KING Charles will deliver his Christmas Day address from a former hospital chapel to mark his ongoing cancer treatment. The 76-year-old recorded the speech a fortnight ago amid high security at Fitzrovia Chapel in central London. Advertisement 5 King Charles will deliver his Christmas Day address from this former hospital chapel to mark his ongoing cancer treatment Credit: PA 5 Pictured with Camilla in Sydney in October, the King will use his speech to reflect on his cancer battle Credit: Getty 5 The Fitzrovia Chapel, where the King chose to record his Christmas speech in a break with tradition Credit: PA He will mention his and the P rincess of Wales’s health battles in the first Christmas broadcast in 14 years to be filmed away from the royal estate. Charles was said to be “enchanted” by the stunning chapel. The monarch wanted to break from festive tradition at the end of a tumultuous year. He was then told about the chapel in central London, which served patients at nearby Middlesex Hospital and is now used by the community. Charles is said to have loved photos of the ornate 19th-century venue, and surprised passers-by when he arrived for filming amid high security a fortnight ago. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE ROYALS MESSAGE OF HOPE King picks ex-hospital for speech to reflect on year after cancer diagnosis WORDS OF HOPE Kate records special message of hope reflecting on 'hardest years of life' A Palace source said: “The King wanted to do things a bit differently this year and reach out into the community rather than just in the royal estates, which is a key theme of his work.” He loved the pictures and loved the story behind it and loved the place when he got there. He was completely enchanted. A source on Charles choosing the chapel The Royal Household scoured several locations for the address until finding “a clear favourite” which “ticked all the boxes”. Charles personally chose it before visiting for the first time on the day of filming on December 11, when the area close to Oxford Street was closed off. The source added: “It seemed logical it must have some healthcare connection, it had to be a community space there to bring communities together, that it was suitably beautiful and festive, and have a royal connection, and be in easy reach of Buckingham Palace. Advertisement Most read in Royals Breaking CRASH HORROR Man killed and toddler fighting for life after car smashes into pedestrians OFF THE SHELVES Warning to Scots as Tesco, Aldi & Morrisons recall Xmas dinner favourites AMA NEW MAN Rangers flop finds new club after five months in wilderness and buying COWS Gossip LOW BLOW Rangers 'open to transfer offers' for star once targeted by Manchester City “He loved the pictures and loved the story behind it and loved the place when he got there. He was completely enchanted.” Kate and Wills felt personally affected by Southport, you could see strain etched on their faces, says expert In 1987, Charles’s then-wife Princess Diana famously shook hands — without wearing gloves — with Aids patients when she opened Middlesex Hospital’s specialist Broderip Ward. Diana, who divorced Charles in 1996, also returned with then-First Lady Barbara Bush in 1991. Although the contents of tomorrow’s address are kept secret until it airs, it is understood Charles will mention his and the current Princess of Wales’s cancer struggles . Advertisement However, their health battles, which have loomed large in the royal year, will not be the “dominant theme”, it is claimed. It will touch on “international, national and personal challenges and coming together of communities” such as the response to the horrific killings at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport . It will also record royal achievements such as Charles and Camilla’s tour of Australia and Samoa. Going behind the scenes One of the main themes is a plea for “peace”, it is understood. Advertisement Buckingham Palace yesterday issued a photograph of the King filming the address inside the Byzantine-inspired chapel. Just like last year, he stands for his address and wears one of his favourite blue ties. In another change from Queen Elizabeth’s broadcasts, the Palace will release a teaser clip today. There will also be a behind-the-scenes making of the King’s Speech sent out on Boxing Day on social media. Advertisement Eyewitnesses said they were stunned to see Charles arrive at the chapel, which is next to aptly-named Middleton Place and The King and Queen pub, at around 3.30pm on December 11. They described it as “cloak and dagger”, with the King and his security team “literally in-out”. One said: “They just pulled up here and shut the door of the chapel and were there for about an hour. I was shocked when I saw him - I said ‘Oh my God it’s Charles!’” We end the year in such a positive place it is even beyond the most optimistic hopes of doctors. Source on the King's health An onlooker from a nearby building added: “There were close protection officers, we knew this because they had all their medals embroidered into their suits and were very coy. Advertisement "It was very cloak and dagger. We were up at the top window facing the whole thing. “There were three cars parked outside the chapel. There was a photographer here with the biggest camera in the world, but security wouldn’t let him go much further. "The whole thing was very fast, literally in-out.” Another passer-by said: “I came to work and the whole road was cordoned off. Advertisement "There were three cars and six police bikes and security all up that road, loads of them. "We weren’t told what was going on, I think they kept it all hush-hush.” The Christmas tree seen behind the King was decorated sustainably with recyclable pine cones, metal bells and glass baubles. It was subsequently donated to Croydon BME Forum and Macmillan Cancer Support’s “Can You C Me” project, and now sits at Royal Trinity Hospice, Clapham, South West London. Advertisement Although the King’s cancer treatment continues, the Palace say it is moving in a “positive direction”. A source told The Sun: “We end the year in such a positive place it is even beyond the most optimistic hopes of doctors.” Meanwhile, Kate, 42, announced in September she had completed chemotherapy after initially revealing her cancer diagnosis in March. 5 The King's speech will address global, national, and personal challenges, including the response to the Southport killings Credit: PA Advertisement 5 In 1987, Princess Diana famously shook hands without gloves with Aids patients at Middlesex Hospital's Broderip Ward Credit: Getty CHAPEL A QUIET SPOT FOR SOLACE By Matt Wilkinson FITZROVIA Chapel was built in the central courtyard of Middlesex Hospital to be used by patients and visitors. Its first service was on Christmas Day 1891, with an official opening by the Bishop of London the following June. However, its ornate interior was only completed in 1929, after the death of its designer, eminent architect John Loughborough Pearson. Middlesex Hospital began as an infirmary in 1745 for the “sick and lame of Soho”. It moved nearby 12 years later before it was demolished in 1924 after it was declared structurally unsafe. A new hospital was built on the site with a foundation stone laid by Charles’s grandfather, the future King George VI, in 1928 below. It was closed for good in 2005 before being knocked down again in 2008 — although the Grade II-listed chapel was given a £2million restoration. It is now used for religious services and a “space for quiet reflection for people of all faiths or none”. The monarch’s Christmas TV address has rarely been held outside royal residences since the first in 1957. The late Queen recorded at Royal Albert Hall in 1988, Combermere Barracks in Windsor in 2003, Southwark Cathedral in 2006 and Hampton Court in 2010. However, tomorrow’s address from Fitzrovia Chapel is the fourth different location in as many years. Advertisement Read more on the Scottish Sun DECEMBRRR Scots blasted with snowfall days before Christmas as storms cause transport chaos FLOOR PHILLER Rangers boss Philippe Clement spotted dancing in popular Glasgow bar The late Queen filmed her final one in 2021 from Windsor Castle. A year later, for his first, the King pre-recorded from St George’s Chapel in Windsor, which hosted his mother’s committal service. Then last year he filmed his speech from Buckingham Palace. Timeline of King Charles' health battle A look at King Charles cancer diagnosis and recovery. January 17 : Buckingham Palace announces the King has been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate January 26 : The Sun exclusively photograph the King arriving at The London Clinic for his 'corrective procedure' January 29 : Seen waving and smiling as he left hospital after an extra night February 5 : Palace reveal while in hospital for his prostate operation doctors discovered the the King has a form of cancer February 10 : King issues 'heartfelt thanks' in a written statement February 21 : King tells Rishi Sunak he had been "reduced to tears" by get-well cards March 21 : The Princess of Wales and the King have lunch at Windsor Castle March 22 : Kate announces via video statement that she is being treated for cancer March 31: King attends Easter Sunday service and takes part in 'walkabout' with members of the public and aides say 'it was a significant step' as King had 'responded to treatment very encouragingly' April 4: The Sun exclusively reveals King has ordered aides to 'supercharge' his diary for the summer and is 'raring to go' April 10: King and Queen embark on break at Birkhall, in Scottish Highlands April 26: Buckingham Palace announce King will return to public-facing front-line duties April 30 : King marks his public comeback by visiting a cancer hospital with the Queen Future: May 8 and 21: Buckingham Palace Garden Parties May 21 - 25 : Chelsea Flower Show June 6: 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France and UK June 15 : Trooping the Colour birthday parade in London June 17 : Garter Day parade at Windsor Castle June 18 - 22 : Royal Ascot Late June : State Visit by Emperor and Empress of Japan July 3 : Holyrood Week in Scotland October : Two or three-week tour of AustraliaThe German Embassy in Nigeria has announced the upcoming visit of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, from December 10 to 12, 2024 to Abuja and Lagos. In Lagos, he will engage with business representatives, visit a start-up hub, and meet with members of Nigeria’s cultural sector and civil society. According to the statement by the embassy, the visit aims to strengthen the robust Nigeria-Germany relations and to express Germany’s appreciation of Nigeria. This visit follows the recent engagements between the two nations, including the visit of Olaf Scholz German Chancellor to Nigeria in October 2023 and the visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Germany in November 2023. President Steinmeier’s visit marks the third high-level exchange between the two countries since President Tinubu’s inauguration, highlighting the close ties and mutual interests shared by both nations. The statement notes that the visit also signifies a commitment to working together as strategic partners, given that both countries are the strongest economies and the most populous nations on their respective continents. The state reads: “German Embassy in Nigeria is pleased to announce the visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Nigeria on the 10th to 12th of December 2024. “The visit aims to underline the strength of Nigeria-Germany relations and to mark Germany’s appreciation of Nigeria. “This high frequency of visits is proof of the close relations between both countries and the serious interest of Germany in Nigeria. It is also evidence of a willingness to work together as strategic partners – an obvious fit, as both countries share striking commonalities, including being the strongest economy and the most populous country on their respective continents”. “President Steinmeier will be accompanied by a business delegation of CEOs and high-ranking board members of some of Germany’s most successful companies in the fields of IT, hightech and energy – an indication of the rising interest of German businesses in opportunities to invest in Nigeria”. During his visit, President Steinmeier will meet with President Tinubu and the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), His Excellency Dr. Alieu Omar Touray. During his Lagos trip, he will meet with Dr. Nike Okundaye, popularly known as Mama Nike, of the Nike Art Gallery, and Prof. Wole Soyinka, the renowned author and Nobel Laureate for Literature. There will also be an opportunity to tour the city of Lagos to gain insights into the urban development of this megacity, including its environmental and social challenges. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany serves as the Head of State, representing Germany both domestically and internationally. His role is largely ceremonial, focusing on mediation and communication, rather than day-to-day politics. This visit is expected to further strengthen the important bilateral relations between Germany and Nigeria.
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:21 p.m. ESTWaltham, Mass., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nano Dimension Ltd. (Nasdaq: NNDM) ("Nano Dimension” or the "Company”), a supplier of Additive Manufacturing solutions, today shared its response to a December 20, 2024 lawsuit filed by Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) ("Desktop Metal”) against the Company in the Delaware Court of Chancery alleging Nano Dimension has failed to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain regulatory approval in connection with the merger agreement between the parties dated July 2, 2024 (the "Merger Agreement”). The Company believes the lawsuit is without merit and inconsistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement, particularly with respect to the Company's right to work through the review process that is under way with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS"). The Company believes the lawsuit is nothing more than an effort by Desktop Metal to prevent the Company from exercising its rights under the Merger Agreement and to impose deadlines and obligations that are inconsistent with that agreement. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself and preserve its rights under the Merger Agreement. About Nano Dimension Ltd. Nano Dimension (Nasdaq: NNDM) offers a variety of Digital Manufacturing technologies serving customers across vertical target markets such as aerospace and defense, advanced automotive, high-tech industrial, specialty medical technology, and R&D and academia. With its suite of digital manufacturing technologies, Nano Dimension is enabling its customers with prototyping and high-mix-low-volume production, along with IP security, design-for-manufacturing capabilities, and more sustainable means of fabrication. For more information, please visit https://www.nano-di.com/ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For example, Nano is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses (i) its beliefs regarding the merits of the lawsuit filed by Desktop Metal, (ii) its beliefs regarding the lawsuit with respect to Nano's rights under the Merger Agreement and (iii) its intention to vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit and preserve its rights under the Merger Agreement. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding Nano's future intentions, strategic plan, events or developments that Nano intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Such statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions made based on information currently available to management. When used in this communication, the words "outlook,” "guidance,” "expects,” "believes,” "anticipates,” "should,” "estimates,” "may,” "will,” "intends,” "projects,” "could,” "would,” "estimate,” "potential,” "continue,” "plan,” "target,” or the negative of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on the current expectations of Nano, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors and risks that may cause Nano's actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction; (ii) the satisfaction of the closing conditions of the proposed transaction; and (iii) other risks related to the completion of the proposed transaction and actions related thereto. Except as otherwise required by law, Nano undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this communication. Nano is not responsible for the contents of third-party websites. Nano Dimension Contacts Investors: Julien Lederman, VP Corporate Development | [email protected] Media: Kal Goldberg / Bryan Locke / Kelsey Markovich | [email protected]
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:09 p.m. EST, /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company" or "Cousins") (NYSE:CUZ) announced today that its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP (the "Operating Partnership"), has priced an offering of aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2032 at 99.463% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on , subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Cousins intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price of 601 West 2nd Street, also known as Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot trophy lifestyle office property in (the "Sail Tower Acquisition"), and the remainder to repay borrowings under its credit facility and for general corporate purposes. In the event the Sail Tower Acquisition is not completed, Cousins will use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition and development of office properties, other opportunistic investments and the repayment of debt. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company. J.P. Morgan, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers. A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, , 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, telephone collect at 1-212-834-4533; Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 303 Peachtree Street, 30308, telephone: 800-685-4786, or e-mail: ; or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Attention: High Grade Syndicate, 214 North Tryon Street, 26th Floor, 28202, or by telephone at: (877) 558-2607. Electronic copies of these documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at . This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT"). The Company, based in and acting through the Operating Partnership, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. Certain matters contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, as itemized in Item 1A included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended and . These forward-looking statements include information about the Company's possible or assumed future results of the business and the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements regarding subjects that are forward-looking by their nature, such as: guidance and underlying assumptions; business and financial strategy; future debt financings; future acquisitions and dispositions of operating assets or joint venture interests; future acquisitions and dispositions of land, including ground leases; future acquisitions of investments in real estate debt; future development and redevelopment opportunities; future issuances and repurchases of common stock, limited partnership units, or preferred stock; future distributions; projected capital expenditures; market and industry trends; future occupancy or volume and velocity of leasing activity; entry into new markets, changes in existing market concentrations, or exits from existing markets; future changes in interest rates and liquidity of capital markets; and all statements that address operating performance, events, investments, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account information that is currently available. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of possible events or factors, not all of which are known. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements due to, but not limited to, the following: the availability and terms of capital and our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on terms favorable to us or at all; the ability to refinance or repay indebtedness as it matures; any changes to our credit rating; the failure of purchase, sale, or other contracts to ultimately close; the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from acquisitions, developments, investments, or dispositions; the effect of common stock or operating partnership unit issuances, including those undertaken on a forward basis, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock; the availability of buyers and pricing with respect to the disposition of assets; changes in national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry, and the commercial real estate markets in which we operate (including supply and demand changes), particularly in , , , , , , and , including the impact of high unemployment, volatility in the public equity and debt markets, and international economic and other conditions; threatened terrorist attacks or sociopolitical unrest such as political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities, or political activism, which may result in a disruption of day-to-day building operations; changes to our strategy in regard to our real estate assets may require impairment to be recognized; leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, the ability to lease newly-developed and/or recently acquired space, the failure of a tenant to commence or complete tenant improvements on schedule or to occupy leased space, and the risk of declining leasing rates; changes in the preferences of our tenants brought about by the desire for co-working arrangements, trends toward utilizing less office space per employee, and the effect of employees working remotely; any adverse change in the financial condition or liquidity of one or more of our tenants or borrowers under our real estate debt investments; volatility in interest rates (including the impact upon the effectiveness of forward interest rate contract arrangements) and insurance rates; inflation; competition from other developers or investors; the risks associated with real estate developments (such as zoning approval, receipt of required permits, construction delays, cost overruns, and leasing risk); supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs; risks associated with security breaches through cyberattacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology networks and related systems, which support our operations and our buildings; changes in senior management, changes in the Company's board of directors, and the loss of key personnel; the potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues; the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws or the impact of any investigation regarding the same; the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners; any failure to comply with debt covenants under debt instruments and credit agreements; any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust or meet regulatory requirements; potential changes to state, local, or federal regulations applicable to our business; material changes in dividend rates on common shares or other securities or the ability to pay those dividends; potential changes to the tax laws impacting real estate investment trusts and real estate in general; risks associated with climate change and severe weather events, as well as the regulatory efforts intended to reduce the effects of climate changes and investor and public perception of our efforts to respond to the same; the impact of newly adopted accounting principles on our accounting policies and on period-to-period comparisons of financial results; risks associated with possible federal, state, local, or property tax audits; and those additional risks and environmental or other factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Roni Imbeaux Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 404-407-1104 View original content: SOURCE Cousins PropertiesBurt, the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” and continued to impress visitors with his fiery temper and commanding presence, has died. Burt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, , said. He was at least 90 years old. “Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor — an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts. “He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years,” the aquarium wrote. A , Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters (16 feet) long. He was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most well-known crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile before being saved by Dundee. Burt is briefly shown lunging out of the water. But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the movie goofed by depicting an American alligator, which has a blunter snout. The Australian aquarium where Burt had lived since 2008 features a “Cage of Death” which it says is the nation's only crocodile dive. It said it planned to honor Burt's legacy with a commemorative sign “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park.”
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams met with President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming “border czar” on Thursday, with the Democratic mayor expressing an enthusiasm to work with the incoming administration to pursue violent criminals in the city while Trump promises mass deportations. The mayor’s meeting with Tom Homan, who will oversee the southern and northern borders and be responsible for deportation efforts in the Trump administration, came as Adams has welcomed parts of the president-elect’s hardline immigration platform. Adams told reporters at a brief news conference that he and Homan agreed on pursuing people who commit violent crimes in the city but did not disclose additional details or future plans. “We’re not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes against innocent migrants, immigrants and longstanding New Yorkers,” he said. “That was my conversation today with the border czar, to figure out how to go after those individuals who are repeatedly committing crimes in our city.” The meeting marked Adams’ latest and most definitive step toward collaborating with the Trump administration, a development that has startled critics in one of the country’s most liberal cities. In the weeks since Trump’s election win, Adams has mused about potentially scaling back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies and coordinating with the incoming Trump administration on immigration. He has also said migrants accused of crimes shouldn’t have due process rights under the Constitution, though he eventually walked back those comments. The mayor further stunned Democrats when he sidestepped questions last week on whether he would consider changing parties to become a Republican, telling journalists that he was part of the “American party.” Adams later clarified that he would remain a Democrat. For Adams, a centrist Democrat known for quarreling with the city’s progressive left, the recent comments on immigration follow frustration with the Biden Administration over its immigration policies and a surge of international migrants in the city. He has maintained that his positions have not changed and argues he is trying to protect New Yorkers, pointing to the law-and-order platform he has staked out throughout his political career and during his successful campaign for mayor. At his news conference Thursday, Adams reiterated his commitment to New York’s generous social safety net. “We’re going to tell those who are here, who are law-abiding, to continue to utilize the services that are open to the city, the services that they have a right to utilize, educating their children, health care, public protection,” he said. “But we will not be the safe haven for those who commit violent acts.” While the education of all children present in the U.S. is already guaranteed by a Supreme Court ruling, New York also offers social services like healthcare and emergency shelter to low-income residents, including those in the country illegally. City and state grants also provide significant access to lawyers, which is not guaranteed in the immigration court as they are in the criminal court. Still, Adams’ recent rhetoric has been seen by some critics as an attempt to cozy up to Trump, who could potentially offer a presidential pardon in his federal corruption case. Adams has been charged with accepting luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. He has pleaded not guilty. Homan, who was Trump’s former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, also met this week with Republicans in Illinois, where he called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, to start negotiations over how Trump’s mass deportation plans, according to local media. Separately, New York City officials this week announced continued efforts to shrink a huge emergency shelter system for migrants because of a steady decline in new arrivals. Among the planned shelter closures is a massive tent complex built on a federally owned former airport in Brooklyn, which advocates have warned could be a prime target for Trump’s mass deportation plan. Elsewhere, Republican governors and lawmakers in some states are already rolling out proposals that could help him carry out his pledge to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally. ___ Izaguirre reported from Albany, N.Y. Anthony Izaguirre And Cedar Attanasio, The Associated PressSwami Vivekanand Scholarship for Academic Excellence An initiative of the Government of Rajasthan. Eligibility: Indian citizens residing in Rajasthan under 35 years pursuing a UG, PG, Ph.D. or postdoctoral programme who meet the specified income criteria. Rewards: Up to ₹100,000 monthly and other benefits Application: Online Deadline: January 15 www.b4s.in/edge/RGAE1 Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Young Research Fellowship 2024 An initiative of Technology, Education, Research and Rehabilitation for the Environment (TERRE) Policy Centre. Eligibility: Indian citizens between 18 and 25 years who are pursuing/have completed a UG, PG or Ph.D. in any field related to environmental research. Rewards: Up to ₹25,000 and a certificate Application: Online Deadline: February 15 www.b4s.in/edge/APJF1 Dr Gita Piramal Graduate Scholarship An opportunity offered by Somerville College, Oxford University, the U.K. Eligibility: Open to Indian nationals currently residing in the country and have applied for a Master’s degree in Sustainability Science and Development. Rewards: Course fees, living and travel expenses Application: Online Deadline: January 29, 2025 www.b4s.in/edge/DGPS1 Courtesy: buddy4study.com Published - December 07, 2024 11:40 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit students / university / study abroad / higher education / universities and colleges / The Hindu Education PlusBy BARBARA ORTUTAY, Associated Press Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters said they visit YouTube every day. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. This small decline could be due to pandemic-era restrictions easing up and kids having more time to see friends in person, but it’s not enough to be truly meaningful. X saw the biggest decline among teenage users. Only 17% of teenagers said they use X, down from 23% in 2022, the year Elon Musk bought the platform. Reddit held steady at 14%. About 6% of teenagers said they use Threads, Meta’s answer to X that launched in 2023. The report comes as countries around the world are grappling with how to handle the effects of social media on young people’s well-being. Australia recently passed a law banning kids under 16 from social networks, though it’s unclear how it will be able to enforce the age limit — and whether it will come with unintended consequences such as isolating vulnerable kids from their peers. Meta’s messaging service WhatsApp was a rare exception in that it saw the number of teenage users increase, to 23% from 17% in 2022. Pew also asked kids how often they use various online platforms. Small but significant numbers said they are on them “almost constantly.” For YouTube, 15% reported constant use, for TikTok, 16% and for Snapchat, 13%. As in previous surveys, girls were more likely to use TikTok almost constantly while boys gravitated to YouTube. There was no meaningful gender difference in the use of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Roughly a quarter of Black and Hispanic teens said they visit TikTok almost constantly, compared with just 8% of white teenagers. The report was based on a survey of 1,391 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10, 2024. Be civil. Be kind.
Blues’ Radek Faska out vs. Sharks with lower-body injuryA federal jury has awarded a Levittown woman $2 million after finding Nassau police officers falsely arrested her at her home in 2019, according to lawyers for the plaintiff and the defendants. The verdict, reached in Central Islip on Friday, comes nearly six years after Donna Cipley said officers forcibly removed her from her house on March 12, 2019, wearing nothing but a pajama bottom and a tank top despite the cold. In a news release at the time, police said officers went to her home because she was wanted for criminal contempt and that she hit one with a door and bent back a detective's thumb. She was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest. Those charges were later dropped, her attorney said. “This is a long-awaited vindication of this grandmother’s rights," said Cipley's attorney, Frederick K. Brewington. "Finally, after attacking her in her own home, parading her before cameras in handcuffs and charging her with crimes she did not commit, she has seen just a small bit of justice.” Oscar Michelen, the lead attorney for the county and the police officers, said the defendants had done nothing wrong and that the county would fight the verdict. The biggest news, politics and crime stories in Nassau County, in your inbox every Friday at noon. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . "We believe that the amount awarded for the false arrest was excessive, and that even the false arrest finding will eventually be overturned on appeal," he told Newsday. Nassau County spokesman Chris Boyle did not respond to a request for comment Saturday. Cipley, who was in her early 60s at the time of the arrest, claimed in her suit that Nassau officers had started harassing her family after her son, who had been hospitalized for a drug overdose in 2018, refused to become a police informant. She alleged that detectives visited her home, shining lights in the windows and ringing the doorbell. She also said in her suit that "at no point" was she ever "the subject of a criminal contempt charge." After her charges were dimissed in October 2019, Cipley filed her civil rights lawsuit in 2020 . She accused six officers of abuse, but Brewington and Michelen confirmed that the jury on Friday found only two officers, Det. Michael Mazzara and Det. Basil Gomez, liable. Cipley's original complaint accused the defendants of allegations including assault, battery, false arrest and malicious prosecution. The jury found the officers liable only for the false arrest, according to the attorneys. In October, a federal jury in Brooklyn awarded more than $2.3 million dollars to Robert Besedin Sr. , an Air Force veteran from Baldwin who alleged two Nassau County police officers threw him down concrete stairs during an encounter at his home in 2017. Newsday previously reported that there were 75 settlements or jury awards for lawsuits alleging police or prosecutorial misconduct between 2000 and January 2023 on Long Island, costing taxpayers at least $165 million.FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign in advance of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration — meaning he will depart from the bureau about three years before his term ends. Wray’s decision, which was revealed on Dec. 11, came shortly after Trump nominated Kash Patel — a strong supporter of his — to lead the FBI. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work,” Wray, who was nominated by Trump in 2017, told his colleagues, according to The Associated Press. Trump celebrated the move, writing in a post on Truth Social that Wray’s resignation “is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.” Amid these developments, here is what to know about FBI directors and their tenureships. Who appoints the FBI director? During the early years of the FBI, the attorney general was charged with choosing the bureau’s director, who was not constrained by term limits . However, in 1968, Congress passed a law establishing that the president would appoint the director, who would require Senate confirmation. “By that point the FBI was considered important enough to warrant an executive appointment,” Douglas Charles, a history professor at Pennsylvania State University Greater Allegheny, who researches the FBI, told McClatchy News. “Before then, attorneys general hired and fired them.” How long is the FBI director’s term? In 1976, Congress passed a law permitting the FBI director to serve one 10-year term. The law “stemmed directly from the fact that J. Edgar Hoover was entrenched as director for 48 years,” Charles said. Hoover led the intelligence agency from 1924 to 1972 , during which time he amassed significant powers, he said. As a result, the law sought to prohibit anyone else from following in his footsteps. Hoover wasn’t the only impetus for the term limit, though. “This law came, as well, in the wake of Watergate where President Nixon tried to have his own man, his own lackey, L. Patrick Gray, become FBI director,” Charles said. So, the law “sought to isolate the FBI from White House political influence.” Do most directors stay on for 10 years? There have been 12 directors — including acting directors — since the 10-year term limit was established, and nearly all of them left office before their term ended, according to FBI records. For example, Clarence Kelley , who was nominated by Nixon, led the agency for about five years between 1973 and 1978. Similarly, Louis Freeh , who was nominated by President Bill Clinton, helmed the agency for about eight years between 1993 and 2001. The only director to stay on for a full term was Robert Mueller , who was in office for 12 years. President George W. Bush nominated Mueller to head the FBI in 2001, and in 2011, before his term ended, President Barack Obama asked Congress to pass legislation extending his term for two more years — which it did. “The United States faces ongoing threats from terrorists intent on attacking us both at home and abroad, and it is crucial that the FBI have sustained, strong leadership to confront that threat,” Attorney General Eric Holder said at the time. “There is no better person for that job than Bob Mueller.” More politics news → How does Senate confirmation process work? What to know as Trump makes Cabinet picks → Trump to return to White House after 4 years. Only one past president has done that → How did LGBT Americans vote in election? Exit poll finds significant shift from 2020 Have any FBI directors been fired? “Only two FBI directors were outright fired,” Charles said. The first was William Sessions, whom Clinton dismissed in 1993 after learning the director had been accused of misusing FBI resources. Specifically, he had been accused of using a government airplane for personal reasons, installing a fence around his house using government funds and failing to pay taxes on an FBI limousine, according to ABC News. Twenty-four years later, in 2017, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey amid a bureau investigation into whether Trump’s campaign had colluded with the Russian government. At the time, Trump said Comey’s ouster was required to bring back “public trust and confidence” in the FBI, according to The Associated Press. “There have been other FBI directors who resigned in the past after improprieties or scandals surfaced,” Charles said. “I call these Washington, D.C., ‘firings’ where they were quietly asked to resign or just stepped aside.” One of these was L. Patrick Gray, who became acting director following the death of Hoover in 1972. He resigned in 1973 after it was disclosed that he had destroyed incriminating White House documents related to the Watergate scandal , according to The Guardian. Gray’s successor, Kelley, also left office early following a scandal. Following the election in 1976, it was revealed that FBI carpenters did construction on his home, costing a total of $355, Charles said. “In the wake of Hoover and Watergate this was seen as a scandal,” he said. “By our standards today it is small potatoes.” President Jimmy Carter, who was inaugurated in 1977, ended up making a deal with Kelley, in which he would step down after one year, Charles said. Who do Americans trust for health information? Poll finds gap between FDA and RFK Jr. Most Americans approve of Trump transition phase, poll finds. What about past presidents? Can Donald Trump actually end birthright citizenship? Legal experts weigh in
UK economy flat-lined in Q3, in new setback for governmentWest Ham have beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 in England's Premier League, heaping more pressure on beleaguered coach Gary O'Neil. Both sides came into the match at London Stadium on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) under a cloud and the game was widely billed as a make-or-break encounter for O'Neill and West Ham counterpart Julen Lopetegui. Wolves started the night second to last, while the Londoners were in 14th place, and the pressure and nerves were apparent in an edgy first half that was devoid of class and composure. Mohammed Kudus and Konstantinos Mavropanos had half-chances for West Ham, while at the other end Joao Gomes shot over from a good position. Things improved after the break, and West Ham took the lead in the 53rd minute from a corner kick. Wolves left Tomas Soucek unmarked at the back post and his looping header sailed into the far corner. Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves in the 69th minute. However, just three minute later West Ham's talismanic captain Jarrod Bowen found time and space in the box to slot home with his left foot. West Ham were without Michail Antonio, their ever-present striker who broke a leg in a car crash on Saturday, and Bowen held up Antonio's No. 9 shirt to celebrate his goal. The West Ham players took to the field in training tops with Antonio's name and number on them, and the home fans gave him a warm round of applause in the ninth minute. The result left the Hammers in 14th spot, one point behind Manchester United. It was the third defeat in a row for Wolves, who remain on nine points, equal with third-to-last Ipswich Town.Ange Postecoglou relishing Tottenham’s key run of fixtures before Christmas
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja A retired Nigerian referee, Joseph Okeke, has made bold strides into sports merchandising by unveiling in Wuse, Abuja, Lookalike Sports Shop that offers an unparalleled shopping experience for sporting enthusiasts. Speaking at the grand unveiling, Okeke reflected on his lifelong passion for football. “Football has always been my passion. Though I couldn’t play at the highest level, I found fulfillment in refereeing. While officiating, I developed an interest in the merchandising side of the game, starting small at Area 3 and later expanding to Garki Modern Market,” he said. On what inspired the new store, Okeke emphasized they realized there was a segment of their clientele—those in Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse II, and Guzape—who wanted a more secure and upscale shopping experience. Beyond catering to individual customers, Lookalike Sports Shop offers bulk supplies for schools, football clubs, and organizations planning sports events. “Whether you’re gearing up for inter-house sports, a football club season, or end-of-year activities, we’ve got you covered with all kinds of sports gear and equipment,” Okeke added passionately. The Co-founder of Lookalike Sports Shop, Martha Okeke, described it as Abuja’s premier destination for sports gear and equipment. She said they had been in the business for 17 years, adding the innovative store is set to redefine sports shopping in Abuja, combining luxury, functionality, and a deep love for the game in one spectacular space.
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People gather near an oil spill in the Niger Delta in village of Ogboinbiri, Nigeria, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. —AP Photo/Sunday Alamba NIGER DELTA, Nigeria — As it crossed the Niger Delta in 2021, a satellite imaged acres of bare land. The site outside the city of Port Harcourt was on a United Nations Environment Programme cleanup list, supposed to be restored to green farmland as the Delta was before thousands of oil spills turned it into a byword for pollution. Instead it was left a sandy “moonscape” unusable for farming, according to UN documents. It wasn’t the only botched cleanup, a cache of previously unreported investigations, emails, letters to Nigerian ministers and meeting minutes show. Senior UN officials considered the Nigerian cleanup agency a “total failure.” The agency, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, or Hyprep, selected cleanup contractors without relevant experience, a U. review found. It sent soil samples to laboratories lacking the equipment for tests they had claimed to perform. Auditors were physically blocked from checking that work had been completed. Most cleanup companies are owned by politicians, a former Nigerian environment minister told the AP, and correspondence shows similar views were shared by UN officials. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. There have been thousands of oil spills since Niger Delta production began in the 1950s. Reports and studies document that people often wash, drink, fish and cook in contaminated water. Spills still occur frequently. In November, the Ogboinbiri community in Bayelsa state suffered its fourth spill in three months, harming fields, streams and fishing. “We have not harvested anything,” said farmer Timipre Bridget, there is now “no way to survive.” After a major UN pollution survey in 2011, oil companies agreed to a $1 billion cleanup fund for the worst-affected area, Ogoniland. Shell, the largest private oil and gas company in the country, contributed $300 million. The UN was relegated to an advisory role. The Nigerian government would handle the funds. But a confidential investigation by UN scientists last year found the site outside Port Harcourt was left with a “complete absence of topsoil,” with almost seven times more petroleum remaining than Nigerian health limits allow. The company responsible had its contract revoked, Nenibarini Zabbey, the current director of Hyprep, told the AP by email. The head of operations when the contract was awarded, Philip Shekwolo, called allegations in the UN documents “baseless” and “cheap blackmail.” Shekwolo, who used to head up oil spill remediation for Shell, insists the cleanup was successful. But the documents show UN officials raising the alarm since 2021, when Shekwolo was acting chief. A January 2022 UN review found 21 of the 41 contractors okayed to clean up spill sites had no relevant experience. These included construction companies and general merchants. They were effectively handed a “blank check,” UN Senior Project Advisor Iyenemi Kakulu is recorded saying in the minutes of a meeting with Hyprep and Shell. Incompetent companies were to blame for bad cleanups, Hyprep’s own communications chief, Joseph Kpobari is in the minutes as having said. Despite this, they were rewarded contracts for more polluted sites, the UN delegation warned. Zabbey denied Kpobari’s admission. He said 16 out of 20 sites in the project’s first stage are certified as clean by Nigerian regulators and many have been returned to communities. Hyprep always issued contracts correctly, he said. Two sources close to the cleanup efforts, speaking anonymously for fear of loss of business or employment, said when officials visited laboratories used by Hyprep, they lacked equipment needed to perform the tests they reported. In a letter to customers, one UK laboratory frequently used by Hyprep acknowledged its tests for most of 2022 were flawed and unreliable and the UK laboratory accreditation service confirmed the lab was twice suspended. Zabbey says now Hyprep monitors contractors more closely, labs adhere to Nigerian and UN recommendations and are frequently checked. The UN also warned the Nigerian government in a 2021 assessment that Hyprep’s spending was not being tracked. Internal auditors were considered “the enemy” and “demonized for doing their job.” Shekwolo’s predecessor as Hyprep chief blocked financial controls and “physically prevented” auditors from checking that work had been completed, it found. Zabbey responded that the audit team is valued now, and accounts are audited annually, although he provided only one audit cover letter. In it, the accountants “identified weaknesses.” One Nigerian politician tried to change things: Sharon Ikeazor spent decades as a lawyer before becoming environment minister in 2019. “The companies had no competence whatsoever,” she said in a phone interview. In February 2022, she received a letter from senior UN official Muralee Thummarukudy, warning of “significant opportunities for malpractice” over contract awards, unusually strong language in UN diplomacy. She removed Shekwolo as acting Hyprep chief the next month, explaining that she believed he was too close to the politicians. Most cleanup companies were owned by politicians, she said. The few competent companies “wouldn’t get the big jobs.” Shekwolo assessed who was competent for contract awards, Ikeazor said. Shekwolo’s former employer Shell and the UN both warned her about him, she said, something Shekwolo says he was unaware of. Ikeazor asked Shekwolo’s successor to review every suspect contract and investigate the cleanup companies. “That sent shockwaves around the political class,” she said. She was quickly replaced as environment minister, with Shekwolo rehired, after just two months out of office. Shekwolo denied being too close to politicians. He insists no reason was given for his removal and suggested Ikeazor simply didn’t like him. Last year, the UN Environment Programme ended its official involvement in the Nigerian oil spill cleanup, explaining its five-year consultancy was over. Ikeazor said the real reason was UN frustration over corruption, and the two sources close to the project concurred. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Zabbey said he believes the UN merely changed its goals and moved on. —Associated Press
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