2030-39 by $4 million annually to $50 million and raising the total value to $805 million. If the club exercises its option to negate the opt-out provision, Soto can make his opt-out decision by the fifth day after the World Series. He has a full no-trade provision and gets a hotel suite on road trips. “Today’s signing further solidifies our organizational commitment to consistent championship competitiveness,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “Not only does Juan provide historic levels of on field production, but his joy, intensity, and passion for the game mirror our budding culture. We are thrilled to add him to our team and look forward to watching his excellence for years to come.” Soto would receive a $500,000 bonus for winning his first Most Valuable Player award and $1 million for each MVP award. He would get $350,000 for finishing second in the voting and $150,000 for finishing third through fifth. Soto was third in AL voting this year. He would earn $100,000 for each All-Star selection and Gold Glove, $350,000 for World Series MVP and $150,000 for League Championship Series MVP. Soto would get $100,000 for selection to the All-MLB first or second team, $150,000 for a Silver Slugger award and $100,000 for the Hank Aaron Award. Award bonuses are to be paid by the Jan. 31 after the season in which the bonus is earned. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSouth Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule

By ROB GILLIES TORONTO (AP) — Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official said Wednesday. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. A Canadian government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty. Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are happy to work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about a influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Related Articles National Politics | Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia National Politics | Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different National Politics | Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks National Politics | Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years National Politics | Political stress: Can you stay engaged without sacrificing your mental health? Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. “Canada is essential to the United States’ domestic energy supply,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Trump has pledged to cut American energy bills in half within 18 months, something that could be made harder if a 25% premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for almost two-thirds of total U.S. oil imports and about one-fifth of the U.S. oil supply. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada’s provinces, who want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.”Wales is leading global movement to become more age-friendly

Belarus seeks to copy neighboring Russia's repressive LGBTQ+ policies, activists sayEnter the Chronosphere - Official Trailer | PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordNoneSecretaries of State are being told that any outgoings which are not contributing towards one of Labour’s “priorities” must be cut as Rachel Reeves vows to wield “an iron fist against waste.” In letters sent by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, departments will be told to brace for “difficult” spending decisions in order to restore trust in the Government’s handling of the public finances. Every pound of departmental spending will be face a “line-by-line review” involving external finance experts from banks and think tanks in order to ensure it represents value for money, the Treasury said. The Chancellor will on Tuesday launch the next round of Government spending, and is expected to warn departments that they “cannot operate in a business-as-usual way when reviewing their budgets for the coming years”. She will insist that areas focused on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “plan for change”, which includes targets to improve living standards across the country and build 1.5 million homes, must be prioritised. Ms Reeves said: “By totally rewiring how the Government spends money we will be able to deliver our plan for change and focus on what matters for working people. “The previous government allowed millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to go to waste on poor value for money projects. We will not tolerate it; I said I would have an iron grip on the public finances and that means taking an iron fist against waste. “By reforming our public services, we will ensure they are up to scratch for modern day demands, saving money and delivering better services for people across the country. That’s why we will inspect every pound of Government spend, so that it goes to the right places and we put an end to all waste.” Under the Treasury’s plans, departments will ensure budgets are scrutinised by “challenge panels” of external experts including former senior management of Lloyd’s Banking Group, Barclays Bank and the Co-operative Group. These panels, which will also involve think tanks, academics and the private sector, will advise on which spending “is or isn’t necessary”, the ministry said. The Treasury said work has already begun, with an evaluation of the £6.5 million spent on a scheme that placed social workers in schools finding “no evidence of positive impact on social care outcomes”. “Departments will be advised that where spending is not contributing to a priority, it should be stopped,” it said. “Although some of these decisions will be difficult, the Chancellor is clear that the public must have trust in the Government that it is rooting out waste and that their taxes are being spent on their priorities.” Ms Reeves had already announced efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments in her autumn budget as she seeks to put the public finances on a firmer footing. In a speech in east London, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden hinted at a further squeeze. “At the Budget the Chancellor demanded efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments – and there will be more to come,” he said. “As we launch the next phase of the spending review at its heart must be reform of the state in order to do a better job for the public.”

France’s winning streak continues — but New York City is creepin’. Paris, France, is on a roll, keeping the No. 1 spot as the best city in the world, according to Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations ranking. And it’s perhaps no surprise that NYC landed in the top spot for American cities in the world but No. 6 overall. The city that never sleeps moved up a few slots compared to 2022 when it landed at No. 10. The London-based market research company cited Paris for its “unmatched global dominance in 2024,” most notably due to tourism from “a wide array of sporting events it hosted throughout the year, including the Summer Olympic Games.” Following Paris’ high rating comes Madrid (2), Tokyo (3), Rome (4) and Milan (5). But the opposite end kicks off with Cairo in 100th place, followed by Chinese city Zhuhai in 99th and Jerusalem in 98th. Only eight other US cities made the list besides NYC, including Los Angeles (18), Las Vegas (23), Orlando (33), Miami (33) and San Francisco (36). Euromonitor International determines a city’s ranking by analyzing economic and business performance, tourism performance, tourism infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability. The 2024 report also revealed that global international arrivals had increased by 19%, “which was driven by strong tourism demand.” Out of all the continents, Europe is the most popular region for travelers, reaching a whopping 793 million international visitors within the year. However, the city most visited by international arrivals is Bangkok with 32 million. “The city surpassed pre-pandemic level of international tourism flows in 2023 and continued dynamic growth of over 30% in 2024,” Euromonitor International said. Other destinations that experienced high international arrivals include Istanbul (2) with a 14% increase, London (3) with a 7% uptick, Hong Kong (4) with a 19% jump and Mecca (5) with a 20% bump. “Despite positive recovery projections, challenges like labor shortages, geopolitical tensions and a sluggish economy will persist, limiting city growth,” said Nadejda Popova, global head of loyalty at Euromonitor International. She explained how less traveled destinations expect a rise in popularity because travelers seek locations with hidden gems that are not oversaturated with tourism. “Consumers will prioritize culturally enriching, personalized experiences, making them the new travel currency,” Popova added. THE WORLD’S TOP 100 CITIES 2024 1. Paris 2. Madrid 3. Tokyo 4. Rome 5. Milan 6. New York 7. Amsterdam 8. Sydney 9. Singapore 10. Barcelona 11. Taipei 12. Seoul 13. London 14. Dubai 15. Berlin 16. Osaka 17. Bangkok 18. Los Angeles 19. Istanbul 20. Melbourne 21. Hong Kong 22. Munich 23. Las Vegas 24. Florence 25. Prague 26. Dublin 27. Kyoto 28. Vienna 29. Lisbon 30. Venice 31. Kuala Lumpur 32. Athens 33. Orlando 34. Toronto 35. Miami 36. San Francisco 37. Shanghai 38. Frankfurt am Main 39. Copenhagen 40. Zurich 41. Washington 42. Pattaya-Chonburi 43. Vancouver 44. Stockholm 45. Mexico City 46. Oslo 47. São Paulo 48. Phuket 49. Helsinki 50. Brussels 51. Budapest 52. Guangzhou 53. Nice 54. Palma de Mallorca 55. Honolulu 56. Beijing 57. Warsaw 58. Seville 59. Valencia 60. Shenzhen 61. Doha 62. Abu Dhabi 63. Antalya 64. Fukuoka 65. Sapporo 66. Busan 67. Macau 68. Edinburgh 69. Montreal 70. Cancún 71. Bologna 72. Rhodes 73. Verona 74. Delhi 75. Porto 76. Ho Chi Minh City 77. Buenos Aires 78. Marne-La-Vallée 79. Rio de Janeiro 80. Kraków 81. Heraklion 82. Johor Bahru 83. Hanoi 84. Tel Aviv 85. Sharjah 86. Thessaloniki 87. Lima 88. Medina 89. Tbilisi 90. Riyadh 91. Tallinn 92. Marrakech 93. Mecca 94. Denpasar 95. Punta Cana 96. Santiago 97. Vilnius 98. Jerusalem 99. Zhuhai 100. Cairo Originally published as World’s best cities list for 2024 shows Sydney at number eight spot, as Melbourne sits at 20