The Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI) annual meeting in Dalton, Georgia, highlighted an industry balancing success with new challenges, from global growth to mounting regulations.

Republicans made their picks for party leaders in the U.S. Senate and House, as President-elect Trump announced new nominees, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Republican strategist Scott Jennings about Republican leadership in in the U.S. Senate and House.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks with NPR's Michel Martin about his new book "The ABCs of Democracy," and Democrats' outlook following the 2024 election.

[Politics] :
The leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold a three-way discussion on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. According to Seoul’s presidential office, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru ...

[more...]

In L.A., community leaders are working to prevent an undercount of Asian Angelenos. ; Credit: via NPR

The 2020 Census kicks off in a matter of weeks. Census officials say Asian immigrants are “hard-to-count” because many have limited English and distrust government. 

Leo Moon is learning about the census with friends at a city-led workshop in Koreatown. He didn’t fill out the form in 2010, mostly because he didn’t want the government knowing he’s undocumented. But Moon says he’ll take part next year because the census determines how much funding and representation people get.  

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

The project superintendent and the foreman must work together to keep employees productive.

Frontline supervisors are the lynchpin of safety, Judy Agnew said during a session Monday morning on safety leadership. She offers five tips for frontline supervisors to better engage the workforce, which not only improves individual performance but leads to a safe work environment for all.

Kenneth M. Rice is a seasoned expert in the restaurant and franchising sector

Matthew Ward Stringer has excelled in diverse professional contexts, including music and marketing

Epic Group has restructured its leadership team, appointing Sunil Daryanani and Dinesh Virwani as executive vice chairmen, and Suraj Kalra as CEO to drive its strategic objectives. Led by founder Ranjan Mahtani, the committee also includes leaders in finance, HR, procurement, and digitalisation, aiming to strengthen Epic’s global presence, improve operations, and enhance stakeholder value.

Australia has achieved its highest ever ranking in the 2014 Global Innovation Index (GII). The GII 2014 surveyed 143 economies around the world, using 81 indicators to gauge both their innovation capabilities and measurable results.

Global pharmaceutical company Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has signed a three-year research collaboration agreement with Melbourne’s Monash University. The collaboration will focus on ground-breaking research at Monash University to develop potential new medicines to treat autoimmune diseases and disorders .

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

????Discover Your Career Path with PMG ????Are you ready to launch your career in digital marketing? Join us at PMG for a virtual information session tailored for college students interested in our award-winning company culture and the career opportunities within our Graduate Leadership Program (GLP). Here’s what we’ll cover:????Award-Winning Culture: Discover what makes PMGone of AdAge's Best Places to Work for nine consecutive years. Learn about our core values and the initiatives that shape our unique culture.????Graduate Leadership Program Overview: Explore our 8-week onboarding process, designed across three dynamic tracks—Media Marketing, Data Analytics, and AI & Software Engineering. Understand how we equip new hires with the skills and support needed for a strong career start.????Inside the Hiring Process: Receive expert advice from our campus recruiting team on how to excel in our hiring process and stand out as a candidate.????Guest Speaker – Brent Aydon: Hear from Brent Aydon, a Client Strategy Lead who started his career in our Graduate Leadership Program. Brent will share a glimpse into the projects he has worked on and discuss his career growth and experiences with PMG.????Don’t miss out—RSVP today to secure your spot and move closer to making your professional aspirations a reality.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

In 2015, Johnson & Johnson launched WiSTEM2D – Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing, and Design (STEM2D) – initiative to promote learning and career opportunities in STEM2D disciplines. Led by a network of volunteers from across Johnson & Johnson and its local operating companies, this ambitious initiative seeks to promote learning across Youth, University and Professionals.  We are inviting university students to participate in a WiSTEM2D Virtual Event – Leadership Development Program Panel! Participants will hear fromfive female panelists working in a variety of pharmaceutical and medical technology roles at Johnson & Johnson, on the topics noted above, as well as an opportunity to submit questions.- Meredith DiBona, Associate Director – Global Trial Associate Leadership Development ProgramLead- Erin McGrann, Global Trial Associate (GTA) – Global TrialAssociate Leadership Development Program- Kaiya Mitchell, Global Trial Associate (GTA) – Global Trial Associate Leadership Development Program- Nora Tovar, Early In Career Programs Manager, MedTech – R&D Leadership Development Program- Saila Incollingo, IT Director, MedTech – Technology Leadership Development Program

Newly elected Senate Republican leader John Thune (R-S.D.) reiterated his openness on Wednesday to potentially allowing recess appointments to skirt around the traditional confirmation process and quickly install President-elect Trump’s […]

DUSHANBE, 8 June 2016 – A one-year learning course on Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership (BSMSL) was launched with an introductory meeting that took place in Dushanbe from 6-8 June.

The course was designed and developed by the OSCE Border Management Staff College and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), and aims to enhance the knowledge, competencies and leadership potential of mid- to senior-level professionals working in the area of border security and management.

Twenty-four participants from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Jordan, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Tajikistan, Tunisia and Ukraine will participate in the course, providing a comprehensive insight into the contemporary security environment, leadership and management competencies as well as mechanisms to prevent and combat existing and emerging security threats and challenges.

The course programme is divided in three modules that involve participants in fact-finding, analyzing, decision-making, and management activities. Its format provides an opportunity to draw from various international best practices and expertise, putting emphasis on co-operation between operational and academic approaches and encouraging peer-learning.

Each module is presented through a variety of training and learning methods, including e-learning, face-to-face study, follow-on discussions and follow-up activities, group exercises, and study visits.

“Borders exist to unite people and not to divide them. This course is one of the college’s long-term initiatives aiming to promote and implement the concept of open but secure borders. With the knowledge obtained here participants will not only be able to enhance their professional skills but also be capable to develop and provide analysis and recommendations to improve capacities and the situation at borders,” said Ambassador Marcel Pesko, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, while addressing the BSMSL participants.

Andrus Oovel, Head of the DCAF Border Security Programme added: “This course is a combination of social, political and security science, covering a wide range of academic disciplines on global governance and security, humanities, law, criminal justice and studies which include leadership and management for strategic and operational planning in managing migration, border security, and trade facilitation.”

DUSHANBE, 5 August 2016 – Twenty officers  of the Tajik Border Troops, ranked between warrant officer and major, mainly coming from border detachments  on the Afghan and Tajik border, successfully completed a four-week course today on patrolling and leadership at the Gissar Training Centre in Dushanbe.

The course, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge of conducting observation missions using topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools. They also learned about reporting and analysis, repelling methods, communications and tactical movement.

Uniforms and common tactical equipment were given to each participant. Separate medical lessons were delivered by trainers from the United States Embassy in Tajikistan. The sessions on gender mainstreaming and demining awareness were delivered by experts of the OSCE Office. Two officers of the Tajik Border Troops, who previously passed the course, also supported the OSCE in delivering the lessons.

OSCE Office in Tajikistan Counter-terrorism and Police issues Adviser Wolfgang Nikolaus, congratulated the officers on completing the course and said: “The OSCE continues supporting efforts to enhance the capacity of Tajik Border Troops Staff by providing such high-quality training courses."

The course is the eighth to be held under the third phase of the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project. The Project aims to increase the capacities of Tajik border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.

DUSHANBE, 5 August 2016 – Twenty officers  of the Tajik Border Troops, ranked between warrant officer and major, mainly coming from border detachments  on the Afghan and Tajik border, successfully completed a four-week course today on patrolling and leadership at the Gissar Training Centre in Dushanbe.

The course, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge of conducting observation missions using topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools. They also learned about reporting and analysis, repelling methods, communications and tactical movement.

Uniforms and common tactical equipment were given to each participant. Separate medical lessons were delivered by trainers from the United States Embassy in Tajikistan. The sessions on gender mainstreaming and demining awareness were delivered by experts of the OSCE Office. Two officers of the Tajik Border Troops, who previously passed the course, also supported the OSCE in delivering the lessons.

OSCE Office in Tajikistan Counter-terrorism and Police issues Adviser Wolfgang Nikolaus, congratulated the officers on completing the course and said: “The OSCE continues supporting efforts to enhance the capacity of Tajik Border Troops Staff by providing such high-quality training courses."

The course is the eighth to be held under the third phase of the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project. The Project aims to increase the capacities of Tajik border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.

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New approaches to unleashing and mobilizing the potential of female leadership and the role of men as partners in achieving gender equality were the focuses of the International Forum of Women Leaders "Equal Opportunities for a Better Future", co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Minsk on 21 and 22 June 2016.

More than 100 participants from 21 OSCE participating States, including representatives from all of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, discussed the possibilities for creating networks for women’s empowerment, explored ways of institutionalizing gender analysis, and outlined good practices for promoting women’s roles and influence in politics. A Minsk Declaration of Women Leaders was also adopted, acknowledging the main obstacles in reaching gender equality and calling for action to challenge the status quo.

The forum was co-organized with Belarusian State University, Council of Europe Information Point in Minsk, the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus, and Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

"All actors, from political parties to governmental structures, should think about how they can involve women and create gender-sensitive platforms where women can substantively contribute on an equal footing with men," said Marcin Walecki, Head of ODIHR’s Democratization Department.

Elena Shamal, a Member of the House of Representatives of Belarus National Assembly, said: "The 2015 Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum points out that there is not a single state in the world that could provide absolute gender equality. Today’s Forum has once again underlined the need to strengthen international, state and public co-operation for further promoting women’s participation in political and public life."

Nadezda Shvedova, of the Russian Academy of Science, said: "To achieve gender equality, we need to enhance co-operation in the OSCE area and the CIS region, in particular. We are calling for the establishment of regional networks of women leaders and women’s organizations to further advance women’s participation in political and public life, for the benefit of all."

This forum was organized as part of ODIHR’s programme to advance women’s political participation in the OSCE region, and with the support of the Belarus Ministries of Labour and Social Protection and of Foreign Affairs.

Related Stories

• ODIHR trains prosecutors and lawyers in Kyrgyzstan on international standards regarding freedom of religion or belief
• OSCE/ODIHR final report on early parliamentary elections in Serbia recommends comprehensive review of legislation and ensuring the level playing field for contestants
• OSCE/ODIHR event in Kyiv supports dialogue platform in Verkhovna Rada on parliamentary ethics

DUSHANBE, 5 August 2016 – Twenty officers  of the Tajik Border Troops, ranked between warrant officer and major, mainly coming from border detachments  on the Afghan and Tajik border, successfully completed a four-week course today on patrolling and leadership at the Gissar Training Centre in Dushanbe.

The course, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge of conducting observation missions using topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools. They also learned about reporting and analysis, repelling methods, communications and tactical movement.

Uniforms and common tactical equipment were given to each participant. Separate medical lessons were delivered by trainers from the United States Embassy in Tajikistan. The sessions on gender mainstreaming and demining awareness were delivered by experts of the OSCE Office. Two officers of the Tajik Border Troops, who previously passed the course, also supported the OSCE in delivering the lessons.

OSCE Office in Tajikistan Counter-terrorism and Police issues Adviser Wolfgang Nikolaus, congratulated the officers on completing the course and said: “The OSCE continues supporting efforts to enhance the capacity of Tajik Border Troops Staff by providing such high-quality training courses."

The course is the eighth to be held under the third phase of the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project. The Project aims to increase the capacities of Tajik border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.

Related Stories

• OSCE Office in Tajikistan organizes workshop on verifying the authenticity of security documents
• OSCE Office in Tajikistan donates audio-visual material to enhance interactive teaching at Police Academy
• OSCE Office in Tajikistan support Garm’s local authorities in strengthening referral mechanisms for protecting domestic violence victims

https://www.cfact.org/2024/11/13/day-2-azerbaijan-president-says-fossil-fuels-a-gift-from-god-un-parades-world-leaders/ By Craig Rucker Day two of the UN Conference of the Parties meeting (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, saw numerous heads of state roll into town to pay homage to he global warming cause. In all, some 100 world leaders were represented, with many ushered into the main plenary stage to deliver short testimonials on how […]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/opinion/climate-change-politics-trump-cop29.html By David Wallace-Wells When the COP29 climate conference comes to an end next week, it will have concluded without an appearance by President Biden. This is not because Donald Trump just won the election, supplanting the outgoing American head of state on the world stage. The president-elect isn’t attending, either. Neither is Vice President […]

Top 10: Technology Leaders in APAC  Technology Magazine

COP 29, Day 3: Small islands reaffirm commitments, and Climate Action Commissioner EU's leadership

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has been elected the next GOP leader in the Senate, ushering in a new generation of leadership after nearly two decades of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) running the conference. A majority of GOP senators supported Thune, currently the Senate minority whip, in a secret ballot held weeks before Republicans take control […]

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) is speaking to reporters after being voted Senate Republican leader by secret ballot Wednesday. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Thune defeated Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Rick Scott (R-FL) to succeed outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who will still serve in the Senate through at […]

House Republican leaders are speaking to the press after holding their votes for leadership positions within the conference. Republicans are expected to retain their majority in the House of Representatives, but the Associated Press has not projected which party will have control of the lower chamber of Congress. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE […]

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is optimistic about the Senate GOP despite losing a bid to lead the conference on Wednesday. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) won the secret ballot race to lead the Senate GOP over Scott and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) after two rounds. Thune defeated Cornyn 29-24 in the second round of voting. Scott, […]

Sen. John Thune will replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as Republican Senate Majority Leader after a close contest Wednesday that took two ballots to resolve.

The post John Thune Elected Senate Republican Leader in Tight Race appeared first on Breitbart.

Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune (R-SD) said Senate Republicans "are excited" to enact President-elect Donald Trump's agenda.

The post Senate Majority Leader-Elect Thune: Senate Republicans ‘Excited’ to Put Trump’s Agenda into Action appeared first on Breitbart.

President Ilham Aliyev, who is hosting the COP29 UN climate talks, drew loud applause from delegates of some Pacific island nations after a combative speech targeting France's handling of its overseas territories.

A public pressure campaign by top Donald Trump allies to elect their preferred candidate, Florida Senator Rick Scott, failed.

"The entertainment value will be epic," the billionaire said.

The following article, House, Senate Leadership Fights Dominate The Week After GOP Secures Trifecta, was first published on Conservative Firing Line.

This week the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to choose their leadership after Republicans won majorities in the Senate and House in the 2024 elections and President-elect Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House, securing the trifecta for the GOP for the first time since 2016. The Senate …

Continue reading House, Senate Leadership Fights Dominate The Week After GOP Secures Trifecta ...

As Republican senators prepare to select a new leader, Republican Seb. Rick Scott of Florida has picked up public support prior to Wednesday’s secret vote. Republican Sens. John  Cornyn of […]

The post MAGA Favorite Rick Scott Wins Over Votes on Eve of Crucial Senate Leadership Election appeared first on The Western Journal.

Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as their new leader. Thune was elected in a second-ballot contest, defeating Sen. John Cornyn of Texas 29 votes […]

The post Senate Republicans Eliminate Rick Scott from Leadership Contention, Elect Former Trump Adversary appeared first on The Western Journal.

President-elect Donald Trump’s landslide victory in the 2024 election has given his MAGA supporters eight straight days of euphoria. In a secret-ballot vote conducted Wednesday, however, Republicans in the U.S. […]

The post 'We Don't Want You': MAGA Reacts to John Thune Becoming Senate Majority Leader, and He Won't Like What They're Saying appeared first on The Western Journal.

Senate Republicans elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune to succeed Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell as leader of the Senate's GOP in Washington and its likely new majority.

US President Joe Biden will meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Peru on Saturday for the last of three in-person sit-downs between the leaders during the US president's term in office.

The Republicans in the US Senate picked John Thune as the chamber's new leader Wednesday as lawmakers scrambling to prepare for President-elect Donald Trump's new administration rejected his camp's favored candidate.

US President Joe Biden will meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Peru on Saturday for the last of three in-person sit-downs between the leaders during the US president's term in office.

The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees has pledged its support to the union’s national leadership, headed by President-General Akeem Ambali. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Edo NULGE, led by Clifford Dauda, praised Ambali’s ability to unite stakeholders and members from across the country, highlighting this as a

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Wednesday, warned that if Nigeria refused to do away with the 1999 Constitution, it would be hard for anyone to fix the country. He described Nigeria as a pluralistic country that needed to address its diversity with true federal constitutions. “To those who think that the trouble with

mexico city — Legislators from Mexico's ruling party reelected the head of the National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday despite widespread opposition and her failure to call out the government for abuses.  The reelection of Rosario Piedra Ibarra in a party-line Senate vote appeared to be another example of the ruling Morena party's attempts to weaken independent oversight bodies. Morena has proposed eliminating a host of other oversight, transparency and freedom-of-information agencies, claiming they cost too much to run.  Mexico's civic and nonprofit rights groups have been almost unanimous in their criticism of Piedra's reelection.  "This is an undeserved prize for a career marked by inaction, the loss of independence and the weakening of the institution," the Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez human rights center wrote on social media.  Piedra is a committed supporter of former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who left office on September 30. She once affirmed that none of the deaths caused by the armed forces under his administration were illegal or unjustified, and she shared the former president's delight in attacking and criticizing other independent human rights groups.  Commission issues few recommendations Since her first election in 2019, Piedra has done little to investigate allegations of massacres or extrajudicial killings by soldiers and members of the militarized National Guard, to whom Lopez Obrador gave sweeping powers.  Despite receiving over 1,800 citizen complaints against the armed forces between 2020 and 2023, her commission issued only 39 recommendations, and most of the few military cases her commission did follow up on involved abuses committed under previous administrations.  The rights commission has the power to make non-binding recommendations to government agencies. If they do not agree to follow the recommendations, they are at least required by law to explain why.  Piedra has almost exclusively focused the commission's work on issuing recommendations in cases where people have not received proper health care at government-run hospitals. Those recommendations accomplish little, because they don't address the underlying problem of underfunded, poorly equipped hospitals forced to handle too many patients.  At times Piedra acted as if human rights violations no longer existed under Lopez Obrador. In 2019, she expressed disbelief when asked about the killing of journalists, despite the fact that almost a dozen were killed in Lopez Obrador's first year in office.  "Are they killing journalists?" she said with an expression of disbelief.  'Her actions appear to support impunity ' Piedra comes from a well-known activist family: Her mother founded one of Mexico's first groups to demand answers for families whose relatives had been abducted and disappeared by the government in the 1960s and '70s. But even her mother's group, the Eureka Committee, did not support Piedra's reelection.  "Her actions appear to support impunity for the perpetrators of governmental terrorism, and the government's line of obedience and forgetting" rights abuses, the committee wrote in a statement.  Piedra broke with two important traditions: she was a member of the ruling party up until she was elected to her first term in 2019. The job has usually gone to nonpartisan human rights experts.  And she has openly endorsed and supported government policies and actions. Previous heads of the commission had a more critical relationship with the government.  Piedra also failed to make the final cut for candidates for the post this year in a congressional examination of their qualifications, but was put on the ballot anyway.  That's important because similar evaluation committees will decide who gets on the ballot in judicial reforms that make federal judges stand for election next year. Activists worry that the same kind of favoritism will come into play in the election of judges.  "This decision comes after a selection process in which she (Piedra) wasn't found to be the most qualified," a coalition of rights groups said in a statement. "That reveals the political, partisan considerations that put her onto the ballot."  She also apparently falsified a letter of recommendation; a bishop and human rights activist said a letter she presented to support her reelection had not been signed by him.  Piedra will serve under new President Claudia Sheinbaum, another devoted follower of Lopez Obrador, who took office October 1. On Sheinbaum's first day in office, the army killed six migrants near the Guatemalan border; 10 days later, soldiers and National Guard killed three bystanders in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo while chasing suspects.  Sheinbaum's third week in office was capped by the killing of a crusading Catholic priest who had been threatened by gangs, and a lopsided encounter in northern Sinaloa state in which soldiers killed 19 drug cartel suspects, but suffered not a scratch themselves. That awakened memories of past human rights abuses, like a 2014 incident in which soldiers killed about a dozen cartel suspects after they had surrendered.  The purportedly leftist government has been quick to criticize human rights groups and activists who expose abuses.  In June, an outspoken volunteer advocate for missing people found an apparent body dumping ground with human remains in Mexico City, embarrassing ruling party officials who had done little to look for such clandestine grave sites. City prosecutors lashed out at her, claiming "the chain of custody" of the evidence had been manipulated, which could lead to charges. 

White House — In what will likely be his farewell appearance on the world stage, President Joe Biden faces a daunting question: what to tell world leaders wondering about potential changes in U.S. policies when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House with his America First agenda. Biden is set to depart for Peru and Brazil Thursday for two major economic summits. Biden is scheduled to spend Friday and Saturday in Lima with leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, made up of 21 member economies that promote free trade in the region.  He will be in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Tuesday to meet with leaders of the world's 20 largest economies at the Group of 20 summit. On the way to Rio from Lima, Biden will make a brief stop at Manaus for a climate-focused engagement in Brazil's state of Amazonas. In his meetings, Biden must face allies and partners who four years ago may have been skeptical about his "America is back" message and the durability of U.S. global commitments. These leaders saw Trump, during his first term, act to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord and threaten to pull out of NATO. Uncertainties about future U.S. policy will complicate efforts to reach an agenda on issues of global concern such as trade, poverty and debt alleviation, climate change, sustainable development, and green energy. "There will be a lot of combination of lamenting, speculation, guessing about what we'll see coming first in terms of policies out of the campaign and how countries are best able to position themselves," said Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 'America's allies are vital' To these leaders, Biden's message is that "America's allies are vital to America's national security," said national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who previewed the trip to reporters on Wednesday. "They make us stronger. They multiply our capability. They take a burden off of our shoulders. They contribute to our common causes," Sullivan said. He underscored that Biden would be attending the APEC summit when U.S. alliances in the region were at an "all-time high," with bolstered ties with Japan, Korea, Australia and the Philippines. Biden will hold a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of APEC with President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan to "discuss the importance of institutionalizing" the progress made so that it carries forward through the transition to the new administration, Sullivan said. Whatever the questions surrounding the next administration, Biden will emphasize his faith in the "ideals of American engagement around the world," said Josh Lipsky, senior director of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center. "He believes it is in the best interest of both America and the world for it to continue," Lipsky said. "And not one election or one president can undercut that, from his perspective." Biden's agenda In Rio de Janeiro, Biden will "demonstrate the strong value proposition of the United States to developing countries and lead the G20 to work together to address shared global challenges," the White House said. He is expected to hold bilateral meetings with summit hosts Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In Lima, he is set to support Peru's initiative to expand APEC's economic inclusion efforts to empower workers in the informal economy, said Matt Murray, U.S. senior official for APEC. In Rio, he will focus on workers' rights and clean economic growth and attend the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, Lula's initiative aimed at accelerating global efforts to reduce hunger and poverty by 2030. In Manaus, Biden will make history as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Brazilian Amazon. There, he will deliver remarks on climate conservation and engage Indigenous leaders working to preserve the rainforest. Symbolic and short-lived Many of Biden's efforts will be mostly symbolic and short-lived, as the incoming U.S. administration could bring dramatically different priorities on global welfare programs and climate change. Analysts say that while the world has watched U.S. leadership swing from Republican to Democratic and back again in recent years, Chinese President Xi Jinping will seek to project an image of stability as he exerts his vision of China's increased role on the global stage. In Peru, Xi will inaugurate a $1.3 billion megaport, part of China's infrastructure investment program that has bought him influence in various parts of the world. Beijing has increased diplomatic engagement in the region, with Xi visiting 11 Latin American countries since becoming president, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Summit hosts Peru and Brazil are set to honor him with state visits this month. A meeting between Biden and Xi, likely their last during Biden's term, is scheduled in Lima for Saturday. The meeting comes as Trump appoints ardent China critics in key foreign policy positions, moves that could lead to a more confrontational U.S. posture toward Beijing. Whatever the next administration decides, it's going to need to find ways to manage the "tough, complicated relationship" between the U.S. and China, a senior official said when asked what Biden might tell Xi to expect from the incoming administration.

U.S. Senate Republicans elected John Thune to lead the chamber next year, opting for a well-regarded insider and shrugging off a public pressure campaign by supporters of Donald Trump to pick a loyalist to the president-elect. The South Dakota senator’s victory is a sign the Senate could retain some degree of independence from Trump next […]

The Paris prosecutor on Wednesday requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, at a trial where she and 24 others are accused of embezzling European Union funds. The trial, which comes almost a decade after initial investigations started, threatens to undermine her party’s efforts […]

PESHAWAR / QUETTA: An important ‘commander’ of a banned organisation was among 16 terrorists killed and six others injured in gun battles, retaliatory attacks and operations carried out in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it was officially announced on Wednesday.

Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on the reported presence of khwarij (the military’s terminology for the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) in the Miramshah area of North Waziristan district between Nov 12 and 13, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The security forces effectively engaged the terrorist locations during the operation. Eight terrorists were killed and six others injured during the exchange of fire.

In the Kech area of Balochistan, four terrorists, including an important ‘commander’, were killed in a gun battle during an operation, the ISPR said.

Majeed Brigade man was responsible for choosing suicide bombers, says ISPR

In a statement, the military’s media wing said that on the night between Nov 12 and 13, security forces conducted IBOs in the general area Balgatar of Kech district on the reported presence of terrorists.

After an intense exchange of fire between the troops and the terrorists, a high-value target, terrorists’ ringleader Sana alias Baru was killed along with three other terrorists.

The ISPR said that Sana was the focal recruitment agent, especially for suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade wing of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army in Kech district and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists.

Sanitisation operations were being conducted in Miramshah and Kech to eliminate any other terrorists found in the areas, the ISPR said, adding that security forces were determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and thwart attempts to sabotage peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.

Earlier in the day, four terrorists were killed in two encounters conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel in Malakand, officials said.

Arms and ammunitions were seized after the gun battles, they added.

In the first encounter, three terrorists were killed when the CTD personnel retaliated against attackers in the Sher Khana Palai area. The dead militants were identified as Rizwan alias Bodagay, Salman, and Abdur Rehman alias Shadmani.

Rizwan was wanted by the police and security forces for his involvement in various terrorism-related cases, and was also involved in the firing incident at the historic Churchill Packet, they said.

Deputy Inspector General CTD Hassan Raza told a press conference in Batkhela that his department had received information on Oct 23 that some terrorists had sneaked into the country from Afghanistan and they were planning to carry out subversive activities in different districts of Malakand Division, including Bajaur, Malakand and Swat.

He said that terrorists attacked a CTD team, which had placed barricades on a road at the Sher Khana Palai area to check their movement. In a retaliatory action, the CTD personnel killed three terrorists.

The CTD personnel recovered three Kalashnikovs, hand grenades, pistols and live rounds from the dead militants.

During the other encounter, security forces killed a terrorist, identified as Abdullah.

DIG Raza, flanked by SP Malakand Amjad Ali Khan, stated that the killed terrorists, who belonged to the Sher Khana Palai area, were wanted by the police and security forces for their involvement in several terrorism-related cases. He said a search operation continued in the area.

Gohar Ali Gohar in Malakand also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024