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Tories urge PM to reject Netanyahu arrest warrant and alter ‘nonsensical’ stanceIt was a good year to be bad. And not just bad, positively villainous. In November, when Kendrick Lamar surprise-released GNX—his sixth album and, it must be said, a perfectly ferocious climax in his year-long feud with Drake—it dawned on me that maybe being a hater was just plain fun (and also a smart business strategy). I wasn't alone in my assessment. By the first week of December, Lamar secured eight of the top 10 Billboard Hot 100 songs. "Kendrick really an Arkham Asylum patient that can rap his ass OFF," @nellychillinn posted on X. However inspired Lamar's malice was—and, boy oh boy, was it—he was only one of several villains, both real and fictional, who dictated the terms of the year. It was a year of blockbuster, comic book mythos—only, in our version, the bad guys won. A new cultural mood took hold in 2024, the steady climate of a disordered age. In a year that rocketed Moo Deng, the influencer... Jason ParhamSeventh-seeded Mizzou volleyball lost to SEC rival and No. 3 seed Kentucky 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 25-13) on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, ending the Tigers' 2024 season. The biggest challenge for Mizzou during the regional semifinal was putting a defensive stop to Kentucky sophomore outside-hitter Brooklyn DeLeye. DeLeye had a strong performance, ending the match with 22 kills, three service aces and six digs. After MU was handed losses in the first two sets, Mizzou Coach Dawn Sullivan told her squad to "play our volleyball." The Tigers responded in the third set with adjustments at the service line, focusing more on putting the ball in the back row of the Wildcats' defense. The Tigers went on a 8-0 tear with senior libero Kiaraliz Perez Catala serving the ball at the line. Catala surpassed 50 service aces this season during the third set of the match, ending the game with three, all during that run. "We've seen how capable Missouri is on beating top-10 teams, and, you know, they made adjustments," Kentucky volleyball Coach Craig Skinner said in a postgame news conference. During this momentum-building third set, Mizzou right-side hitter Jordan Iliff was putting up a strong offensive effort, effectively using the Kentucky block against it to extend the Tigers' lead. Iliff ended the third set with a 17 kills in the game and a hitting percentage of .400. She finished the game with 20 kills, two service aces and nine digs. "She's unstoppable," ESPN broadcaster Anne Marie Anderson said of Iliff during the third set of the match. However, Kentucky, the SEC regular-season champ, would shut down the Tigers' offense in the fourth and final set, going on a 5-2 scoring run to force Sullivan to take a timeout with the Wildcats leading 12-6. Kentucky's blockers were aggressive toward outside-hitter Mychael Vernon, who was held to just one kill and six errors in Set 4. After the loss, Vernon took to social media reflecting on her final season playing college volleyball as a Tiger. "So proud of this team," Vernon said on an Instagram story following the game. "Couldn't have had a better last year. M.I.Z." The loss eliminates Mizzou from the NCAA Tournament after its fifth Sweet 16 appearance in program history. The Tigers fell in four of those in the regional semifinals, advancing to an Elite Eight only once, in 2005. Throughout their season, the Tigers were a strong Southeastern Conference competitor, ending with a record of 22-9 overall and 11-5 in the SEC. In the other NCAA Tournament Pittsburgh Regional semifinal, No. 1 overall seed Pitt survived a scare from No. 4 seed Oregon, winning in five sets (25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 21-25, 15-12). The host Panthers take on Kentucky for a trip to the Final Four at 4 p.m. Saturday in Pittsburgh.

NoneMark said on 'Squawk Box': "It is an authentic relationship and we're happy to have it. It's been nothing but good for us." Taylor has a huge fan following, and Mark admitted that her fanbase has helped to increase the profile of the current Super Bowl champions. He shared: "I think the best thing I can say about the whole relationship and the impact it's had on us is: Taylor Swift is an authentic member of the Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom. She's an authentic fan." Mark observed that Chiefs fans have also embraced Taylor. He said: "That matters to our fans and our fanbase. And it matters to us. We try and respect that." Patrick Mahomes - Travis' teammate - previously claimed that Taylor has helped to make the Chiefs a "worldwide team". The sports star told Time magazine: "[The Chiefs] went from a nationwide team that was kind of global to a full global worldwide team. That came from Taylor's fanbase." Patrick also admitted to being wowed by Taylor's work ethic. The 29-year-old star - who is one of the best players in the NFL - said: "I've met a lot of famous people now in my life. Taylor's probably the most down-to-earth person that's been on that stage for that long. "She's never not working. Even when she's taking her downtime, she's working on something. Shooting a music video or singing a song or writing a song. You can see it by how she talks."

The Arizona Cardinals are 6-6 through 12 games, which makes them an average football team. That’s much better than the previous two years, which both ended with just four wins. But after two straight frustrating losses, it’s not providing much consolation for a franchise that feels as though it should be much better. The latest setback came on Sunday, when the Minnesota Vikings rallied to beat the Cardinals 23-22 . Arizona never trailed until Sam Darnold threw a 5-yard touchdown pass with 1:18 remaining that proved to be the winning score. It was a mistake-filled performance for the Cardinals, who racked up 10 penalties for 96 yards. That’s a big reason they had to settle for five field goals and scored just one touchdown. The Cardinals were leading 19-16 in the fourth quarter and had first-and-goal at the Vikings 5, but Tip Reiman was called for a false start and then quarterback Kyler Murray was called for intentional grounding . The Cardinals kicked a field goal for a 22-16 lead, giving the Vikings the chance they needed to drive for the winning score. Murray threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter. RELATED COVERAGE 49ers are nearing rock bottom following a blowout loss and the injury to McCaffrey Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are in good position for the playoffs but need to improve on offense The Vikings are showing their worth at 10-2 by winning the games that don’t go smoothly “I thought we moved the ball well,” Murray said. “Again, it just comes down to not scoring touchdowns. Get down there and kick field goals and penalties bite us. It’s bad — it’s bad football.” The loss knocked the Cardinals out of first place in the NFC West, though they’re still in decent playoff position. A pivotal game against the division-rival Seahawks looms on Sunday. Second-year coach Jonathan Gannon acknowledged the frustration of Sunday’s loss, but said they’ve got to rebound quickly. “They’re disappointed and down, but it’s the NFL,” Gannon said. “They’ve got to put all their energy and focus into tomorrow.” The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . What’s working Arizona’s defense blamed itself for not coming up with a stop on the Vikings’ winning drive, but the unit played exceptionally well for most of the afternoon. Mack Wilson and L.J. Collier both had two sacks and the Cardinals held Minnesota to just 273 total yards. For a group that looked as if it might be the team’s weakness this season, it was another rock solid performance. What needs help The Cardinals aren’t a good enough football team to overcome 10 penalties and get a win — particularly on the road. Reiman had a rough day, getting called for three false starts. His false start on the next-to-last offensive drive — coupled with Murray’s intentional grounding penalty — proved to be extremely costly. “That was brutal,” Gannon said. “Just got to figure out ways to punch the ball in for touchdowns there, not field goals.” Stock up Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. had five catches for 60 yards, including an impressive touchdown catch that put the Cardinals up 19-6. It was Harrison’s seventh TD reception of the season. The No. 4 overall pick has been a little inconsistent in his first year, but there’s little doubt he’s a difference-maker for the offense. He’s still got a chance to reach 1,000 yards receiving this season if he averages about 80 yards receiving over the final five games. Considering his talent, that’s certainly possible. Stock down Gannon was second-guessed for his decision to kick a field goal late in the fourth quarter instead of trying for a touchdown at the Vikings 4 with 3:29 left. Chad Ryland made the 23-yard chip shot for a 22-16 lead, but the Vikings drove the field on the ensuing possession for the winning score. “I trust JG,” Murray said. “I see both sides. Go up six and make them score; trust the defense to go get a stop. Go for it, you don’t get it, they’ve still got to go down and score. If you do get it, you probably put the game away.” Said Gannon: “Yeah, I mean there’s thought about it. Just wanted to go up more than a field goal there. Definitely a decision point that we talked about. So be it.” Injuries The Cardinals came out of the game fairly healthy. Rookie DL Darius Robinson — the No. 27 overall pick — made his NFL debut against the Vikings after missing the first 11 games due to a calf injury. Key number 1,074 — Running back James Conner’s total yards from the line of scrimmage this season, including 773 on the ground and 301 in the passing game. Next steps The Cardinals return home for a game against the Seahawks on Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

23 local races in 2024 show how every vote counts: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRoseThe common murre, a large black-and-white seabird native to northern waters, has become far less common in Alaska over the past decade due to the impacts of climate change. A study published Thursday in Science reveals that a record-breaking marine heat wave in the northeast Pacific from 2014 to 2016 triggered a catastrophic population collapse, wiping out four million birds -- about half the species in the region. Strikingly, they have shown little signs of rebounding, suggesting long-term shifts in the food web that have locked the ecosystem into a troubling new equilibrium. "There's a lot of talk about declines of species that are tied to changes in temperature, but in this case, it was not a long term result," lead author Heather Renner of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge told AFP. "To our knowledge, this is the largest mortality event of any wildlife species reported during the modern era," she and her colleagues emphasized in their paper. The finding triggers "alarm bells," Renner said in an interview, as human-caused climate change makes heat waves more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting. With their dapper, tuxedoed look, common murres are sometimes called the "penguins of the north." Their slender wings power them across vast distances in search of food and make them expert divers. But even these hardy seabirds were no match for an unprecedented environmental catastrophe. The largest marine heat wave ever recorded began in the late fall of 2014, spanning a massive swath of the northeast Pacific Ocean from California to Alaska. It persisted for over two years, leaving devastation in its wake. During this time, some 62,000 emaciated murres washed ashore along the North American Pacific coastline -- dead or dying from starvation. Experts point to two key reasons for the bird deaths: elevated ocean temperatures reduced both the quality and quantity of phytoplankton, impacting fish like herring, sardines, and anchovies -- the mainstay of the murre diet. At the same time, warmer waters increased the energy demands of larger fish, such as salmon and Pacific cod, which compete with murres for the same prey. "We knew then it was a big deal, but unfortunately, we couldn't really quantify the effects," explained Renner. For years after the event, breeding colonies failed to produce chicks, complicating efforts to assess the full impact. More from this section Earlier estimates pegged the number of deaths at around a million, but a more robust analysis -- drawing on data from 13 murre colonies -- revealed the toll was four times higher. "It is just so much worse than we thought it was," Renner said of the new findings. The marine heat wave didn't just impact common murres. Pacific cod stocks collapsed, king salmon populations dwindled, and as many as 7,000 humpback whales perished. Yet the crisis created an uneven playing field: some species emerged unscathed, while others even thrived. Thick-billed murres, which often share nesting cliffs with common murres, were largely unaffected, possibly due to their more adaptable diet, Renner noted. For common murres, however, the fallout lingers. Despite nearly a decade since the heat wave, their numbers show no sign of bouncing back -- and the losses may well be permanent. Part of the reason lies in the long-term decline of some of their prey. Another factor is murres' survival strategy relies on numbers: they aggregate in massive colonies to protect their eggs from opportunistic predators like eagles and gulls. With their populations slashed, these birds have lost their critical safety buffer. Still, Renner offered a glimmer of hope. While addressing global warming is essential for curbing long-term climate change, conservation efforts can make a difference in the short term, she said. Removing invasive species like foxes and rats from murre nesting islands could also provide the beleaguered birds with a fighting chance. ia/desEgypt Daily News – Numerous demands and proposals were presented by a number of major investors in Egypt, during their meeting yesterday evening, with Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, which constitute a road map for reviving the Egyptian economy, achieving targeted growth rates, and eliminating various crises. The meeting was characterized by frankness regarding concerns about inflation rates, the dollar deficit, interest rates, domestic and external debt, in addition to competition from the state, energy provision, etc. The Prime Minister’s responses and comments were also very frank and clear about the plans to deal with all these files and which are as follows: Engineer Ahmed Ezz, Chairman of the Ezz Steel Group, called for the necessity of reconsidering policies aimed at increasing growth rates in various sectors, including the construction and real estate development sector, which in turn will contribute to increasing the activities of the building materials industries. He said, “It is not possible for a country the size of Egypt to have its construction sector grow by only about 3.5% next year.” Taking the iron sector as an example, where the average annual consumption of iron in 2010 was approximately 9.9 million tons, while in the last three years it reached 6.5, 6.4, and 6.2 million tons, respectively. While a country like Vietnam, similar to Egypt in terms of its population, its iron consumption exceeds 13 to 14 million tons annually. Ezz blamed this decline in iron consumption on “harsh” building controls and requirements, which prevent 70% of citizens from being able to build their own homes. Explaining that he does not demand the return of random construction; but “by setting rules that stimulate the return of construction activity again.” He also called for opening the door to appointments in the state’s administrative apparatus. “To introduce a new generation and new ideas,” especially since we have 40,000 Egyptian students studying at foreign universities. The CEO and Managing Director of Talaat Moustafa Holding Group, Hisham Talaat Moustafa, confirmed that the hard currency crisis is the biggest challenge that Egypt is currently facing, due to its serious effects on inflation, in addition to the rise in interest rates. Mustafa stressed the need for the government to seek specialized expertise that has proven successful in certain sectors, noting that the private sector will not be able to bear the high interest rates, which have reached 32%. He explained that the private sector bears burdens for which it is not responsible, noting that the liberalization of energy prices and increased liquidity were among the main factors behind the rise in inflation rates, which requires radical solutions. He also pointed out that corporate financing structures were established based on interest rates ranging between 13-14%, while doubling these rates within one year puts great pressure on companies, raising questions about their ability to continue. Mustafa called for the formation of a ministerial committee that includes the Central Bank to review the impact of high interest rates on the private sector, and to follow up on the sustainability of companies’ financing structures in light of these challenges. He stressed the need to also look at the state budget and the problems of the banking sector, which were exacerbated by the high interest rates. He added that the dollar deficit crisis is considered one of the biggest economic obstacles facing Egypt, explaining that international investors are looking for stability in the local currency to ensure their returns. He stressed that the continued decline in the value of the Egyptian pound negatively affects the internal rates of return (IRR) in foreign currency, which weakens confidence and hinders attracting foreign investments. Mustafa stressed the importance of developing sustainable solutions to the hard currency crisis through thoughtful financial and monetary policies that ensure macroeconomic stability, which restores confidence to investors and contributes to achieving long-term stability for both the private sector and the national economy in general. Yassin Mansour, President of Palm Hills, described the exchange rate of the dollar against the pound as “the basis of the inflation problem” in Egypt, calling for ideas “from outside the box” to solve this dilemma. He focused on the need to strengthen the country’s two most important sources of hard currency, the first of which are remittances from Egyptians abroad. “Incentives must be introduced to double it, including unifying the exchange rate.” As for the second source, tourism, he pointed out the importance of conducting more comprehensive studies of international markets, to attract more visitors from them. He also considered that granting residency, or even citizenship, to foreigners in exchange for buying a property in Egypt is “insufficient.” Rather, priority should be given to canceling some taxes to attract buyers mainly from Europe and England. Ahmed Al-Suwaidi, Managing Director of El-Suwaidi Electric Company, called for focusing on industrial investments, setting clear goals for industrialization and providing a stable investment environment by installing laws and regulations for a period that allows investors to plan. Al-Suwaidi pointed out the availability of competitive advantages enjoyed by industrial investment in Egypt, such as low production costs, considering that not requiring companies implementing infrastructure projects to rely on local products missed an opportunity to localize the industry, similar to the experience of Saudi Arabia, which was able, for example, to attract investments exceeding $30 billion wind turbine industry. Hani Berzi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Edita Food Industries, in turn stressed the danger of high interest rates on investment, calling on the government to find a mechanism to provide low-cost financing to the private sector. He said: “Absorbing the high interest rates has become very difficult for us and the food industry sector, and placing these burdens on the consumer by increasing the prices of products has also become difficult because it affects purchasing power.” Berzi pointed out that there was a shock to the export sectors due to the reduction of the budget for reimbursing export burdens this year to 23 billion pounds instead of 40 billion pounds according to a previous government promise. He expressed his objection to this reduction, and called for a new program to support exports starting in the next fiscal year. During the meeting, businessman Hassan Heikal criticized the increase in local and foreign debt rates, and the state’s general budget bearing a greater interest. “The local public debt on the budget reached 10 trillion pounds. When an interest rate of 30% is added, the interest on the debt becomes 3 trillion pounds. In my opinion, there are no resources for the Egyptian state that can convince a financial man that there will be a balance in the next visible term,” according to Heikal. He pointed out that the Egyptian state has $140 billion in debt in the budget, with an interest rate of 6%, which means that the state has a dollar debt interest of about $15 billion annually, and the ratio of external public debt to gross domestic product may be low, but with regard to our net dollar resources, there is a problem.” Heikal presented several proposals during the meeting, including transferring state assets to the Central Bank of Egypt, zeroing out debts in pounds, and establishing a sovereign fund affiliated with the Central Bank that includes companies, real estate, and lands of all governmental and sovereign agencies. He said: “The state’s general budget sells these assets to the central bank, which leads to the zeroing out of its debts and interest on them, and the central bank owns this fund by a majority percentage compared to a percentage of the sovereign entities that place their private companies in it.” Heikal added: This fund can be exploited to achieve the goal of budget unity at the state level, and benefit from the returns to finance development projects and state plans. This idea was implemented before in a similar manner in Spain, Italy, and Greece to save them during the debt crisis. Sherif El-Khouly, partner and regional director of ACTIS, pointed out that there are opportunities to attract international investors to manufacture in Egypt for the purpose of export, especially with a geopolitical situation that represents challenges to major global economies, following the new US administration. Al-Kholy called for the inclusion of representatives of the Egyptian private sector in the Supreme Council for Investment, and suggested focusing on manufacturing components of renewable energy plants. Mirna Arif, General Manager of Microsoft Egypt, called for giving priority to the private sector in any projects that will be proposed, and pointed out that the investor needs to deal with a single port whose parts are controlled by modern technology, such as the “one-stop-shop” mechanism, which needs major development to overcome the surprises that arise. The investor meets her on his way. Arif stressed the importance of reconsidering any new laws that may create sudden financial burdens on investors, hindering their ability to properly plan financially for their projects. Omar Muhanna, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Bank, said that the private sector’s share of credit declined to 24% due to the economic crises to which Egypt was exposed, including the rise in interest rates. He added that the challenges facing the private sector must be addressed, noting that it represents 70% of economic activity in Egypt. He explained that the investment climate in Egypt still faces many problems that prevent attracting investments, such as the slow implementation and application of decisions issued by the state. He stressed that Egypt needs to accelerate the pace of the state’s exit from many economic activities, especially in specific sectors. He stated that despite the efforts made to support foreign investment, foreign investors are still hesitant to enter the market, due to concern about competing with the country, which enjoys advantages that the private sector may not obtain. He said that despite the efforts also being made to deepen the industry, such as improving industry licenses and developing industrial zones, the current trend towards import substitution must be re-evaluated. “We focus a lot on deepening the industry and it has improved a lot over the past period, but this does not have to be at the expense of the policy direction.” Industrial products are for export, not to replace imports. We have been saying for a while that we will do import substitution, and this does not make any difference in the end, because an essential part of my imports is an essential commodity, and the part that I replace Imports are very simple, it will not make a difference at all, and it will not have any positive effects.” Mohamed Al-Etreby, CEO of the National Bank of Egypt, said that 2,360 companies left Egypt for the Emirates in the first half of this year 2024, due to the facilities in the business environment there. He added that Egypt is a country that has all the capabilities, and that inflation will decrease and interest rates will fall between 3 and 6% during the year 2025. He stressed that two foreign exchange rates cannot be allowed again, because of its negative repercussions on dollar resources and the investment climate in Egypt in general, he pointed out that the unification of the exchange rate contributed to a tremendous growth in the National Bank’s proceeds from waiving the currency during the past months, in addition to a significant growth in remittances from Egyptians abroad. Khaled Abu Al-Makarem, Chairman of the Export Council for Chemical Industries and Fertilizers, confirmed that achieving the state’s goals to reach Egyptian exports to 145 billion dollars requires working to double the allocations for the Export Burdens Refund Program by no less than 50 billion pounds as a minimum. He said that what happened this year in terms of reducing allocations for reimbursing burdens to 23 billion pounds, including 20 billion pounds in cash support and 3 billion pounds in support for exhibitions, missions and other services, is insufficient, and that reducing support rates by 70% may have a negative impact until the end of June and the beginning of the new fiscal year. Abu Al-Makarem pointed out that Egyptian exports, despite the challenges facing the export sector, including reduced support, were able to achieve an increase of $4 billion during the first 11 months of 2024 to reach $36.3 billion, compared to $32 billion during the same period in 2023, and there is an opportunity to exceed $38 billion. dollars by the end of the year and achieving a good growth rate of 10% compared to last year. He noted that there are some challenges that can be solved quickly that will contribute to increasing Egyptian exports by an additional 5% during the first quarter of 2025, the most important of which is solving the problem of supplying gas to Egyptian factories and its regularity, especially since there are a number of industries that depend on it as a main raw material for industry, and what happened There is a supply deficit during 2024, which is expected to continue to some extent during the next year, causing a contraction in production. Abu Al-Makarem called on the government to have a clear vision regarding gas supplies to factories, saying, “We are aware of the problem and we are all trying to deal with it, either by importing or by being content with what is currently available, but a clear vision is required that reveals to us the extent to which the problem will remain.” He also called for the necessity of activating the decision to cancel vacations at customs ports to facilitate customs clearance operations, stressing the burdens that businessmen bear as a result of delays in customs clearance, amounting to half the value of the exported or imported counter or letters, stressing the necessity of working 7 days a week in Customs ports because until now the decision has not been implemented in some ports. Growth rates over the past two years were not as hoped and targeted, but the state’s vision and continued implementation of steps for economic reform gives more hope for achieving growth rates exceeding 4% next year and then reaching 6 and 7%. -We, as a country, were destined to exist in a very hot and very turbulent region, which imposed on us many major direct and indirect repercussions on the Egyptian economy. We are keen to maximize the role of the private sector in the economy, as a greater regulator of markets, while the state is present in some strategic sectors in which states adhere to a clear and specific role. -The Egyptian state attaches great importance to the debt file, whether domestic or foreign, and Egypt is committed to that and is working to continue the downward trend of the debt. The dues for refunding late export burdens have been settled until January 2023, and we have set the start of the new program from July 1, 2024. Currently, the numbers have been tentatively estimated at around 60 billion pounds. The Cabinet approved a contract from the International Finance Corporation to offer all Egyptian airports for management and operation in partnership with the private sector. -There are proposals to offer infrastructure, such as roads, treatment and desalination plants, to the private sector for management and operation. We expect gas production to gradually return after it was affected by the economic crises, and in 2025 we will be able to meet not only needs but also expansions. -Customs will work for 7 days starting from the new year to facilitate customs clearance operations. Local gas is sold at less than the real market value, and the state prefers to sell gas locally to the Egyptian industry that supports the economy through job opportunities and economic growth rates, even if at a price lower than the export price, which brings greater returns to the state. -Forming advisory groups from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, to discuss each of the investors’ proposals, and the government will follow up on the implementation of those decisions and overcome any challenges. -Regarding the dues for refunding late export burdens, the settlement was made until January 2023, and we set the start of the new program from July 1, 2024, and currently the numbers have been tentatively estimated at around 60 billion pounds, and the Minister of Finance obtained the approval of the Council of Ministers today to pay in more than one way. Between two and three years for all those eligible, and we will announce this in detail. -This year, despite the current crises, we will reach about 15.5 million tourists in the tourism sector, and we aim to reach 18 million tourists next year. -We expect growth in the tourism sector this year to be in the range of 10 to 11%, but we want this rate to reach 15% next year. -The final touches are being put on two very large projects in the tourism sector, with the aim of doubling the number of tourist rooms in the area surrounding the Pyramids Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the old downtown area. The Council of Ministers approved a contract with the International Investment Corporation (IFC) to offer all Egyptian airports to the private sector. -We encourage the private sector to enter the field of establishing airline companies, through alliances or partnerships with the state, to implement this proposal, which contributes to increasing the Egyptian aviation fleet. -Terminating all licenses for tourism projects within a period not exceeding one month by granting them a golden licence -We are working on two new initiatives, the first to finance working capital for expansions of new lines and factories, and the second is another initiative to create hotel rooms. -2024 is the heaviest year for debt repayment, and despite this, nearly $39 billion has been repaid. -We aim to increase tourism revenues to break the usual figure of $20 to $22 billion, which represents the dollar deficit in the country.

Ben Fordham left stunned as top professor exposes what Australia got wrong during Covid Professor casts doubt of Covid measures Said they were 'madness' and 'disgraceful' READ MORE: Mother blames Covid vaccine for her daughter's death By DAVID SOUTHWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 20:46 GMT, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 20:48 GMT, 24 November 2024 e-mail View comments A visiting UK professor of medicine stunned radio host Ben Fordham by taking a blistering aim at Covid lockdowns, quarantine, masks, and vaccines. Angus Dalgleish, a professor of oncology at the prestigious St George's University in London who also sits on the European Commission Cancer Board, told Fordham Australia's Covid response was 'absolutely appalling', 'madness' and 'disgraceful'. His unconventional views go against the recent Covid Response Inquiry verdict that 'Australia fared well relative to other nations that experienced larger losses in human life, health system collapse and more severe economic downturns'. But Prof Dalgleish insisted Australia bungled its Covid response. He was also scathing about Britain's handling and said 'Australia, New Zealand and Canada all over-reacted exactly the same'. 'The only people who got it right long-term were Sweden ,' Prof Dalgleish said. 'They didn't have any lockdown mandates, they had no other mandates, the vaccines were for people over 70 and they have the lowest excess death rates in the Western world.' Sweden relied on voluntary social distancing, mask-wearing, working from home and avoiding public transport, with 80 per cent of the country saying they complied. Angus Dalgleish, a professor of oncology at the prestigious St George's University in London has taken blistering aim at almost all the Covid measures employed by Australia and other countries Prof Dalgleish attacked mandated masks being worn outdoors. 'That's absolute madness, the only reason you get people to wear masks is to instil a state of fear in them,' he said. 'I said right at the very beginning with the very best mask the smallest hole is three times bigger than the largest virus. There is no science behind it whatsoever. 'You wear masks in (operating) theatres to stop you coughing into someone's abdomen, it's not for viruses.' He also believed lockdowns achieved next to nothing. 'We know it is respiratory, so lockdowns make no sense whatsoever, particularly when there is no quarantine [which there wasn't in Britain at the start of their lockdown]'. He believed hotel quarantine was a 'complete waste of money' and didn't think it 'saved any lives whatsoever' because it only delayed the natural herd immunity, which was always the best defence against Covid. 'You get the virus naturally you can build up an innate immunity to it, and they denied this,' Prof Dalgleish said. Professor Dalgleish said he did not believe lockdowns, quarantines, masks or even vaccines saved lives Fordham asked whether lockdowns were necessary to protect the elderly, but Prof Dalgleish hailed the Swedish approach as far more pragmatic. 'They say "your grandmothers and people are at risk just be careful, don’t go too close to them",' Prof Dalgleish said. 'They didn’t lock everybody down, so society wasn’t strangled at the neck. 'And it worked very well. Why did you have to lock up young, fit people who couldn’t work?' He also slammed the controversial vaccine mandates. 'I think it was absolutely disgraceful. It was totalitarian, it was descent into an Orwellian dystopia,' he said. 'Especially as we knew when the vaccines were rolled out, the virus had changed completely. 'I don’t believe [the vaccines] had any beneficial effect whatsoever because the virus changes, mutates so quickly. Sydney radio talkback king Ben Fordham was clearly taken aback by some of the professor's claims 'We know that when our vaccine program was rolled out, the wave of infection was falling off naturally. It didn’t need any help to damp the wave,' he said. 'It was the same with the lockdown - we introduced the lockdown as the first wave was flattening out and if you had done no lockdown, there would have been no difference.' A clearly taken aback Fordham asked Prof Dalgleish if he thought the vaccine saved no lives. 'They came in too late they gave the appearance of saving lives because they were coming in on a wave of people doing in and dying,' he replied. 'There might have been a very few, it might have been under one or two percent but not significant compared to what they wanted to do with them. '(That was) roll them out to everybody and have mandated vaccines when there was no evidence it prevented transmission at a time when the disease was killing 0.085per cent of the population with an average age of 82. 'It was complete utter blindness and madness.' London Ben Fordham Sweden Canada Share or comment on this article: Ben Fordham left stunned as top professor exposes what Australia got wrong during Covid e-mail Add commentAnalysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easyNA panel discusses Pakistan’s role in climate diplomacy, result of COP-29 Hina underscores Pakistan’s well-recognised role in global climate leadership ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly (NA) on Foreign Affairs deliberated on Pakistan’s role in climate diplomacy, the outcomes of COP-29, and innovative solutions to deal with climate related challenges. The meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs was held with the chair of its Chairperson Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar here at Parliament House on Thursday. The NA Standing Committee also discussed ongoing situation in Syria, focusing on humanitarian challenges, regional dynamics, and potential geopolitical shifts including evacuation efforts for safe return of Pakistanis from Syria. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials led by Foreign Secretary Ms. Amna Baloch and the Ministry of Climate Change team led by AS In-charge Ms. Aisha Humera Ch. briefed the Committee on Pakistan’s challenges and opportunities in climate financing, carbon market operationalization, and progress on international commitments. Members recommended fostering collaborations with global research centers and enhancing the country’s capacity to benefit from carbon markets. While commenting on climate change and Pakistan’s diplomacy, Hina Rabbani Khar underscored Pakistan’s well recognised role in global climate leadership. She emphasized that since 80 percent of emissions were transport sector related, Pakistan should concentrate on this sector to get early results, especially because it has a direct impact on environment due to which certain cities are suffering closures. She stated, “Pakistan can act as a bridge between developed and developing countries in climate negotiations, while safeguarding our rightful development trajectory based on natural resources, we should not suffer from inertia on encouraging research and development on novel technologies that may provide efficient solutions.” The Committee recommended certain actionable steps including capacity building on carbon credits, strengthening research partnerships with universities and building institutional capacity to benefit from global carbon markets. Besides the Chair, Members of the Committee Danyal Ch., M. Khan Daha, Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Ms. Shazia Marri, Dr. M. Farooq Sattar, M. Ijaz ul Haq, Dr. Amjad Ali Khan, Khurram Munawar Manj, Ms. Shandana Gulzar Khan and Ms. Ayesha Nazir attended the meeting.

Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easy

Bishop Thomas Dexter Jakes, the senior pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, appeared to have a medical emergency while delivering his sermon at The Potter's House church in Dallas on Sunday. "Oh Lord, my strength, my redeemer, let them go in peace," the 67-year-old pastor reportedly said moments before he dropped his microphone and fell silent. A Look At TD Jakes FamilyBishop TD Jakes, a globally renowned pastor, married Serita Ann Jamison in 1981. Serita, often referred to as the "First Lady" of The Potter’s House, has played a significant role in the ministry’s growth. She is a speaker, author, and spiritual mentor. The couple has five children: Sarah, Cora, Jermaine, Thomas Jr., and Jamar. Sarah Jakes Roberts is an author and a preacher. Born on July 17, 1988, Sarah has matured into a beacon of hope and leadership. She is a mother to six children. Her journey includes two marriages, first to Robert Henson and then to Touré Roberts. Cora Jakes Coleman is a speaker and faith leader who is deeply involved in the family's ministry. Despite dealing with personal battles, she has become a voice of hope and resilience. The sons, Jermaine, Thomas Jr., and Jamar, are also an integral part of the Jakes family dynamic. Also Read: Did Bishop TD Jakes Suffer A Stroke? Potter’s House Church Shares Health Update What Happened to TD Jakes? TD Jakes appeared to experience a medical emergency while delivering his sermon at The Potter's House church in Dallas on Sunday. Moments before falling silent, the pastor said, "Oh Lord, my strength, my redeemer, let them go in peace," before dropping his microphone. The 67-year-old pastor then started shivering uncontrollably in his seat, prompting people around him to rush to his side and provide comfort. Many were heard saying "back up " and "give him some space" as the live video was cut off. Soon after, a voice behind the camera instructed the church attendees and online spectators to "begin to pray." The Potter's House of Dallas later released a statement on social media. "During today's service, Bishop TD Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals. The entire Potter's House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community." Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.As a community adopts a migratory lifestyle for work, children drop out of schoolRussia fires ‘nuclear capable’ ballistic missile at Ukraine