mi Donald Trump Nominates Florida Senator Marco Rubio As Secretary Of State By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:36:28 +0530 Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Florida senator and outspoken China hawk Marco Rubio for secretary of state. Full Article
mi Alexei Zimin, A UK-Based Russian Chef Who Criticised Vladimir Putin, Found Dead In Serbia Hotel By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:25:03 +0530 A Russian television chef, who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, has been found dead in Serbia, the BBC reported. Full Article
mi US Contractor To Pay $42 Million To 3 Iraqis Tortured At Baghdad Prison By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:36:32 +0530 A federal jury on Tuesday found US defense contractor CACI International liable for its role in torture at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad during the Iraq war. Full Article
mi IIM Indore Announces Admission For Master Of Management Studies By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:31:58 +0530 The course is designed to equip professionals with crucial skills for new-age, a strong ethical foundation and in-depth managerial knowledge. Full Article
mi California Family Of Autistic Boy, Assaulted By Mercedes Driver, Gifted SUV By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:09:07 +0530 A 10-year-old autistic boy from California who was slapped by an irate Mercedes driver a few months ago received the surprise of his life recently when he was given an SUV. Full Article
mi Baba Siddique Shooter Waited Near Hospital For 30 Minutes To Confirm Death By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:11:17 +0530 Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead in Mumbai's Bandra on October 12 at 9:11 pm, the police said. He sustained two bullet injuries on his chest and was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital, where he passed away. Full Article
mi Mysterious Diamond Necklace Linked To Marie Antoinette Sells For $4.8 Million By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:16:38 +0530 A mysterious necklace laden with some 500 diamonds and with possible links to a scandal that contributed to the downfall of Marie Antoinette, sold for $4.8 million at an auction in Geneva Wednesday. Full Article
mi 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
mi Salman's Team Denies "Association" With Kapil Sharma's Show Amid Legal Row By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:53:00 +0530 The notice claims that The Great Indian Kapil Show allegedly disrespects Rabindranath Tagore's legacy and risks offending cultural and religious sentiments Full Article
mi $65 Million, ICC Sanctions...: PCB Faces Big Loss From Champions Trophy Row By sports.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:20:00 +0530 The PCB has conveyed to the ICC that security is not an issue in the country which successfully hosted England and New Zealand recently and promised the same for the Champions Trophy Full Article
mi Rajasthan Candidate Naresh Meena Who Slapped Poll Official Arrested Amid High Drama By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:23:00 +0530 Rajasthan Candidate Naresh Meena Who Slapped Poll Official Arrested Amid High Drama Full Article
mi Baba Siddique Shooter Waited Near Hospital For 30 Minutes To Confirm Death By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:36:10 +0530 Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead in Mumbai's Bandra on October 12 at 9:11 pm, the police said. He sustained two bullet injuries on his chest and was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital, where he passed away. Full Article
mi California Family Of Autistic Boy, Assaulted By Mercedes Driver, Gifted SUV By www.ndtv.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:07:52 +0530 A 10-year-old autistic boy from California who was slapped by an irate Mercedes driver a few months ago received the surprise of his life recently when he was given an SUV. Full Article
mi Vikrant Massey says older brother Moeen ‘compromised’ in life, father ‘lived a life of affluence’ before losing it all: ‘I didn’t want to do that’ - The Indian Express By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:23:03 GMT Vikrant Massey says older brother Moeen ‘compromised’ in life, father ‘lived a life of affluence’ before losing it all: ‘I didn’t want to do that’ The Indian ExpressDid You Know Vikrant Massey’s parents were neighbors of the Kapoor family? Actor reveals they stayed in godowns PINKVILLAThis actor's mother is Sikh, father is Christian, brother is Muslim, wife Hindu, she used to lend... Bollywood Life7 must-watch investigative thrillers on OTT ahead of Vikrant Massey’s The Sabarmati Report release OTTplayVikrant Massey Compares Early Years Struggle To A Classic Hindi Film: 'Family Fued, Living In Godowns, Mother Doing...' ABP Live Full Article
mi 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
mi Swiggy share price above 25% from issue price, hits ₹1 lakh crore market cap. Do you own? | Stock Market News - Mint By news.google.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:43:36 GMT Swiggy share price above 25% from issue price, hits ₹1 lakh crore market cap. Do you own? | Stock Market News MintZomato CEO congratulates Swiggy on IPO debut: Couldn't have asked for ... The Times of IndiaSwiggy tops expectations with best major listing in a decade The Economic Times`You And I In This Beautiful World`: Zomato`s Tweet On Swiggy`s Stock Market Listing Is Winning Hearts Onli... Zee NewsHow Swiggy’s IPO Has Made Hundreds Of Its Employees Crorepatis | Explained News18 Full Article
mi 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
mi Xiaomi Finally Hits a Major EV Sales Milestone By phandroid.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:14:04 +0000 The company's EV has become one of the most talked-about electric cars this year. The post Xiaomi Finally Hits a Major EV Sales Milestone appeared first on Phandroid. Full Article automotive News electric vehicles su7 Xiaomi
mi Google Unveils Upcoming Online Protection Tools for Android Users By phandroid.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:46:11 +0000 The new features will be available on Pixel phones first, and will arrive for more Android devices soon. The post Google Unveils Upcoming Online Protection Tools for Android Users appeared first on Phandroid. Full Article Devices Smartphones Software Google Google Play Protect scam detection
mi 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
mi 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
mi Thousands of Khayelitsha Families Use Filthy Toilets or an Open Field By allafrica.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:22:40 GMT [GroundUp] Over 3,000 families in Silver Town, Khayelitsha, have been forced to either use filthy, damaged toilets or relieve themselves in a field. Blowy, Sikalekhekhe and Marikana informal settlements have about 340 toilets, but they have not been serviced since 4 October, when the previous cleaners' contracts expired. Full Article Environment South Africa Southern Africa Sustainable Development Water and Sanitation
mi South Africa Calls for Calm Amid Post-Election Tensions in Mozambique By allafrica.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:38:06 GMT [SAnews.gov.za] South Africa has reiterated its call for calm and restraint following post-election protests in Mozambique. Full Article Governance Mozambique South Africa Southern Africa
mi SA to Play Key Role At Upcoming G20 Summit By allafrica.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:38:09 GMT [SAnews.gov.za] South Africa is set to play a pivotal role at the upcoming G20 Summit next week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as it prepares to assume the G20 presidency in December. Full Article Economy Business and Finance Governance South Africa Southern Africa
mi South Africa Doesn't Have a Water Security Threat - Minister Majodina By allafrica.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:43:03 GMT [Parliament of South Africa] The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Pemmy Majodina, has assured Parliament and the country that there is currently no threat to South Africa's water security. Full Article Environment Governance South Africa Southern Africa Water and Sanitation
mi A Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally dominated an SCCA RallyCross By www.motorauthority.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500 A Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally was the quickest car around an SCCA RallyCross course The Mustang Mach-E Rally won both its class and the outright event A Ford engineer was behind the wheel, simply as weekend fun Attendees and participants at the Detroit Octoberfast RallyCross event at the Auto City Speedway didn’t hear it coming, but an EV came... Full Article
mi Babalola: Unending controversy over INEC’s electoral commissioner By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:30:55 +0000 In this report, Peter Dada writes on the forthcoming Ondo governorship election, highlighting the controversy that has trailed INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for the poll On Saturday, over two million registered voters would go to the polling centres to cast their votes for the governorship candidates of their choice, to decide who will steer the Read More Full Article Panorama
mi 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
mi Umahi queries contractor over failed Abuja-Minna road By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:52:09 +0000 The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has decried the deplorable condition of the Abuja-Minna federal road, saying he did not see any work done by the contractor handling the project. The minister who travelled by road from Abuja to attend a stakeholders’ engagement on the construction of the 125KM three-lane single carriage of the Niger Read More Full Article News
mi Tinubu determined to eliminate bandits, terrorists, says NSA By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:56:40 +0000 The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has warned that obstructing security under President Bola Tinubu’s administration will not be tolerated, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. He said this at the Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Abuja, on Wednesday, emphasising the President’s determination to eliminate bandits, terrorists, and other security threats. According to Ribadu, Read More Full Article News
mi Minister begs varsity workers to focus on students welfare By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:57:28 +0000 The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has urged labour unions, especially those within the educational sector, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and others to prioritise the welfare and education of Nigerian students over strikes. Alausa spoke at the opening of the 359th Quadrennial National delegates Read More Full Article News
mi Tinubu’s policies threatening industries, workers — Chemical union By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:00:02 +0000 The Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has decried the policies of the Bola Tinubu-led government, saying that they are adversely affecting chemical and non-metallic products in Nigeria. National President of the association, Mr Segun David, made the remarks at the opening session of the 29th Annual National Management/Industrial Relations Seminar on Read More Full Article News
mi Armed men attack Obajana transmission station, destroy power transformers By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:07:46 +0000 Armed men suspected to be bandits, on Tuesday, attacked the site of the ongoing construction of the 330/132/33kV transmission substation in Obajana, Kogi State. The armed men, shooting sporadically, destroyed a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer, causing a significant setback to the government’s efforts to increase power generation. The Transmission Company of Nigeria disclosed the latest Read More Full Article News
mi Missing man found dead near Ogun stream By punchng.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:09:21 +0000 A 35-year-old man, Felix Vhimga, has been found dead in a mysterious circumstance in the Ojowo area of Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State. PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased had gone missing after visiting his brother, Sunday Robert, in the community on Monday. On the completion of his visit, Vhimga was however said to have Read More Full Article Metro Plus
mi 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
mi Experts push contract farming to boost Africa food systems, farmers’ income By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:09:54 -0500 Nairobi — As African farmers struggle with unpredictability caused by climate change, some are looking into contract farming, which involves growing a certain crop for a price set in advance. About 400 people attended the International Conference on Contract Farming in Nairobi this week to learn more about the practice. Peris Wanjiku, the conference director, said such agreements can help solve the challenges that many smallholder farmers face in Africa. "It's always important to farm with a plan. I believe it's not enough to simply plant a crop, whatever it is, without knowing where it will end up," Wanjiku said. "Farmers should know beforehand what to grow and where to sell. This is why contract farming is so important, as it provides the framework for certainty and sustainability. "But it's not only about the traditional farmer. I believe we can extend the benefit of contract farming to those who may not be farmers themselves right now, but they own a piece of land." Experts say the growing interest in contract farming is associated with increasingly complicated systems in food production, marketing and distribution, which has made it difficult for farmers to meet consumers' demands. Contract farming, experts say, is an instrument that manages and reduces production risks for both parties. Wilson Milito Ole-Rampei, a vegetable farmer in Kenya, is attending the conference and is optimistic that the practice would help him. "I will benefit because if, for example, I am growing vegetables, we will arrange with them to get a market. They will give me their technical advice, then our arid land will be used. Because of [a] shortage of rain, we will do irrigation. I would have knowledge of what I am growing," Ole-Rampei said. An economist for the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Lan Li, said contract farming is often a good deal for small-scale farmers. "It sets the agreements on what products to produce, quantity, and price," Li said. "As such, it helps secure more stable income and better production planning for producers. It can improve access to inputs for small-scale holder farmers, technical assistance training, and financing solutions." African farmers have seen reduced harvests due to global warming and drought. For many, a lack of knowledge and skills also contributes to low food production. In areas where farmers can produce enough food, they sometimes face obstacles such as bad roads or insecurity that prevent them from getting to market. Carole Kariuki, head of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, said the private and public sectors need to collaborate to improve the agriculture sector. "The private sector is doing its best. It's filling that gap where it can, but we cannot do it all, and we need the government to be able to go back and say we can get agriculture extension officers helping out small farmers and all the farmers in the country. Contract farming holds immense potential to transform African agriculture,” she said. Contract farming can have drawbacks, such as making farmers less able to sell to alternative buyers when produce prices increase. In addition, there are environmental risks from growing only one crop for a long time. Buyers, meanwhile, can face high transaction costs from contracting with many farmers. But Kariuki believes the benefits outweigh the risks. She called contract farming a model to lift up small-scale farmers, boost food production, and drive sustainable growth. Full Article Africa
mi Russia launches combined missile, drone attack on Kyiv By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 02:48:40 -0500 Russia launched a combined missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, overnight, with residents sheltering in metro stations and air raid sirens blaring for hours. Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City military administration, said Ukrainian forces destroyed several cruise and ballistic missiles and up to a dozen drones. Some 96 different “means of air assault were detected” by the air force, including anti-aircraft missiles, winged missiles from strategic bombers, Iskander-M strategic missiles and Shahed drones, the Ukrainian military said in a Facebook post Wednesday. Officials said a 48-year-old man was wounded by the falling debris of a downed drone in the Kyiv suburb of Brovary, and emergency services distributed images of firefighters battling flames at one site. A separate drone attack in the Kherson region killed a 52-year-old woman, officials said. Blasts were heard in Kyiv after the air force put the nation under an air raid alert. "Putin is launching a missile attack on Kyiv right now," the president’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on the social media platform Telegram, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The attack came after a U.S. State Department spokesperson said North Korea troops have begun fighting alongside Russians. "Over 10,000 DPRK (North Korean) soldiers have been sent to eastern Russia, and most of them have moved to the far western Kursk Oblast, where they have begun engaging in combat operations with Russian forces," spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters during a Tuesday briefing in Washington. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke Tuesday with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov “to discuss battlefield dynamics and provide an update on U.S. security assistance” for the Eastern European country, according to Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder. Ryder said, "the secretary reaffirmed President [Joe] Biden's commitment to surge security assistance to Ukraine." The Pentagon also clarified the amount of money that remains available for Ukraine's military assistance. There is about $7.1 billion left in the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which includes $4.3 billion approved by Congress in April, plus $2.8 billion that became available after recalculations. Additionally, there is about $2.2 billion available under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative program. Ryder again underscored that the United States would rush aid to Ukraine and use all available funds. Ryder said the two defense leaders also talked about the implications of the thousands of North Korean troops now assessed to be mostly in western Kursk Oblast. Information from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse was used in this report. Full Article Ukraine Europe
mi 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
mi 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
mi Poland hails opening of US missile base as sign of its security By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:01:46 -0500 The United States opened a new air defense base in northern Poland on Wednesday, an event the European nation's president said showed the country was secure as a member of NATO even as Russia wages war in neighboring Ukraine. Situated in the town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, the base has been in the works since the 2000s. At a time when Donald Trump's election victory has caused jitters among some NATO members, Warsaw says the continued work on the base by successive U.S. presidents shows Poland's military alliance with Washington remains solid whoever is in the White House. "The United States... is the guarantor of Poland's security," President Andrzej Duda said. He said the permanent presence of U.S. troops at the base showed that Poland, a communist state until 1989, was "not in the Russian sphere of influence." The Kremlin on Wednesday called the base a bid to contain Russia by moving American military infrastructure nearer its borders. The opening comes amid a nervous reaction among some NATO members to the election of Trump, who has vowed not to defend countries that do not spend enough on defense. However, Poland says it should have nothing to fear as it is the alliance's biggest spender on defense relative to the size of its economy, and conservative Duda has stressed his warm ties with Trump. The U.S. base at Redzikowo is part of a broader NATO missile shield, dubbed "Aegis Ashore," which the alliance says can intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Other key shield elements include a site in Romania, U.S. navy destroyers based in the Spanish port of Rota and an early-warning radar in Kurecik, Turkey. Moscow had already labeled the base a threat as far back as 2007, when it was still being planned. NATO says the shield is purely defensive. Military sources told Reuters the system in Poland can now only be used against missiles fired from the Middle East and the radar would need a change in direction to intercept projectiles from Russia, a complex procedure entailing a change of policy. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Monday the scope of the shield needed to be expanded, which Warsaw would discuss with NATO and the United States. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will meet Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw later on Wednesday. Full Article Europe
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mi Ciraaqiyiintii lagu xadgudbay Abu Ghraib waxay heleen magdhow $42 milyan ah By horseedmedia.net Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 06:22:00 +0000 Saddex nin oo Ciraaqi ah ayaa magdhaw u helay $42 milyan dhaawacyadii ka soo gaaray gacanta… The post Ciraaqiyiintii lagu xadgudbay Abu Ghraib waxay heleen magdhow $42 milyan ah appeared first on Horseed Media. Full Article World News
mi Codbixinta doorashada Somaliland oo si rasmi ah u bilaamatey By horseedmedia.net Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:08:41 +0000 Maanata oo taariikhdu tahay 13 Nofeembar 2024 waxaa deegaanada Somaliland ka bilowdey Doorashooyinka isku idkan ee… The post Codbixinta doorashada Somaliland oo si rasmi ah u bilaamatey appeared first on Horseed Media. Full Article Somaliland
mi Somaliland Elections Officially Begin Amid High Turnout and Minor Delays By horseedmedia.net Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:11:57 +0000 Today, Somaliland took a significant step in its democratic journey, holding simultaneous presidential and political party… The post Somaliland Elections Officially Begin Amid High Turnout and Minor Delays appeared first on Horseed Media. Full Article News in English