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Israeli strikes without warning in central Beirut kill at least 15 as diplomats push for cease-fire BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanese officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 15 people and injured dozens in central Beirut, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanon’s capital continue without warning. Diplomats are scrambling to broker a cease-fire but say obstacles still remain. The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon in the months of fighting that have turned into all-out war. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. What to know about Scott Turner, Trump's pick for housing secretary President-elect Donald Trump has selected Scott Turner to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Turner is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of Trump's incoming Cabinet. Turner, who grew up in a Dallas, was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term. Voters rejected historic election reforms across the US, despite more than $100M push JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Election reform advocates had hoped for a big year at the ballot box. That's because a historic number of states were considering initiatives for ranked choice voting or to end partisan primaries. Instead, voters dealt them big losses in the November elections. Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and South Dakota all rejected proposed changes to their voting systems. In Alaska, a proposal to repeal ranked choice voting appears to have narrowly fallen short. The losses in many states came even though election reform supporters raised more than $100 million, easily outpacing opponents. Supporters say they aren't giving up but plan to retool their efforts. The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — This past week has seen the most significant escalation in hostilities Ukraine has witnessed since Russia's full-scale invasion and marks a new chapter in the nearly three-year war. It began with U.S. President Joe Biden reversing a longstanding policy by granting Kyiv permission to deploy American longer-range missiles inside Russian territory and ended with Moscow striking Ukraine with a new experimental ballistic weapon that has alarmed the international community and heightened fears of further escalation. Winter storms and rain sweep across the US while a new system is expected to arrive for Thanksgiving HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — A major storm continues to drop heavy snow and record rain in California, causing small landslides and flooding some streets. Meanwhile, on the opposite coast, blizzard or winter storm warnings were in effect Saturday from parts of the Northeast to central Appalachia. The storm on the West Coast arrived in the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, before moving through Northern California. Another storm system is expected to arrive for Thanksgiving week and linger into Tuesday in the Pacific Northwest, dumping rain as well as snow in the higher elevations. That is according to the National Weather Service. Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight Most people taking popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight have shed significant pounds. But obesity experts say that roughly 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not see robust results with the new medications. The response to the drugs varies from person to person and can depend on genetics, hormones and differences in how the brain regulates energy. Undiagnosed medical conditions and some drugs can prevent weight loss. Experts say it can take experimentation to help so-called nonresponders find results. Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 37 people PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A senior Pakistani police officer says fighting between armed sectarian groups in the country's restive northwest has killed at least 37 people. The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes days after a deadly gun ambush killed 42 people. The officer said Saturday that armed men torched shops, houses and government property overnight. Gunfire is ongoing between rival tribes. Although Sunnis and Shiites generally live together peacefully in Pakistan, tensions remain in some areas, especially Kurram. Doctor at the heart of Turkey's newborn baby deaths case says he was a 'trusted' physician ISTANBUL (AP) — The Turkish doctor at the center of an alleged fraud scheme that led to the deaths of 10 babies says he was a “trusted” physician. Dr. Firat Sari is one of 47 people on trial accused of transferring newborn babies to neonatal units of private hospitals, where they were allegedly kept for prolonged and sometimes unnecessary treatments in order to receive social security payments. Sari said patients were referred to him because people trusted him and he did not bribe anyone involved with Turkey’s emergency medical phone line. Sari, said to be the plot’s ringleader, faces up to 583 years in prison. Hydrate. Make lists. Leave yourself time. And other tips for reducing holiday travel stress Travel, especially during the holiday season, can be stressful. But following some tips from the pros as you prepare for a trip can make for a smoother, less anxious experience. One expert traveler suggests making a list a week before you go of things you need to do and pack. Cross off each item as you complete it during the week. Another tip is to carry your comfort zone with you. That could mean noise-canceling headphones, playlists meant to soothe airport travelers, entertainment and snacks from home. Carry a change of clothes and a phone charger in case of delays. Stay hydrated. Leave extra time. And know your airline's rules. Downloading the airline's app can help with that.What Happened To Ilumi Smart Lightbulbs From Shark Tank Season 5?S

China probes Nvidia for 'violating' anti-monopoly lawRoche commences tender offer for all shares of Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. for $9.00 per share in cash, plus a non-tradeable contingent value right for up to $4.00 per share in cash

MSI reveals two new Claw handhelds powered by Lunar Lake chipsMiddle East latest: Displaced people return to south Lebanon as ceasefire appears to holdAfter-hours movers: Oracle, MongoDB, C3 AI, Lilly and more

Players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

Editor’s Note: Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her book “ Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back” was recently published by Alcove Press. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook and X. If you’re thinking of marching into your parent-teacher conference with a laundry list of complaints, think twice. It’s often possible to address issues students are having without arguing with your child’s teacher or assigning blame, even when the issues are contentious. After her son’s teacher falsely accused him of plagiarism, it was tempting for one mom to confront the teacher angrily, Jennifer Breheny Wallace told me. Instead, the mom reminded herself that the teacher was on her son’s team and wanted him to succeed. Because she decided to give the teacher the benefit of the doubt, she was able to start the conversation calmly. That set the tone for a much more civil conversation — and the teacher ended up giving her son support that improved his writing tremendously, said Wallace, author of “ Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It,” who interviewed the mom for her book. It’s an important reminder for parents as many head into parent-teacher conferences in late November, Wallace said. “No teacher goes into this profession for the money and the glory,” she said. “Remember that your teachers are there because they have a mission, and that mission is to invest in your child. So, meet them there, meet them with that assumption.” If parents have concerns — for example, they may think a teacher is challenging a child too much, or not enough — it’s time to “get curious, not furious,” Wallace recommended. She suggested that parents tell the teacher what they’re seeing at home and ask if they can work together to solve problems. Lauren Tetenbaum agreed. “It’s a good idea to go in with the plan to do more listening than talking,” said Tetenbaum, a Westchester County, New York-based therapist and maternal mental health advocate. That’s because teachers spend so much time with children that they often have valuable insights about them. And if a child has complained about a particular situation, it’s possible they haven’t shared the whole story. “We parents today feel like we need to be everything to our children,” Wallace said. But it’s healthy and valuable for children to have strong relationships with their teachers. “Let the adults in their lives support them.” One way for parents to aid those relationships is by expressing gratitude and appreciation to teachers for the specific things they do that benefit their children, Wallace recommended. “Teachers really set the environment that our children are working in. And we want that environment to be positive. We want these relationships to be positive.” This also means that parents shouldn’t criticize a teacher in front of their child. “When you talk ill about a coach or a teacher, what you’re doing is you’re undermining that relationship,” she warned. If you lambaste a teacher after they make a mistake, it also sends a harmful message to children. “What happens when we ‘cancel’ our educators is that we teach our kids that ... this society, this world, has no room for imperfections,” Wallace said. “I spoke with so many students who were scared of being canceled.” Start by teaching kids not to cancel others. “We need to be a much more forgiving society, and we need to go back to civility, and we need as parents to model that civility,” she said. Parents should also view these conversations as opportunities to support their children’s growth in areas beyond academics, Wallace said. Her research shows that when children feel like they matter for who they are, rather than for their accomplishments, their mental health benefits. By asking questions such as who their kids’ friends are and how they’re contributing to the community, parents can get helpful information to help cultivate a feeling that their children are valuable no matter how they perform. Tetenbaum also said parents shouldn’t feel that they must wait until their next — and often last — conference with the teacher to follow up on the conversation. She suggested asking teachers for their preferred method of communication, such as phone or email. “Usually, if there is an issue, you can arrange to have another meeting, and that is usually very welcome,” she said. “More often than not, I think you’d be surprised by how willing the educators are to talk to you.” That might be all the more true if parents heed the advice to approach teachers as partners in their children’s success, and treat them with civility and gratitude. Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being .Illinois stuns Rutgers on Pat Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds left

John Fleming Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Treasury Secretary John Fleming announced Wednesday he is beginning a campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is up for reelection in two years . In his statement, Fleming highlighted Cassidy’s biggest vulnerability as he seeks a third term in the Senate — his vote to convict former President Donald Trump of inciting an attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “A number of Republicans walked away from President Trump in the last year of his first term,” Fleming said. “But those who turned their backs on him and America First were not committed to his fight to make America great again. Louisiana citizens did not give up on this fight.” Cassidy took a swing back at Fleming, a fellow Republican. “I thought he wanted to be State Treasurer?” Cassidy’s campaign said. “John Fleming wants to get out of Louisiana. He publicly said he wanted a job in the Trump administration, and apparently they didn’t want him. So after less than a year as state Treasurer, he’s looking for another job to return to Washington.” Fleming becomes the first of perhaps several big-name Republicans who will challenge Cassidy. Other potential candidates include U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, who represents Acadiana; Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, who represents suburban New Orleans; and U.S. Rep. Garret Graves of Baton Rouge, who will leave office in January. Anyone who challenges Cassidy will be betting that Trump will seek to deny him a third term because of the senator’s 2021 vote to convict him. The former president’s critics have called that vote a principled decision. But it angered Trump and his supporters in Louisiana and led the Louisiana Republican Party to censure Cassidy. Cassidy was also the only Republican member of the Louisiana delegation who voted to certify Joe Biden’s election as president in two contested states. Trump has repeatedly ripped Cassidy . “One of the worst Senators in the United States Senate is, without question, Bill Cassidy, A TOTAL FLAKE, Republican though he may be,” Trump wrote in April on Truth Social, his social media platform. Cassidy has given every indication that he is fighting to keep his job. Cassidy has been working steadily to rehabilitate himself among Republicans, endorsing Jeff Landry in last year’s governor’s race and bashing the Biden administration in speeches throughout the state. He also regularly takes credit for many federally funded highway and internet broadband projects because he was one of the seven Republicans who supported Biden’s $1 trillion bill. Cassidy’s campaign and a super PAC supporting him have raised more than $7 million, and he is positioned to raise millions more because he will assume a powerful perch as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Fleming is challenging Cassidy from the right, criticizing him for supporting some major Biden policies. “I will fight to bring real, conservative solutions to the U.S. Senate,” Fleming said. “I will not cut and run on these conservative principles, and I will stand and work with President Trump like I have many times before.” Fleming, a retired family doctor from Minden, represented northwest Louisiana in the U.S. House from 2009-17, giving up his seat in 2016 to make a failed run for a U.S. Senate seat won by then-Treasurer John Kennedy. Fleming went on to hold several senior positions in the Trump administration and was elected treasurer in 2023. One of his opponents in that race , then-state Rep. Scott McKnight, said Fleming only wanted the job as a springboard to run for the Senate. While in the House, Fleming co-founded the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, a group that has attacked successive Republican speakers as being too accommodating to Democrats and for not taking an ax to domestic spending programs. This year, Fleming called on Landry and the Legislature to eliminate the state income tax. But he didn’t detail how to make up the lost revenue, either by raising other taxes or reducing government services. Louisiana will have a closed primary system beginning in 2026, meaning that Democrats will not be able to vote for Republican candidates in that election. Independents can vote in either party primary, however. A spokesperson for Higgins declined to comment on Fleming’s announcement. Skrmetta is expected to decide whether to run during the first half of 2025, a spokesperson for him said. Graves is currently angling to become the next head of FEMA under Trump.

Mandala Chain, an L1 dedicated to connecting government, enterprise, and retail in emerging markets, announces the successful closure of its pre-seed funding round, raising $1 million. The round was led by Harbour Industrial Capital, with additional participation from O-DE Capital, NLS Ventures, and strategic Polkadot ecosystem partners. This milestone marks a pivotal step in Mandala Chain's journey to onboard the next 100 million users into Web3 through its innovative blockchain infrastructure and its focus on addressing real-world challenges in emerging markets. “We are deeply grateful for the confidence our investors have shown in our vision to make blockchain technology accessible and impactful for emerging markets,” said Mathew Paul, CEO of Mandala Chain Foundation. “This funding will drive our efforts to deliver scalable, real-world solutions that empower and bridge the gap between expanding and established blockchain markets”Max Rebol, CEO of Harbour Industrial Capital, added: “As a Polkadot ecosystem fund, we love to invest into projects that understand how to leverage Polkadot’s next-generation technology stack to enable mass adoption of Web3. We are therefore thrilled to support Mandala Chain in building out services that solve real problems in one of the world's most dynamic regions.“ This funding will enable Mandala Chain to scale its operations, build strategic partnerships, and expand its presence in emerging markets. With a focus on deploying practical real-world use cases, Mandala Chain aims to drive meaningful adoption of blockchain technology, starting with key initiatives in Indonesia. About Mandala Chain (https://www.mandalachain.io/) is the Blockchain where Government & Enterprise applications integrate seamlessly with Public & Retail applications. It is a network built to bridge the gap between Emerging and Global Blockchain Markets. Their first use case is in Indonesia, where strategic resources and partnerships gives them advantages they can leverage to expand into broader markets.

On November 27, the German Ambassador to Georgia, , gave an interview to the UN Global Compact Network Georgia, talking about Georgia’s stalled EU accession process, German-Georgian relations, and the impact of Georgia’s drift away from the EU on Georgia’s economy and investment attractiveness. Ambassador Fischer described the current state of German-Georgian relations as a crisis, saying: “We are at an impasse now.” He emphasized that the EU had granted Georgia candidate status as a “sign of love and affection,” despite the Georgian government’s failure to meet the nine conditions for candidacy. Following this gesture, however, he noted a shift in the Georgian government’s rhetoric and actions, including the reintroduction of the Foreign Agents law, which he called “gross contradiction” with EU values, and anti-LGBTQ legislation. He also criticized accusations against Germany and the EU of being “foreign agents”, attempting to drag Georgia into war in Ukraine, or promoting “liberal fascism”. Commenting on the GD government’s insistence that the EU integration process continues, Ambassador said that last June and then again in October, “the leaders of the European Union decided and wrote down in their decision that the accession process has come to a halt. It’s also written down. Nobody here bothers to read it, but I recommend to read it.” He further said: “The government is telling you, no, nothing is halted. We decide what’s halted and what’s not halted. The candidate doesn’t decide. So it’s halted, and if you ask me, I don’t see it coming back on track in the near future.” The Ambassador further spoke of the October 26 elections in Georgia, saying that “the way the election was conducted is not compatible with what we expect from a candidate country.” He said that “the accession process has come to a standstill” adding: “So it’s a crisis, and I think there’s a high risk that maybe you missed your opportunity.” Ambassador Fischer also highlighted the missed opportunities for Georgia’s business sector due to limited integration with the EU market, despite the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) in place since 2016. He noted that Georgian exports to the EU have only increased minimally, by about 2%, primarily due to non-compliance with EU standards, such as phytosanitary regulations for agricultural products. Fischer emphasized the importance of aligning with EU standards to access “one of the world’s “most prosperous markets”, warning that the current crisis in EU-Georgia relations and Georgia’s stalled European integration deter potential investors and undermine economic progress. He pointed out the attractiveness of the EU’s structured legal and business framework “that people know, that they feel familiar with, and that is also safe.” “That’s why we invest mainly, amongst ourselves,” he said adding that Georgia’s getting closer to the EU opens it for European businessmen. But Georgia’s drifts away from EU, he said, which has led to hesitancy among foreign investors, including German businesses. Some have reconsidered or even withdrawn their investments, such as Heidelberg Cement, which exited the Georgian market. Amb. Fischer argued that a lack of alignment with EU frameworks leaves Georgia as a small, emerging market in the South Caucasus with limited appeal for large-scale investment. He also warned of the negative effects of drifting away from the EU in terms of the impact on the national currency, the emigration of the young, the fluctuations in the stock market prices of Georgian companies that are listed on foreign stock exchanges and other factors.Save $140 on this Samsung Galaxy A35 and Buds FE bundle at Amazon for Black Friday

Chargers’ leading rusher J.K. Dobbins sidelined by sprained knee

After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles