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With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.

From pagans to pansexuals... how civil servants are being encouraged to mark an array of 'woke weeks' at work By MARTIN BECKFORD Published: 23:03, 26 December 2024 | Updated: 23:09, 26 December 2024 e-mail View comments Civil servants are being encouraged to mark a baffling array of ‘ woke weeks’ at work. Diversity and inclusion calendars produced by Whitehall departments and quangos include the dates of everything from Pansexual Visibility Day and Stress Awareness Month to the pagan festivals of Samhain and Yule. NHS England’s calendar marks more than 350 awareness events including gender-fluid visibility week and transgender parent day. Staff support groups often hold talks or put up displays in offices to coincide with the dates although the Government insists that employees do not have to commemorate them. Earlier this year the Mail told how the Foreign Office was flying the flag for bisexuality awareness week outside its grand headquarters. Last night Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘The extent to which the diversity demagogues have taken over Whitehall is truly alarming. ‘While there are key religious and national dates that the public sector should be aware of, the focus of internal calendars should be on driving home deadlines for delivering improvements to public services. ‘Ministers should remind civil servants that their duty is to the public as a whole.’ Obscure: Pagan festivals, such as last week’s Winter Solstice at Stonehenge, are marked in internal calendars Diversity and inclusion calendars produced by Whitehall departments and quangos include the dates of everything from Pansexual Visibility Day and Stress Awareness Month to the pagan festivals of Samhain and Yule Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: 'Whoever put Pansexual Visibility Day in this calendar should be invited to write up the history of this day and would be shown to struggle to cover half of the back of a small envelope' And Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: ‘It’s offensive, and illustrates a lack of judgement and courage from the organisers, to see recently made-up woke nonsense treated with the same degree of seriousness as important days for Christians and those of other faiths. ‘Whoever put Pansexual Visibility Day in this calendar should be invited to write up the history of this day and would be shown to struggle to cover half of the back of a small envelope.’ The Forestry Commission, which manages publicly owned woodland, said in a recent equality report: ‘A Diversity and Inclusion calendar has been published for 2024, which has helped to inform our communications plan for internal and external engagement. It also raises awareness of key dates affecting our stakeholders and wider society.’ Details of the calendar obtained by the Mail reveal that it includes Latinx Heritage Month, a gender-neutral term for people of South American background which is mainly used in the USA, and the birthday of Rastafarian divinity Haile Selassie. So crowded is the Forestry Commission’s calendar that Men’s Health Awareness Month, Islamophobia Awareness Month and Disability History Month are all included in November while June is Pride Month as well as Gypsy, Roma and Travellers History Month. A Forestry Commission spokesman said: ‘The dates are not automatically added to staff calendars – they are available to access as an e-resource as part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive culture in our workplaces and understanding the people we serve.’ The Ministry of Justice meanwhile issues a list of ‘core awareness’ dates containing events not included by the Forestry Commission. April is Stress Awareness Month as well as containing Intergenerational Week, but National Stress Awareness Day is in November along with Inter Faith Week. In the shadow of the stones a group of revellers go through ultra stretches and bends during the Winter Solstice celebrations Carers Week takes place in June as does Social Mobility Awareness Day. The Ministry of Justice said: ‘Religious holidays and other notable occasions, like Holocaust Memorial Day, Carers Week and Black History Month are widely marked and these events are recognised across government. ‘Recognising them helps tackle discrimination and supports our drive to build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve across England and Wales.’ The Crown Commercial Service, a procurement quango within the Cabinet Office, lists hundreds of events in its inclusion and diversity calendars. They range from World Braille Day and International Mother Language Day to Pansexual Visibility Day. As well as major religious holidays such as Easter and Ramadan, it includes the Declaration of Bab celebrated by the Baha’i faith and even the Beltane and Yule festivals sacred to pagans. Christmas Day is not mentioned in the diversity calendar but the Government insisted this is because it is already included in the main calendars seen by all staff on their computer systems. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘As you would expect, Christmas and other public holidays are all rightly marked in teams’ calendars by default. ‘These optional, shared calendars provide additional dates for awareness only. Inclusion in the calendar does not mean they are officially marked by CCS.’ All three public bodies highlight the National Day for Staff Networks, the support groups for employees of different races, faiths and sexualities that have sprung up across the public sector in recent years. Share or comment on this article: From pagans to pansexuals... how civil servants are being encouraged to mark an array of 'woke weeks' at work e-mail Add comment

Wild horse roundup to begin in Murderers Creek Joint Management AreaUS unveils $988 million aid package for Ukraine including rockets and drones

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Amid the high-pitch war of words over hiring H-1B visa-holders in America, tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been handpicked by US President-elect Donald Trump to lead his proposed Department of Government Efficiency, joined the debate Saturday morning with a strong comment. The owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), asked right-wingers and MAGA loyalists to “take a big step back” as H-1B visa row intensified. “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and **** ******** in the face,” Musk posted on the social media platform owned by him. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he added. Skilled professionals from other countries need the H-1B visa to work in the US, and it is quite popular among immigrants, with Indians forming a big part of this chunk of the American population. A large number of people on social media, especially the Make America Great Again (MAGA) loyalists, have been for the last few days speaking against immigrants, after the President-elect appointed Indian-American Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House. Krishnan had earlier spoken in favour of removing caps for green cards. Musk taking side of the immigrants and blasting right-wingers and Trump supporters is big because he is a close ally of the President-elect set to assume office on January 20. Musk had gone all out to campaign for him, both online and offline, and is credited with playing a big role in Trump's return to power scripting one of the biggest political comebacks in the history of the US. 💯 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 27, 2024 What Is The H1B Visa Row? “Anything to remove country caps for green cards / unlock skilled immigration would be huge,” Sriram Krishnan had said in November, speaking in favour of bringing more skilled professionals to the US on H-1B visa. Anything to remove country caps for green cards / unlock skilled immigration would be huge. https://t.co/21toGtW5lS — Sriram Krishnan (@sriramk) November 14, 2024 This hadn’t gone down well with anti-immigration MAGA loyalists, and a controversy broke out after his appointment to the White House, with right winger Laura Loomer criticising his stance to be “not America First policy”. She also called tech executives "termites", and that they are aligning themselves with Donald Trump only to "enrich" themselves. Deeply disturbing to see the appointment of Sriram Krishnan @sriramk as Senior Policy Advisor for AI at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. It’s alarming to see the number of career leftists who are now being appointed to serve in Trump’s admin when they share views... https://t.co/pf0WiViy32 pic.twitter.com/nR0TkZpNK7 — Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 23, 2024 Tech billionaires are like termites who have descended upon Palm Beach to INFEST AND ROT from within. They don’t just want to replace your jobs. They want to replace the MAGA agenda by hiding and eating away at it as they multiply from within. Just like a termite... — Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 24, 2024 "...the tech billionaires are lining up outside the gates of Mar a Lago with their checkbooks. They want to buy influence so they can sabotage Trump’s immigration policies," she posted on December 26 . A heated debate has been continuing on social media on what will be the immigration policy under Donald Trump, with right-wingers denouncing even the influence of Elon Musk and investors like Vivek Ramaswamy who are pro-immigration. Vivek Ramaswamy is co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) along with Musk, whose job will be to cut by a third the size of the US government. The debate comes close on the heels of the presidential election that saw immigration as one of the most important issues, with Trump vowing to end illegal immigration and deport those who are already in the US. However, while his presidential campaign was centered around the issue of illegal immigration, the current debate is all about legal immigrants. While the anti-immigration lobby says skilled professionals working in the US on H-1B visa bite into the pie of jobs meant for US citizens, with some of them even calling for the visa programme to be discontinued with, technology companies say such immigrants are critical for the functioning of the sector as they fill a big gap. Trump, who had as a presidential candidate in 2016 called the H-1B visa regime “very bad” and “unfair” for US workers, is yet to say anything on the debate this time round. H1B Visa Row: Who Said What Trump may not have said anything on the matter yet, the debate over the H1B Visa programme has many prominent people speaking up. While Musk posted that there is a “permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent” and that it’s “the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley”, Ramaswamy said American culture was to be blamed for the fact that there is a lack on US-born engineers, as he suggested Americans have “venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long”. There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent. It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 25, 2024 Ramaswamy also said: "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers." The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if... — Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024 His comments did not go down well with many. Nikki Haley opposed Ramaswamy, saying: “There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture... We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers.” There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers. https://t.co/fIGr45C3LD — Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) December 26, 2024 Meanwhile, batting for immigrants, Ashish K Jha, Indian-American physician and academic who was the White House Covid-19 response coordinator from 2022–2023, said: “...foreign medical graduates are also WAY more likely to practice in rural areas, practice in other underserved areas, and go into primary care.” He added: “So yes, they are filling a critical need...And they are good too.” There is good empirical data that if you’re hospitalized, having a foreign medical grad as your doctor gets you better outcomes than having a US medical grad Some folks see this as a critique of American doctors. Not at all I graduated from a US medical school and strongly... https://t.co/vwlD5ldbdj — Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) December 27, 2024 Here is a look at what others are saying: “Now that you’ve angered us, we shall march forth as a unified army to hand your country over to the communists.” is certainly one way to make your h1b visa argument. pic.twitter.com/VJCxOynOM8 — Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) December 27, 2024 The vast majority of H1B visas aren’t going to 135 IQ engineers who make 250k a year. They’re going to people who take mediocre jobs like this. The whole system is a scam, and it’s disproportionately taken advantage of by one specific country in one specific subcontinent. pic.twitter.com/N862nag6EB — Red Eagle Politics (@RedEaglePatriot) December 28, 2024 Michio Kaku, 2011. H1B is America's secret weapon. Without H1B, scientific progress in America would collapse. It will collapse the economy. Great reminder on what's at stake and why @elonmusk is fighting so hard. pic.twitter.com/GZO8L0rvFP — Atal Agarwal 💜🚐🌍 (@atalovesyou) December 28, 2024

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No. 22 Syracuse looking for 10 wins in 1st year under Fran Brown against depleted Washington StateFighters opposed to President Assad's rule are gaining ground in Syria. Who are these rebels, and what do they want?

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Winston’s performance in snowy win over Steelers adds new layer to Browns’ quarterback conundrumPresident-elect Donald Trump paid tribute to former President Jimmy Carter , who passed away Sunday at the age of 100. What To Know "I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday shortly after news of Carter's death broke. "Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History," Trump wrote. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time," he added. "We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers." This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.

Atishi lauds growing involvement of parents in their ward's education at Mega PTMsMawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, recently held a telephone conversation with Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, the Foreign Minister of Syria, congratulating the victory of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and expressing a desire for representatives from both sides to meet and establish prompt diplomatic relations between Kabul and Damascus. Surprisingly, Muttaqi praised the new Syrian government for implementing “general amnesty,” something the Taliban regime itself has not adhered to. When Bashar al-Assad, the previous ruler of Syria, fled, Taliban supporters in some provinces celebrated in the streets, distributing sweets and flowers to passersby, welcoming the rise to power of Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). However, Al-Sharaa has indicated that his government does not align with the Taliban’s Emirate model in Afghanistan. At first glance, Muttaqi’s contact with the Syrian side appears to be a standard diplomatic move, yet it could carry specific implications and meanings, as outlined below: First It is a reality that both the Taliban and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) share common ideological roots, although the latter has seemingly rebranded itself and is trying to distance itself from its infamous past. Nonetheless, its rise to power boosts the Taliban’s morale. Perhaps the Taliban’s greatest aspiration is to see a Sunni Islamist state established somewhere in the world, especially one that claims to have endured nearly half a century of oppression from the minority Shia population. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)’s historical alliance with al-Qaeda also shapes its relationship with the Taliban. According to reportedly credible sources, the Taliban’s alliance with al-Qaeda has not yet fractured. Therefore, the two Sunni Islamist groups can be mutually beneficial in certain areas. Currently, the Taliban are preoccupied with gaining international recognition. No country has yet taken the lead in this regard, for reasons that remain to be discussed. The victory of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has ignited hope within the Taliban, suggesting that establishing relations with this government might open the door to recognizing their regime. The Taliban have high expectations of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seeing it as a Sunni Islamist movement that, in their understanding, lacks precise awareness of Afghanistan’s socio-political structure, and therefore will not emphasize inclusivity of other groups in power. They also believe that their imposition of “Sharia” on citizens, even if not welcomed by HTS, will face less resistance or indifference compared to some Western countries. Even if the current Syrian government does not recognize the Taliban regime, the Taliban will still strive to align Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s stance with that of Qatar, the UAE, Türkiye, Oman, and others regarding their administration. This means that, even if their expectations are not fully met, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) would neither criticize nor remain indifferent. All this assumes that the current Syrian government is stabilizing and has gained international recognition. Second It is unlikely that Muttaqi’s contact lacked Qatar’s influence. So far, it has become evident that Qatar, after Türkiye, is the second country most pleased with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)’s rise to power in Syria, given its longstanding support for the Muslim Brotherhood. Currently, these two countries are particularly jubilant. Saudi Arabia and Jordan are monitoring the situation with concern, while Egypt and the UAE are visibly worried due to their strong aversion to the Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar aims to rally governments and groups under its influence to support the new order in Syria. Qatar seeks to secure international legitimacy for the new Damascus government, and for this, gaining the approval of the Islamic and Arab world is a primary and essential condition. It is evident that the Taliban, in many cases, act under Qatar’s influence. This point is so apparent that it requires no further evidence. Even the possibility of efforts by the United States and Türkiye to align the current rulers of Kabul and Damascus cannot be ruled out, as discussed in the next section. Third A closer relationship between the Taliban and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) will increase the Islamic Republic of Iran’s concerns. It is clear that Iran perceives itself as one of the losers in the developments in Syria, although its opponents label it as the “main loser.” Since Ahmad Al-Sharaa assumed power, he has consistently criticized Iran, blaming it for all the chaos in Syria. He has even accused Tehran of “sectarianism.” Consequently, the Taliban’s eagerness to establish ties with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is unwelcome in Tehran. This will make the Islamic Republic suspicious of the Taliban and more cautious about its group dealings. However, it will not openly display hostility. It is evident that for Iran, working with a Taliban that is a natural ally is far easier than working with a Taliban allied with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), while still being forced to engage with them. Taliban could also serve Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)’s interests, particularly if Damascus and Tehran come into conflict and mutual engagement becomes impossible. In such a case, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) will likely use the Taliban and groups like Jaish ul-Adl as pressure tools against Tehran. This strategy might emerge among the new rulers in Damascus, though their success or failure is a separate matter. If this happens, the current Syrian government will be compelled to meet the Taliban’s demands, as mentioned earlier. Türkiye could also pave the way for using the Taliban as leverage for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), provided its relations with Iran deteriorate further. The United States is also expected to maintain ties with the new Syrian rulers. Reportedly, its main condition for this friendship is to block all avenues to the Islamic Republic. In this scenario, the U.S. will aim to make the Taliban, like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a threat rather than an opportunity for Iran. You can read the Persian version of this analysis here: درخواست از «تحریرالشام» برای حضور در شام | روزنامه ۸صبح

PASAY CITY, Philippines , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The SM Group is approaching the coming year with cautious optimism, encouraged by the continued growth of the Philippine economy. SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said that despite ongoing challenges of peso volatility and higher inflation, the business sector has adapted well. Consistent demand sustained household spending in the third quarter, with Household Final Consumption Expenditure posting a year-on-year growth of 5.1%, maintaining the same level in the same quarter last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. "Any moderation in inflation should trigger a strong confidence rebound. This could create opportunities in consumer-focused sectors in the country and we are poised to cater to these evolving demands," Mr. DyBuncio said. To cater to growing demand, SM continues to expand into more underserved areas, contributing to sustainable economic development and collaborating with government stakeholders to enhance access to modern retail, financial services, and integrated property developments. "By investing and expanding to more areas nationwide, SM creates new markets and improves access to these essential sectors, serving more communities and helping stimulate sustained economic activities," he said. Mr. DyBuncio also said SM continues to invest in promising ventures such as renewable energy and logistics, that foster economic activity. SM has invested in the clean energy industry through Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC) which produces 300 Megawatts of geothermal steam supply. SM aims to continue to develop geothermal concessions through PGPC in support of the Department of Energy's goal of reaching 50% renewable energy supply by 2040. To encourage circularity towards green energy production, SM's property arm, SM Prime Holdings partnered with GUUN Co. Ltd. ( GUUN ) to implement the Japanese technique of reducing landfill impact. The technology converts non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging into alternative fuel. SM's banking arm, BDO Unibank is one of the largest funders of renewable energy projects. BDO has funded PHP898 billion in sustainable finance, including loans to 59 renewable energy projects as of December 2023. In logistics and tourism, the improvement of transport networks across the country's archipelago connects tourist and industrial areas that will help create inclusive growth. SM though its subsidiary 2GO launched MV Masigla and MV Masikap in 2024 to help better connect goods to 19 ports across the country including Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Manila , further supporting the government's push for medium term growth through an upgraded tourism infrastructure and ecosystem. "Our focus for 2025 will be to drive purposeful growth, empowering communities and partners through our investments towards a sustainable future," Mr. DyBuncio said. SOURCE SM Investments Corporation