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supah app In a surprise that stunned the audience of Hollywood’s first big awards-season bash, “A Different Man,” a dark comedy about doppelgängers, deformity and authenticity in acting, won best feature film at the 34th Gotham Awards on Monday night. Much can be unpredictable at the Gotham Awards, which uses small juries of insiders and film industry veterans to pick nominees and winners. But as the “A Different Man” ensemble, including Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson, took the stage, writer-director Aaron Schimberg was obviously in disbelief. “I don’t think I’m not the only person in this room who's totally stunned," said Schimberg. “Considering the other nominees, I thought it would be hubris to prepare a speech." At a starry Gothams that drew Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and Angelina Jolie, most were expecting triumph for Sean Baker’s “Anora,” a comedy about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. It came in the lead nominee, the Cannes Palme d’Or winner, and maybe top best-picture contender at the Oscars, but went home emptyhanded. Instead, the night belonged to the A24 release “A Different Man,” which stars Stan as a man with facial deformities who's healed of them. He's then upstaged by the character played by Pearson, who genuinely has neurofibromatosis, a condition that covers much of his face with benign skin tumors. The Gothams aren’t an Oscar bellwether, though several of its recent top winners – including last year's winner “Past Lives,” as well as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nomadland” – have gone on to be nominated for best picture, with “Everything Everywhere” and “Nomadland” winning. Whether any of the winners Monday night — “Sing Sing” and “Nickel Boys” were also victorious — will use the early wins as a springboard for more trophies remains to be seen. But the Gothams, a black-tie affair held at Cipriani Wall Street in downtown Manhattan, tend give some sense of the flavor of the upcoming gauntlet of award-season ceremonies. How prominent politics, and the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, might be in this year’s Oscar race is one of the biggest questions as the season ramps up. On Monday, Trump's name was never uttered on stage, nor were there any overtly political statements. But several winner seemed to allude to the shifting political climate. “Let's keep doing the work that really matters and makes a difference,” said Colman Domingo, who won best lead performance. “That's what we can do right now. That can be the light in the darkness.” Domingo won for his starring role in “Sing Sing,” the indie drama about a real prison program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts, which helps incarcerated people heal through theater productions. Clarence Maclin, one of the formerly incarcerated men who co-star in the film, won best supporting performance. (The Gothams give gender-neutral acting awards that number 10 nominees instead of the typical five.) “If someone was going to tell me ten years ago, I was going to be here, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Maclin. “Sing Sing,” also from A24, was arguably the emotional winner of the night. The film's ensembled also accepted a tribute award. In one of the evening's most powerful speeches Sean Dino Johnson, a founding member of RTA, spoke passionately about the redemptive qualities of the arts. “Standing here tonight we are proof that movies like ‘Sing Sing’ don’t just entertain,” said Johnson. “They change lives.” RaMell Ross' “Nickel Boys," his arrestingly photographed Colson Whitehead adaptation, also won two major awards: best diretor for Ross and breakthrough performer for Brandon Wilson. Ross’ film, about two Black teenagers at an abusive juvenile reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida, is filmed largely from the first-person perspective of its two main characters. For many, the Gothams are a chance to make an impression with a speech that helps solidify their awards chances. To that cause, the Gothams gave out an array of tribute awards. This year’s crop was particularly starry, including Zendaya (for “Challengers”), Jolie (for “Maria”), Chalamet and James Mangold (for “A Complete Unknown”), Denis Villeneuve (for “Dune: Part Two”), and Franklin Leonard, founder of the fabled unproduced screenplay platform The Black List. Jolie, who plays the opera singer Maria Callas in “Maria,” also spoke about the importance of the arts. “It’s so important that art be taught in our schools, and so concerning that is being reduced,” Jolie said. Zendaya, honored for her performance in Luca Guadagnino's “Challengers,” took a moment to thank her date. “My mom's here tonight," she said. “Shout out mom.” Chalamet read a short speech about his transformation into Bob Dylan for the upcoming “A Complete Unknown.” “Getting to study and immerse myself in the world of Bob Dylan has been the greatest education a young artist can receive," Chalamet said. "If you're already a fan of Bob Dylan, this will make perfect sense to you. If you're not familiar with his work, perhaps our film can serve as a humble gateway to one of the great poets and chroniclers of our times.” Best documentary went to “No Other Land,” a film made by a Palestinian and Israeli filmmaker collective that documents Israeli occupation of a Palestinian village in West Bank over the course of years. Despite being one of the year’s most acclaimed documentaries, “No Other Land” remains without an American distributor. Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light,” a poetic drama about three women in modern Mumbai, took the award for best international film. Though the film was the first Indian movie in competition at the Cannes Film Festival this year, India opted not to select it for its Oscar submission. The award for breakthrough director went to Vera Drew for “The People's Joker,” a superhero parody about gender identity. Drew thanked Warner Bros. “for not suing me” and Nicole Kidman, an attendee, because, Drew said, “'Batman Forever' is when I realized I was trans.”Lindy Klim breaks her silence on split from second husband Adam Ellis: 'Things really spiralled out of control' By SAVANNA YOUNG FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 22:19, 22 November 2024 | Updated: 22:19, 22 November 2024 e-mail 15 shares View comments Lindy Klim has publicly addressed her heartbreaking separation from her second husband, Adam Ellis. The Balinese princess, 45, and her British property developer husband have gone their separate ways after six years of marriage. Speculation of a break-up first began to swirl in October when Lindy shared a picture without her ring on, with sources since claiming the couple have been over for some time. She has finally broken her silence on the breakdown of her marriage after months of speculation, revealing that her estranged husband has been grappling with a private mental health battle, which ultimately affected her own wellbeing. 'Adam and I have separated but we still love him,' Lindy told Stellar magazine. 'He's an incredible father, not only to Goldie but to the rest of my children. But he's been struggling with his mental health for the last two years which, in turn, has affected my personal wellbeing and my mental state as well. Lindy Klim has publicly addressed her heartbreaking separation from her second husband, Adam Ellis. Pictured together in 2019 'Things really spiralled out of control. I'm not the person that Adam needs. I'm not a doctor. I mean, I'm there for support, obviously, but I was being dragged under by everything.' Lindy said she was 'living with constant anxiety' and told the publication that her family eventually stepped in and raised their concerns about her health after she dramatically lost weight. 'I got really, really skinny, but it wasn’t until I visited Australia that I realised the state I was in,' she added. Lindy has since relocated back to Australia from Bali after her and Adam's separation and shared photographs of her moving into her new home in Melbourne in October. In the Instagram post, Lindt admitted she was 'literally starting from scratch again' after relocating to Melbourne in the big change. Lindy also shared a photo of the first meal she enjoyed in her new home with her friends and family. 'Christening the new house with dirty take out,' the image was captioned. Rumours of a break-up between Lindy and Adam emerged last month when she posed for a picture with her four children - with no sign of her husband. The Balinese princess, 45, and her British property developer husband have gone their separate ways after six years of marriage Speculation of a break-up began to swirl earlier this month when Lindy shared a family picture without her ring on, with sources since claiming the couple have been over for some time Lindy revealed her Adam has been grappling with a private mental health battle, which ultimately affected her own wellbeing. Pictured in 2019 Read More Lindy Klim and her model daughter Stella Klim step out in Melbourne after her split from husband After posting the image to Instagram, eagle-eyed followers noticed that Lindy was also no longer wearing her engagement ring. An insider later claimed the pair have been well and truly over for some time. 'They have also not been seen together for a number of months,' an insider told Confidential . 'Plus he isn't in any of her social media photographs.' Daily Mail Australia was the first to reveal a potential split between Lindy and Adam after the celebrity fashionista posted the tell-tale family photo to her social media. Lindy shares three children - Stella, 18, Rocco, 16, and Frankie, 13 - with her ex-husband Michael Klim, and one with her second husband, Goldie, seven . She amicably co-parents the three children she shares with Michael - who is now in a relationship with Michelle Owen - and credits her ex-husband for her confidence. Two years after her divorce from Michael in 2018, Lindy married Ellis in a lavish Tuscan ceremony. Highly-regarded athlete Michael retired from competitive swimming in 2007 and runs a successful swim school business in Bali, where he lives with Michelle. If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. She told Stellar magazine: 'Adam and I have separated but we still love him' Instagram Melbourne Share or comment on this article: Lindy Klim breaks her silence on split from second husband Adam Ellis: 'Things really spiralled out of control' e-mail 15 shares Add commentTing (centre), together with school officials and participating exhibitors, perform a launching gimmick to mark the opening of the Star Carnival. MIRI (Dec 20): The country’s education system must evolve to prepare students with the skills to innovate and lead, said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting. This, he said, is to keep pace with advancements in technology, as well as the shifts in cultural dynamics and global economic trends. “Our learners must be equipped not just to adapt to change, but to drive it. They need to be the innovators and leaders who will shape the future,” said the Piasau assemblyman when officiating the ‘Star Carnival’ at SK Jalan Bintang here yesterday. The programme, which he deemed as a transformative chapter in education, could bridge the gap between traditional learning and the dynamic demand of the fast-evolving world. Such an initiative beyond conventional classroom methods would provide children with hands-on, interactive and immersive experiences that foster critical thinking and creativity, he added.. Star Carnival is an activity aimed at enhancing students’ interest in the fields of language, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Through this programme, the young learners are exposed to skills in scientific presentations (school lab) and public speaking, where they will showcase the outcomes of their practical work or projects, along with creative media or e-poster presentations that they have produced. Government and private agencies namely Public Works Department, Miri Astronomy Centre, Malaysian Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department, Radio Televisyen Malaysia, Persatuan Kedayan Miri, MegArt, and Kiddo Science Miri, among others, also set up their booths in support of the event. Present was school’s headmaster Mohamad Yusuf Abu Bakar.

Alyssa Naeher announced her retirement from international soccer quietly, which is how she does most everything save for keeping the ball from crossing the goal line. News coverage of her decision last week reinforced her importance to the U.S. women's national team with a simple statement: No other goalkeeper has recorded a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. That counts as an impressive achievement (or two). But it risks reducing Naeher’s career to a trivia answer. Her time with the USWNT has been so much more impactful than that. MORE: USWNT wins on Lynn Williams goal in Alyssa Naeher finale Her greatest moment in a USWNT kit did not even come in a championship setting. As with Christian Laettner’s shot in the 1992 NCAA Elite Eight or Joe Montana’s pass touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the 1982 NFC title game, Naeher’s pinnacle came in a game before The Game. Naeher's save of an 84th-minute penalty kick attempt from England defender Steph Houghton in the semifinal of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is in the pantheon of iconic American soccer moments. That indelible play ranks alongside Paul Caliguiri’s goal to qualify the U.S. men for the 1990 World Cup, Brandi Chastain's clinching shootout kick at the 1999 Women’s World Cup and Landon Donovan’s injury-time goal against Algeria at South Africa 2010. Naeher waited until Houghton let slip a tell that suggested the kick would go to the keeper’s right, leaped in that direction and smothered the ball. The 2-1 lead that had been imperiled stood until the end of the match, and the USWNT went on to win their fourth World Cup. “Honestly, she saved our ass,” star forward Alex Morgan said following that game. MORE: Complete USWNT results from 2024, including Olympic gold Naehere's USWNT swan song, which came Tuesday in the Netherlands, was not a shutout. But the 2-1 comeback victory was a quintessential Naeher masterpiece. The 36-year-old goalkeeper produced several essential saves, including another dazzler in the 69th minute on a sliding shot by Danielle van de Donk from six feet out. That stop kept the score tied — and positioned the Americans to take the lead on Lynn Williams' goal 90 seconds later. In the first half, she made a savvy veteran move to go down with an injury — or "injury," perhaps — when the young Americans were besieged by the Dutch attack. That allowed coach Emma Hayes to gather the field players and address their early struggles. That is just the sort of calm, measured, insightful maneuver to be expected from Naeher. MORE: USWNT vs. the Netherlands: Timeline of the rivalry As her international retirement commences, her greatest contribution to the USWNT is more than any one play. She rescued the entire program from the volatility that lurked throughout predecessor Hope Solo’s decade in the lineup. Solo stands as probably the most dynamic keeper ever in the women’s game, as well as an impressive technician as her career advanced. But she also was a persistent problem for U.S. Soccer. From the comments about her semifinal benching, which then got her excluded from the team’s final game at the 2007 World Cup, to the arrest of her husband in 2015 while driving one of the team’s vans, to her postgame harangue of 2016 Olympic opponent Sweden for bunkering and eventually eliminating the U.S. in a penalty shootout – she called the Swedes “a bunch of cowards” – Solo kept the program’s headquarters furiously busy. When the USWNT finally had enough, Naeher was the likely replacement, and yet not an obvious one. She’d made 10 appearances between 2014 and 2016 and was a backup keeper at the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, but she did not play in either of those tournaments. The only thing she did obviously better than Solo was keep her thoughts to herself. As the program built toward the 2019 World Cup, the talent among the field players might have been the best, or at least closest to the career peak, of any USWNT squad: Alex Morgan at forward, Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath on the wings, Julie Ertz owning the defensive midfield and Becky Sauerbrunn a fixture in central defense. The team was so loaded that Lindsey Horan, Christen Press and Carli Lloyd were frequently – or exclusively – deployed as substitutes. The goalkeeper spot, though, seemed less secure, as team legend Brianna Scurry acknowledged: “There’s one difference this World Cup team has, the USA, that no other team previously has had, and that’s a question mark at the goalkeeper position.” Naeher entered the tournament at 31 years old as a two-time All-American in 2007 and 2008 at Penn State, Golden Glove winner for the 2008 FIFA U20 World Cup champs and 2014 Goalkeeper of the Year in the NWSL. Her résumé for the full national team, though, consisted primarily of watching Solo play. She did not start the 2019 World Cup in perfect form, as the late Grant Wahl described when writing about that memorable semifinal penalty save for Sports Illustrated. “Yes, there were worries about Naeher—worries that didn’t abate after she whiffed on a ball that ended up in the net against Chile (but was ruled offside) or after her hospital-ball pass in the back helped gift a goal to Spain in the round of 16," Wahl wrote . "Those worries were compounded when you looked in the stands and saw Solo, dropped from the team in 2016 for reasons outside of soccer, looming over the proceedings from her BBC pedestal.” In her time as the USWNT's No. 1 goalkeeper, Naeher was known for her contemplative approach, for her comfort in solitude. I sat in an outdoor cafe in Reims, France, before the United States’ opening game at the 2019 World Cup. Behind me was a table filled with Megan Rapinoe, defender Ali Krieger, backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and forward Jessica McDonald, all of them eating and chatting following a shopping trip to the cosmetics shop Sephora. In front of me was a table where Naeher sat, alone, working on a crossword puzzle. “As much as I am at peace with the decision – I know that, in my head, it’s the right time and I feel good about it and I feel at peace with it – it’s still the end of something,” Naeher said of her international retirement. “Change is scary. I’m going to miss being a part of these camps and this team.” MORE: Who will take over as starting goalkeeper for the USWNT? Naeher probably could have held the starting job a while longer if she wished. In major tournaments, she allowed just 12 goals in 22 starts. That includes four shutouts in six games at the 2024 Summer Games as the USWNT claimed the fourth Olympic gold medal in program history. Her performance included a leaping save with her left foot off a point-blank header by Germany in the semis, as well as her ridiculous right-handed save off an unchallenged header from Adriana in the final against Brazil. The first of those came in extra time, with the U.S. protecting a 1-0 lead and just seconds away from playing for the gold; the second was delivered in added time to secure the same score and another major tournament triumph. Whatever one thinks of talent or artistry or achievement, it’s hard to argue any U.S. goalkeeper ever produced more essential clutch saves under greater pressure than Naeher. "As soon as the whistle blew," defender Naomi Girma told Yahoo! Sports after the Olympic final against Brazil , "I was like, 'My last sprint of the tournament is to give Alyssa a hug.'" In the end, Naeher was noticed for all the right reasons in her time with the USWNT. Before leaving for the locker room after Tuesday's win, she was presented with a bouquet of flowers. And Girma made sure to hug her again, for one final time on the field of play.

Crypto industry jockeys for seats at Trump's promised councilSailors killed in Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race identified

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.( MENAFN - Jordan Times) NEW YORK - Following the recent 2024 United Nations Climate Change conference (COP29) in Baku, we are confronted with one pressing question: What's next? With countries set to submit early next year their updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, the world has an opportunity - and a responsibility - to take transformative action to address the climate crisis. The ocean must be central to this effort. Nobody understands this better than small island developing states (SIDS) like Palau. For us, climate policy is not some abstract debate about hypothetical future risks; it is a fight for survival. Already, coral reefs are undergoing bleaching; storms are becoming increasingly frequent and destructive; and droughts are undermining food security. Rising sea levels threaten not just our land, but also our culture, our way of life and our very existence. To date, international support for climate action has fallen far short of meeting developing countries' needs. SIDS collectively receive less than 2 per cent of global climate finance, even as they oversee 30 per cent of the world's territorial waters. It is a striking imbalance, especially given the ocean's enormous untapped potential to help mitigate climate change. The ocean is our planet's largest carbon sink, absorbing 25 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions and a staggering 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by a warming atmosphere. According to a 2023 report, ocean-based climate solutions can get us as much as 35 per cent closer to our emissions-reduction targets for 2050, on a pathway that limits the global temperature increase to 1.5°. And mitigating climate change is just the beginning; a healthy ocean plays a pivotal role in creating sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable communities worldwide. Consider nature-based solutions like the restoration of mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. Beyond sequestering carbon, these ecosystems act as natural defences against rising seas and extreme weather, and they form the basis of local livelihoods. In Palau, marine protected areas safeguard biodiversity, support sustainable fisheries, and bolster the tourism industry. So far, the ocean - including the ecosystems it supports - has largely been treated as an afterthought in global climate strategies, sidelined in favour of more visible priorities like renewable energy and curbs on emissions. The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy has revealed that many of its member countries - which together govern half the world's territorial oceans - have yet to integrate the ocean fully into their NDCs. This omission represents a vital opportunity, which countries should seize as they prepare their NDC submissions before the February deadline. Putting the ocean at the center of our climate strategies would transform it from a silent victim of global warming into an active force for mitigation and resilience-building. The Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) takes place in June, one of the“special events” that will set the stage for the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice. The BEFF aims to unlock financing for ocean-based solutions, particularly biodiversity-positive investments that simultaneously support economic development and climate goals. But, as we saw at COP29, public budgets are already stretched thin. Mobilising private capital alongside public investment is thus essential to drive meaningful change. To understand why, look no further than the shipping industry, which emits more carbon than all but six countries. Critical pieces of the net-zero puzzle are already in place for the industry. Shipping companies are planning their low-carbon transitions. The technologies they need - in particular,“green fuels” like green methanol and ammonia - have been developed. And producers are ready to increase output, while continuing to innovate. And yet scaling up production has proved difficult, because investors still view crucial green technologies as too risky. This mismatch between ambition and funding underscores the need for creative financing solutions, such as government-backed guarantees or blended-finance instruments. Fortunately, the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, agreed at COP29, offers an opportunity to set ambitious targets and leverage innovative mechanisms to unlock private investment at scale. Despite its disappointments, COP29 delivered another reason for cautious optimism: The discussions taken there reflected growing recognition that ocean action is climate action. This idea, which began gaining traction in 2019 during the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue at COP25, has evolved into a powerful movement. As a result, momentum is building behind ocean-based climate solutions. But harnessing this momentum to deliver measurable action - such as the introduction of more marine protected areas covering mangroves and seagrass meadows or scaling up the de-carbonisation of the shipping industry - will require collaboration across sectors and borders. And it will require far more financing. As we look ahead to the BEFF and beyond, we must make one thing crystal clear: Investing in the ocean is investing in our collective future. Ilana Seid is Palau's ambassador to the United Nations, Sherpa co-chair of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, and co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Blue Economy and Finance Forum. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2024. MENAFN19122024000028011005ID1109014835 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Photo contributed In a competitive real estate business that is constantly changing, Lena Marie Fisher is continuing to thrive. Fisher started her real estate career as an associate broker for Herb Hansen Real Estate. After six years there, she moved on to London Properties, where she spent six years as a broker associate. In April of this year, Fisher moved on to Century 21 Jordan Link & Company. She remained a broker associate in addition to taking on the position of director of fine homes and estates. Fisher has made a name for herself with her complementary staging services. “Staging is a critical component in the selling process; it transforms a space, making it easier for buyers to visualize themselves living there,” Fisher said in a news release in November. The news release states her staging “approach is tailored to highlight each property’s best features, ensuring they stand out in a competitive market.” Fisher views challenges as opportunities to adapt to and overcome. One of the most difficult times was during the COVID-19 pandemic. “How are we going to get people in the house, right? How are we going to sell houses? Are we going to sell houses? You know, there’s always changes,” Fisher said. One of the most significant changes in real estate from when Fisher started is the emergence of technology. Fisher talked about the important role of technology in her real estate strategy and how it is essential for staying competitive in the industry. “Technology is huge nowadays, and if you’re not using it, you’ll definitely get behind,” she said. With so much information available online, Fisher stressed the importance of sellers and buyers doing their research on the best agent available. “My advice would be, do your homework,” Fisher said. “If you want to buy a home, call a really good agent, interview a couple of them, ask the right questions and then get qualified. Have that agent help you find a good local qualified lender to get you pre-qualified. Then you sign the agreement to work with that agent, you get in that house, and then the process goes from there.” In a competitive real estate business that is constantly changing, On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Business Journal hosted its 11th Access Plus Capital, a nonprofit community development financial institution that On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Business Journal hosted its 11th

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC) jointly hosted a compelling dialogue on the implications of outsourcing schools in the province of Punjab, bringing together education experts, analyst and education activists here on Thursday ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) Human Rights Commission of (HRCP) and the Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC) jointly hosted a compelling dialogue on the implications of outsourcing schools in the province of , bringing together experts, analyst and activists here on Thursday. The discussion was opened by Amjad Nazeer elaborating on the pros and cons of outsourcing schools to the individuals, groups and private entities (including NGOs). Mr. Nazeer touched upon several challenges and opportunities posed by outsourcing in the sector, with a particular emphasis on equity, access, affordability, quality, and the rights of marginalized communities. The session was introduced by Naseer Azhar HRCP, who framed the conversation by highlighting the critical issues circling around, particularly in light of ’s fragmented, class-based and chaotic system. Her remarks set the tone for a nuanced and urgent aspects of on the state of public in the country. Farhatullah Babar, Council Member HRCP, offered a political perspective, questioning whether the ’s strategy aligns with addressing systemic issues or risks widening existing disparities. His critique challenged policymakers to rethink the outsourcing initiatives through public-private-partnership could potentially impact on equity and governance. He specifically highlighted the concerns for the ownership of the premises. While throwing light on the complexities and failure of multiple policies tested in the past, Amjad Nazeer, Executive Director IDRAC, drew elaborate analysis of the current state of public schools and privatizations rational and cutting factors of outsourcing , specifically in . Evidence based national statistics were illustrated by him to paint a worrisome state of affairs, if the trend expands further, however, certain benefits and advantages are quite vivid at the moment. He also cautioned against the risks of the increasing trends of privatization, emphasizing its potential to deepen inequities and quality if not carefully regulated, while also acknowledging areas where it could potentially fill critical gaps. Renowned educationist Dr. A.H. Nayyar questioned whether privatization could genuinely enhance enrollment, quality, and access to as it is being claimed by the respective and the ministry of in . He raised pressing concerns about the long-term viability of privatized models and their potential to undermine public infrastructure. Zeeba Hashmi, an advocate for girls’ , drew attention to the intersection of privatization with equity and access, particularly for girls in underserved regions. She underscored the urgency of ensuring inclusive policies to safeguard the rights of vulnerable populations, girls in particular. Overall, the session featured a robust and dynamic discussion, with participants academia, , and the public contributing diverse perspectives. The dialogue highlighted both the promise and pitfalls of privatization, reinforcing the need for a balanced approach. Concluding, the participants agree that rather than privatization, it is the fundamental responsibility of the to herself provide to children and allocate at least 4% of its GDP to as per universally accepted standards.Jharkhand Assembly Election Result 2024: A close contest between JMM and BJP in GandeyTrump Picks Dr. Oz as Head of Medicare and MedicaidHow major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 11/27/2024