ph over 7

The Manchester Evening News’ Christmas campaign supporting a foodbank in their festive appeal is set to top out at over £28,000, thanks to the incredible generosity of our readers and supporters. We joined forces with Blackley foodbank Humans MCR for the third year in the row this year, to support their Nobody Hungry At Christmas campaign, which delivers festive hampers to people in need across the region. Across 49 delivery routes, and over 250 addresses, the appeal will reach 1,030 people across Greater Manchester. It’s Humans’ second biggest campaign since its inception in 2019 – and the incredible support of our readers has helped make it possible. READ MORE: "I spent five hours wrapping Christmas presents for charity - it hurt my back, but warmed my heart" CEO Lewey Hellewell founded the charity in 2019. He had used a foodbank the year prior, and was determined to create a more human and dignified process for users, so Humans gives clients choice over what they eat, and delivers their parcels in unmarked vans. They do this all year round, but their efforts peak at Christmas, with hampers stuffed with Christmas dinner ingredients, festive treats, crackers and toys. The mammoth project has taken weeks of work and planning from founder Lewey and his hard-working team. After a busy weekend wrapping hundreds of presents – and sorting through almost three tonnes of veg – today (December 23) was the day it all came together. Busy present wrapping on Saturday December 21. (Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News) There was an atmosphere of determined but organised chaos as some 20 volunteers worked to put together the boxes of carrots, potatoes and sprouts alongside chocolate logs, selection boxes, defrosting chickens and pigs and blankets. These were then topped with bags of presents, sealed and shoved to the door of the foodbank where yet more volunteers ferried them to the boots of waiting cars. When some delivery drivers failed to turn up for their slot, others happily took on double shifts. From volunteer packers to delivery drivers, everyone worked hard, worked together, and pulled their weight. On hand to help shift the heavy boxes was local businessman Michael Josephson and his husband Lindon. Alongside several large donations from Julie Perry Events and Andrew Geddes of Glaukos, Michael has again pledged to match all donations raised in our appeal. “Lewey’s personal story is really close to my heart,” said Michael. “His story really resonated with me. What he’s done, the way he’s turned his life around and is now giving back and helping others, putting food on families’ tables, it’s amazing.” “I’ve supported Humans’ appeal for three years in a row and I’ll continue to do so. I’m all about giving back to children with my fundraising and this is a wonderful way to do that.” (Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News) “Michael is such a force for good in Manchester,” replied founder Lewey. “It’s great to know that he’s in our corner.” As well as helping to fund their Christmas campaign, the remaining funds will be used to help keep Humans safely afloat into the new year, following what has been a challenging 12 months for the charity. We’re incredibly grateful for Michael’s support – and to everyone who has donated to our campaign. It was a hugely successful, moving day at the foodbank, but it didn’t stop there. Accompanied by her mum, our reporter Greta Simpson took on a route of her own, to see the amazing impact the campaign has on the ground. Greta writes... My mum kindly agreed to help me do a delivery shift for Humans, possessing as she does a much bigger car. My 2x2 seater would have only managed about two parcels. We loaded up the car with five deliveries’ worth of boxes and bags and made our way south, from Blackley to M14. Delivery addresses are grouped together geographically, so all five of our drop-offs are within ten minutes of each other. It all goes by so fast: including the 30 minute drive from Blackley to Moss Side , we’re done in less than two hours. Our first delivery gets off to a rocky start, as the address we have for the first client is wrong, and we knock on the wrong door. Writing this, I still feel bad about the woman we very clearly woke up from her sleep by mistake. Luckily, Lewey is on hand with the client’s number, and though she’s out working at her care job, she’s close by, and gives us the right address, 6 minutes away. Lewey has given us strict instructions that, if clients aren’t in the house when we get there (they have been notified of the delivery date by text, up to seven times) we shouldn’t hang around and wait, but instead give the parcel to someone we know that might need it. Our car is stocked with deliveries (Image: Manchester Evening News) But luckily, by the time we pull up on the terraced street, the client is back, stepping out of her car in a brightly coloured tabard. Two black and white cats watch with interest from the window as we hand over the parcels and she gives effusive thanks. The rest of the deliveries are straightforward. It’s a real mix of people: young mothers, grandparents, single people in their sixties and big families. Our second delivery is to another terraced house, where a tap of the brass knocker sets off a yapping dog inside. “At least it doesn’t sound like a big one,” says my mum. The friendly woman who comes to the door is a young mum who can’t be more than 25. She heard about Humans through the early help worker at her son’s school. We carry our parcels into a toasty living room, where that dog is still barking – in a more friendly way – next to a bubbling fish tank. An hour later, we’re outside an address in Burnage. From the number of presents and bags, shouts of “MUM!” that set off as soon as we knock, and the ensuing thundering footsteps on the stairs, we guess (correctly) that this must be a sizable family. A smiling, friendly couple, with mum in her dressing gown, come to the door, excitable children hot on their heels. All their eyes light up when we mention Humans and the festive hamper. “Wow, this is amazing,” says Mum, as she takes the bag of presents. “Thank you so much! Crackers too – we needed some of them.” She also heard about Humans through her children’s early help worker. She’s used their foodbank service throughout the year, and received a Christmas parcel last year too. “Humans are brilliant,” she said. “This really makes our Christmas – means we can all sit around the table and eat together. “And it’s the little things – crackers and presents – they make Christmas, don’t they? All the things I remember we had when I was young, that helped make it special.” This family is our last delivery of the day. We get back in the car, truly humbled and moved by the recipients’ warmth and gratitude, and by the small part we got to play in what has been a huge and profoundly generous project. A cat watching on at one of the deliveries we made. Generous in more than just the money donated, though of course that makes it all possible: generous in the countless hours spent by organisers, planning logistics; in the love and care that volunteers put into wrapping a present for a stranger they’ll never meet; in the simple consideration of foodbank users as human beings deserving of choice, inclusion and dignity. But it’s the penultimate delivery that sticks with me the most. A man in his seventies, in a small maisonette, all the curtains drawn as we arrive around midday. He comes to the door with cigarette in hand, apparently living alone apart from a German shepherd, who emerges from the shadows of the flat and quite happily consents to be petted by the stranger stepping inside. The man is slightly gruff – as you might be with a stranger in your house – but not unfriendly as I explain the meat is to be defrosted in the fridge. He heard about Humans through a social worker and said, with some despondency, that he had tried to access their emergency food scheme before but had no luck. I explained there was a leaflet inside the bag with all the details and numbers he needs. This man’s is the smallest delivery of the lot, just a box and a bag. Based on this, it looks like he will spend Christmas with just his dog, who is very interested in the bag containing the meat: “He’s fussy, but I’ll have to share it with him,” the man jokes. Does it make a difference though, the Christmas hamper? I ask. “Oh yes,” he says straightaway, seeming surprised to have been asked. “It makes a difference. A big difference.”ph over 7 。

Tragedy on the Runway: South Korea's Worst Aviation DisasterThe Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation has outdoored over 150 projects dotted across the country. The projects, include 113 boreholes, 17 classroom blocks, eight astro turfs, six school dormitories, 14 sanitary facilities, five science laboratories and two Community- based Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds, started in 2017 in various communities across the country. The Executive Director of GNPC Foundation, Dr Dominic Eduah, announced this at the inauguration of some of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects at Takoradi in the Western Region. He said, that the focus of the foundation was to impact the lives of 10 million Ghanaians through education, youth empowerment and the growth of the citizenry. The GNPC, Dr Eduah explained, conducted a survey to satisfy the needs of the communities. On health, he told the gathering that, Ghanaian students in Cuba would back in Ghana next year, as medical doctors, among 112 Cuban nationals from that country. He said the GNPC Foundation sponsored 200 Ghanaian students to Cuba to help of bridging the gap between patients – doctor ratio in Ghana . “There are Ghanaians making Ghana proud in Cuba. It’s part of the scholarship we are giving out as far as health is concerned. We set out this agenda to impact four million lives seven years ago, and I am here to inform you that, per our needs assessment, we are very much on track,” Dr Eduah added. On scholarships, he said, there were testimonies of about 40 health professionals in various universities. He indicated that candidates were carefully selected by the Ministry of Health from remote areas with being 30 specialists, who had completed their studies. Dr Eduah mentioned that the emergency ward at the Saltpond Government Hospital, has also been improved. He added that based on needs assessments, the GNPC foundation had changed the situation in areas without ultra -modern sanitary facilities or constant water supply, saying that, in some communities which were provided with boreholes, animals came feed in the water sources. Chairman of GNPC Board, Freddie Blay praised the GNPC Foundation for several projects that have made significant impacts in the country. He applauded Dr Eduah for using the small percentage of the oil revenue for these projects, stressing “The projects and other initiatives are geared towards improving the living standards of Ghanaians.” The Omanhene of Gwira, Awulae Angama Tu Agyan, noted that the presence of stakeholders underscored “our collective commitment to advancing the socio- economic development of our beloved nation.” The GNPC Foundation, he said, had steadfastly pursued its mission to create lasting and positive impact under its three core pillars – environment and social amenities, education and training and economic empowerment. Awulae Tu Agyan added: “The project we are inaugurating today, are testaments to their education and the tangible outcomes of their strategic initiatives. The focus on environment and social amenities demonstrate their commitment to improve the quality of life for Ghanaians.” FROM CLEMENCE ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI

NFL NOTES

HOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell will miss the remainder of the season after dislocating a knee and tearing an ACL in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday. Coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of his injury Monday before announcing that Dell would have season-ending surgery for a second straight year. He fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos as a rookie last season and had surgery on it the following day. “He dislocated the knee, he tore the ACL, other things there he’ll have to get repaired," Ryans said. “So he’ll be out for the year.” Ryans didn't have a date for Dell's surgery for this injury, but said it would be soon. Dell was injured on a 30-yard touchdown catch in Houston’s 27-19 loss Saturday. He was coming across the back of the end zone and made the spectacular catch on a pass from C.J. Stroud before colliding with Houston teammate Jared Wayne on the way to the ground. Dell immediately grabbed at his knee and Wayne signaled for team trainers, who spent several minutes working on the wide receiver while teammates waited anxiously. Dell was eventually placed on a stretcher and driven in a covered medical cart off the field, and then he was taken to the hospital. He stayed in the hospital overnight before flying back to Houston on Sunday. Stroud, who is so close to Dell that he considers him a brother, cried the entire time the receiver was down on the field and for a while after he was taken away. “It was just not easy for me to sit there and be emotional,” Stroud said Monday. “But it’s something that we all go through in life and it’s easy to be a fake tough guy. It’s easy to go through life acting like everything doesn’t affect you, but deep down we all know we’re going through something.” Some criticized Stroud for crying. But he believes a display of emotion such as that was important to remind people of the human aspect of this game and the toll it can take on players. “It’s good for young men and women out there, kids who are brought up — and I was taught this too as a kid, not from my parents but just from the world, don’t let anybody see you emotional,” he said. “Don’t let anybody see you down and yeah there’s some truth to that in in certain aspects, but there’s also life and I think it was good for people to see me in that light and knowing that there is still a human factor to me and I’m a normal person.” Aaron Rodgers is still contemplating his playing future. The star quarterback knows if he returns to the field, it might be out of hands whether it's with the New York Jets. The 41-year-old Rodgers said last week that he'll take some time after this season, his 20th in the NFL, to determine what he wants to do next. On Monday, he suggested a decision on whether he'll return with the Jets could be made for him the day after the team's regular-season finale. “I think there’s a world where they just say, ‘Hey, thank you, we’re going to go in another direction’ on Jan. 6,” Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “That’s a possibility,” he added. "I think there’s also a possibility we’re going to wait and see who the new staff is.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!HOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell will miss the remainder of the season after dislocating a knee and tearing an ACL in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday. Coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of his injury Monday before announcing that Dell would have season-ending surgery for a second straight year. He fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos as a rookie last season and had surgery on it the following day. “He dislocated the knee, he tore the ACL, other things there he’ll have to get repaired," Ryans said. “So he’ll be out for the year.” Ryans didn't have a date for Dell's surgery for this injury, but said it would be soon. Dell was injured on a 30-yard touchdown catch in Houston’s 27-19 loss Saturday. He was coming across the back of the end zone and made the spectacular catch on a pass from C.J. Stroud before colliding with Houston teammate Jared Wayne on the way to the ground. Dell immediately grabbed at his knee and Wayne signaled for team trainers, who spent several minutes working on the wide receiver while teammates waited anxiously. Dell was eventually placed on a stretcher and driven in a covered medical cart off the field, and then he was taken to the hospital. He stayed in the hospital overnight before flying back to Houston on Sunday. Stroud, who is so close to Dell that he considers him a brother, cried the entire time the receiver was down on the field and for a while after he was taken away. “It was just not easy for me to sit there and be emotional,” Stroud said Monday. “But it’s something that we all go through in life and it’s easy to be a fake tough guy. It’s easy to go through life acting like everything doesn’t affect you, but deep down we all know we’re going through something.” Some criticized Stroud for crying. But he believes a display of emotion such as that was important to remind people of the human aspect of this game and the toll it can take on players. “It’s good for young men and women out there, kids who are brought up — and I was taught this too as a kid, not from my parents but just from the world, don’t let anybody see you emotional,” he said. “Don’t let anybody see you down and yeah there’s some truth to that in in certain aspects, but there’s also life and I think it was good for people to see me in that light and knowing that there is still a human factor to me and I’m a normal person.” Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Penix, the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, was supposed to serve as Cousins' understudy for a year or two, a plan that was scuttled when Cousins quickly lost the zip and accuracy on his passes and his grip on the starting job. It was hard to argue with making the change after Cousins had nine picks and one touchdown pass in his last five starts — but it was a daring move nonetheless with the Falcons trailing first-place Tampa Bay by a single game with three weeks left. Penix made the move pay off with a solid first NFL start in the Falcons' 34-7 rout of the New York Giants on Sunday that bolstered Atlanta's playoff hopes , and the Falcons (8-7) moved back into first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers' loss at Dallas on Sunday night. The left-hander was not at all overwhelmed by the moment, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards — numbers that would’ve been better if not for at least three dropped passes, one of which Kyle Pitts bobbled right into the hands of a New York defender for Penix’s lone interception. “He went out and played almost flawless football,” coach Raheem Morris said. Cousins will almost certainly be looking for his fourth team in 2025. If the Falcons cut ties as expected, they'll have paid Cousins $90 million for 14 games. Cousins' career earnings are about $321 million and his record is 84-77-2, including a 1-3 mark in the playoffs and 7-7 this season. In the spirit of expedited judgments, let's take a gander at how other quarterbacks have fared with their new teams in 2024. The Pittsburgh Steelers landed the biggest bargain of the season in Wilson, whom they signed for the veteran's minimum of $1.21 million, leaving his former team, the Denver Broncos, on the hook for the remaining $37.79 million of his 2024 salary. Wilson's calf injury in camp forced the Steelers to start Justin Fields, who went 4-2 before Mike Tomlin made the risky switch to Wilson, who's gone 6-3 with 15 TD throws and four interceptions. With the Steelers (10-5) playoff-bound, Wilson will make his first postseason appearance since 2020. The only question is whether it'll be at home as AFC North champ or on the road as a wild-card. They're tied with the Ravens atop the division but currently own the tiebreaker. This was expected to be a rebuilding year in Minnesota after the Vikings lost Cousins in free agency. They signed Darnold, the third overall pick in 2018, to a $10 million, one-year contract and drafted national champion J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick. McCarthy tore the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason opener and has undergone two surgeries, opening the way for Darnold's breakthrough season. Darnold brought a 21-35 career record with him to Minneapolis and all he's done is go 13-2 while setting career highs with 32 touchdown passes, 3,776 passing yards and a 67.2% completion percentage. The Vikings are tied with the Lions atop the packed NFC North and the division crown could come down to Minnesota's season finale at Detroit on Jan. 5. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract and he beat out incumbent Aidan O'Connell for the starting gig. But he only went 2-7 and sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in a Week 12 loss to the Broncos, opening the door for O'Connell (1-4) to return. The Raiders' 19-14 win over Jacksonville on Sunday snapped a 10-game skid but might have taken them out of the Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes. They are 3-12, a game behind the Giants (2-13), who jettisoned QB Daniel Jones less than two years after signing him to a four-year, $160 million contract and have gone with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito instead. The Chicago Bears had high hopes after drafting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but it might turn out that the second QB taken — Washington's Jayden Daniels — is better than the first as was the case last year when C.J. Stroud outperformed Carolina's Bryce Young. Williams has a terrific TD-to-INT ratio of 19-5, but the Bears are 4-11 and have lost nine in a row. Their last win came way back on Oct. 13 against Jacksonville. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU has led the Washington Commanders (10-5) to the cusp of their first playoff appearance since 2020. His bolstered his Rookie of the Year credentials with a five-TD performance Sunday in leading the Commanders to a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. For the year, Daniels has 22 TD throws and eight interceptions. The former Auburn and Oregon star hasn't looked much like a rookie after starting an NCAA QB record 61 times in college. The Broncos (9-6) could snap an eight-year playoff drought with a win Sunday at Cincinnati thanks to Nix's steady play , Sean Payton's exhaustive guidance and Denver's traditionally stingy defense. Nix was drafted 12th overall after the Broncos released Wilson despite a a whopping $85 million dead money charge on top of the $37.79 million they're paying Wilson to play for Pittsburgh this year. With 22 TDs and 11 interceptions, Nix has almost matched Russell's win total (11-19) in his two seasons in Denver. AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report. Behind the Call analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL during the season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

One Group Hospitality director Jonathan Segal buys $15,206 in stock

Robot Programming Services Market to See Competition Rise | ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Universal RobotsDismissed Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes —Official Facebook page of Jonas Cortes CEBU CITY, Philippines — Supporters of dismissed Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes participated in an indignation rally to express their sentiments against a recent ruling of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify the local chief executive from seeking reelection due to allegations of “material misrepresentation.” The protesters gathered in front of the former Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) at around 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23. Cortes was present during the rally, accompanied by his family and vowed to “fight until the end.“ He maintained that he did not lie in his Certificate of Candidacy (COC). READ: Comelec stops Mandaue mayor’s bid for reelection Cortes said his lawyers had already filed an appeal regarding the cancellation of his COC before the Comelec in Manila. He said he will bring the case up to the Supreme Court if the poll body does not rule in his favor. Cortes urged his political opponents not to use their connections with high-ranking national officials to prevent him from running in next year’s elections. “I am not afraid of Jonkie Ouano! I am not afraid of Lolipop Ouano! And above all, I am not afraid of (House Speaker) Martin Romualdez,” he said during the rally. Jonkie is Cortes’ lone opponent in the race for Mandaue City mayor in next year’s elections. Lolipop, on the other hand, is seeking reelection as congresswoman of Mandaue City’s lone district. In its ruling dated Dec. 18, the poll body’s second division said Cortes wrote “N/A” in response to questions on his COC about pending cases, docket numbers, and the status of any legal actions against him despite receiving a dismissal order from the Office of the Ombudsman on October 3, just one day before filing his COC. According to the poll body, section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code requires candidates to accurately state their eligibility for the office they are seeking. Section 78 of the same law allows the cancellation of a COC if any material representation is proven false. The Comelec said that the deliberate intent to mislead and the falsity of Cortes’s declarations warranted the cancellation of his COC. The decision stemmed from a petition filed by Cebu-based lawyer Ervin Estandarte who accused Cortes of deliberately misrepresenting his eligibility for the mayoral post. The Office of the Ombudsman earlier found Cortes liable for grave misconduct when he allowed a cement batching plant to operate without necessary business and environmental permits. The penalty carries a perpetual disqualification from public service. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Cortes is also serving a one year suspension without pay since August 2024 following another decision of the anti-graft office that found him liable for the “irregular designation” of an officer-in-charge of the City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) in 2022.

US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccerCHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Bryce Thompson scored 17 points, Marchelus Avery had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Oklahoma State beat Miami 80-74 on Friday in the consolation bracket of the Charleston Classic. Oklahoma State (4-1) will play in the fifth-place game on Sunday, while Miami (3-2) will try to avoid going winless in the tournament. Oklahoma State led 43-27 at halftime after making 8 of 15 from 3-point range, while Miami was just 8 of 27 overall. Four different Cowboys made a 3-pointer in the first half, with Brandon Newman making three. Thompson banked in a shot early in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 20-point lead at 49-29. Miami, which opened the game by missing 7 of 8 shots, went 1 for 8 from the field to begin the second half. Miami trailed by double figures the entire second half until Matthew Cleveland made a difficult shot in the lane while being fouled. He made the free throw to pull the Hurricanes within 75-67 with 49 seconds left. Arturo Dean restored a double-digit lead by making two free throws at 43.8. Thompson reached the 1,000 career points with the Cowboys on a shot in the lane with 13:01 left in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 55-38 lead. Nijel Pack scored 20 points and Brandon Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Miami. Cleveland finished with 11 points, and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet each had 10. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Premier League midfielder wants Tottenham striker to move clubs this winterSteve Noviello's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

Wokeness is in retreat, but Nasdaq’s ‘diversity rules’ show its awful stench will be hard to eliminateWorld Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. There’s no getting around it, 2024 left the world shaken and in some cases irrevocably altered — and there’s good reason to be concerned about 2025. Given the state of play between multiple superpower adversaries, the next 12 months may turn out to be some of the most consequential in recent history. In an ominous omen for the coming year eagle-eyed social media users have noted that the first three days of the year are Wednesday (1st), Thursday (2nd), and Friday (3rd) which in people’s phone calendars spells out “WTF”. The last time that happened was 2020, and we all know how that played out. Gulp... But it’s not just calendar details have have people concerned. It’s safe to say there’s a fair bit going on in the world that could boil over. From Ukraine to Washington, from the South China Sea to the Korean Peninsula and then the Middle East, the landscape of global politics is a volatile mosaic of crises that demand attention from the world’s leaders. It’s been a year where the balance of power has been tested and old tensions have resurfaced in force. Then thrown into the mix: Trump 2.0, the rapidly evolving AI revolution and cost of living pressures putting the general public in a vicegrip. There’s quite a lot on the plate for the “developed” world. Take a look a some of the biggest issues pressing against the globe in 2025 below. Ukraine War: An Unresolved Crisis In February 2022, Russia launched its brutal invasion of Ukraine and the world has been held hostage, in some way or another, by the ongoing bloodshed ever since. 2024 was another year of devastation for the nation of 37 million. Almost three years on, Ukraine’s military continues to resist Russia’s territorial ambitions, but life for the average citizen has deteriorated, with children in particularly prone locations being forced to spend their days underground. Despite tireless resistance and continual Western support, the situation remains anything but resolved with Russia periodically reclaiming ground. Vladimir Putin has not eased on his initial pledge to reclaim the nation as part of his “special military campaign” and has resisted Western efforts to whittle away his nation’s economy, while simultaneously pouring everything he can into maintaining the conveyor belt of military aged men to the frontlines. The introduction of North Korean troops to Russia’s side has also painted a bleak picture, with some analysts going so far as claiming it is the “unofficial” beginning of WWIII given two “axis” powers are now working together on the same battlefield. Verified reports of what they are actually doing to assist the war effort have been hard to come by however. Vladimir Putin has not eased on his initial pledge to reclaim the nation as part of his “special military campaign” and has resisted Western efforts to whittle away his nation’s economy. (Photo by Valery SHARIFULIN / POOL / AFP) A Ukrainian infantry soldier of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade sits as he waits to deploy toward the frontline in the Avdiivka direction, in the Donetsk region (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP) Jeffrey W. Hornung of the non-profit research organisation RAND goes so far as arguing that the increasing involvement of East Asian powers could be grounds for labelling it a proxy war. “Besides the recent arrival of at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers on the Russian side, the evolving roles of China, Japan, and South Korea raise the question of whether a widening proxy war is being fought in Ukraine,” he said in a November report. “By all indications, the answer is yes: The war is setting a new precedent for Indo-Pacific nations to compete for their interests on the global stage.” Foreign interests aside, Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim occupied territories will remain a focal point in the first quarter of 2025. The challenge for NATO and the US will be to balance continued support for Ukraine without triggering a broader confrontation with Russia. Donald Trump has vowed to end the conflict as soon as he gets in office, but we’ve all heard a politician say things like that before. Korean Peninsula heating up On the other side of the world, the Korean Peninsula is going through a particularly tense period of politics, both internal and external. North Korea conducted a series of provocative missile tests and trash balloon launches in 2024, stoking the patience of its more democratic neighbour to the South. Experts at the Asan Institute of Policy Studies told news.com.au this year that Kim Jong-un is growing his nuclear weapons arsenal by almost a dozen a month. While most analysts agree the North would never dare to flex its nuclear might, the worrying rhetoric pushed out by Pyongyang’s ruling elite has continued to put a cloud over the region. Kim Jong Un meeting with Russia's Minister of Defence Andrei Belousov. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP) South Korea is also going through a turbulent political period after President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) A tightened relationship with Russia has also done little to ease tensions as South Korean officials scramble to keep the 70-year peace with the North intact. Kim Jong-un has managed to not only defy global sanctions but also strengthen his position at home through the renewed partnership with Vladimir Putin, which was solidified when the Russian leader flew into Pyongyang in June. South Korea is also going through a turbulent political period after President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law, running counter to his nation’s purported stance against the authoritarianism of the North. He now faces the possibility of impeachment and will appear in front of the nation’s corruption watchdogs. All eyes on the South China Sea 2024 saw China continue to expand its influence through both diplomatic and military means, warning neighbouring nations to steer clear of its dispute with Taiwan. Beijing’s claim over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, is a point of fierce contention with several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam. The US, under Biden’s administration, has made clear that it will not back down in the face of China’s growing military presence in the region. Australia has also committed to defending Taiwan’s sovereignty. “The failure of Chinese and Southeast Asian leaders to resolve the disputes diplomatically could undermine international laws governing maritime disputes and encourage destabilising arms build-ups,” the Center for Preventive Action wrote in a September report. The situation in 2025 looks poised to further test international waters. As China continues its militarisation of islands in the region, and with the US committed to supporting its allies through freedom of navigation operations, the South China Sea could become the flashpoint for another direct military conflict. As it stands, the region remains a volatile mix of rising nationalism, conflicting territorial claims, and an increasingly assertive China. Beijing’s claim over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, is a point of fierce contention with several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam. (Photo by Handout / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) / AFP) The Trump Factor: A New Era in the US Donald Trump’s landslide victory indicated that a large portion of America was flat-out fed up with the current state of affairs. Witnessing four years of outrageous Joe Biden gaffes was simply too much for the nation of 330 million. Kamala Harris took up the reins of his campaign and spent two months refusing to do off-the-cuff interviews with certain people outside the mainstream media lexicon, and that was that. Several million middle-of-the-road voters took another punt with Trump, rejecting the Democrats’ state of affairs which many believe have accelerated the decline of the nation, especially for those on low and middle incomes, the demographic the American left purport to bat for. Whether Trump 2.0 does anything for the bulk of American taxpayers remains to be seen. But his definitive victory in 2024, like in 2016, was clearly a battle won on the cultural battleground, with voters indicating they are tired of political correctness, career politicians and government bloat. The controversial appointment of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, to declutter the US government has also lit a flame under staunch left wing mouthpieces. Strap in, folks. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) Some believe Musk’s shuffle towards Trump in recent years are part of a masterplan to scrap regulations on his already booming businesses to make more money, while others believe he is a good-hearted US constitutionalist who only wants to see his nation thrive. Australia will no doubt feel the effects of the Trump presidency, but it will take a few years before we can judge if he truly did “make America great again”. Middle East in turmoil The Middle East is at yet another pivotal point in its history. Conflict has unfortunately defined the region for many years, and the recent reshuffling of order in countries like Syria, coupled with the ongoing crisis between Israel and Palestine and several terrorist group supporters have left several questions unanswered about the future. The conflict in Gaza escalated further in 2024, following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel’s subsequent military response resulted in widespread devastation, with tens of thousands of civilians and children killed as part of the “collateral damage”. In 2025, the situation will continue to sit on a knife’s edge. Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a camp for internally displaced people in Rafah on May 27, 2024. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP) The international community continues to grapple with the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with efforts to broker ceasefires and humanitarian aid facing massive challenges. The prospects for a lasting peace hinge on the willingness of both parties to engage in meaningful dialogue and the ability of global powers to facilitate such discussions. Meanwhile in Syria, fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has left an ominous power vacuum. The international community is actively engaged in efforts to stabilise the country, stressing the importance of respecting minority and women’s rights, preventing terrorism, and securing humanitarian aid. The intense rivalry between Israel and Iran is also anticipated to persist, with each side seeking to expand its influence in the region. President Trump is likely to adopt a more assertive stance in the Middle East, focusing on countering Iranian influence and addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. AI: The robots are getting buff It’s almost become a cliche to say “artificial intelligence stands at a precipice”. But there’s no other way of putting it. We are currently gazing into a bizarre future brimming with potential, but the real question is: just how long am I going to be in a job? The past year has been another massive leap forward in the AI renaissance, with breakthroughs that have redefined the boundaries of what is possible. The launch of Google’s Veo 2, an AI video generator, has also set new standards in video content creation, outperforming its predecessors with remarkable accuracy and creativity. They’re getting smarter. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) In the corporate sphere, Salesforce unveiled Agentforce 2.0, an AI agent program that integrates with Slack, enhancing reasoning, integration, and customisation capabilities. One Aussie AI developer, who chose to remain nameless, predicted to me that it would be “less than five years” before most jobs done solely with a computer could be reliably replaced with AI. We’ll just have to wait and see if the world’s major employers opt to embrace a complete shift towards machine workers and usher in a new era of absurdity. Maybe we can all get behind universal basic income once the inevitable comes to pass. Maybe. What can you do about all this? Probably nothing. Just stay informed and hope to hell some maniacal dictator doesn’t hit his big red nuke button. Originally published as 2025 calendar detail is freaking everyone out as global challenges loom for Planet Earth More related stories World Illegal migrant charged with subway horror An illegal Guatemalan migrant accused of torching a sleeping woman on a Brooklyn subway train has been hit with murder and arson charges. Read more World Underage sex: Trump ally’s bombshell claims The man who Donald Trump wanted to be the US’ top legal official has been accused of “statutory rape” of an underage teen in a damning report. Read more

The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors passed a resolution chiding Iran's poor cooperation with the agency after hours of heated exchanges, diplomats told AFP late on Thursday, a move Tehran called "politically motivated". The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany and the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board follows a similar one in June. But it comes as tensions run high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied. The resolution -- which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against -- was carried by 19 votes in favour, with 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. Ahead of the vote on Thursday night, the United States and its European allies sought to rally support for their resolution by denouncing Iran. In its national statement to the board, Washington said that Tehran's nuclear activities are "deeply troubling". London, Paris and Berlin in a joint statement drew attention to the "threat" Iran's nuclear programme posed "to international security", stressing that it now had enough highly enriched uranium for four nuclear weapons. In a first reaction after the vote, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Mohsen Naziri Asl, told AFP that the resolution was "politically motivated", citing its "low support" compared to previous censures. The confidential resolution seen by AFP says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfil its legal obligations". The text also calls on Tehran to provide "technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles found at two undeclared locations in Iran. Moreover, Western powers are asking for a "comprehensive report" to be issued by the IAEA on Iran's nuclear efforts "at the latest" by spring 2025. Since 2021, Tehran has significantly decreased its cooperation with the agency by deactivating surveillance devices to monitor the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, Iran has rapidly ramped up its nuclear activities, including by increasing its stockpiles of enriched uranium. That has heightened fears that Tehran might be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, which it denies. The resolution comes just as IAEA head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran last week, where he appeared to have made headway. During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. "This is a concrete step in the right direction," Grossi told reporters Wednesday, saying it was "the first time" Iran had made such a commitment since it started breaking away from its obligations under the nuclear deal. The landmark 2015 deal -- which curbed Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief -- fell apart three years later after the unilateral withdrawal by the United States under then-president Donald Trump. In retaliation, Tehran began gradually rolling back some of its commitments by increasing its uranium stockpiles and enriching beyond the 3.67 percent purity -- enough for nuclear power stations -- permitted under the deal. Although symbolic in nature at this stage, the censure motion is designed to raise diplomatic pressure on Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday the censure "will disrupt" interactions with the agency, but stressed Tehran would remain keen to cooperate. Earlier, Araghchi had warned of a "proportionate" response by Iran if the board passes the resolution. According to Heloise Fayet, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, the resolution has the potential to "harm Rafael Grossi's efforts". "But Western powers are frustrated by the lack of effectiveness of his diplomatic manoeuvres and are looking for firmer solutions," she told AFP. On Wednesday, Grossi said he could "not exclude" that Iran's commitment to cap enrichment might falter "as a result of further developments". Foreign policy expert Rahman Ghahremanpour said Tehran might retaliate to the new censure by "increasing the enrichment levels". But he does not expect any drastic "strategic measures" as Iran does not want to "aggravate tensions" before Trump returns to the White House. pdm-anb-kym/giv

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From a small shoe store back in 1901, Nordstrom is now the world’s retail giant that has been able to sustain such a legacy. It started as a footwear retailer established by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin in Seattle, but it evolved into being the largest independent shoe retailer in the U.S. under John’s three sons. This growth paved the way for the eventual establishment of a high-end fashion destination that, above all, was a place of quality and excellent service. The Nordstrom family played a significant role in expanding the business with the passing of generations. In the 1970s, the company established clothing and accessories, making it a comprehensive and full-fledged fashion retailer. The third generation took the company public in 1971. They then established Nordstrom Rack in 1973 as a clearance outlet. This made it easier for Nordstrom to access more customers than before, therefore expanding much more broadly. The fourth generation of Nordstrom leadership further transformed the brand by embracing e-commerce, propelling Nordstrom into the digital age and ensuring its competitiveness in an increasingly online-driven retail landscape. Today, Nordstrom’s annual sales exceed $13.1 billion, as reported by Forbes, solidifying its place as one of the top retailers in the world. Family’s Role In $6.25 Billion Acquisition Deal In a shocking move, Nordstrom has agreed to be taken private in a $6.25 billion deal involving the Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group. This acquisition comes at a time when traditional department stores like Nordstrom are facing increasing challenges from discount retailers and e-commerce giants. The decision to privatize Nordstrom comes at a time when public companies are under greater scrutiny. By going private, the Nordstrom family hopes to regain greater control and flexibility to restructure and adapt to a changing retail environment. This is seen as an effort to give the brand a fresh start, free from the pressures of quarterly earnings reports and shareholder demands. According to the Associated Press, Nordstrom shareholders will be given $24.25 in cash for every share, which amounts to about $4 billion. This offer translates to a 42% premium over the value of the company’s stock at March 18, when the potential acquisition news was announced. The deal also includes the assumption of more than $2 billion in Nordstrom’s debt. In a retail world increasingly dominated by Amazon, Walmart, and fast-fashion brands, traditional department stores like Nordstrom have struggled to maintain their foothold. This acquisition could provide the company with the opportunity to regain market share and develop a more agile, competitive business model for the future. Nordstrom Family Legacy The Nordstrom family has always been at the heart of the brand’s growth since its humble beginnings as a small shoe shop and eventually into the retail powerhouse that it is today. Erik and Pete Nordstrom, fourth-generation members of the family, have guided the company through growth and transition. As the company looks into this new chapter, the influence of the Nordstrom family will remain central to its future. ALSO READ | Why Nordstrom Is Going Private In $6.25 Billion Deal With Its Family And Mexican Retail Giant