ge Vivek Ramaswamy's High School Graduation Speech Goes Viral Ahead Of 'DOGE' Appointment With Elon Musk By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:01:17 +0530 The viral video features young Vivek Ramaswamy, then an 18-year-old student at St Xavier High School, reflecting on his journey through high school. Full Article
ge Mahindra Thar Roxx Gets 5 Stars In Bharat NCAP Crash Test By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:42:02 +0530 The Bharat NCAP crash tested the AX5 L and the MX3 variants of the Thar Roxx Full Article
ge "Dirty And Dangerous, But...": Foreigner's Video Praising Delhi Goes Viral By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:46:28 +0530 An Irish-Persian vlogger's Instagram post about living in Delhi is going viral on social media. In his post, Sean Hammond shared a long caption detailing his experience living in the city. Full Article
ge World's Longest Nonstop Flights To Get $821 Million Luxury Upgrade By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:06:52 +0530 The world's longest nonstop commercial flights are getting a major upgrade. Singapore Airlines (SIA) recently announced a multi-year program worth 1.1 billion Singapore dollars (about $821 million). Full Article
ge Trump Tracker: Ex-Democrat Tulsi Gabbard Appointed US Intelligence Chief By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:45:00 +0530 Donald Trump is set to return to the White House after his victory over Kamala Harris in the November 5 US presidential elections. The 78-year-old leader Republican has secured all seven swing states. Full Article
ge Vivek Ramaswamy's Old Speech Goes Viral Ahead Of 'DOGE' Appointment By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:01:00 +0530 The viral video features young Vivek Ramaswamy, then an 18-year-old student at St Xavier High School, reflecting on his journey through high school. Full Article
ge Display Names, Phone Numbers: Vendors At Delhi Vegetable Market Told By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 22:23:03 +0530 Street vendors at a vegetable market in Delhi's Najafgarh will have to display their names on carts in a move the local councillor and the market association claimed was aimed at preventing "illegal" Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants from selling pro Full Article
ge Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's Daughter Gets Married In Rajasthan's Kota By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 23:18:56 +0530 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's daughter Anjali got married at a function here on Tuesday night. His son-in-law Aneesh hails from a noted business family in Kota. Full Article
ge Pregnant Woman Has Narrow Escape As Oxygen Cylinder In Ambulance Explodes By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:10:36 +0530 A pregnant woman and her family in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district had a close shave on Wednesday evening after the engine of an ambulance caught fire and an oxygen cylinder exploded minutes later. Full Article
ge On Rally Stage, A Owaisi Served Notice To Avoid Inflammatory Speech By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:17:21 +0530 AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has been served notice by the police in poll-bound Maharashtra's Solapur over his speeches. Full Article
ge Boss Left "Speechless" After GenZ Employee's Excuse For Showing Up Late By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:28:04 +0530 The screenshot read, "Hii Sir & Ma'am I will be coming tomorrow at 11.30 am Because I am currently leaving office at 8.30 pm." Full Article
ge "Dirty And Dangerous, But...": Foreigner's Video Praising Delhi Goes Viral By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:46:02 +0530 An Irish-Persian vlogger's Instagram post about living in Delhi is going viral on social media. In his post, Sean Hammond shared a long caption detailing his experience living in the city. Full Article
ge 7-Year-Old Goes For Surgery, Greater Noida Doctor Operates On Wrong Eye By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:33:09 +0530 The family created a ruckus at the hospital and filed a complaint with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Gautam Buddha Nagar. Full Article
ge Top 10 Largest Supergiant Stars in the Universe - Moneycontrol By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:38:29 GMT Top 10 Largest Supergiant Stars in the Universe Moneycontrol Full Article
ge 'Singham Again' becomes Ajay Devgn’s biggest hit in North America as it crosses Rs 35 crore mark - TOI Etimes By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:59:00 GMT 'Singham Again' becomes Ajay Devgn’s biggest hit in North America as it crosses Rs 35 crore mark TOI EtimesSingham Again box office collection: Ajay Devgn film zooms past 200 crore in India, set to cross 300 crore worldwide Hindustan TimesThis Bollywood Filmmaker Has 10 Films In Rs 100 Cr Club, And No He's NOT Karan Johar Or Sanjay Leela Bhansali - Guess Who? Zee NewsSingham Again Leaves Behind This Movie To Become 2nd Highest-Grossing Bollywood Film In 2024 News18Singham Again box office Day 12: Ajay Devgn film declines as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 grows India Today Full Article
ge Jio Financial Services shares surge over 6% on inclusion in F&O segment - The Economic Times By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:34:21 GMT Jio Financial Services shares surge over 6% on inclusion in F&O segment The Economic TimesZomato Surges 5% On Inclusion In F&O Segment, Swiggy's Listing; Details News18NSE to introduce futures and options contracts on 45 stocks from November 29, here's the full list MoneycontrolJio Financial, Zomato potential Nifty inclusion candidates? Here is what analysts said CNBCTV18Exchanges make 45 new additions in the F&O following new eligibility norms | News on Markets Business Standard Full Article
ge Piyush Goyal urges companies to cut prices to boost consumption - Moneycontrol By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:41:02 GMT Piyush Goyal urges companies to cut prices to boost consumption MoneycontrolPiyush Goyal demands a rate cut, RBI Governor's speech follows — all the action at Global Leadership Summit CNBCTV18RBI should definitely cut interest rates, says Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal The Economic Times'India's Average Inflation Lowest Under Modi Govt Since 1947; RBI Should Cut Rates': Piyush Goyal News18RBI governor Shaktikanta Das' response after Piyush Goyal calls for rate cut Moneycontrol Full Article
ge Bangladesh To Be Islamic Nation Soon? Attorney General’s Plea Wants ‘Secular’ Word Out Of Constitution - News18 By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:49:06 GMT Bangladesh To Be Islamic Nation Soon? Attorney General’s Plea Wants ‘Secular’ Word Out Of Constitution News1890% of Bangladesh Muslim, remove 'secular' from Constitution: Top law officer India TodayBangladesh Attorney General calls for major constitutional changes, wants 'secularism' removed The Economic TimesBangladesh top official calls for removing ‘secular’ from Constitution, citing 90% Muslim population Hindustan TimesAttorney General: Bangabandhu undisputed leader of the nation Dhaka Tribune Full Article
ge 75+ Happy Children's Day Messages, Greetings, Wishes and Quotes for 2024 - The Times of India By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 02:34:00 GMT 75+ Happy Children's Day Messages, Greetings, Wishes and Quotes for 2024 The Times of IndiaBal Diwas 2024: Why was Demand to Change Children’s Day from 14 November to 26 December? Check Reason Jagran JoshHappy Children's Day 2024: 50+ heartfelt wishes, quotes, WhatsApp messages to wish your beloved kids with Business TodayJawaharlal Nehru birth anniversary: Why the day is celebrated as Children's Day, Top quotes by India’s first P CNBCTV18Opinion | Celebrating Childhood: The Enduring Significance Of India’s Children’s Day News18 Full Article
ge Best Motorola Edge (2024) cases By phandroid.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:30:51 +0000 Keep your Motorola Edge 2024 safe and protected with these amazing cases. The post Best Motorola Edge (2024) cases appeared first on Phandroid. Full Article Evergreen Smartphones Motorola Edge
ge Government Condemns Genocide Disinformation Efforts By allafrica.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:05:13 GMT [SAnews.gov.za] The Government of South Africa has condemned the spreading of disinformation concerning its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Full Article External Relations Human Rights Middle East and Africa South Africa Southern Africa
ge 300 Families From Rabie Ridge Go to Court to Fight Eviction By allafrica.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:00:12 GMT [GroundUp] The City of Johannesburg says the land occupation is stopping a housing development Full Article Governance Legal and Judicial Affairs South Africa Southern Africa
ge Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Targets Immigrant-Owned Spaza Shops By allafrica.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:16:16 GMT [GroundUp] "These are politically motivated actions against us. There are many more pressing issues facing this city." Full Article Economy Business and Finance Legal and Judicial Affairs South Africa Southern Africa
ge Cabinet Welcomes Historic Issuing of Muslim Marriage Certificates By allafrica.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:38:05 GMT [SAnews.gov.za] Cabinet has welcomed the historic issuing of the first batch of 33 Muslim marriage certificates by the Department of Home Affairs. Full Article Legal and Judicial Affairs Religion South Africa Southern Africa
ge SA to Mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence By allafrica.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:38:07 GMT [SAnews.gov.za] Cabinet has approved the conceptual approach to this year's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign. Full Article Legal and Judicial Affairs South Africa Southern Africa Women and Gender
ge command line version of generating layout tree file By community.cadence.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:45:42 GMT hi, im looking for a command line version of generating layout tree file. from layout view we can do it by Edit->Hierarchy->Tree or using shift+T. i have been using and big fan of the sch hier tree skill code solution from following article for a while now. https://community.cadence.com/cadence_technology_forums/f/custom-ic-skill/41566/config-view-assignment/1360121# i need the command line version to include in my perl / bash script. i did try to modified the sch version by changing some possible relevant information of sch to lay but getting no where. im not very good at skill code but willing to give a shot if anyone can point out some direction. Thanks. Full Article
ge 2025 Polestar 2 drops the best-driving, highest-range versions By www.greencarreports.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500 The 2025 Polestar 2 lineup shrinks to just one configuration, dropping the less-expensive, higher-range models. First spotted by Car and Driver, the 2025 Polestar 2 will only be available in Performance Pack spec. That means the base single-motor version, as well as the non-Performance dual-motor version, are history. The single-motor version... Full Article
ge Top 10 electric cars with the most range By www.thecarconnection.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500 Need range ratings of 350 miles, 400 miles, or more before you can comfortably make the jump to an electric vehicle? Now you have plenty of options. But for many of them, you’d better have a big budget. To take a step back, the market demand for ever-higher range ratings is nested in an inconvenient truth: EPA range ratings represent an... Full Article
ge Volkswagen's stake in Rivian grows to $5.8B, joint venture now formed By www.greencarreports.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:48:00 -0500 VW's taking a larger stake in Rivian, now up to $5.8 billion Rivian and VW's joint venture has formally been created The Rivian R2 in 2026 and a Volkswagen in 2027 will be the first vehicles to feature the new joint-venture electrical architecture The Volkswagen Group on Tuesday announced that it would up its investment in Rivian as the two... Full Article
ge 2026 Honda Passport revealed with bigger, brawnier design By www.motorauthority.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500 Redesigned 2026 Honda Passport revealed ahead of launch in early 2025 2026 Honda Passport comes standard with 285-hp V-6 2026 Honda Passport pricing will start in mid-$40,000 range A new generation of the Honda Passport two-row midsize SUV is headed to showrooms early next year as a 2026 model. Buyers will be able to choose from a base RTL model... Full Article Los Angeles Auto Show
ge LASG inspects drainage projects to tackle flooding By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:05:07 +0000 The Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, reaffirmed its commitment to permanently addressing the menace of flash flooding and reclaiming the environment from various infractions across the metropolis. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated this while addressing the media after an inspection tour around some drainage projects at the Eti Osa Read More Full Article News
ge Sanwo-Olu unveils fire stations, urges safety By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:07:11 +0000 Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, called on Lagosians to be safety conscious to avoid fire incidents, which had become a regular occurrence in the state. The governor spoke at the opening of new fire stations at Ijegun-Egba and Ijede, Ikorodu. The governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Read More Full Article News
ge Makinde presents N678.86bn budget, targets infrastructure, education growth By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:23:58 +0000 Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, presented a proposed budget estimate of N678,086,767,322.18 to the state House of Assembly for legislative consideration and approval. Makinde, while presenting the budget, tagged, “Budget of Economic Stabilisation,” said it was 35 per cent higher compared to the 2024 budget. He said, “Out of the budget, capital expenditure Read More Full Article News
ge Nigeria’s $700bn mining potential draws global interest By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:42:05 +0000 Nigeria’s push to revamp its mining sector is generating heightened interest from global investors as President Bola Tinubu’s administration drives reforms to unlock an estimated $700 billion in untapped mineral resources, diplomatic sources said. Last week, Nigeria launched a four-day mining investment roadshow in South Africa, aiming to attract $500m in foreign investment for its Read More Full Article Business
ge Edo NULGE restates support for LG autonomy, backs national leadership By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:22 +0000 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 Read More Full Article News
ge Why I chose Nigeria over the Netherlands – Troost-Ekong By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:10:06 +0000 The Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has revealed that a phone call from late coach Stephen Keshi and the prospect of international football at age 21 influenced his decision to represent Nigeria instead of his country of birth, the Netherlands, PUNCH Sports reports. The Al-Kholood defender, speaking on the Sports Afterparty Podcast, explained that the Read More Full Article Sports
ge No leader can fix Nigeria with 1999 constitution – Anyaoku By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:11:25 +0000 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 Read More Full Article News
ge Millions of Nigerians go hungry as floods compound hardship By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 04:36:35 -0500 GUBIO, Nigeria — Unrelenting price rises and a brutal insurgency had already made it hard for Nigerians in northeastern Borno State to feed their families. When a dam collapsed in September, flooding the state capital and surrounding farmland, many people ran out of options. Now they queue for handouts in camps for those displaced by fighting between extremist Boko Haram rebels and the military. When those run out, they seek work on local farms where they risk being killed or raped by local bandits. "I can't even cry anymore. I'm too tired," said Indo Usman, who tried to start again in the state capital Maiduguri, rearing animals for the two annual Muslim holy days, after years of repeatedly fleeing rebel attacks in rural Borno. The flood washed that all away, driving her, her husband and their six children to a bare room at Gubio, an unfinished housing project about 96 km northwest of Maiduguri that has become a displacement camp. Torrential rains and floods in 29 of Nigeria's 36 states this year have destroyed more than 1.5 million hectares of cropland, affecting more than 9 million people, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Climate change is a factor, as is Nigeria's poorly maintained or non-existent infrastructure as well as vulnerabilities caused by the weakening Naira currency and the scrapping of a government fuel subsidy. The cost of staples like rice and beans has doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in a year, depending on location — an unmanageable shock for millions of poor families. Mass kidnappings for ransom in the northwest and conflict between farmers and pastoralists in the central belt, traditionally the nation's bread basket, have also disrupted agriculture and squeezed food supplies. 'Hungriest of the hungry' Roughly 40% of Nigeria's more than 200 million people live below the international poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, the World Bank estimates. Already, 25 million people live in acute food and nutrition insecurity - putting their lives or livelihoods in immediate danger, according to a joint analysis by the government and U.N. agencies. That number is expected to rise to 33 million by next June-August. "The food crisis in Nigeria is immense because what we are seeing is a crisis within a crisis within a crisis," said Trust Mlambo, head of program for the northeast at the World Food Program, in an interview with Reuters in Maiduguri. With international donors focused on emergencies in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, Mlambo said there was not enough funding to fully meet Nigeria's growing need for food aid. "We are really prioritizing the hungriest of the hungry," he said. In Borno, the Alau dam, upriver from Maiduguri, gave way on Sept. 9, four days after state officials had told the public it was secure. Local residents and engineers had been warning that it was under strain. Hundreds of people were killed in the resulting flood, according to aid workers who did not wish to be identified for fear of offending the state government. A spokesperson for the state government did not respond to requests for comment. Zainab Abubakar, a self-employed tailor in the city who lived in relative comfort with her husband and six children in a house with a refrigerator, was awoken at midnight by water rushing into her bedroom. They ran for their lives while the flood destroyed their house and carried everything away, including her sewing machine. Now, they are sheltering at Gubio and collecting rice from aid agencies in a plastic bucket. "There is no alternative," she said. In Banki, on Nigeria's border with Cameroon about 133 km southeast of Maiduguri, Mariam Hassan lost crops of maize, pepper and then okra in repeated flooding of her subsistence farm this year, leaving her with nothing to eat or sell. "I beg the neighbors or relatives to give me food, not even for me but for my children, for us to survive," said Hassan, who has eight children. "The situation has turned me into a beggar." Full Article Africa
ge Senate urged to work on anti-online piracy bill By www.philstar.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0800 As the Senate continues to take action on the Site Blocking Bill, a consumer group again called on the chamber to pass the measure to protect the creative industry and ensure the digital security of Filipinos. Full Article
ge At UN climate talks, nations big and small get chance to bear witness to climate change By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 03:28:43 -0500 BAKU, Azerbaijan — When more than two dozen world leaders deliver remarks at the United Nations' annual climate conference on Wednesday, many have detailed their nations' firsthand experience with the catastrophic weather that has come with climate change. “Over the past year, catastrophic floods in Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as well as in southern Croatia have shown the devastating impact of rising temperatures,” said Croatia's prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic. “The Mediterranean, one of the most vulnerable regions, calls for urgent action.” The Greek prime minister said Europe and the world needs to be “more honest” about the trade-offs needed to keep global temperatures down. “We need to ask hard questions about a path that goes very fast, at the expense of our competitiveness, and a path that goes some much slower, but allows our industry to adapt and to thrive,” he said. His nation this summer was hammered by successive heat waves after three years of below-average rainfall. In Greece, the misery included water shortages, dried-up lakes and the death of wild horses. Other speakers on the list include Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose nation has seen deadly flooding this year from monsoon rains that scientists say have become heavier with climate change. Just two years ago, more than 1,700 people died in widespread flooding. Pakistan has also suffered from dangerous heat, with thousands of people hospitalized with heatstroke this spring as temperatures soared to 47 degrees Celsius. Also on the list of speakers Wednesday is Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis. Like many other countries in the Global South, the Bahamas has piled up debt from warming-connected weather disasters it did little to cause, including Hurricanes Dorian in 2019 and Matthew in 2016. Leaders have been seeking help and money from the Global North and oil companies. Early on Wednesday, ministers and officials from African nations called for initiatives to advance green development on the continent and strengthen resilience to extreme weather events — from floods to droughts — across the region. Plenty of big names and powerful countries are noticeably absent from COP29 this year. That includes the 13 largest carbon dioxide-polluting countries — a group responsible for more than than 70% of the heat-trapping gases emitted last year — were missing. The world’s biggest polluters and strongest economies — China and the United States — didn't send their No. 1s. Neither did India and Indonesia. But U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was there, and he announced an 81% emissions reduction target on 1990 levels by 2035, in line with the Paris Agreement goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. That’s up from the 78% the U.K. had already pledged. The main focus of this year’s talks is climate finance — wealthier nations compensating poor countries for damages from climate change’s weather extremes, helping them pay to transition their economies away from fossil fuels and helping them with adaptation. Full Article Climate Change Science & Health Europe
ge Development bank financing pledge gives COP29 summit early boost By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 04:46:58 -0500 BAKU, Azerbaijan — COP29 negotiators welcomed as an early boost to the two-week summit a pledge by major development banks to lift funding to poor and middle-income countries struggling with global warming. A group of lenders, including the World Bank, announced a joint goal on Tuesday of increasing this finance to $120 billion by 2030, a roughly 60% increase on the amount in 2023. "I think it's a very good sign," Irish Climate Minister Eamon Ryan told Reuters on Wednesday. "It's very helpful. But that on its own won't be enough," Ryan said, adding countries and companies must also contribute. The chief aim of the conference in Azerbaijan is to secure a wide-ranging international climate financing agreement that ensures up to trillions of dollars for climate projects. Developing countries are hoping for big commitments from rich, industrialized countries that are the biggest historical contributors to global warming, and some of which are also huge producers of fossil fuels. "Developed countries have not only neglected their historical duty to reduce emissions, they are doubling down on fossil-fuel-driven growth," said climate activist Harjeet Singh. Wealthy countries pledged in 2009 to contribute $100 billion a year to help developing nations transition to clean energy and adapt to the conditions of a warming world. But those payments were only fully met in 2022 and the pledge expires this year. With 2024 on track to be the hottest year on record, scientists say global warming and its impacts are unfolding faster than expected. Climate-fueled wildfires forced evacuations in California and triggered air quality warnings in New York. In Spain, survivors are coming to terms with the worst floods in the country's modern history. Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was concerned that the international process to address global warming, now decades old, was not moving swiftly enough. "This seems exactly like what happens in the real world everyday," he told the conference. "Life goes on with its old habits, and our speeches, filled with good words about fighting climate change, change nothing," Rama added. Full Article Climate Change Europe
ge Germany to hold snap February election amid fears political turmoil imperils Ukraine aid By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:48:29 -0500 London — Germany's plan to hold a snap election in February has raised uncertainties over the country's military aid program for Ukraine, as the government has not yet approved its 2025 budget. Berlin is the second biggest donor of weapons and equipment to Kyiv, after the United States. The political turmoil in Europe's biggest economy comes as allies prepare for a second term for President-elect Donald Trump in the United States. Trump has repeatedly questioned U.S. support for Ukraine. February vote Germany's main political parties agreed to hold the election on February 23, following the collapse of the ruling three-party coalition government earlier this month. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to introduce a confidence motion in parliament next month, which he is expected to lose, paving the way for a general election. Scholz has said he will stand again as the Social Democrats' candidate, although some in the party have questioned whether he is the best choice amid low approval ratings. The chairman of the Social Democrats in the German parliament, Rolf Mützenich, insisted Tuesday that Scholz was the right candidate. "I am firmly convinced that Olaf Scholz has done this country good in the last three years under the most difficult conditions. He has done everything to ensure that the coalition stays together. We have not only experienced the attack by Russian troops on Ukraine, but we have also helped Ukraine. We have also created important economic stabilization effects in Germany," Mützenich told reporters in Berlin. Opposition poll lead However, the main opposition Christian Democrats have a big lead in the polls. The party's leader, Friedrich Merz, argued for a quicker election. "We are basically losing around a month for the election to the next German parliament and thus also for the formation of a government after the next election," Merz told reporters Tuesday. "I just want to remind you that we do not have a federal budget for 2025. We are going into 2025 with this serious omission, with this heavy burden. And that is why it is completely unknown what will become of it," he added. Debt dispute The current government — a coalition between the Social Democrats, the Green party and the Free Democrats — collapsed last week following disagreements over raising new debt to finance the 2025 budget, including the provision of military aid to Ukraine. A so-called debt brake in Germany's constitution restricts the government's ability to take on new loans. Berlin has given Kyiv around $11 billion in weapons and equipment since Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion. The outgoing government had planned to cut that aid to just over $4 billion next year. "Broadly speaking, there was a consensus that supporting Ukraine remains a priority for Germany. The question was just where and how to get and raise the finances for that," said Mattia Nelles, founder of the German-Ukraine Bureau, a political consultancy based in Düsseldorf, who said the February election was "bad timing for Ukraine, bad timing for Europe." 'Leadership vacuum' "It means Germany will be preoccupied with itself for a few months before we have a new government with a hopefully strong mandate — a coalition that could take literally until next summer, or in the worst case, even until autumn. So that is a leadership vacuum in Europe, and that's bad news for everyone involved," Nelles said. The election is due to take place just weeks after the January 20 inauguration of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president. "The worst case that many fear in Berlin and Kyiv [is] an incoming Trump administration taking power in January then slashing or ending the Ukraine aid, that will force the German government, the lame duck Scholz government with the current parliament, to increase the funding for Ukraine." "It's important to note that there is still a majority in the old parliament, even before the new parliament is elected, to increase the aid, to take new debt and amend the constitution for that, to take new debt to support Ukraine ... but it's going to be difficult politically to implement that," Nelles said. European security Trump's presidency could have wider implications for European security, including the deployment of U.S. forces and equipment, such as long-range missile systems, says analyst Marina Miron, a defense analyst at Kings College, London. "What else might be reversed is the placement of Tomahawk [U.S. missiles] in Germany. So, we have quite a situation where, let's say, Trump might pursue an anti-globalist agenda and push NATO countries to invest more of their GDP into defense," Miron told VOA. Russian assets Europe froze around $200 billion in Russian assets following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The interest is being used to help fund weapons for Kyiv, while the G7 group of rich nations has implemented a loan plan for Ukraine using the Russian assets as collateral. At a time of fiscal pressures in Europe, some argue it's time to seize the assets entirely and give them to Ukraine. "Europe is sitting on a war chest of 200 billion U.S. dollars of frozen Russian assets," said analyst Mattia Nelles. "And I think the incoming Trump administration will push the Europeans to go further. And that's welcome news from the Ukrainian side — to not just give loans and credit based on frozen Russian assets, but to move to confiscate the assets themselves. And that's certainly something many in Germany also support," he added. Economic pressures Chancellor Scholz oversaw German efforts to end reliance on cheap Russian energy. However, analysts say that has driven inflation and undermined confidence in Europe's biggest economy. Scholz also was seen as reluctant to make bolder decisions on arming Ukraine, including the supply of long-range Taurus missiles, something Kyiv has repeatedly requested. Ukraine may be hoping that a change in leadership in Berlin could unblock more military aid, said Nelles. "We are looking at a new, potentially stronger government, which, if it's led by [Christian Democrat leader] Friedrich Merz, might be taking some of the bolder decisions which Scholz had hesitated to take, including the delivery of Taurus. But everyone hoping for that, I would urge caution," he said. Germany's economic constraints won't disappear with new leadership, said analyst Marina Miron. "Let's assume, for a moment, there is somebody who would drive this policy forward and who would have much more resolve than Scholz. The problem is the German budget. The problem is also that defense contractors in Europe are now affected, as other companies, by the disruption in the global supply chain," she told VOA. Germany is also struggling to overcome decades of underinvestment in its armed forces, something the next government will have to address, Miron added. "The dictates of German strategic culture just go against the grain of the current threat landscape, when it comes to bigger investment in defense," she said. Full Article Europe
ge In Brussels, Blinken pledges support for Ukraine ahead of Trump transition By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:34:50 -0500 Brussels, Belgium — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Ukraine and its NATO allies on Wednesday that Washington remains committed to putting Ukraine “in the strongest possible position” in the final months of President Joe Biden’s administration, before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. At the same time, Blinken expressed alarm about Russia possibly bolstering North Korea’s missile and nuclear capacities, as North Korean troops fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. “President Biden has committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and January 20th,” Blinken told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday. “We’re making sure that Ukraine has the air defenses it needs, that has the artillery it needs, that it has the armored vehicles it needs,” he added. Blinken told VOA he expects U.S. allies' support for Ukraine to increase and emphasized that it’s critical for Washington’s partners to “continue to more than pick up their share of the burden.” Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Blinken reiterated that Washington will “continue to shore up everything” to enable Ukraine to defend itself effectively against Russian aggression. Rutte and other European leaders voiced serious concerns over North Korea’s active support for Russia in its war on Ukraine. “These North Korean soldiers present an extra threat to Ukraine and will increase the potential for Putin to do harm,” Rutte told reporters. The U.S. State Department says that more than 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to eastern Russia, and most of them have moved to the far western Kursk oblast, part of which Ukraine controls. On Wednesday, Blinken described the military collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow as “a two-way street.” “There is deep concern about what Russia is or may be doing to strengthen North Korea’s capacities — its missile capacity, its nuclear capacity,” as well as the battlefield experience North Korean forces are gaining, he told reporters. In Brussels, Blinken held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, European Union High Representative Josep Borrell and British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, among others. The possibility of Ukraine using Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russian soil was among the topics discussed during Sybiha’s meeting with Blinken. “We need to speed up all critical decisions,” the Ukrainian foreign minister said before the meeting. “Ukraine has always cherished strong bipartisan support. We maintain contact with both [Democratic and Republican] parties and work both with the [U.S.] president-elect and his team and also with the outgoing administration,” he added. In Washington, officials say Biden was expected to ask Trump during their talks at the White House on Wednesday not to walk away from Ukraine. Trump’s political allies have indicated that the incoming administration will prioritize achieving peace in Ukraine over enabling the country to reclaim Crimea and other territories occupied by Russia. Blinken has concluded talks with European counterparts in Brussels. He will next travel to Lima, Peru, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC meetings, followed by stops in Manaus and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a summit of the 20 largest economies, the G20. He will join Biden in Peru and Brazil. Full Article Ukraine Europe
ge Free State man sentenced for raping a mentally challenged teenager By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:21:08 GMT Full Article
ge Suspect in custody for the alleged rape and murder of a teenage girl in Limpopo By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:49:13 GMT Full Article
ge Mpumalanga MEC of Economic Development accuses Forestry Minister Dion George of racial segregation, but George rubbishes claims By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:36:19 GMT Full Article
ge Update: SAFA president Danny Jordan and two others in court over R1.3 million fraud and theft charges granted bail By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:40:37 GMT Full Article
ge George deputy mayor, Raybin Figland, cleared of sexting charges By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:07:05 GMT Full Article
ge Seplat Energy announces currency exchange rates for Q3 2024 interim dividend By hallmarknews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:13:59 +0000 Seplat Energy Plc has confirmed that the below currency exchange rate is applicable in determining Q3 2024 interim dividend to shareholders that will receive the dividend payment in Naira (NGN): The exchange rate for the Naira amounts payable is the NAFEM closing rate for November 11, 2024 Exchange Rate: 1 USD = 1,681.42 NGN The post Seplat Energy announces currency exchange rates for Q3 2024 interim dividend first appeared on Business Hallmark. Full Article Business Seplat Energy Seplat Energy announces currency exchange rates for Q3 2024 interim dividend
ge MultiChoice Nigeria loses 243,000 subscribers in six months By hallmarknews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:45:44 +0000 Multichoice Group has announced that its Nigerian subsidiary lost 243,000 subscribers across its DStv and GOtv services between April and September 2024. The pay TV platform in its financial result for the year ended September 30, 2024, published on Tuesday, said the high cost of food, electricity, and petrol has forced many of its customers […] The post MultiChoice Nigeria loses 243,000 subscribers in six months first appeared on Business Hallmark. Full Article Business DSTV GOtv MultiChoice Nigeria loses 243 000 subscribers in six months