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winner 777 slot Suriname rules out state funeral for ex-dictator BouterseThe 2025 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) is set to begin in January with significant changes aimed at enhancing the competitive landscape. Riot Games has announced an expanded league structure, new global events, and a revised calendar that extends the season through October. Here is a cheat sheet of everything to know about the event. Season Overview Start Date: January 2025 Expanded Leagues: Each of the four regions—EMEA, Pacific, China, and Americas—will now feature 12 teams. Extended Calendar: The season will run from January to October, providing better pacing and more rest periods for teams. Global Events: The season includes international league matches, two Masters events, and culminates with Champions Paris. Important Dates and Kickoff Tournaments The season kicks off with regional tournaments: January 11: VCT China January 15: VCT EMEA January 16: VCT Americas January 18: VCT Pacific Each kickoff tournament features a 12-team double-elimination format. The top four teams from 2024 receive a bye into the second round. The top two teams from each region will advance to Masters Bangkok. Global Events Schedule Masters Bangkok (February 20 - March 2) Participants: Top two teams from each regional league. Format: An eight-team Swiss stage followed by a four-team double-elimination playoff. Masters Toronto (June 7 - June 22) Participants: Top three teams from Stage 1 Playoffs, totaling 12 teams. Format: An eight-team Swiss stage, with the number one seed from each international league receiving a bye. Followed by an eight-team double-elimination playoff. Champions Paris (September 12 - October 5) Participants: Top teams from Stage 2, Championship Points leaders, and global events. Format: Group stage with four groups of four teams each, leading into an eight-team double-elimination playoff. What's New for 2025 Championship Point System Broader Distribution: Points will be awarded to top-performing teams at every stage and global event. New Qualification Paths: Two teams will qualify for Champions Paris from the Stage 2 Playoffs. Two additional teams will qualify based on accumulated Championship Points. Closing Highlights A total of 48 teams will compete globally throughout the season. Three major international events will set the stage for the world's best to clash. The journey to crown the next VALORANT World Champion begins in January 2025.

Tweet Facebook Mail Sam Kerr touched down in Perth on Saturday, after her grandmother Coral Kerr was hit by a car in Palmyra on Friday . The Matildas' captain was celebrating a teammate's wedding yesterday in the Hunter Valley when she received the news about her grandmother. "She's a bit shocked," Sam's father Roger Kerr said of his daughter at Perth Airport. READ MORE: WA Police officer hospitalised after alleged assault by teens Sam Kerr touched down in Perth on Saturday, after her grandmother Coral Kerr was hit by a car in Palmyra on Friday. (9News) "She's gone straight there to see her grandmother now and we'll follow." Sam's brother Daniel picked them up from the airport as the family rushed to be by the 89-year-old's bedside at Royal Perth Hospital. In a heartbreaking coincidence for the family - Coral's accident took place at the very intersection her husband Denzil Kerr, Sam's grandfather, was hit by a car and killed at 20 years ago. "She was one side of the road and he was the other, so it's really a tragic set of circumstances," neighbour Mary Ivey said. READ MORE: Woman dies in holiday road tragedy in South Australia Sam Kerr's grandmother hit by car at same intersection her grandfather was killed at 20 years ago (9News) Witnesses say a ute was trying to overtake a bus at the intersection of Marmion Street and Justinian Street in Palmyra just before 11am on Friday, when it mounted the footpath, knocking a power pole and allegedly hitting Coral as she got off the bus.  The 89-year-old was just metres away from her Marmion Street home, with neighbours rushing to her aid. "She started to come to and recognised me," Ivey said. "And was able to talk to us and let us know, you know, that she was in pain." Coral is in a serious but stable condition and is undergoing surgery for a broken ankle, femur, and hip. She also suffered concussion during the crash. The driver, a 63-year-old man from Willagee, has since been charged with one count of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. He told 9News the crash was unintentional. He's now facing up to seven years in jail and will face court in the new year. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .

Share Tweet Share Share Email This year has seen Cardano (ADA) climb by over 175% of its original value, while Stellar (XLM) has more than tripled. Both projects are making huge waves in different ways. The research-driven and sustainability oriented Cardano has continued to have a stern focus on decentralized applications that are scalable and secure. In contrast, Stellar (XLM) has been focused on enhancing cross-border transactions. Currently seeing widespread attention in its presale, Lunex Network ($LNEX) is emerging as the next big challenger in DeFi. So what will 2024 and the rest of 2025 bring for these hot assets? Cardano (ADA) Expands Further Into The NFT Space Cardano (ADA) has been busy building significant partnerships in climate restoration, decentralized finance (DeFi), and NFTs. These collaborations will spread Cardano’s reach and demonstrate how versatile its blockchain technology is. Cardano (ADA) has also deployed a highly advanced scaling solution, Midgard, which employs multi-signature tech to bolster Cardano’s security. Stellar (XLM) Launches Protocol 20 To Improve Efficiency Protocol 20 is a major development that Stellar developers have been fine tuning over the last quarter. This update will improve network performance and security for Stellar (XLM) users and simplify Stellar transactions. This was a record year for Stellar, with its net value rising by over 300%, and analysts are curious about how the asset will fare in 2025. Lunex Network Delivers Advanced Features for Traders Lunex Network ($LNEX) is offering something fresh for traders, businesses, and developers. It comes packed with powerful trader tools to enhance the process. Its native portfolio tracker outshines standard exchange tools. For traders managing a variety of investments, this tracker is perfect. It lets users monitor ETFs, stocks and cryptocurrencies, allowing multifaceted traders to keep a firm grasp on their overall trading position. At its core is the $LNEX token, built to perform well even in uncertain markets. Token holders earn passive income through an 18% share of platform transaction fees, while the system’s limited supply of 8 billion tokens creates scarcity that could boost long-term value as adoption grows. Developers are also showing interest in Lunex Network ($LNEX). Its infrastructure includes 65 remote procedure call (RPC) nodes, ensuring fast and reliable communication between decentralized applications (dApps) and the blockchain. This setup supports seamless dApp development and enhances the platform’s appeal. The Lunex Network Presale Sees Huge Traction Lunex Network ($LNEX) is making waves with a design that appeals to a broad audience including traders, developers, and businesses. By combining an easy-to-use interface with advanced technical features and the potential of its $LNEX token, it offers an exciting prospect for forward-thinking investors. Currently in the seventh stage of its presale, tokens are available at just $0.0033. Analysts are projecting an impressive 1,800% growth by 2024, positioning Lunex Network as a standout opportunity for traders seeking a solid foundation for long-term success. As the cryptocurrency landscape evolves, projects like Cardano (ADA), Stellar (XLM), and Lunex Network ($LNEX) showcase the diversity and innovation within the industry. With each focusing on distinct areas—scalable dApps, efficient cross-border transactions, and trader-focused DeFi solutions—they highlight the potential for blockchain technology to revolutionize various sectors. Investors and enthusiasts are keeping a close eye on these projects, eager to see how they will shape the future of decentralized finance in 2024 and beyond. You can find more information about Lunex Network (LNEX) here: Website: https://lunexnetwork.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/lunexnetwork Related Items: Cardano (ADA) , Lunex Network Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Cardano Whales Quietly Accumulate an RWA Altcoin Set to Surge from $0.004 to $1 in 2025 Litecoin and Shiba Inu Holders Are Eyeing Big Gains After Investing in This Low-Cap Crypto Gary Gensler Set To Resign In January, What Does This Mean For Crypto? Can Pepe & Shiba Inu Reward Holders This Winter? CommentsWorkday earnings beat by $0.13, revenue topped estimatesLAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

World reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29

NoneNIGEL FARAGE’s Reform UK has smashed past the Conservatives in membership numbers, the party has claimed. A digital counter on its website hit 131,680 on Boxing Day, surpassing Tory numbers revealed during their leadership race in November. Mr Farage , who was all smiles yesterday at a Boxing Day hunt in Chiddingstone, Kent , hailed the moment as “historic”, adding on X: “The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world. “Reform UK are now the real opposition.” Meanwhile, party chairman Zia Yusuf insisted Mr Farage will be “the next prime minister, and will return Britain to greatness”. To mark the moment, Reform projected the new membership number onto Conservative Campaign Headquarters on Wednesday night. READ MORE POLITICS NEWS But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch hit back, branding the claim “fake” and accusing Mr Farage of “manipulating” supporters at Christmas . She wrote on X: “How do I know for certain the Reform announcement is not true? Because the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election. "But we don’t shout about it...we are building quietly and steadily on principles and values, not gimmicks.” The Tories had 131,680 members eligible to vote in the election that crowned Ms Badenoch leader on November 2 — the lowest on record. Most read in The Sun It was a huge drop from the 172,000 members they boasted during the 2022 leadership contest. Mr Farage fired back, pointing to his 5.4million followers compared to Badenoch’s 320,000. He said: “We understand you are bitter, upset and angry that we are now the second biggest party in British politics, and that the Conservative brand is dying under your leadership. "However, this is not an excuse to accuse us of committing fraud.”Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has ‘smashes past Conservatives’ in membership numbers

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Daylen Berry scored 27 points as Charleston Southern beat Columbia International 95-89 on Saturday. Berry had 10 rebounds for the Buccaneers (4-11). RJ Johnson scored 25 points while shooting 7 for 19 (0 for 6 from 3-point range) and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line and added seven assists. Keenan Wilkins went 4 of 12 from the field (3 for 8 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points, while adding six rebounds. JJ Vaughan finished with 24 points for the Rams. Columbia International also got 22 points from Christian Howard. Brandon Hunt also had 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .If you've got your eye on one or two new PC games on Steam this weekend, then we would recommend waiting just a few more days before opening your wallet. Unless a game on your wishlist is currently reduced in price, it's worth waiting until the Steam Autumn Sale, which begins in just a few days time. Featuring big discounts on hundreds of games, the annual Steam Autumn Sale has a November 27 start date and a 6pm GMT UK launch time. A highlight of the PC gaming calendar, the major Steam sale runs until December 4. It will be followed the equally huge Steam Winter Sale on December 19. While Valve is yet to announce any of the discounts coming to the Autumn sale, chances are if it's on your wishlist, it will be discounted. Even relatively new releases tend to receive discounts during the major sales, which means we could get money off anything from Black Myth Wukong to Shadow of the Erdtree. Daily Express will be back later this week with a full countdown to the Steam Autumn Sale, including early discounts announced by Valve. In the meantime, Steam users can still grab discounts on games like Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, Victoria 3 and Disney Dreamlight Valley. That's on top of a cut price deal for Diablo 4 expansion Vessel of Hatred, which is currently reduced to just £26.24. Hello! We're excited to announce that Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White will be available worldwide on November 18th, 2024 at 3PM PST. This model will cost $679 USD, and will be available in all Steam Deck shipping regions. Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White has all the... pic.twitter.com/ACKDwB6Sl7 To coincide with the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, the Codemasters developed F1 24 is also reduced in price. Better yet, you can play F1 24 it for free to see if you like it , or at least you can if you hurry. From now until 8pm GMT UK time on November 24, F1 24 is free to download and play on PS5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PC via Steam. Anybody who plays F1 24 this weekend will also be pleased to hear that EA Sports is giving users Double Podium Pass XP, which makes it quicker and easier to unlock in-game rewards. Likewise, all players whether on the limited trial or not, will also receive a free Champions Livery, which is designed by artist "Lefty Out There" and is said to be inspired by Max Verstappen .

They are expected to come into force over the next 12 months There have been several big law changes this year and as we embark on 2025, the new Labour government will continue to implement new legislation that will affect those living in the UK. In the next 12 months, Brits can expect to see a number of new laws come into force, some which may directly or indirectly affect you. Among them is a ban on the sale of disposable vapes, as well as TV channels no longer being able to broadcast ads for junk food before 9pm. These plans come as part of Labour's efforts to improve public health. Millions of workers will get a pay rise when new rates for the National Living Wage and Minimum Wage come into effect in the spring - some of the biggest pay hikes in recent years. Meanwhile, people taking parental leave will also see higher rates of statutory pay, The MEN reports. If you travel frequently, you'll also need to know about extra charges being brought in to holiday costs. Here is a closer look at some of the major law changes expected to take place next year that Brits should know about. This list is not intended to be comprehensive, but includes new laws coming into force from health interventions and to changes to pay and employment rights and more. You can see more in the list below. Disposable vapes to be banned A nationwide ban on the sale of disposable vapes is set to come into force from next summer. Legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes is currently making its way through Parliament. Subject to parliamentary approval, the ban will come into force on June 1, 2025. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), businesses will have until the deadline “to sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban coming into force”. Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said single-use vapes were “extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities.” She added: "That is why we are banning single use vapes as we end this nation’s throwaway culture. "This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net-zero and create thousands of jobs across the country. " The government is also looking to introduce strict new rules on smoking, as part of what it has called “the biggest public health intervention in a generation”. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is set to create the first “smoke-free generation” with an age limit on buying tobacco products that gradually increases so that children aged 15 and under will never legally be sold tobacco. The increase in the age of sale will be phased in year-by-year, so no one who can legally be sold tobacco products today will be prevented from doing so in the future. The Bill could also provide powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces such as children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals. Restrictions on advertising vapes and nicotine products are also expected, as well as stricter regulations on flavours and packaging so that they do not appeal to children. Rights for renters - including end of no-fault evictions and rent increase cap New laws protecting the rights of renters are expected to come into effect during 2025. Labour wants to put an end to Section 21, stopping so-called ‘no fault’ evictions. Under new legislation, landlords would no longer have the power to ask tenants to leave without a reason. Landlords would only be able to evict tenants for valid reasons such as wanting to sell the property or because the tenants are in rent arrears. The reforms are part of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament. The legislation as it stands will give renters a one-year period of protection at the beginning of a tenancy, during which landlords cannot evict to move in or sell the property, and would double notice periods for various grounds for possession from two months to four months. The Bill also aims to put tenants in a stronger position to challenge unreasonable rent increases and place restrictions on landlords to ensure they can only raise rent once a year at the market rate. There are also plans to end rental bidding wars by requiring landlords to provide an asking rent and to put an end to fixed-term tenancies. Labour has said it hopes the new laws will come into force next summer, but the Bill has to make its way through Parliament before it can become law. The Bill is currently at the report stage in the House of Commons and must pass a third reading and then go through the House of Lords before it can receive Royal Assent. Major changes for leaseholders Major property reforms will be introduced in the new year as parts of the government’s plans to end the leasehold system. There are around five million leasehold properties in England, the majority of which are flats or apartments. Leaseholders only own the right to occupy their property through a lease that lasts a certain number of years, but the actual land the property sits on, or the building it is part of, is owned by a freeholder. The government wants to put an end to what it describes as the “feudal” leasehold system, which can see leaseholders hit with unexpected and unaffordable costs imposed on them by the freeholder, for example service charges and ground rent. According to the government, some charges are necessary to fund key services, such as cleaning communal areas in a block of flats. However, the government claims that in recent years “some bad actors have taken advantage of leaseholders, charging excessive, opaque and escalating costs”. The government has said it is “fully committed to bringing the leasehold system to an end and also recognises the need to act quickly to provide relief to existing leaseholders”. A number of rule changes will come into effect in 2025 to better protect leaseholders. From January, the ‘two-year rule’ will be removed. The rule requires leaseholders to wait two years from purchasing their property before they can ‘enfranchise’, which is when leaseholders buy their freehold or extend their lease. Then, in spring, the government will enact new ‘Right to Manage’ measures. The new measures will mean that more homeowners in mixed-use buildings can take over management from their freeholders - and leaseholders making claims will no longer have to pay their freeholder’s costs in most cases. The government has said it will then introduce its new draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill in the second half of 2025, which will outline its plans to transition away from the leasehold system to a commonhold system, which will be “more modern” and “fit-for-purpose”, according to the government. In a commonhold system, flats and apartments would all be individual freehold properties, while common areas would be managed by a commonhold association, owned by the freeholders of the flats. Junk food ads banned from TV before 9pm Children will no longer be exposed to TV adverts for junk food products as a new law will bring in restrictions from the autumn. Ads for junk food on television will only be allowed past the 9pm watershed from October 2025 as part of plans to curb childhood obesity. The advertising restrictions will also include a ban on paid online junk food adverts to reduce children’s excessive exposure to many foods high in fat, sugar or salt and helping to address rising rates of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said: ”Obesity robs our kids of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions. “This government is taking action now to end the targeting of junk food ads at kids, across both TV and online. This is the first step to deliver a major shift in the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, and towards meeting our government’s ambition to give every child a healthy, happy start to life.” New rules at UK Border Visitors arriving in the UK from abroad will see major changes in the new year as the government takes steps to digitise the country’s border and immigration system. The electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme will be rolled out in full next year. An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport. The government says the new system will ensure more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK. From April 2025, all visitors to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance, either through an ETA or an eVisa. From January 8, eligible non-Europeans will need an ETA to travel to the UK. ETAs will then extend to eligible Europeans, who will need an ETA to travel from April 2. Seema Malhotra, minister for migration and citizenship, said: “The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system.” The ETA system is being introduced alongside a shift to eVisas, which will replace physical Visas. People who need a UK visa to live, work or study in the UK are now issued with an eVisa, providing digital proof of immigration status, instead of physical immigration documents which can be lost, stolen, or tampered with. The government is asking migrants in the UK who currently use a physical immigration document, including a biometric residence permit (BRP), or a passport containing ink stamps or visa vignette stickers, to “take action now” and create an online eVisa account. Most BRPs are due to expire at the end of this year, and BRP holders are urged to take action before then. New €7 charge for UK tourists abroad Big changes could also be coming for UK tourists visiting the European Union (EU). The EU is introducing two schemes that will affect non-EU citizens travelling to most EU countries, although it’s not yet certain when the systems will be introduced for UK travellers. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated system for registering travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries each time they cross an EU external border. It will mean travellers providing biometric data at EU borders instead of getting stamps in their passports. The second scheme is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will require anyone who doesn’t need a visa to enter the EU to apply for travel authorisation. Travel authorisation through the ETIAS will cost €7 for people aged 18 to 70, but for people under 18 or over 70 there will be no charge. Authorisation will last for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. The two schemes will work in conjunction with each other. The EES is due to start in 2025, according to the latest information, but the launch has been repeatedly delayed. It was last postponed in October this year ahead of its expected launch on November 10. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told the BBC at the time that there was not a new timetable for its implementation, but there would be a “phased approach” to the launch. The ETIAS has also been delayed repeatedly but it is due to come into operation a few months after the EES. According to the European Commission, the ETIAS will come into force six months after the EES does. Wage increase for more than 3 million workers More than 3 million workers will see a pay rise in the spring. People earning the National Living Wage or the National Minimum Wage will see their pay increase from April 2025. The National Living Wage will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour, a 6.7 per cent increase that will be worth an extra £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker. Meanwhile, the National Minimum Wage, which is for 18 to 20-year-olds, will rise from £8.60 to £10.00 an hour – the largest increase in the rate on record. The government has plans to eventually remove the age brackets for the National Living Wage and Minimum Wage to create a single rate for adults. The minimum hourly wage for an apprentice will also be boosted next year, increasing from £6.40 to £7.55 an hour. Together, these increases will mean 3.5 million workers will receive a pay rise in 2025, according to the government. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This government promised a genuine living wage for working people. This pay boost for millions of workers is a significant step towards delivering on that promise.” Free childcare expanded again Further changes to the free childcare offer from the government will take effect next year. From September 2025, working parents of children aged nine months and upwards will be entitled to 30 hours free childcare per week right up to their child starting school. Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith described the 2025 expansion as “an enormous increase in capacity” which will be over double the increase in places seen in the past five years. Working parents eligible for the provision are defined as those who individually earn more than £9,518 but less than £100,000 per year. If you’re in a couple, the rules apply to both of you, so you must both earn at least £9,518 and neither one of you can earn more than £100,000. Next year, some parents will also be able to access 30 minutes of free childcare before school as the government pushes ahead with its new breakfast club rollout. State schools with primary aged-pupils are now being urged to join the “early adopter scheme”, which will trial the new breakfast clubs, with the first set to be open from April next year. Increases to parental leave pay and sick pay The government will introduce higher rates for parental leave pay, such as statutory maternity pay, to come into effect from April. Statutory maternity pay, which is paid to eligible parents for up to 39 weeks, will go up from £184.03 per week to £187.18 per week. Statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay, statutory parental bereavement pay and statutory shared parental pay will also go up to £187.18 per week. The earnings threshold for these benefits will go up from £123 to £125 a week, while the threshold for maternity allowance will remain at £30 per week. Statutory sick pay will rise from £116.75 per week to £118.75. Railways to come under public ownership Labour’s plans to renationalise the railways will get underway next year after a new law was passed making public ownership of train operators the default option, instead of a last resort. The government announced earlier this year that a total of three operators will be brought into public ownership during 2025, as a first step in returning all rail services to public hands. South Western Railway’s services will be the first to undergo the transfer, followed by c2c and then Greater Anglia. At present, the majority of train services in Britain are privately-owned. This has been the default model since the rail network was privatised by John Major’s Conservative government in the mid-1990s. The seven train operators that are currently publicly-owned account for around 23 per cent of passenger journeys. London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains, Southeastern Trains and TransPennine Express are are owned by the UK government’s Department for Transport (DfT), through a holding company that acts as an operator of last resort, while TfW Rail is part of Transport for Wales, a company owned by the Welsh government, and ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper are both owned by Scottish Rail Holdings, part of the Scottish government. Labour’s first wave of rail renationalisation means that by the end of 2025, about four in 10 journeys on Britain’s trains are likely to be on services that are publicly-owned. The government said the transition to a publicly-owned railway will improve reliability and support its number one priority of boosting economic growth by encouraging more people to use the railway. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the three operators transferring to public ownership during 2025 were chosen based on when contracts are due to expire, with South Western’s due to expire in May and c2c’s in July. Meanwhile, Greater Anglia has reached a stage in its contract that allows the government to issue an expiry notice and set a transition date for the autumn. Electric vehicle drivers to pay tax for first time Drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) will have to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time from next spring. EV drivers do not currently have to pay anything to tax their vehicle. But from April 1, EV drivers will be required to pay VED. The move was first announced by the former Tory chancellor Jeremy Hunt in 2022. New EVs, registered on or after April 1, will need to pay the lowest first-year rate of VED, which is currently £10 a year. Then, from the second year of registration onwards, they will move to the standard VED rate, currently £190 a year. EVs first registered before April 1 next year will pay the standard rate. The Expensive Car Supplement exemption for EVs is also due to end, meaning electric cars registered on or after April 1 will have to pay an additional charge of £410 a year. It currently applies to cars worth more than £40,000 and must be paid for the first five years. National Insurance hike for employers Employers will have to start paying higher National Insurance contributions from April 2025. The employer rate of NI will rise by 1.2 percentage points to 15 per cent. The move was announced by Ms Reeves during the Autumn Budget earlier this year. She also confirmed that the secondary threshold – the level at which employers start paying National Insurance on each employee’s salary – will be lowered from £9,100 per year to £5,000. Ms Reeves also announced an increase from £5,000 to £10,500 to the Employment Allowance for small businesses, which allows eligible employers to reduce their NI liability. She said the additional move means that 865,000 employers won’t pay any National Insurance at all next year, and over one million will pay the same or less than they did previously. New tax regime for people with permanent homes outside the UK The Labour government will introduce a new tax regime for people who have their permanent home outside of the UK, fulfilling a promise in its election manifesto to crack down on the non-dom tax status. Non-doms are UK residents who have their primary domicile home outside of the UK for tax purposes. Currently non-doms pay tax to the UK government on the money they earn in the UK, but not on money made elsewhere in the world. It gives wealthy people the opportunity to save significant sums of money by nominating a lower-tax country as their domicile. Ms Reeves announced the government’s intention to replace the non-dom regime with a new residence based regime from April next year in her Autumn Budget. “I have always said that if you make Britain your home, you should pay your tax here,” she said. And some new laws to expect in 2026... Some new laws that have been widely reported over the last year are set to take significantly longer to come into effect. A raft of new employment laws aimed at upgrading employees’ rights were announced earlier this year, but workers are most likely to see them take effect in 2026. The Employment Rights Bill is set to be "the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation", according to the government. The Bill is set to strengthen statutory sick pay, removing the lower earnings limit for all workers and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in. It also includes plans to ban exploitative zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire practices. Consultation on the reforms is expected to begin next year, with the majority of the new laws taking effect "no earlier than 2026", according to ministers. In the justice department, the government has recently launched a sentencing review to introduce tougher punishments for offenders that don't involve jail time , in an effort to ease prison overcrowding. The review, led by ex-justice secretary David Gauke, will explore the use of technology to create a "prison outside prison". Community alternatives and fines as a replacement for prison time will be examined, as will the impact of short custodial sentences, the government has said. The findings of the sentencing review are due to be presented by next spring, with the first new measures expected to be implemented by March 2026 at the earliest. A number of reforms aimed at protecting children and improving education are also expected to come into effect during 2026 following the introduction of the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. According to the government, the main focus of the Bill is to make sure “no child falls through gaps between different services and that families can get help when they need it”. The proposed legislation includes giving local authorities power to intervene and require school attendance for any child if the home environment is assessed as unsuitable or unsafe. It will also see parents no longer having an automatic right to take their children out of school for home education if the young person is subject to a child protection investigation or under a child protection plan – meaning the child is suspected of being at risk of significant harm. The Bill will also ensure that new teachers are qualified and trained to a high level, the government has said. From September 2026, new teachers in state primary and secondary schools will be required to either have qualified teacher status, or be working towards it. It will also require all state-funded schools – including academies – to teach the national curriculum.

Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire to end nearly 14 months of fighting

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EV Buyers Could Lose $7.5K In Tax Credits as Trump Pledges to Scrap Biden-Era Mandate in 2025AAMMAN, Jordan — President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement meant to pause fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The 14-month conflict has left more than 3,000 people dead. “Effective 4 a.m. tomorrow local time the fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end. Will end,” Biden said from the White House. “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. I applaud the courageous leaders of Lebanon and Israel end the violence.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Tuesday he had recommended that this government approve the agreement. Though the deal does not involve the separate conflict in Gaza Strip, Biden administration officials said they hoped it would lead to an agreement to end fighting there, too. Even as the deal was finalized, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, striking areas in the country’s southern and eastern regions, along with the suburbs of the capital — areas where Hezbollah holds sway. Several airstrikes also hit the heart of Beirut, killing at least 10 people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. In a televised address on Tuesday evening local time, Netanyahu said he would present the outline of the proposal to the government, pushing his ministers to accept the move despite reservations from far-right leaders who are integral members of his coalition. “The length of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. He added that Israel would maintain freedom to act against violations. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack,” he said. The agreement would not immediately affect the fighting in Gaza Strip with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Netanyahu pushed his ministers to accept the agreement, arguing it would allow Israel to focus its attention on the threat from Iran, give Israeli troops an opportunity to replenish their stocks and isolate Hamas. The agreement will initiate a 60-day truce that would see both sides withdraw: Israeli troops out of south Lebanon to Israeli territory, and Hezbollah to areas north of the Litani River, some 18 miles north of the Lebanese-Israeli border. During the truce, a monitoring mechanism would be established that would ensure Hezbollah is not able to reconstitute itself or wage attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon. A U.S.-led committee would oversee implementation of the withdrawal. Lebanese officials say some 5,000 soldiers from Lebanon’s army — which has remained neutral during the conflict — would then enter south Lebanon, along with U.N. peacekeeping forces. Lebanon’s caretaker government is set to meet Wednesday morning to discuss the proposal; it is widely expected to be approved. Despite the optimism, many elements of the ceasefire proposal — which came about after vigorous negotiations brokered by the U.S. and France — remain unclear. One of the larger sticking points is whether Israel would be able to continue striking Hezbollah throughout Lebanon if the group attempts to reestablish a presence south of the Litani River, or if it continues to wage attacks on Israel or smuggle weapons. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told the U.N.’s Lebanon envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Tuesday that Israel would act “forcefully” against any breach of the ceasefire agreement. “If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully,” Katz said in a statement. “Any house rebuilt in south Lebanon and used as a terrorist base will be destroyed, any rearming or terrorist organization will be attacked, any attempt at transferring arms will be foiled, and any threat against our forces or our citizens will be immediately eliminated.” Lebanese leaders have dismissed such an agreement as an unacceptable breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty. The ceasefire would officially be an agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It includes a Lebanese lawmaker who has been negotiating on Hezbollah’s behalf. But Hezbollah, a paramilitary faction and political party which is backed by Iran, is not officially a party to the agreement. Another question is the fate of Hezbollah’s weapons. Before the war, the group was considered one of the world’s premier paramilitary factions, with an arsenal more powerful than that of the Lebanese army. The ceasefire agreement, which is based on a U.N. resolution that established a ceasefire in the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, has provisions that would force the group to surrender its arms. A ceasefire would end a 13-month conflict that began a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah initiated a rocket campaign in northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In the months of tit-for-tat strikes that followed, some 60,000 people from northern Israel and approximately 100,000 Lebanese from southern Lebanon were displaced. In September, Israel escalated its attacks, conducting thousands of airstrikes on Hezbollah-dominated parts of the country and starting an invasion that saw Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006. It also assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Since Oct. 8, 2023, more than 3,823 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,859 injured, according to Lebanese government data, the majority of them in the last two months. More than 25% of those killed were women and children, according to the government data, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, some 1.2 million people — almost a quarter of Lebanon’s population — have been displaced, with wide swaths of the country destroyed. The Israeli government said on Tuesday that 78 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Hezbollah and its allies, including 47 civilians. Even as senior Israeli ministers were meeting at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israeli warplanes launched some 180 airstrikes across the country, according to a statement from Israel’s military. It issued evacuation warnings for some cities. The military said it was targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure, including the group’s financial arm. Among the targets were four neighborhoods of central Beirut with which had previously been spared from the fighting. One raid hit Hamra, a popular shopping district in the capital which in recent months has become a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands displaced from the Dahieh, the constellation of suburbs south of Beirut where many of Hezbollah’s offices are headquartered. The Dahieh too was pounded by an intense barrage of more than 20 airstrikes, leaving the area obscured by a curtain of smoke and rocking buildings in adjacent neighborhoods. “The hysterical Israeli aggression this evening on Beirut and various Lebanese regions, which specifically targets civilians, confirms once again that the Israeli enemy does not respect any law or consideration,” said Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a statement on Tuesday. He called on the international community “to act quickly to stop this aggression and implement an immediate ceasefire.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its barrage against northern Israel, lobbing dozens of projectiles across the border.