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ph365 ST. PAUL — A planned lottery to give some would-be cannabis business owners a licensing head start won’t go forward early this week after a judge halted the process Monday. Ramsey County District Court Judge Stephen Smith sided with a group of applicants who had been denied access to the social equity pre-approval lottery. They sued over a process they argued had lacked clear criteria and that left no room for appeals. “There’s no lottery tomorrow,” Smith ruled toward the end of an hourlong online hearing. He said the state was free to file an appeal. Ahead of the hearing, officials with the Office of Cannabis Management warned that the lottery might not happen at all if it was postponed given the cost and logistics of putting it on. Attorney David Asp, who represented some of the applicants, told Smith that the lottery was rushed and that people who were denied entry deserved a chance to contest their disqualification. “The state doesn’t dispute that our client will suffer irreparable harm if this order isn’t entered. That’s usually one of the main issues in an injunction, but it’s not a dispute here. Our clients will be harmed. As I said, more than $1,000,” Asp said. “The harm on the OCM side is entirely of their own making.” The Office of Cannabis Management had defended its process, saying they were attempting to root out applicants who were looking for a quick profit instead of actually moving to set up legitimate businesses. Officials with the regulatory agency said that some applications appeared to have been put in on behalf of other entrepreneurs trying to get a foothold in Minnesota’s nascent market. “The Legislature chose for this pre-approval process to be an efficient and expedient one, and part of that is evidenced by the fact that there is no appeals provided for for the pre-approval process, whereas in the final license approval process, there is an availability for reconsideration,” said the agency’s attorney, Ryan Petty. “So a major factor of this is the Legislature’s decision to make this process efficient and expedient so that the social equity applicants can get that head start.” There were more than 1,500 applicants for this stage of the licensing process, the agency said. The lottery was to narrow that down to 282. When the judge asked Petty about the timeline, including the lottery being scheduled shortly after denial letters went out, Petty said the selection process involved several moving parts. “There wasn’t any hiding the ball here. There wasn’t any attempt to restrict the ability of applicants to challenge their denials,” he said. State lawmakers legalized cannabis for adult recreational use in 2023, but the setup of a retail marketplace has been slow. No licenses have been issued for commercial growers or sellers ahead of what is expected to be an early 2025 launch. People can grow their own marijuana and give away small quantities. American Indian tribes have also opened their own stores, but those sales are limited to reservation land. The social equity lottery is intended to give a leg up to people who live in high-poverty areas, those harmed by the war on drugs, and military veterans. This story was originally published on MPRNews.orgTwelve electric rotors whirring, a van-size aircraft lifted vertically into a bright sky and cruised smoothly over an artichoke field. The 10-minute test flight in California, controlled from a nearby trailer, took Archer Aviation a small step closer to a future imagined for decades by dreamers, engineers and frustrated commuters: a time when it’s possible to soar over traffic in an air taxi. Archer is aiming to launch its first commercially operated flights with a pilot and passengers within a year in Abu Dhabi. Credit: Archer via AP Archer’s electrically powered mash-up of a helicopter and an aeroplane is among the first competitors seeking to earn certification to carry passengers under a category of aircraft envisioned under new rules by the US Federal Aviation Administration. Years after the world watched TV character George Jetson zip to work in his airborne cartoon commuter, the flying taxi may be on the cusp of reality. Archer is aiming to launch its first commercially operated flights with a pilot and passengers within a year in Abu Dhabi. A competitor, Joby Aviation, says it is aiming to launch passenger service in Dubai as soon as late 2025. Advancements in batteries and other technologies required for the futuristic tilt-rotor craft are moving so fast that they could soon move beyond the novelty stage and into broader commercial use in a matter of years. Both companies are laying plans to operate at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Loading “They have created these amazing new aircraft that really 10 or 15 years ago would’ve been unimaginable,” said Roger Connor, curator of the vertical flight collection at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. “I think there’s something innately attractive about being able to leapfrog all of your terrestrial obstacles,” he said. “Who hasn’t wished that if you live in the suburbs that, you know, something could drop into your cul-de-sac and 15 minutes later you’re at the office.” Business success is by no means assured for these craft, called electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs. Scaling the industry from a novelty ride for the wealthy to a broadly available commuter option would take billions more in start-up money, executives said, including building out a network of takeoff and landing areas (called vertiports) and charging stations. It feels like the modern-day American Dream, where you can invent a technology and bring it to market even [if it’s] as crazy as what some people call flying cars. Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation Some high-profile ventures have already faltered. A plan for air taxis to transport spectators around the Paris Olympics fizzled. And last month, Lilium, a German eVTOL company, announced it had filed for insolvency. Still, investors, including big names like Stellantis and Toyota, have poured money into Silicon Valley companies like Archer and Joby. Boeing and Airbus are developing their own versions. All are betting that quieter, greener and battery-powered aircraft can revolutionise the way people travel. Major US airlines including American, Delta, Southwest and United also are building relationships and planting seeds for deals with air taxi companies. “It feels like the modern-day American Dream, where you can invent a technology and actually bring it to market even [if it’s] as crazy as what some people call flying cars,” said Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein. Congress included several provisions aimed at bolstering the growth of air taxis in 2024’s FAA reauthorisation bill. The industry got a major boost in the northern autumn, when the FAA released standards for pilot training and certification. US President-elect Donald Trump appears to be supportive. In a 2023 speech, he said: “Just as the United States led the automobile revolution in the last century, I want to ensure that America, not China, leads the revolution in air mobility.” Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said that, as the numbers of air taxis grew, they would become more accessible to the masses. But the multibillion-dollar question remains: Now that they’ve been built, can they be turned into a viable business? Loading “Urban air mobility is the big prize for these firms,” said Connor. “But it’s also the hardest to implement.” On a recent morning, space heaters were blasting in what seemed like a vain attempt to warm the cavernous hangar at Salinas Municipal Airport that serves as the home for Archer’s four-passenger prototype aircraft, called Midnight. The morning’s test flight was scheduled for 7am, but shortly before the hour, it became clear that conditions were too windy. Each test flight requires specific weather to deliver the information the team is seeking, and on this day that meant winds must be less than 19km/h. There would be no pilot behind the controls the test; that will come later. It’s been programmed to autonomously fly a racetrack pattern above the agricultural fields near the airport. Its progress will be monitored by Archer’s own mission control, a team that includes a former US Air Force test pilot and several engineers, who sit in a nearby trailer. Shortly before 11am, the wind is just right. From a field across from the airport, a group of observers watches as the 12 rotors on the aircraft begin to spin, lifting the 2900 kilogram craft, which hovers for just a few moments before the rotors tilt from vertical into horizontal, and it zips over the landscape in flight mode. About 10 minutes and just over 22 kilometres later, Midnight turns back to the airport, hovers briefly as the rotors return to a vertical position and slowly touches down. About 37 kilometres from Archer’s operation in Salinas , Bevirt greets a visitor to Joby’s campus in Marina, California. The campus, based on a former army base, is not far from the Santa Cruz Mountains where Bevirt grew up. Over lunch, Bevirt talks about Joby’s plan to build out a network of air taxis and landing sites, starting with a few “nodes” and gradually expanding. He believes air taxis will one day revolutionise routine travel. Joby Aviation’s pre-production prototype aircraft. Credit: Joby Aviation “We had the transition from horses to railroads, and then from railroads to car,” said Bevirt. “And with each of those, it transformed our perception of distance and how far we could move in a day. And it allowed our cities to grow and to become more productive.” On a tour of Joby’s manufacturing facilities, Bevirt points to a corner where spools of carbon fibre material that will be “baked” into aircraft components. At one work station, a robotic arm blasts water against a component to test for flaws. There’s also a model skyport lounge, with glass walls and lounge chairs. The tour ends in a large hangar, home to three of Joby’s prototype aircraft, including the hydrogen-electric demonstrator craft that recently completed an 841 kilometre flight. Bevirt says ultimately what will drive a market for air taxi rides is the ability to avoid crushing highway commutes. “It won’t happen overnight,” Bevirt said, “but when it does, it will have really profound implications because it will allow us to change our relationship with space and time.” The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Aviation Electric vehicles Air travel Most Viewed in Business LoadingMaharashtra CM race heats up: Shinde seeks return, Devendra Fadnavis eyes role with RSS support

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot continued to play down the significance of their place at the top of the Premier League despite it being strengthened by their 3-1 win over Leicester. Chelsea’s surprise defeat by Fulham meant victory over the Foxes stretched their lead to seven points, with a match in hand, with the halfway point of the campaign fast approaching. But Slot is maintaining his level-headed approach despite the clamour growing around their chances of adding another title to the one won in 2020. Tonight's goalscorers 💪 pic.twitter.com/xn9sfZbVow — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2024 “If you are in this game for a long time like the players and I am then 20 games before the end you don’t look at it as there are so many challenges ahead of you,” he said after Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah scored to turn around an early deficit following Jordan Ayew’s strike. “Injuries and and a bit of bad luck can happen to any team, it is far too early to be already celebrating – but it is nice for us to be where we are. “I don’t think there was any easy win for us in any of these games; it could have been an easy win against Tottenham but we conceded two and it was then 5-2 – that tells you how difficult it is to win even when you have all your players available. “That is why we have to take it one game at a time. The league table is something of course we are aware of but we always understand how many games there are to go.” Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy felt his side held their own until Salah scored in the 82nd minute. “I think we were in the contest for a result for a long time,” he said. “Three-one was the turning point in the sense the game was done there to get a result. “I think the 60th minute I remember a chanced for Daka to score the equaliser so we were in the game to get a surprising result. “We did well, we did what we could: a good start with the goal but if you speak of a turning point, 3-1 with Salah, the game was done.” Van Nistelrooy left goalkeeper Danny Ward out of the squad after he struggled in the defeat to Wolves and was jeered by his own fans. “The change in goal was one to make and the conversation with Wardy was impressive, the way he was thinking of the team and the club,” added the Dutchman. “I insisted on a conversation and of course it is a private conversation but what I want to share is the person and the professional he is. “I was impressed with that and his willingness for the team and the club to do well. “Really tough what happened for him. We are professionals but human beings as well, when frustration is being directed towards one person that is difficult.”

Looking for a gaming smartphone under Rs 20,000? Check out these options from Motorola, Samsung, iQOO, and Nothing to Redmi. Gamers alert! If you are looking for a new smartphone in the budget segment which can take off your day-to-day life tasks along with your gaming sessions, then here are some considerations that you must check out before buying a new phone. A gaming phone must have a large battery, a powerful processor, and a good display for a better viewing experience while gaming. Check out the options from Motorola, Samsung, iQOO, and Nothing to Redmi for gaming smartphones under Rs 20,000. Budget Phones Under 2000 For Gaming Moto Edge 50 Neo The Moto Edge 50 Neo is on Flipkart for Rs 21,999 as the offer price, but there is also an available offer in which it can be purchased for Rs 19,999 with a Rs 2,000 card discount. It is powered by Mediatek Dimensity 7300 chipset, and you can also have the benefit of a stock Android experience. The phone features three rear cameras, including a 50MP main camera, a 13 MP Ultra Wide camera, and a 10MP Telephoto camera. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G seems to be ideal for budget-conscious individuals as it costs Rs 14,998 and is available on Amazon. Powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, it can handle your casual gaming. It boasts a tri-camera array with a 50MP main camera, a 5MP camera with an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a macro lens with 2MP. iQOO Z9 The iQOO Z9 is listed for Rs 18,498 on Amazon and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 processor, built using TSMC’s 2nd Gen 4nm process with a 2.8GHz clock speed. Its camera setup includes a 50MP Sony IMX882 OIS sensor that supports 4K video recording, Super Night mode, 2x Portrait Zoom, and a 50MP UHD mode for sharp photos and videos. Nothing Phone 2a The Nothing Phone 2a costs Rs 23,999 on Flipkart but can be purchased for Rs 20,999 with a Rs 3,000 card discount. It’s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ display, and a 5000mAh battery for all-day usage. It features two 50MP cameras with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and a 32MP front-facing camera for selfies. Redmi Note 13 Pro On Amazon, the price is tagged at Rs 18,250 for the Redmi Note 13 Pro. Powered by Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, the device has a 1.5K 6.67-inch AMOLED display that supports 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Click for more latest Mobile Phone news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Divya is a Senior Sub-Editor with about 3 years of experience in journalism and content writing. Before joining News9live, she had contributed to Times Now and Hindustan Times, where she focused on tech reporting and reviewing gadgets. When she's not working, you can find her indulging in Netflix, expressing her creativity through painting, and dancing.

How a GoPro camera has helped the Vikings keep rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy on trackThe people aboard a ferry in Vancouver were treated to a rare sight Sunday. A pod of orcas swam right by the small vessel in False Creek, metres away from Sunset Beach. In a video of the encounter posted to social media by False Creek Ferries, the passengers can be heard gasping in awe. “What the f***?” one exclaims. It’s uncommon for killer whales to swim right into the city, but Vancouver Aquarium staff told CTV News after a similar sighting in 2019 that the orcas were probably visiting False Creek to hunt for seals in shallow water. CTV News has reached out to False Creek Ferries for more information about the encounter. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Incarnate Word beats East Texas A&M 38-24 to finish undefeated in conference play

LUQUE, Paraguay — Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. Japan's Takehiro Kano, ambassador to UNESCO, reacts after the traditional Japanese brewing of sake was officially named to UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list during a World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay on Wednesday. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold that breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-month process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. Japanese sake, a nominee for UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list, are displayed on Japan's delegation table, during a UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Wednesday. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. Japanese breweries also expressed hope the listing could give a lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. “I hope that this will also be an opportunity for Japanese people to take another look at sake, shochu and awamori, which are the essence of their culture," Hitoshi Utsunomiya, director of the trade group Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, said in Tokyo. "I would like them to try it even once and see what it tastes like,” he said. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the association. Japan's Takehiro Kano, ambassador to UNESCO, reacts as the traditional Japanese brewing of sake was named to UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list during a World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay on Wednesday. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” he said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was “delighted” by UNESCO's recognition of traditional sake-making techniques, and he congratulated those dedicated to preserving and promoting the tradition. The crisp autumn air ushers in more than just pumpkin spice latte season. Consider cozying up inside with friends for a wine tasting and sharing delicious food and drinks with more complex flavors than cinnamon and sugar. Perhaps once thought of as stuffy affairs only for wine connoisseurs, today a tasting can be as casual as pouring a few bottles while doing another activity—say, bar games like darts or art activities like painting. The tasting can also be more traditional, especially if held at a winery or local wine shop, which is a great way to learn about what wines you might like to later serve at home. To host the ultimate wine tasting, it pays to do some R&D. One of the best aspects of hosting a wine tasting at home is that you get to establish the mood, tone, and guest list for the gathering—you can't pick a playlist when you sample wines at a bar or wine shop or make the dress code loungewear. So whether the mood is serious or playful, sophisticated or laid-back, the key to a successful tasting is enjoying and appreciating the wine and having fun with friends and family. Of course, there are a few other things to figure out along the way. Peerspace put together a few tips for hosting your wine-tasting party. A tasting party is all about sampling different wines and evaluating and hopefully enjoying them—and there are a variety of ways to do that. Would you like to host a playful gathering where each guest brings a mystery bottle of wine within a certain price range—a BYOB affair? Or would it be better to have more control over which wines are featured by curating and supplying all the wines as a host? This decision sets the tone—a tasting where guests contribute wine can be a bit of a free-for-all, whereas one where you select wines you supply allows guests to sit back and simply enjoy. And you don't have to break the bank to buy excellent wines—there are lots of wine experts ready to share their affordable picks. How much folks know about wine differs—and that's a good thing. Tastings are group learning experiences. Expertise isn't necessary to host or attend a tasting, but it is helpful to think about what will keep guests comfortable and having fun. Decide whether the vibe will be relaxed and laid-back, like friends sipping wine fireside, or more upbeat and formal. Think about elements like the atmosphere and the location, and consider whether folks will be seated or standing. Will you have a spirited playlist (couldn't resist) or live music? Do you want an expert to introduce each wine, or will you be that expert? Consider how guests will share their thoughts on what they are tasting. Do you want to just talk about them or do something more organized, like take notes or give ratings? Then supply notebooks or notecards and pencils, with categories or questions established ahead of time—all of which can reflect your evening's tone as well. How many people to invite is a question largely informed by the answers to tip #1: Are you having a big, formal affair or an intimate catch-up with close friends? Or something in between? Whatever the case, an RSVP is essential because not only do you need to plan the setup of the space, but you must also make sure there's enough wine for everyone to taste, including each of the wines featured. There's nothing worse than a tasting that runs dry! The math to determine how much wine you need considers the size of the tasting pours—a full glass of wine at a restaurant is usually around 5 ounces, which yields around five glasses of wine from a standard bottle. For tastings, you'll want to do less, depending on how many wines you are featuring—say, 2 ounces if you'll be trying a lot of different wines. Experts agree, having more wine than you need is always a good idea—that way you can send guests home with a bottle should there be a prize at the end of the night. Don't let food be an afterthought for the festivities—after all, food can enhance particular qualities of wine and vice versa. There are many rules around what foods to pair with which wines, but consider this simple advice from Alder Yarrow's Vinography : "Stick with eating good food and drinking good wine." Since the focus is on the wines, allow the drinks to determine what food makes sense, but don't overthink it. Food is a supporting character here—at the very least, guests will need something to soak up all the alcohol (unless you are spitting it out). Eating foods that contain a mixture of protein, fats, and carbs when drinking helps increase the rate of alcohol elimination . Whether it's a full meal or heavy hors d'oeuvres, thoughtful noshes are necessary. The bottom line is, however you do it, hosting the ultimate wine tasting should be fun. Wine can feel intimidating to many people, but most wine experts are passionate, inspired folks who want to share what they know and help you find wines you like. So visit your local wine store or winemaker and ask questions. There are good guides specifically concerning how to taste wine. Dig a little, taste a lot, and have fun. It's all research for your next ultimate wine tasting. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Peerspace and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Picking a theme is essential to curating the selection of wines—it's the organizing principle behind your selections. Otherwise, your tasting might as well be just walking down the wine aisle at the grocery store and taking sips from random bottles. There's too much wine out there not to be strategic about this. Plus, a theme helps you to tell the story of each wine better—it's the plot line of the night, if you will. Common themes are types of wine, regions they are from, or even price points—really, one can get as creative as they wish. For inspiration, check out local wine shops and see what they do for tastings. Often, they will follow seasonality and group wines in novel ways for their own in-house tastings. Get local news delivered to your inbox!‘Lose by 100’ – The tank is on as Giants, Raiders, Jaguars race to NFL’s bottom in hope of landing next No. 1 draft pick

Jigawa Govt Injects Over N20bn In Education In 2yrs – CommissionerPoor navigability disrupts cargo transport through Nagarbari port

Kentucky vs. Gonzaga odds, picks and predictionsJapan's famous sake joins UNESCO's cultural heritage list, a boost to brewers and enthusiastsNEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”

Brace for turbulence: Lessons from a bumpy 'super year' of global electionsStrictly Come Dancing fans were left 'crying' during the semi-final as they were surprised by two special guests. Wallace and Gromit made a cameo appearance during the latest live show, appearing via video to present the show’s terms and conditions. On Saturday evening (December 7), Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman went "live" form her 'Clauditorium' to the duo’s home on West Wallaby Street where Wallace was still getting ready for his big moment on TV. The stop motion character could be heard humming along to the BBC One show’s theme tune, while having a wash, before peeking out from behind the shower curtain to tell Winkleman: "I’ll be two ticks." READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing's two favourites will 'battle it out' as both 'at risk' for final spot Covering for him in their home studio, complete with a disco ball, Gromit played a recording of Wallace reading out the conditions before the inventor entered the room to take over. Sitting down at a desk, wearing his usual outfit as well as a glittery red bow tie, Wallace wished all the couples the “best of luck”. It comes as a new new feature-length Wallace and Gromit film is coming to the BBC this Christmas and it will see the return of notorious villain Feathers McGraw, who was first seen in 1993’s Bafta and Oscar-winning short The Wrong Trousers. The evil penguin has returned to seek revenge on inventor Wallace and his trusty and loyal beagle Gromit. In the film, comedian Peter Kay returns as Pc Mackintosh, a character who was also in The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, while Everybody’s Talking About Jamie actress Lauren Patel joins the cast. And as the iconic duo appeared on Strictly, fans flocked to social media to comment. @flickersuggs said: "Wallace and gromit doing the t&c’s is actually iconic i fear they should do it every week #strictly." @jenstrenneman commented: "wallace + gromit doing the t&cs on strictly," alongside a crying face emoji. Wallace and Gromit made a cameo appearance during Strictly's semi-final @LukeThorne94 wrote: "How lovely to see Wallace and Gromit on #StrictlyComeDancing! #Strictly." @HareBrainedIdea posted: "Wallace & Gromit doing the T&C’s? Possibly the best thing I’ve ever seen #strictly." @alexr_241 shared: "I am obsessed with Wallace & Gromit doing the T&C’s. Roll on Christmas Day x #Strictly." @stemcqueenie added: "Wallace and Gromit on #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly Is just legendary! Can't wait for Vengeance Most Foul on Christmas Day." Saturday’s exclusive minute-long animation was made by the Aardman Animations team at their studios in Bristol. Vengeance Most Fowl will be coming to BBC One at 6.10pm on Christmas Day and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. The United States offered its condolences, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that Singh was “one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership.” “We mourn Dr. Singh’s passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together,” Blinken said. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while WHO chief says he was meters away

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