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Singapore—Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power generation unit of Meralco., seeks to bolster its baseload portfolio by 1,280 megawatts (MW) with two coal plants awaiting the government’s green light. Coal plants are usually used as baseload, or the minimum power that needs to be injected into the grid at any given time, as they are the technology that can deliver the cheapest power around the clock. MGen’s baseload capacity is currently at 1,395 MW. READ: MGen’s Singapore unit vies for $900-M project In a chat with reporters, Emmanuel Rubio, president of MGen, said he learned the Department of Energy (DOE) was leaning toward giving them certificates of exception from the coal ban. The DOE had imposed a moratorium on new coal plants to control the country’s carbon emissions and support the government’s push to shift to clean energy. In July, the DOE clarified there was no total ban, which meant that existing and operational facilities that have made commitments for expansion may proceed. The group’s proposed coal-fired power plant project in Atimonan, Quezon province, Rubio previously said, was included in a list of projects that have already been “committed,” or projects that are in various stages of development. The project had also secured an environmental compliance certificate for the 1,200-MW project that claims to have low emissions. The Toledo facility, meanwhile, has original construction permits covering two units, with 80 MW each. Currently, it is running at an 82-MW capacity. Toledo Power Corp. is under Global Business Power, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGen. Rubio said the firm was already in talks with potential contractors and equipment suppliers for the planned Atimonan coal plant. “We have two candidates in Atimonan and so far we have one sure candidate for Toledo which was the original supplier, Formosa Heavy Industries,” he said late Tuesday. The official said MGen was likely to invest $1.6 million per MW. Once MGen secures the exception certificates, Rubio hopes to get the board’s go signal to proceed to the next stage, which would cover a feasibility study and engineering works. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Rubio also noted that banks—including four from the Philippines and two from Indonesia—already showed intent to back the projects.
Novak Djokovic is a 24-time grand slam title winner, Olympic gold medallist and a 99-time ATP competition winner. So why, at 37 years old, does the best tennis player in the world, and arguably in the history of the sport, need a coach? Long relationship ... Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic when they played doubles together at the Australian Open in 2006. Credit: Getty Images It was a surprise when Djokovic named long-time rival Andy Murray as his new coach – a player Djokovic had a 69 per cent win record against – and the duo are set to make their debut at the Brisbane International in January before Djokovic heads to the Australian Open to chase his 25th grand slam title. But former champion-turned-Nine commentator Todd Woodbridge says the pairing isn’t as strange as it seems. “It’s intriguing. Andy Murray for me is this generation’s Lleyton Hewitt, and Ken Rosewell before him, and I say that because they just live, eat, breathe tennis,” Woodbridge says. “Andy can’t keep away from it.” Murray retired from professional tennis in 2024 as a three-time grand slam champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist. And while Djokovic had the upper hand in their head-to-head matches, beating Murray 25 of the 36 times they played, Woodbridge says Murray was the same calibre of athlete. “Andy played everyone that Novak is going to be playing against. So, they’ll be drawing up strategy, game plan, tactics, and what they’ve got to do is find ways for Novak to win matches really quickly, succinctly, keeping energy in the tank, and I think that’s part of the reason he’s been brought along. “But, you know, there’s one more [reason], which is very obvious, and that’s that Novak has had people around him in his last two coaching roles that have been there, done it... So that’s Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic. It is impossible to hire someone to come in and tell him things, when he’s already done more than they have. And Andy is on a parallel [with] him. “Yes, he’s [Djokovic] won more majors, but Andy’s won Olympics, he’s won Wimbledon, he’s won the US Open, he’s been to a final and lost to Novak. He’s one player that he’ll respect if Andy calls him out and says, ‘hey, we need to work on this’. And that’s got to be why he’s in the team.” Novak Djokovic after defeating Carlos Alcaraz for Olympic gold in Paris. Credit: Getty Images Djokovic had a mixed 2024. He finally won his first Olympic gold in Paris, completing the golden career slam , but it was also the first time since 2017 he didn’t win a grand slam title in a calendar year. But Woodbridge says Djokovic remains a threat to win his 11th Australian Open title in 2025. “He [Djokovic] didn’t have the year he wanted, and I think he has come off his level slightly, but the others still have to play at their best and when he’s there, he’s always a threat,” Woodbridge says. “It really comes down to the physical and mental, maybe more mental...but currently he’s in the top three for me to win the Australian Open – that goes [Jannik] Sinner, [Carlos] Alcaraz and Djokovic.” Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion and favourite for the 2025 title, had an intriguing year after he tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March, but was not banned in a decision by an independent tribunal because the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined he was not to blame. The off-court drama didn’t translate to Sinner’s on-court results, with the Italian winning three Masters 1000 titles and the US Open while the drama played out in the background. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] has since decided to appeal the decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing, the outcome of which could come to a head in Melbourne. Jannik Sinner after winning the 2024 Australian Open. Credit: AP It comes as world No. 2 and French Open champion Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) . However, Woodbridge says he doesn’t think the issue will hinder Sinner as he heads to Australia to start the 2025 season. “That’s one of the things that I think Jannik Sinner has been extraordinary with,” Woodbridge said. “He’s got a great ability it seems to have had to deal with it for nearly eight months, know about it, talk about it openly, and he seems to have handled it well. “We’ll just wait and see how Iga handles it when she has to talk about it. She’s a very different personality, so we will see if it does affect her or not.” Swiatek will front the media for the first time since the positive test at the United Cup in Sydney starting on December 28. The Australian team will also be playing in Sydney, where Alex de Minaur and Olivia Gadecki will be the top-ranked Australian players. Alex de Minaur celebrates his win over Novak Djokovic at the 2024 United Cup. Credit: AP The 2024 United Cup was where de Minaur launched his season – his best year on tour to date – after beating Djokovic and then-world No. 10 Taylor Fritz . With nine men in the ATP’s top 100 – de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, Jordan Thompson, Christopher O’Connell, Aleksandar Vukic, Rinky Hijikata, Thanasi Kokkinakis, James Duckworth and Adam Walton – Woodbridge says Australian tennis is in its best place in years heading into the Australian Open. “One of the key things for countries in tennis is to have depth...once you get some depth, every other player thinks, well, if that guy or that girl can do that, so can I,” Woodbridge says. “On the men’s side, our programs have built that depth over the last 15 years, and it’s really, really important. You don’t realise it when you’re in it, but back in my day, in around the 2000s, you had [Pat] Rafter, Hewitt, [Mark] Philippoussis, [Mark] Woodforde. “It’s 25 years really since we [last] had what we’ve got going right now, and that’s fantastic. And so, we’ve got to ride that wave of success while we can because it does become cyclical, there’s no guarantee that you’re going to get that again. But the Australian men are pushing each other to that limit.”Man facing two life sentences following child sex abuse convictions in StaffordSingapore—Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power generation unit of Meralco., seeks to bolster its baseload portfolio by 1,280 megawatts (MW) with two coal plants awaiting the government’s green light. Coal plants are usually used as baseload, or the minimum power that needs to be injected into the grid at any given time, as they are the technology that can deliver the cheapest power around the clock. MGen’s baseload capacity is currently at 1,395 MW. READ: MGen’s Singapore unit vies for $900-M project In a chat with reporters, Emmanuel Rubio, president of MGen, said he learned the Department of Energy (DOE) was leaning toward giving them certificates of exception from the coal ban. The DOE had imposed a moratorium on new coal plants to control the country’s carbon emissions and support the government’s push to shift to clean energy. In July, the DOE clarified there was no total ban, which meant that existing and operational facilities that have made commitments for expansion may proceed. The group’s proposed coal-fired power plant project in Atimonan, Quezon province, Rubio previously said, was included in a list of projects that have already been “committed,” or projects that are in various stages of development. The project had also secured an environmental compliance certificate for the 1,200-MW project that claims to have low emissions. The Toledo facility, meanwhile, has original construction permits covering two units, with 80 MW each. Currently, it is running at an 82-MW capacity. Toledo Power Corp. is under Global Business Power, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGen. Rubio said the firm was already in talks with potential contractors and equipment suppliers for the planned Atimonan coal plant. “We have two candidates in Atimonan and so far we have one sure candidate for Toledo which was the original supplier, Formosa Heavy Industries,” he said late Tuesday. The official said MGen was likely to invest $1.6 million per MW. Once MGen secures the exception certificates, Rubio hopes to get the board’s go signal to proceed to the next stage, which would cover a feasibility study and engineering works. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Rubio also noted that banks—including four from the Philippines and two from Indonesia—already showed intent to back the projects.
John Elway: remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in draft mitigated by watching Broncos rookie Bo NixJimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100Phuchit/iStock via Getty Images You wouldn’t necessarily know it from how the shares have been performing, but operating conditions for Japan’s Keyence ( OTCPK:KYCCF ) (6861.T) have generally been improving and the outlook for healthier end-market demand in calendar 2025 Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
2024 Lupus Research Alliance Gala Raises Millions to Improve Lives of People with LupusCan you imagine? Down in the coal mines, there are more cameras than workers. At Shandong Energy Group Co., Ltd., there is a strict safety rule: "no video, no work." There are over 800 cameras on average in each mine. "In the past, most of our video footage could only be used to for retrospective analysis," said Zhou Jianpeng, the deputy general manager of Shandong Energy Group's Yunding Technology. "Now with the wide use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the coal mines, cameras are playing a 'big role.'" In the underground operation area, visual recognition technology is replacing the traditional mode of "people watching people." AI has become a "safety officer" 24 hours on duty. Once someone enters the operation area, it will automatically issue a warning. In a multi-rope friction hoisting system, the integration of an AI reasoning server enables real-time analysis to swiftly identify potential issues such as rope misalignment and wear. Intelligent applications are also enhancing efficiency. In mine shafts which are nearly 1,000 meters deep and face the risk of rock bursts, pressure relief drilling is essential to prevent collapses. Based on intelligent analysis and assisted verification of a visual recognition large language model, the construction supervision process for drilling has been shortened to 10 minutes from a previous length of three days, achieving a 100 percent acceptance rate. "These applications are inseparable from two key elements: data and intelligence," explained Jiang Wangcheng, vice president of Huawei's Oil, Gas and Mining BU. In the past, people often likened coal to "black gold." In Jiang's view, data is now becoming the "gold" of the intelligent era. Mines not only produce coal, but also a huge amount of data. This provides application scenarios and rich data elements for new technologies such as AI represented by large language models. "Nowadays, our large language models for mines have included more than 80 operational scenarios of mining enterprises," Jiang said. Just as oil is essential to industry, the rich data resources generated in various industries serve as "digital blood" driving the new round of industrial transformation. Driven by intelligent technology, data's potential value is being unleashed at an accelerated pace.NoneLAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Milan Momcilovic scored 18 of his career-high 24 points in the first half and No. 5 Iowa State pulled away from Colorado 99-71 on Wednesday to claim fifth place at the Maui Invitational. Curtis Jones had 19 points, Keshon Gilbert scored 15 and Dishon Jackson, Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey added 10 apiece for the Cyclones (5-1). Jones and Jefferson grabbed six rebounds each, Gilbert had six assists and Lipsey contributed four assists and four steals. Julian Hammond III scored 20 points and Andrej Jakimovski added 18 to lead the Buffaloes (5-2), who were held to 41.8% shooting from the field. Iowa State held a 45-34 advantage at halftime. It led by as many as 33 late in the game. Takeaways Colorado: A day after they toppled two-time defending national champion UConn 73-72 in the tournament semifinals, the Buffaloes were blown out by their fellow Big 12 Conference member. The teams will meet again on Dec. 10 in Boulder, Colorado, and Feb. 18 in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State: The Cyclones shot a blistering 60.3% from the field, including 44% from beyond the arc. Momcilovic made 9 of 13 field goals, including 6 of 9 3-pointers. Key moment Colorado led 22-20 after Elijah Malone’s layup with 8:45 left in the first half. However, Gilbert hit a jumper in the lane to ignite a 10-0 Iowa State run that was capped by a fast-break layup by Momcilovic that put his team ahead 30-22 with 5:25 to go until halftime. Key stat Iowa State scored 37 points off 18 Colorado turnovers and had 22 fast-break points to 6 for the Buffs. Up next Colorado begins a five-game homestand when it hosts Pacific on Monday, while Iowa State hosts Marquette on Wednesday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college basketball: and .
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Two of Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) listed companies, Airtel Malawi plc and Sunbird Tourism plc have projected significant profit surges for the year 2025 in a stunning display of resilience that defies a backdrop of a harsh economic environment. The news, delivered in separate unaudited trading statements released last week, shows remarkable resilience in a business environment grappling with rising inflation, which has hovered at above 30 percent for most of the year and a high policy rate currently pegged at 26 percent. In a statement seen by Business News , Airtel Malawi plc said it anticipates its profit after tax to rise by a staggering 380 percent to 409 percent, translating to a potential windfall of between K43.1 billion and K47.7 billion. This remarkable turnaround comes after a K15.4 billion loss after tax in 2023, painting a picture of a dramatic recovery and strategic triumph in the face of adversity. On its part, Sunbird Tourism, a key player in Malawi’s hospitality sector, forecasts a profit surge of 102 percent to 122 percent, aiming for a total of K10.7 billion to K11.8 billion. This impressive growth, building on the previous year’s K5.3 billion profit, signals a resurgence in tourism despite the economic headwinds that have plagued the country. These positive projections stand in stark contrast to the prevailing economic environment. Inflation, a relentless adversary for most of the year hovering at above 30 percent, has eroded purchasing power and squeezed household budgets. The central bank’s policy rate, currently at a stifling 26 percent, has made borrowing expensive, hindering investment and business expansion. Adding to the woes, persistent foreign exchange shortages have hampered imports and disrupted supply chains, thereby creating further challenges for businesses. Meanwhile, economic analysts have differ on whether this growth is sustainable in the prevailing economic environment. Market analyst Bond Mtembezeka, who is also Business Partners International Business country director for Malawi, said the performance registered by the two companies this year seems sustainable. “Airtel’s seemingly bad performance of 2023 was largely due to foreign exchange losses, otherwise the performance was equally great,” he said in a WhatsApp response. “Corporate business anchors Sunbird’s performance and corporate customers are usually price insensitive.” The analysts further noted that it would be “quite a challenge” for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), most of whom were reportedly struggling, because they have different business models and balance sheets. Said Mtembezeka: “SMEs operate withthin balance sheets and hence are very vulnerable to shocks. Further, most SMEs move with business cycles and that poses significant business risk to SMEs.” He, thus, urged the government to enforce the policies and measures it has put in place to cushion local SMEs such as the Buy Malawi Strategy. But speaking separately, Scotland-based Malawian economist Velli Nyirongo expressed doubt that the performance could be sustained or replicated in the long-term. He, however, observed that the firm’s performance appears to be a combination of structural and adaptive responses. Said Nyirongo: “Inflationary trends likely played a significant role, particularly in sectors where pricing adjustments can pass through to consumers. “However, such growth could be precarious if it relies primarily on macroeconomic distortions rather than long-term operational or market efficiencies.” On his part, Catholic University economics lecturer Derrick Thomo noted that the companies can sustain the profits in the long-term, provided they can effectively adapt to the tough economic conditions.
WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is widely expected to again turn to a favorite legal tool to underpin threatened tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, one of several legal avenues to impose his broader tariff agenda. Trump this week fired the first trade-related broadside of his second term - eight weeks before taking office - threatening 25% duties on goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariffs on Chinese goods to push them to clamp down on the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl and illegal migrants into the U.S. Trade lawyers and other experts say there is ample authority for him to move quickly without approval from Congress. Here are the key tools he could use in his sweeping tariff agenda: Trump could declare a national emergency over the fentanyl crisis and the southern U.S. border, which would unlock the use of this statute, enacted in 1977 and updated in 2001 to impose tariffs or financial sanctions. Trump invoked that statute a number of times during his first term, including to back up his threat of a 5% tariff on Mexican goods. He dropped the threat after Mexico vowed to deploy security forces to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. The then-Republican president also said the statute gave him the authority to "order" U.S. companies to leave China, and towards the end of his term in August 2020 he invoked the law again in an attempt to ban Chinese-owned video platform TikTok. Congress can revoke the use of the statute by passing a joint declaration of disapproval. "But that's a heavy lift, especially for a Republican Congress" at the start of Trump's term, said Stephen Kho, a trade lawyer at Akin Gump and former China trade enforcement counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Courts have generally upheld challenges to the statute and its predecessor, the 1917 Trading with the Enemy Act, which then-President Richard Nixon invoked in 1971 to impose a 10% supplemental duty , opens new tab on all U.S. imports to ease a balance of payments crisis and push Germany and Japan to revalue their currencies against the dollar. Trump has proposed broad 10%-20% tariffs on all U.S. imports. Like Nixon, Trump could invoke the IEEPA for this, but would face a higher standard of defining an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the U.S. Trade experts also say Trump could return to the Cold War-era Section 232 statute to underpin broader tariffs, but this would require a new investigation that could take months to complete. Trump invoked Section 232 to impose tariffs of 25% on global steel imports and 10% on aluminum in 2018, but negotiated exemptions for Canada and Mexico a year later that eliminated their retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork, beef, bourbon and other products. Trump is likely to again turn to Section 301, the backbone of his 2018-2020 trade war against China, as he looks to super-size his tariffs on Chinese imports. The statute, which allows the U.S. to retaliate against trading partners' unfair practices, underpinned punitive duties of up to 25% on some $370 billion worth of Chinese imports, from semiconductors to machinery to toys after a USTR investigation found that China was misappropriating U.S. intellectual property and coercing the transfer of U.S. technology to Chinese firms. Trump's newly nominated U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer , may be able to modify the existing China Section 301 findings to justify additional tariffs on Chinese goods, as current USTR Katherine Tai did to back President Joe Biden's sharply higher duties on electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors and solar products. But Greer may also launch a new Section 301 probe into China's state-driven excess industrial capacity - an increasing concern for the U.S. and market economies - and industry-domination practices. While trade lawyers say there is well-documented evidence of such practices, it would take likely several months for a new Section 301 probe to be completed, given the need for public comment periods and hearings. Trump could invoke this balance-of-payments statute to impose an additional global U.S. tariff for 150 days to restrict imports in the event of balance-of-payments problems, or to prevent a significant depreciation of the dollar. Congress added this authority as a result of Nixon's 10% tariff action in 1971. But the statute limits the tariff action to 150 days, unless extended by Congress. This anti-discrimination statute remains on the books, though it has not appeared in public government correspondence since the late 1940s. At that time, the U.S. and its trading partners agreed to "bound" global tariff rates under the post-war Global Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the predecessor to today's World Trade Organization. It would allow Trump to impose additional tariffs of up to 50% on goods from any country that discriminates against U.S. products in a way that puts American goods at a "disadvantage" compared to imports from other countries. Sign up here. Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Paul Simao Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabThe other day, I was having dinner at a restaurant, quietly enjoying a meal with a friend. Everything was going smoothly until we suddenly heard what sounded like someone having a coughing fit. We turned around and were surprised to see a young man surrounded by friends, enjoying his meal despite continuously coughing throughout. It was clear this wasn’t a sudden cough as it persisted through the entire meal. Have we forgotten the time when we had to practice social distancing? When we wore masks in public? The curfews at night? The most logical thing this man could have done was to wear a mask. He could have removed it while eating and put it back on once he was done. I know the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, but we should still practice basic safety measures – washing our hands, following proper coughing etiquette, and staying away from crowded places when feeling unwell. We must thank the Brunei authorities for managing the COVID-19 situation so well. They were the heroes who went above and beyond, working tirelessly day and night to keep the country safe. As members of the public, we still need to do our part to maintain this safety. If every individual keeps this in mind, we can continue to protect ourselves and our community. Let’s play our part. While schools emphasise hygienic practices, do students follow these rules once they leave school? Parents need to reinforce these lessons at home so that children adopt and practice them consistently, no matter where they are. Annoyed DinerLONDON (AP) — When voters around the globe had their say in 2024, their message was often: “You’re fired.” Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections this year, and in many incumbents were punished . From India and the United States to Japan , France and Britain , voters tired of economic disruption and global instability rejected sitting governments — and sometimes turned to disruptive outsiders. The rocky democratic landscape just seemed to get bumpier as a dramatic year careened toward its end, with mass protests in Mozambique and Georgia , an election annulled in Romania and an attempt to impose martial law in South Korea. Cas Mudde, a professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia who studies extremism and democracy, summed up 2024 in Prospect magazine as “a great year for the far right, a terrible year for incumbents and a troublesome year for democracy around the world.” One message sent by voters in 2024: They’re fed up. University of Manchester political scientist Rob Ford has attributed the anti-incumbent mood to “electoral long COVID” -– lingering pandemic-related health, education, social and economic disruptions that have made millions of people unhappier and worse off. High inflation, fueled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and mass displacement from that war and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa have added to the global unease. In South Africa, high unemployment and inequality helped drive a dramatic loss of support for the African National Congress, which had governed for three decades since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule . The party once led by Nelson Mandela lost its political dominance in May’s election and was forced to go into coalition with opposition parties. Incumbents also were defeated in Senegal, Ghana and Botswana , where voters ousted the party that had been in power for 58 years since independence from Britain. Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party extended its 34 years in power in December -– but only by a whisker. Uruguay’s leftist opposition candidate, Yamandú Orsi , became the country’s new president in a November runoff that delivered another rebuke to incumbents. In India, the world’s largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party lost its parliamentary majority in a shock election result in June after a decade of dominance. It was forced to govern in coalition as the opposition doubled its strength in Parliament. Japanese politics entered a new era of uncertainty after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s governing Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled almost without interruption since 1955, suffered a major loss in October amid voter anger at party financial scandals. It now leads a minority government. The U.K.’s July election saw the right-of-center Conservatives ousted after 14 years in office as the center-left Labour Party swept to power in a landslide. But the results also revealed growing fragmentation: Support for the two big parties that have dominated British politics for a century shrank as voters turned to smaller parties, including the hard-right party Reform U.K. led by Nigel Farage. Britain is not alone in seeing a rise for the right. Elections in June for the parliament of the 27-nation European Union saw conservative populists and the far right rock ruling parties in France and Germany, the EU’s biggest and most powerful members. The anti-immigration National Rally party won the first round of France’s parliamentary election in June, but alliances and tactical voting by the center and left knocked it down to third place in the second round, producing a divided legislature and a fragile government that collapsed in a Dec. 4 no-confidence vote. In Austria, the conservative governing People’s Party was beaten by the far-right, pro-Russia Freedom Party in September, though other parties allied to keep it out of a coalition government. Nepotism and political dynasties continued to exert influence -– and to be challenged. After messy elections in February, Pakistan elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, younger brother of three-time leader Nawaz Sharif. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest democracy, elected President Prabowo Subianto , son-in-law of the late dictator Suharto . Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the world’s longest-serving female leader, won a fourth successive term in a January election that opposition parties boycotted . Months later, her 15-year rule came to a tumultuous end: After mass student-led protests in which hundreds were killed, Hasina was ousted in August and fled to India. In Sri Lanka, voters also rejected a discredited old guard. Voters elected the Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president in September, two years after an island-wide public movement by an engaged middle class removed the long-ruling Rajapaksa clan. Covert meddling and online disinformation were growing concerns in 2024. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said that this year it took down 20 election-related “covert influence operations around the world, including in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the U.S.” It said Russia was the top source of such meddling, followed by Iran and China. In Romania, far-right candidate Călin Georgescu came from nowhere to win the first round of the presidential election in November, aided in part by a flood of TikTok videos promoting his campaign. Amid allegations of Russian meddling, Romania’s Constitutional Court canceled the presidential election runoff two days before it was due to take place after a trove of declassified intelligence alleged Russia organized a sprawling campaign across social media to promote Georgescu. No date has yet been set for a rerun. Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu won a November runoff against her Moscow-friendly rival in an election seen as pivotal to the future of one of Europe’s poorest nations. Georgia has seen huge protests since an election in October was won by the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream party, which suspended negotiations on joining the European Union. The opposition and the pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, have accused the governing party of rigging the vote with Russia’s help. Possibly the year’s most seismic result, Donald Trump’s victory in November’s U.S. presidential election, has America’s allies and opponents bracing for what the unpredictable “America-first” leader will do with his second term. And instability already reigns on several continents as the year ends. Venezuela has been in political crisis since a July election marred by serious fraud allegations which both President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition claim to have won. Amid opposition protests and a harsh crackdown, opposition candidate Edmundo González went into exile in Spain. In Mozambique, the Frelimo party that has ruled for half a century was declared the winner of an October election that the opposition called rigged. Weeks of ongoing street protests across the country have left more than 100 dead. South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol — weakened after the liberal opposition retained control in an April election -– astonished the country by declaring martial law in a late-night announcement on Dec. 3. Parliament voted to overturn the decision six hours later, and within days voted to impeach Yoon. The crisis in the deeply divided country is far from over. Democracy’s bumpy ride looks likely to continue in 2025, with embattled incumbents facing challenge in countries including Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote on Dec. 16, triggering an early election likely in February. Canada will also vote in 2025, with the governing Liberals widely unpopular and increasingly divided after almost a decade in power. Seema Shah, head of democracy assessment at the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said global surveys suggest support for the concept of democracy remains strong, but the numbers plummet “when you ask people how satisfied they are with their own democracy.” “People want democracy. They like the theory of it," she said. “But when they see it actually play out, it’s not living up to their expectations.” Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, contributed to this story.
Whip up a storm in the kitchen this festive season without breaking a sweat, as creating homemade party food need not be a mammoth task. For those shunning store-bought snacks but craving simplicity, inspiration has arrived from social media creator Charlotte (@lifeofcharlouise). She's given a classic garlic bread a luxury spin, topping a budget shop -bought baguette with creamy brie and rich chorizo to create a sharing sensation that is a must for your New Year's Eve spread. To add some heat, she's whipped up an easy hot honey to drizzle over, reports Daily Record. Posting to TikTok , Charlotte wrote: "Turn this 50p shop bought garlic bread into a fully loaded festive treat. "Anything hot honey I'm obsessed with but adding brie and chorizo just makes it top tier. Another one to add to your buffets this festive season." The clip has been a hit, already amassing 1.2million views and earning acclaim from her followers. User JavEats said: "Chorizo makes everything amazing," while Roksana added: "Wow I really need to try this." A third wrote: "Oooof this looks good." Adelle commented: "This will definitely be on my Xmas menu thank you." To whip up Charlotte's mouth-watering garlic bread recipe and impress your guests this festive season, here's what you need. Hot Honey, Brie and Chorizo Garlic Bread Garlic bread baguette Half a block of brie Half a pack of chorizo slices Honey Chilli flakes Sesame seeds Black onion seeds Chilli jam Fresh parsley Add three tablespoons of honey, two teaspoons of water, some chilli flakes, sesame seeds and black onion seeds to a bowl. Mix together and set aside. Slice your garlic bread the majority of the way down the brie, enough so you get slices and can fit the brie and chorizo in, but so that the slices are attached to each other. Add the sliced brie and chorizo into each slice. Load on the chilli jam and hot honey to the top of the garlic bread. Pop in the oven for 15 minutes or until brie is melted and garlic bread is golden brown. Add an extra drizzle of honey and some fresh parsley, and enjoy!Stock image of workers at the first phase of Northern Ireland Water's Shore Road sewer improvements scheme earlier this month (Image: NI Water) Thousands of households face their water being cut off if strike action by Northern Ireland Water staff goes ahead. Two unions representing workers at the firm say they want a 5.5 per cent increase and a one off £1,500 payment “which all other civil service workers have received”. In statements issued on Wednesday both Unite and GMB unions warned that if strike action goes ahead it will be the first time NIW staff have downed tools since December 2014. Read more: Belfast's new maternity unit hit by fresh delays with 'shocking' pipe defect Read more: ‘Imperative’ winter health worker industrial action is averted say Health Trusts GMB said the action would lead to “chaos” and “mass water disruption” if Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald does not come up with the cash. Both unions are undertaking “full industrial action ballots” which are due to end in the coming days. The unions have written to the minister to “highlight the risk of strike action commencing in the middle of December”. They say the business case for the payment has been authorised by NI Water and by the Department for Infrastructure but it has to be signed off by the Department for Finance. In a review of the December 2014/January 2015 NI Water strike carried out by the Utility Regulator, they outlined the impact of the industrial action on water supplies. The report stated: “The withdrawal of out of hours working meant that faults, which would be repaired quickly in normal circumstances, resulted in failure or shutdown of some plant. Shutdowns at water treatment works in these circumstances resulted in consumers losing their water supply. “At first, the impact of the industrial action was mitigated by a protocol between NI Water and trade unions aimed at protecting public health and vulnerable consumers. On 5 January 2015 the trade unions withdrew their support for the protocol and the situation deteriorated quickly. “Water supplies to just over 33,000 properties were disrupted for more than six hours. At the peak of the disruption on 19 January 10,600 properties were without water. A total of 13,780 properties went without water for more than twenty-four hours.” Speaking today, Unite regional officer Joanne McWilliams said: “The minister must act quickly to avert the risk of a disruptive dispute. Everyone else - the employer and the department for infrastructure - has agreed that this payment should finally go to these workers but her department is now holding it up. “It is completely unacceptable that water workers are still waiting for a payment all other civil service workers received months ago. Our members will not accept being treated unfairly.” GMB regional organiser Alan Perry said: “Our members voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a consultative ballot. If they come back and vote the same way in the industrial ballot then our unions will provide seven-day strike notice on the employer. “Unless minister Archibald moves, the prospect is that water workers will be on picket lines in the next two weeks. The window of opportunity to avoid this strike is rapidly shrinking – the minister needs to act and act quickly to avoid what will be a hugely disruptive strike.” A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said: “The pay remit was received by the Department of Finance on 18 November. Department of Finance officials are currently completing the normal due diligence to ensure that the NI Water approach to the pay award is affordable enabling essential public services and public sector employment to be sustainably funded going forward. “The Finance Minister understands the concerns of the Unions and the Department is progressing the business case as a matter of urgency.” An NI Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of ongoing ballot and continue to liaise with relevant parties.” Join our Belfast Live breaking news service on WhatsApp Click this link or scan the QR code to receive breaking news and top stories from Belfast Live. 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