( MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwait and India have agreed on raising their bilateral ties to a "strategic partnership", based on the deep-rooted and cordial relations between the two countries. They affirmed desire to boost cooperation in all fields, and that the partnership enhances mutual interest of the two states, said a joint statement by the two sides on Sunday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait on December 21-22, in his first one, upon His Highness the Amir sheikh Meshal Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's invitation. Modi attended the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup for football, 'Khaleeji Zain', as a guest of honor of His Highness the Amir, on Saturday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received the Indian premier at Bayan Palace on Sunday. Modi expressed his deepest gratitude to His Highness the Amir for granting him the "Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order". An official meeting was held during which views on multilateral international and regional issues of common concern were discussed. Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held official talks with his Indian peer, within the framework of new strategic partnership. Both sides renewed their commitment to boosting bilateral ties through comprehensive and organized cooperation in political, trade, investment, defense, security, energy, culture, education and technology fields. They recalled the decades-long historic bonds between the two peoples that have common history and rapprochement of cultures, voicing satisfaction about organized interactions on different levels that helped enhancing momentum in bilateral collaboration. The two sides welcomed the establishment of the joint cooperation committee (JCC) between Kuwait and India that will work as a constitutional mechanism to review and follow all aspects of bilateral relations, the statement noted. The committee will be co-chaired by Kuwait and India's Foreign Ministers, and a joint action group will be stablished to cover the domains of trade, investments, education, skills development, sciences, technology, security, agriculture, combating terror, culture, in addition to standing fields in health, manpower and others, it stated. Furthermore, the two sides affirmed the pivotal role of trade as a link between the two countries, and big capabilities for further growth and trade diversification, it said. Due to India's economic growth and Kuwait's investment capacity, the two countries discussed different investment opportunities in India. Kuwait expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in technology, tourism, healthcare, food security, logistic services and others. The Kuwaiti side welcomed steps made by India in creating an appropriate investment environment in several fields like technology, tourism, health and others. They emphasized the need of bolstering communication between Kuwait's investment institutions, and India's funds, companies and corporations. They encouraged investment and participation in infrastructure projects, and directed concerned bodies in the two countries to speed up ending the ongoing talks on bilateral investments. Additionally, they focused on strengthening cooperation and partnership in energy, oil, gas and renewable energy. They welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in defense that will provide the required framework of boosting ties on joint military exercises, maritime defense and others. The two sides categorically condemned terrorism in its forms and crossing-border terror, calling for drying up the sources of terror funding and dismantling its infrastructure, according to the statement. They expressed appreciation to the current bilateral collaboration in security, and agreed on boosting this cooperation in anti-terror operations, information exchange, intelligence, the best technology and building capacity, as well as combating money laundering, drug smuggling and crossing-border crimes. They further discussed means of boosting cooperation in cybersecurity, and preventing e-space from being used for terrorism and extremism. The Indian side lauded the final session of the High-Level International Conference on "Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms - The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process" hosted by Kuwait on November 4-5. Both sides affirmed that cooperation in the health field constitutes a key pillar of bilateral ties, voicing commitment to enhancing this sector. They expressed appreciation to mutual cooperation during the Covid-19, and discussed the possibility of setting up an Indian factory to manufacture medicine in Kuwait. Moreover, they showed their interest in deepening and boosting cooperation in technology, including artificial intelligence, e-methods and emerging technologies. The two sides dealt with enhancing collaboration among companies, and e-governance, and sharing the best practices to facilitate firms action and industry in both countries. The Kuwaiti side expressed its attention to cooperate with India to ensure food security, and discussed varied means of collaboration, including Kuwaiti companies' investments in India. The Indian side welcomed Kuwait's decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which represents an important step towards cooperation towards adopting low-carbon paths and promoting sustainable energy. India expressed its aspiration to work closely with Kuwait to increase solar energy deployment globally within the ISA's framework. The two sides referred to the recent civil aviation authorities' meetings of both countries, with Kuwait expressing its keenness to consider increasing passenger capacity of flights, India expressed its readiness to reach a mutually satisfactory solution. Both Kuwait and India approved of the renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) for 2025-2029, which will facilitate the promotion of cultural exchange in art, music, and literature festivals, and affirmed commitment to strengthening cooperation and ties between people of both countries. Kuwait and India signed the Executive Program for Sports Cooperation for 2025-2028, which will enhance mutual exchanges and visits of athletes, organization of workshops, seminars, conferences, and sport publication exchanges. The two sides stressed the importance of education as an important area of cooperation, including strengthening ties and exchanges between higher education institutions, and expressing interest in cooperating in the field of educational technology to modernize educational infrastructure. As part of the MoU between the Kuwaiti Sheikh Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute and the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), the two sides welcomed the proposal to organize a special course for Kuwaiti diplomats and officers at the SSIFS institute in New Delhi. Kuwait and India acknowledged the centuries old people ties that are crucial for the historical relations, with Kuwait expressing its appreciation and high respect of the Indian community and citizens in Kuwait that promote development efforts, and for their peaceful and hardworking nature. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his appreciation to Kuwait's leadership for its interest in the care and welfare of the Indian community in Kuwait. The two sides stressed the importance of historic cooperation in the field of work force mobility and human resources, and agreed to hold regular meetings to address issues related to expatriates, labor mobility, and matters of common interest. Both sides commended the coordination between them at the UN and other multilateral organizations, with India welcoming Kuwait as a dialogue partner at the Shan MENAFN22122024000071011013ID1109021977 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level Mediaq80 2024 。

A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level Media

WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year. Dax the dog was found dead in a wooded area of Sault Ste. Marie. Jason Howson of Sault Ste. Marie was sentenced Friday after admitting to hanging his dog , Dax, from a tree on May 23. The court heard that a man working on a roof heard "what sounded like a female scream two times from a forested area across from MacDonald Avenue," around 3:30 p.m. that day. A male wearing a grey hoodie, jeans and sunglasses was then seen running out of the wooded area and to a nearby apartment building. Police were called to the scene at 55 Black Road and after a short search, found a dead medium black lab with a muzzle, collar and leash tied to a fallen tree. Officers then went to the apartment building to where the suspect was seen fleeing and spoke to the superintendent and a neighbour. They were told two tenants had dogs matching the description of the deceased animal and police spoke to both. Court heard that Howson initially told police his dog had gone missing earlier that day, but later admitted to hanging the dog until it stopped breathing. He also explained he had tied the dog to a fallen tree until he could come back and bury it. Howson was in the same clothing the suspect had been described wearing when police spoke to him at his apartment. 'Problem' dog needed to be euthanized The court heard Howson had adopted the dog "knowing it had some problems" after seeing it on Facebook, hoping to be able to "fix" its behaviour with patience and love. Dax was a lab/Doberman mix. As part of the agreed statement of facts, the court heard the dog was vicious and could not be around people because it had bitten a few children and his girlfriend. Howson lost visitation of his children because of the dog and didn't have the money to have it euthanized. He reached out to a local rescue for help rehoming the dog but was told he would still be civilly responsible if the dog bit more people or caused damage. Dax, a black lab-doberman mix was found dead in a wooded area of Sault Ste. Marie on May 23, 2024. His owner pleaded guilty to hanging him. (Facebook/For Dax) Not being in a good financial position, that was too risky for him. The Crown confirmed when Howson inquired about euthanasia through the local humane society, he was told it would be about $400 and that there was a long waiting list. Being raised on a farm, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He had no history of animal abuse prior to the incident. A roadside memorial was created in memory of Dax by neighbours. Roadside memorial set up for Dax, a dog found dead in a wooded area of Sault Ste. Marie. (Facebook) Conditional sentence Because the Crown decided to pursue the case summarily, the maximum penalty for willfully causing death to an animal is two years less a day. "This was clearly a terrible act of violence. That is why a custodial sentence is appropriate," Justice JP Condon said. The judge accepted the joint submission by the Crown and defence asking for a six-month conditional sentence, a lifetime ban on owning animals and two years probation. Howson had no criminal record and Condon was satisfied he would not endanger the safety of the community. The first three months will be under house arrest with exceptions for medical emergencies or written approval from supervisor. For the remaining three months, he will be bound by a curfew and is ordered to remain in his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day. He is not allowed to consume alcohol or non-prescription drugs during the conditional sentence and is prohibited from having weapons during that time. Howson has also been directed to attend counselling, including for anger management. Consequences The court heard Howson has struggled mentally, professionally and socially because of his behaviour, but that he has acknowledged his wrongdoing and accepts responsibility. He lost his job due to the charge and has received online comments that the judge said constituted death threats, the pre-sentencing report said. "Two wrongs don't make a right. Comments have been detrimental to his mental health and don't bring the dog back," Condon said. "They are a consequence that will long outlast any sentence I impose." While Howson is not currently working, he faces jail time if he breaches his conditional sentence.Targeting Accuracy And Precision Will Remain A Key Focus As Adsgram Evolves, Says Vadim Sterlin

This Historic Montreal Coffee Shop Was Just Named “Most Aesthetic” By New AnalysisThe Ottawa Paramedic Service says eight people were taken to hospital in serious condition after a "potential Carbon Monoxide" call Sunday morning in the neighbourhood of Vanier. Paramedics did not provide information about the exact location, but said they received a call at 9:15 a.m. reporting “potential Carbon Monoxide" intoxication to a location along Granville Street. Four adults and four children were transported to what paramedics call appropriate hospitals. All four children are in a serious, but stable condition. One adult is in a life-threatening condition. The other three are in a serious, but stable condition. This is a developing story, more to come Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is weighing whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power. The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions. While the president’s pardon power is absolute, Biden’s use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity. Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump’s criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies. Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said. It follows Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter — not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump. Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office nearly four years ago. Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States," as written in the pardon proclamation. Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons. On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. Trump has talked about “enemies from within" and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also zeroed in on former Rep. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate Jan. 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason. Kash Patel, whom Trump has announced as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after.” Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump's administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies. “It’s not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.” While the Supreme Court this year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law. “There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. "But if he’s going to do that, he’s going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does." More conventional pardons from Biden, such as those for sentencing disparities for people convicted of federal crimes, are expected before the end of the year, the White House said.Bijapur: Six lower-rung Naxalites were arrested in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, leading to the seizure of explosives, police said. They were apprehended by the 196th battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the 205th battalion of CRPF’s elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit and local police during an area domination operation in Galgam, Nadpalli and Futapalli forest areas, an official said. Further investigation is underway.

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Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’ Health | Boston Logan officials reach out to CDC after ‘various illnesses’ reported on incoming flights Health | Mayo Clinic: Understanding your cholesterol numbers Health | What can Fido have at Thanksgiving feast? Health | More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.June Chen Bar operators in Hong Kong hope business will improve over Christmas and New Year as tax cuts on premium alcohol have not helped boost sales significantly so far. But the overall catering sector saw business exceed expectations over the winter solstice, with revenue hitting HK$400 million, surpassing initial projections of HK$380 million, according to latest data. Bar operators say a vast number of their customers mainly drink beer, wines and cheaper spirits. Therefore, the recent cut on spirits with over 30 percent alcohol content and an import price above HK$200 is unlikely to pump up sales over the festive season, with drinkers reluctant to loosen their purse strings. "Many customers expected the cut would lead lower prices, but as most bars mainly buy liquor below HK$200 a bottle, the new measure doesn't really help us," Ken, a staff member in a bar, said. He says staff have had to explain to some incensed customers why prices have remain unchanged. Under the new structure, a duty rate of 10 percent will apply only to the portion of the bottle price over HK$200, and duty of 100 percent will still be paid on the first HK$200 of the import price. This means the more expensive the liquor, the greater the tax cut. On the import price of a HK$1,000 bottle, for instance, tax will be slashed by 72 percent from HK$1,000 to HK$280. The tax on liquor costing HK$200 or below remains at 100 percent. "Unfortunately, the current market is sluggish, and high rollers who drink spirits worth more than HK$1,000 a bottle are very rare," Ken says, adding that bars have not benefited from the new rule. People familiar with the matter say only 15 percent of the market accounts for imported spirits with a price of more than HK$200. In other words, 85 percent of all liquor is still taxed the same way. Jackie Chan Wai, the founder of Bar Pacific (8432), which has 56 outlets in the city, says the chain had not seen a noticeable increase in customers since the new rule took effect. Most of the spirits that the chain imports are priced below HK$200 and do not benefit from the cut. But spirits with prices higher than HK$200 a bottle also can't be bought at lower prices for now because orders for existing stock were made before the cuts came into effect. Bar Pacific asked its distributors whether they would drop the prices of these premium spirits but received no response. Upscale bars have faced the same problem. Jenny, who runs an upmarket bar in Tsim Sha Tsui, says after the new tax structure was launched, some peers contacted suppliers in the hope they would decrease prices, but were told that as the contracts had been already signed, the prices could not be lowered. These bars have no other choice but to complete contracts as soon as possible before ordering spirits at the lower prices. Meanwhile, bars continue to shut down amid the economic downturn, with Ken estimating that the number has plunged to 600 from 1,000 before Covid. And Chan says the number of customers has dropped by 10 to 15 percent since the reopening of the border, mainly because of locals heading north and spending their cash there. Sam, an operator of a bar in Lan Kwai Fong, says cheap spirits offered by bars in the mainland are killing business in Hong Kong. For instance, a brand of Champagne sold at HK$3,000 in the city can be bought for only 1,200 yuan (HK$1,284) in Shenzhen, he says. A weekend reveler says it only costs him a few hundred dollars eat, drink and rent a room for a night across the border while the same amount of cash would only get him a few drinks at local bar. Meanwhile, to attract customers, local bars have been holding theme nights, rolling out discounts and even hiring DJs to woo more customers. Some have come up with novel cocktails including one that combines Chinese white liquor with lemon tea. But the city's lawmakers remain upbeat. After signing the revised structure into law on December 12, the Legislative Council said it will boost sales, auction and storage of premium liquor in the city, with commercial sector lawmaker Martin Liao Cheung-kong saying it will stimulate robust development of the liquor trade. Also, wholesale and retail lawmaker Peter Shiu expects business for the catering sector this festive season will be better than last year.

The Ottawa Paramedic Service says ten people were taken to hospital, one of them in life-threatening condition, following an incident of suspected Carbon Monoxide exposure Sunday morning in the neighbourhood of Vanier. Paramedics told CTV News Ottawa they received a call at 9:15 a.m. reporting “potential Carbon Monoxide" exposure in the 200 block of Granville Street. Six adults and four children were transported to what paramedics call "appropriate hospitals." All four children are in serious, but stable condition. One adult is in life-threatening condition. The other five are in serious, but stable condition. All of the victims were in the same unit, Insp. Scott Pettis with the Ottawa Police Service told CTV News. This is a developing story, more to come Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 20 Great Last-Minute Gifts From Amazon Canada That Won't Break The Bank 22 Tiny (And Wonderful) Gifts To Stuff Your Stockings With This Year 28 Crowd-Pleasing Gifts For The Pickiest People On Your List Home 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) 13 Of The Best Fidget Toys For Adults 16 Cozy Home Essentials That Cost Less Than $100 Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals The Silk & Snow End Of Year Sale Is Officially On — Here's What To Add To Your Cart The Best Early Boxing Day Deals On Amazon Canada For 2024 This Smart Security Camera System Will Help You Keep An Eye On Your Home (And It's On Sale For 50% Off Right Now) Ottawa Top Stories BREAKING NEWS | 6 adults, 4 children taken to hospital following suspected Carbon Monoxide exposure in Vanier Flooding started, ice still thin: Here’s the latest update about the Rideau Canal Skateway OPP find wanted man by chance in eastern Ontario home, seize $50K worth of drugs What's open and closed in Ottawa over the holidays What's happening in Ottawa over the Christmas holidays 'Mullet man' who thrilled Ottawa Senators fans, returns to perform national anthem It feels like minus 28 this Sunday morning in Ottawa Ottawa MP Mona Fortier appointed chief government whip CTVNews.ca Top Stories Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General. 'I'm still thinking pinch me': lost puppy reunited with family after five years After almost five years of searching and never giving up hope, the Tuffin family received the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for: being reunited with their long-lost puppy. Two U.S. Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, U.S. military says Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent 'friendly fire' incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels. Big splash: Halifax mermaid waves goodbye after 16 years Halifax's Raina the Mermaid is closing her business after 16 years in the Maritimes. OPP find wanted man by chance in eastern Ontario home, seize $50K worth of drugs A wanted eastern Ontario man was found with $50,000 worth of drugs and cash on him in a home in Bancroft, Ont. on Friday morning, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). B.C. mayor gets calls from across Canada about 'crazy' plan to recruit doctors A British Columbia community's "out-of-the-box" plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi. It was Grandma, in the cafe with a Scrabble tile: Game cafes are big holiday business It’s the holidays, which means for many across the Prairies, there’s no better time to get locked in a dungeon with a dragon. Oysters distributed in B.C., Alberta, Ontario recalled for norovirus contamination The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall due to possible norovirus contamination of certain oysters distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. opinion | Tom Mulcair: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's train wreck of a final act In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader and political analyst Tom Mulcair puts a spotlight on the 'spectacular failure' of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's final act on the political stage. Atlantic 'On death row.' Wrongfully convicted N.B. man has mixed feelings since exoneration Robert Mailman, 76, was exonerated on Jan. 4 of a 1983 murder for which he and his friend Walter Gillespie served lengthy prison terms. Cape Breton police arrest second person in missing man investigation A second person has been arrested in the disappearance of Justin MacDonald in Cape Breton. Icy conditions persist, parking ban lifted in Halifax Halifax has lifted a parking ban for Zone 1 – Central and Zone 2- Non-Central that was enforced Friday and Saturday night to accommodate snow removal following a winter storm. Toronto Cold weather in Toronto slowly easing up after frigid morning The temperature in Toronto is starting to ease up after a frigid Sunday morning, but still remains well below the freezing mark. Toronto police investigating 2 separate east-end shootings, no injuries reported Toronto police are investigating two separate east-end shootings that occurred within 12 hours of each other. Three-vehicle crash leaves 4 people injured in Brampton Four people were injured in a three-car crash in Brampton early Sunday morning. Montreal Fire in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie Over 100 Montreal firefighters were dispatched to a three-alarm fire in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough on Saturday morning. SPVM investigating possible arson attack in Saint-Leonard Montreal police (SPVM) confirmed that a vehicle was set on fire in the Saint-Leonard borough early Sunday morning. Spill closes Highway 25 near Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel A spill forced the closure of Highway 25 northbound Sunday morning at the Hochelaga Street exit, near the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel in Montreal. Northern Ontario Robinson Superior First Nations provided settlement offer from Canada over annuities owed Details haven’t been made public yet about the settlement offer presented on Friday by Canada to the 12 First Nations in the Robinson Superior Treaty Territory. Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General. Northern Ont. man illegally killed three moose, one deer A man from the northwestern Ontario community of Dinorwic has been found guilty of multiple hunting offences and fined $6,500, banned from hunting for five years and placed on probation for 18 months. Windsor Dreaming of a white Christmas? Christmas is right around the corner, and while winter has been touch and go, there’s a good chance that we will not be looking out the window at a winter wonderland this week. If you want to get the kids out of the house over the break, check out these day camps There’s lots of opportunity to get out in your community and get involved, with camp dates coming up on Monday, Tuesday and Friday this week, and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday next week. Cancer centre raises $2.7 million for purchase of 'game changer' surgical robot The Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation has raised a record breaking $2.7 million through the Grow on Windsor Campaign. London We're heading into the busiest time of year for emergency rooms Medical emergencies don’t take holidays – and it’s important to prepare for anything heading into the holiday season. Dreaming of a white Christmas? Christmas is right around the corner, and while winter has been touch and go, there’s a good chance that we will not be looking out the window at a winter wonderland this week. Owen Sound to invest half a million in community splashpad and playground The half a million dollar investment will replace the existing 25 year old playground structure and renew the splashpad – which at 15 years old requires some servicing. Kitchener Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General. Driver in Kitchener charged after going 180km/h in 70km/h zone A G2 driver has been charged after going 110km over the speed limit in Kitchener Sunday morning. 'I'm still thinking pinch me': lost puppy reunited with family after five years After almost five years of searching and never giving up hope, the Tuffin family received the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for: being reunited with their long-lost puppy. Barrie Residents startled by blue flashes in the sky during power outage in Barrie A power outage on Saturday night left over a thousand Barrie homes in the dark. One driver faces several charges following Highway 400 crash in Oro-Medonte Traffic came to a standstill Friday afternoon following a single-vehicle collision on Highway 400 in Oro-Medonte. High school teacher charged with sexual assault amid allegations involving a student A 51-year-old teacher from Georgina has been charged with sexual assault following allegations involving a student. Winnipeg Muslim youth group distributes meals to Winnipeg's most vulnerable In the spirit of giving season, a Muslim youth group made its way through the city’s downtown distributing meals to those in need. 'Good deals for Christmas': Turkey prices down from last year With just days to go before Christmas, one of the big items for the big feast could be cheaper this year. Numbers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada show that during November this year, turkey prices were down from the same time last year. Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitobans of 2024 It’s been another year of Manitobans doing interesting, incredible and cool things. The hardest part of compiling this list is cutting it off at 100. Calgary It was Grandma, in the cafe with a Scrabble tile: Game cafes are big holiday business It’s the holidays, which means for many across the Prairies, there’s no better time to get locked in a dungeon with a dragon. Traffic advisory issued by RCMP due to poor driving conditions south of Calgary and north of Red Deer Alberta RCMP issued a traffic advisory early Sunday morning due to poor driving conditions throughout the province. Flames get goals from 6 players in a 6-4 victory over the Blackhawks Jonathan Huberdeau, Connor Zary, Blake Coleman, and Matt Coronato each had a goal and an assist as the Calgary Flames beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 on Saturday. Edmonton 'There’s no support': Domestic abuse survivor shares difficulties leaving her relationship An Edmonton woman who tried to flee an abusive relationship ended up back where she started in part due to a lack of shelter space. Oilers finding ways to thrive in close encounters Leon Draisaitl scored 18 seconds into overtime to extend his point streak to eight games as the Edmonton Oilers overcame a slow start to win their second straight game in extra time, defeating the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Saturday. It was Grandma, in the cafe with a Scrabble tile: Game cafes are big holiday business It’s the holidays, which means for many across the Prairies, there’s no better time to get locked in a dungeon with a dragon. Regina Gathering held in Regina to recognize Winter Solstice Regina's mâmawêyatitân centre held a day of gathering for the Winter Solstice on Saturday. Canada's first sustainable Tim Hortons location to open in Regina this weekend Canada’s first sustainable Tim Hortons opens in Regina this weekend. The restaurant, located in the city’s east end, features design and operating features that minimize environmental impact. Gravelbourg's transportation program celebrates addition of new vehicle and garage The town of Gravelbourg is celebrating the addition of a new vehicle and garage which will be used in their local transportation program. Saskatoon Sask. woman dead following crash on Highway 5 A 69-year-old woman from the Humboldt area is dead after her SUV collided with a truck on Highway 5, according to police. Sask. police investigating mischief incident after bomb report in school Prince Albert police are investigating a mischief incident after a bomb report in a school Friday afternoon. Prince Albert woman collects donations to make Christmas hampers for community A Prince Albert woman is spreading holiday cheer by organizing Christmas hampers for those in need. Vancouver Drug superlabs leave a toxic mess. Some say B.C.'s cleanup rules are a mess, too As clandestine drug labs become larger and more complex, so does the toxic mess they leave behind and the tools required to clean them up, creating expensive and dangerous situations for both people and the environment. 'We need to win': Vancouver Canucks battling frustration amid slump Frustration is beginning to creep in for the Vancouver Canucks. Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General. Vancouver Island Drug superlabs leave a toxic mess. Some say B.C.'s cleanup rules are a mess, too As clandestine drug labs become larger and more complex, so does the toxic mess they leave behind and the tools required to clean them up, creating expensive and dangerous situations for both people and the environment. B.C. mayor gets calls from across Canada about 'crazy' plan to recruit doctors A British Columbia community's "out-of-the-box" plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi. B.C. woman with photographic memory strives to make unforgettable Christmas displays Although Alisha Pauling is looking through old pictures, she doesn’t need them to remember her Christmases past. She has a photographic memory. Kelowna Forfeited Hells Angels clubhouse in Kelowna, B.C., sold to the city A former Hells Angels clubhouse that was seized by the British Columbia government in 2023 after years of fighting in court has been sold to the City of Kelowna. Death of woman found in Kelowna's Waterfront Park in June deemed 'non-criminal in nature': RCMP Police in Kelowna say a death they began investigating back in June has now been confirmed as "non-criminal in nature." B.C. man sentenced for 'execution-style' murder of bystander in drug trade conflict A B.C. man convicted of the "intentional and ruthless killing of a bystander" while acting as an enforcer in the drug trade has been sentenced for a second time in the slaying. Stay ConnectedGRAND FORKS — Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley isn't particularly excited to see Carter Wilkie again this weekend. "I had a couple of goals and good games against them," said Wilkie, a UND senior center. ADVERTISEMENT That's an understatement. Wilkie, a junior at RIT last season, played six games against the Colonials. He scored six goals and tallied 12 points. That means 37.5 percent of his goals and 29.3 percent of his points last season came against Robert Morris. Wilkie, who transferred to UND in the offseason for his final year of college eligibility, will get one more shot at the Colonials. UND and Robert Morris will play in a two-game nonconference series at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday in Ralph Engelstad Arena. "They're a hard-working team," Wilkie said. "They definitely know how to play simple and fast. They move the puck north really well. Their team has obviously had a lot of changeover. They had a lot of fifth years (last year). I don't know exactly what they have brought in this year, but they're pretty well-coached and I'm expecting a hard match." Wilkie has been a consistent two-way player for UND but his offense has dried up recently. He enters this weekend on a six-game point drought and a nine-game goal drought. His line with Mac Swanson and Ben Strinden had strong analytics last weekend against the University of Denver. ADVERTISEMENT "I just want to see us play a dominant game and a full 60 minutes," Wilkie said. "We've had a lot of consistent stretches, it's just losing it after a couple moments. It's costing us goals. I really want to see 60 minutes out of our group and piece together two solid games, get back on the same page and get our season rolling, especially in the wins column." Wilkie said he expects to get Robert Morris' best. "Playing in Atlantic Hockey and coming to games like this and in an atmosphere like The Ralph, they're obviously going to be excited and tuned in to play their best game," Wilkie said. "We've got to be ready." Wilkie said a key is playing simple against the Colonials and not trying to be too fancy. "Hopefully, I can keep the lasting memory of them not wanting to see me anymore," Wilkie said. Injured players progressing UND is slowly progressing on the injury front. Defenseman Tanner Komzak is expected to be available this weekend. ADVERTISEMENT Komzak was cleared for practice Thursday last week. He dressed for Saturday's series finale but didn't play any shifts. "That was more about if something went wrong or if someone got hurt, he could be put into play," UND coach Brad Berry said. "It was probably unfair to him to play him, because he only had one practice. He's been out two or three weeks. "(Now), he's had a full week of practice." Berry said freshman defenseman Andrew Strathmann, who was injured Nov. 1 at Cornell, is "way ahead of expected." Strathmann has returned to practice. "When he got diagnosed coming out of Cornell, it looked like it was maybe longterm with a surgery included," Berry said. "The surgery didn't take place. He's really responded from therapy. He's in some heavy contact drills, some we're keeping him out of." Strathmann won't play against Robert Morris, but he could play before Christmas break. UND plays a home-and-home with Bemidji State next week, then travels to Miami before hosting St. Cloud State. ADVERTISEMENT Forward Cody Croal practiced for the first time Thursday. He did not take contact. Defenseman Bennett Zmolek still is not practicing. UND expects to know more on his timeline next week. He's currently listed as "out indefinitely." Goalie Kaleb Johnson also is "out indefinitely." Center Cameron Berg also will miss this weekend's series. The Fighting Hawks have yet to win this season without Berg in the lineup (5-2 with him, 0-4 without him). Will Dane Montgomery stay on defense? Junior forward Dane Montgomery has been moved to defense to fill in for the injured blue liners. He had points in his first four full games on defense. Once UND starts to regain health on the blue line, will UND leave him there? "It's a great question," Berry said. "As of now, yes. He's done a lot to help out or D-corps back there, not only defensively but offensively. Once we get guys back, we'll make that decision. That depends what our forward group looks like here, too. ADVERTISEMENT "As of now, he will be (on defense). At the end of the day, we'll keep looking forward. But I'll tell you what — what a positive, positive impact he's had on our group." Robert Morris at No. 12 UND When: 7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday. Where: Ralph Engelstad Arena. TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD). Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM). Stream: NCHChockey.com.

Enzo Maresca ‘thankful’ for connection at Leicester ahead of return with Chelsea