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After Howard County voters showed overwhelming support for a charter amendment to establish an Office of the Inspector General, to create the office’s structure is up for final consideration by the County Council on Monday. “And I’m also quite pleased that we spent a lot of time as a body in work sessions, probably about nine or 10 hours, public work sessions, to reach a consensus on this particular bill. So, we’ve really put in a lot of hard work, it’s been kicking around since last June and we’re finally flying into the airport, I think, and landing it,” Council Chair Deb Jung said at a Nov. 18 public hearing. Days after the public hearing, the council held its regular legislative work session on Nov. 22 where council member Christiana Rigby proposed changes, and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s staff brought forth potential amendments that were to be filed before the 2 p.m. deadline Tuesday. The council will vote on Monday because “we got to get this thing going,” Jung said. Thirteen amendments were filed Tuesday, ranging from technical language changes to more substantial adjustments. The county executive’s office filed eight amendments. Some of the amendments would allow for the Inspector General Citizen Board to appoint and remove the inspector general rather than the County Council and prohibit former county executives or elected officials from being the inspector general within five years of government service. Anyone wanting to serve on the citizen board would also have to wait five years after serving in county government. Another amendment by Rigby, District 3, would change the name of the citizen board to “Inspector General Advisory Board.” Ball supported the council’s decision in July to amend the county’s charter, emphasizing the significance of good governance, efficiency and trust, Howard County Chief Administrative Officer Brandee Ganz said in a statement. The amendments were filed to support that “vision” and “strengthen the independence of the Office of the Inspector General,” Ganz said. “This includes a provision to ensure that oversight of the Inspector General falls to an empowered board of experienced community members and professionals, and not elected officials,” the statement read. “We look forward to working with the County Council to advance and implement this important initiative.” Other proposed amendments would authorize the citizen board to recommend changes to the Office of the Inspector General’s budget and allow the county executive to make two appointments to the board, while each County Council member would receive one. When discussing potential amendments during the Nov. 22 work session, Jung said she would never give the county executive two appointments “no matter what.” Jung filed an amendment clarifying the selection process so each council member and the county executive would nominate one person. Another person would be nominated by the majority of the council from names provided in a public process. Legislation around the Office of the Inspector General has been in the works since July, when Council Vice Chair Liz Walsh to form the office, which would uncover and address cases of fraud, abuse and waste in organizations receiving county funding. She also proposed legislation to form a citizen board that would appoint the inspector general, change the code around whistleblower complaints and the Howard County Ethics Commission’s composition and repeal some duties of the county auditor. After , the council worked on an amendment to the county charter to ensure the office would be completely independent of county government branches. The council that added it to the ballot in this year’s general election, when 85.6% of voters voted to establish the office. The day before Election Day, during a legislative session, members of the council introduced CB61-2024, which differed from the bills proposed by Walsh in July. The new bill would establish the Office of the Inspector General, an independent citizen board, and other functions of the new entity. Walsh, Jung, and Rigby, along with councilmember David Yungman, District 5, sponsored the measure. Opel Jones, of District 2, supported creation of the office but decided not to sponsor the bill because he said he wanted to see how the Nov. 5 vote went and needed to talk with constituents. “Whether a council member is on a bill as a co-sponsor or co-author really doesn’t have much to do with whether he or she is going to support an effort or a bill or not,” Jones said at the Nov. 18 public hearing. Members of the public shared their support for the inspector general’s office at the meeting while also raising questions and concerns about the cost, transparency and independence of the office, among other topics. Jung said the council shares some of those concerns. “I share your concerns,” Jung said responding to a resident’s testimony. “I think we probably all do share to a certain extent some of your concerns. It’s a new thing for us, too.”Inflation is predicted to average 2.5% this year and 2.6% next year, according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The British Medical Association said the Government showed a “poor grasp” of unresolved issues from two years of industrial action, and the Royal College of Nursing called the pay recommendation “deeply offensive”. The National Education Union’s chief said teachers were “putting the Government on notice” that the proposed increase “won’t do”. The pay recommendations came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for every Government department to cut costs by 5%, as she started work on a sweeping multi-year spending review to be published in 2025. Independent pay review bodies will consider the proposals for pay rises for teachers, NHS workers and senior civil servants. The Department of Health said it viewed 2.8% as a “reasonable amount” to set aside, in its recommendations to the NHS Pay Review Body and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Board remit groups. A 2.8% pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would “maintain the competitiveness of teachers’ pay despite the challenging financial backdrop the Government is facing”, the Department for Education said. The Cabinet Office also suggested pay increases for senior civil servants should be kept to no more than 2.8%. Paul Johnson, director of the influential economics think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said it was “not a bad ballpark figure” and feels “just about affordable” given the Government’s public spending plans. The downside, he said, is that public sector workers have lost out since 2010 and unions will be upset that this is not making up the gap, he told Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge. “But given the constraints facing the Chancellor I think it’s pretty hard to argue for more for public sector pay when public sector services ... are under real strain,” he said. Unions expressed their disappointment in the recommendations, with some hinting they could be willing to launch industrial action. The Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive called for “open direct talks now” to avoid “further escalation to disputes and ballots”. Professor Nicola Ranger said: “The Government has today told nursing staff they are worth as little as £2 extra a day, less than the price of a coffee. “Nursing is in crisis – there are fewer joining and too many experienced professionals leaving. This is deeply offensive to nursing staff, detrimental to their patients and contradictory to hopes of rebuilding the NHS. “The public understands the value of nursing and they know that meaningful reform of the NHS requires addressing the crisis in nursing. “We pulled out of the Pay Review Body process, alongside other unions, because it is not the route to address the current crisis. “That has been demonstrated today. “Fair pay must be matched by structural reform. Let’s open direct talks now and avoid further escalation to disputes and ballots – I have said that directly to government today.” Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association’s council, urged the sector’s pay review body to “show it is now truly independent”. “For this Government to give evidence to the doctors’ and dentists’ pay review body (DDRB) believing a 2.8% pay rise is enough, indicates a poor grasp of the unresolved issues from two years of industrial action,” he said. He said the proposal is far below the current rate of inflation and that the Government was “under no illusion” when doctors accepted pay offers in the summer that there was a “very real risk of further industrial action” if “pay erosion” was not addressed in future pay rounds. “This sub-inflationary suggestion from the current Government serves as a test to the DDRB. “The BMA expects it to take this opportunity to show it is now truly independent, to take an objective view of the evidence it receives from all parties, not just the Government, and to make an offer that reflects the value of doctors’ skills and expertise in a global market, and that moves them visibly further along the path to full pay restoration.” The NEU’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said teachers’ pay had been cut by more than one-fifth in real terms since 2010. “Along with sky-high workload, the pay cuts have resulted in a devastating recruitment and retention crisis. Teacher shortages across the school system hit pupils and parents too. “A 2.8% increase is likely to be below inflation and behind wage increases in the wider economy. This will only deepen the crisis in education.” In a hint that there could be a return to industrial action he added: “NEU members fought to win the pay increases of 2023 and 2024. “We are putting the Government on notice. Our members care deeply about education and feel the depth of the crisis. This won’t do.” The offer for teachers is the “exact opposite of fixing the foundations” and will result in bigger class sizes and more cuts to the curriculum, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The inadequacy of the proposed pay award is compounded by the Government’s intention that schools should foot the bill out of their existing allocations. “Given that per-pupil funding will increase on average by less than 1% next year, and the Government’s proposal is for an unfunded 2.8% pay award, it is obvious that this is in fact an announcement of further school cuts.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: This recommendation falls far short of what is needed to restore the competitiveness of the teaching profession, to enable it to retain experienced professionals and attract new talent. Unison head of health Helga Pile said: “The Government has inherited a financial mess from its predecessors, but this is not what NHS workers wanted to hear. “Staff are crucial in turning around the fortunes of the NHS. Improving performance is a key Government pledge, but the pay rise proposed is barely above the cost of living.”

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Article content It doesn’t matter how they rework the numbers, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre expects it will operate at a deficit in 2025. City council failed to provide the Innovation Centre with any more funding, as it warned a year ago. Even attempts to scale back funding over a four-year period were turned down by city council, as well as a proposal to provide one-time funding amount of $138,945 to help the Innovation Centre bridge the gap. The Innovation Centre’s mission is to drive business growth, facilitate research and commercialize innovation in science and technology. It offers expertise in software solutions, digital analytics and GIS support services, among other things. “I’m disappointed,” said SSMIC executive director Peter Bruijns. “The plan we proposed would have steadily removed ourselves from the tax burden of the community and allowed us to grow our operations outside the area. “Cutting us in one lump sum is a jolt,” he said. Even more so, Bruijns said SSMIC would likely not have come to the rescue of Harvest Algoma a month before it was given notice that funding would be eliminated after 2024. “If we had received that notice first, then our approach to Harvest Algoma would likely have been much different,” he said. “We wouldn’t have taken it on.” Having said that, Bruijns said SSMIC will make sure the food security program continues to grow and succeed and a stable plan is in place until the end of 2026 while it looks at new revenue sources to build itself. “So far, it has been incredibly successful helping the community and it is the joy of my day,” Bruijs said. “Because it helps the community so much, I am thrilled we took it on.” Currently Harvest Algoma owns the Harvest Algoma building, and the District Social Services Administration Board is the mortgage holder. SSMIC carries all the costs of running the building, which is considered an Innovation Centre asset. And while that programming has its own plan, the SSMIC is in the midst of its 2025 budget planning now and several scenarios have been considered, including one without city funding. “But this leaves us with a gap and a deficit next year and what we need to look at is how to close that gap,” Bruijns told The Sault Star. There are options to do that, he said. The SSMIC could take on less gratuitous work. It could also opt to charge more for the work it does for important community organizations and agencies. It could also downsize. A combination of all is the most likely scenario as it grows its operations outside the region, Bruijns said. Over the past year, staff numbers have already been downsized, many by not renewing contract offers, he said. That was precipitated by the past 15 years of flatlined provincial funding that has now caught up with the organization, especially given the past year of inflation and higher costs for cyber insurance, liability insurance and other costs. “We are seeing both the federal and provincial governments also tightening their funding programs, and we are feeling the squeeze,” he said. For now, it’s business as usual, Bruijns said, but it is anticipated that charge out rates will have a slow and steady rise to close the projected 2025 deficit incrementally. “We need to grow our reputation outside Algoma and build business in other small communities but to do that you also need money to attend trade shows, hire a relationship builder and develop sales material. We have never had a surplus. We’re always on the line and it has been hard to free up that budget over the years,” he said. Contracts SSMIC has with the city for 2025 have already been set and they would be difficult to increase costs at this point. “We really don’t want to penalize our existing customers and contracts. What we want to do is grow. We understand that life is hard everywhere and we need to rise to the challenge,” he said. Share this Story : Cuts to Innovation Centre funding means deficit expected for 2025 Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn TumblrWhen Quebec Premier François Legault publicly vowed to put a stop to praying in public places, he said he could once again turn to a rare legal tool to put the measure into law. It's called the notwithstanding clause, and it can be used to shield laws from legal challenges over violations of fundamental rights. Legal experts say the increasing tendency of provincial premiers to use it, however, is a worrying trend that disregards the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "The notwithstanding clause has to be used only in the case of an emergency with very, you know, important issues. You cannot use that just like that, just for fun, just to score some political points, right? And this is what we're seeing right now," said Frédéric Bérard, a constitutional lawyer and partner at GBM Lawyers, in an interview on Monday. Legault made the surprising comments about prayer last Friday on the last day of the fall legislative session, after reacting to a La Presse report that a high school north of Montreal was allowing praying in classrooms and hallways, as well as the disruption of a play on sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention. "There are teachers who are bringing Islamist religious concepts into Quebec schools," he told reporters in Quebec City. "I will definitely not tolerate that. We don't want that in Quebec." The premier went a step further, saying he is promising to also ban prayers in public spaces, such as parks and streets, and that his government is "looking at all possibilities, including the use of the notwithstanding clause." The premier will have no choice but to invoke the notwithstanding clause because outright banning prayer in parks would be "a clear violation of freedom of religion," and would be struck down by the courts, Bérard said. Threatening to use section 33 of the Constitution to make it a crime flies in the face of the rule of law, according to Bérard, who is concerned about "politicians that are playing around with [it] like it has no consequences." "It has to be a serious case. We need to have, like, an emergency. We need to have something real, something pretty, pretty grave. And we don't see that here. And frankly, it's a shame," said Bérard, also a lecturer at the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Law. CCLA launches 'Save the Charter' campaign The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) cited Quebec's uses of the notwithstanding clause as an example of "horrendous violations" of people's fundamental rights in a new campaign launched on Tuesday called "Save the Charter." It aims to raise awareness about the dangers of the provinces' continued use of the special legal measure. "If our rights and freedoms can easily be overridden, our Charter is meaningless," reads a description of the campaign. Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the CCLA's Fundamental Freedoms Program, told a news conference in Ottawa Tuesday that Legault's threat to use the Charter override to ban public prayer came days after an advisory committee appointed by the Quebec government recommended the province adopt its own constitution and take steps to secure its autonomy. "I mean this is a very, very dangerous trend to be following and this would be, if [Legault] goes forward with this initiative, this would be a direct violation of the freedom of religion and freedom of expression as well," Bussières McNicoll said. "And we have to keep in mind the fact that this would be the start of shrinking our civic space, because parks and streets are places where people should be able to gather peacefully — and not by blocking circulation, of course — but gather peacefully to express their opinions, but also their faith, to exercise their Charter protected rights." Ontario, Saskatchewan invoking the clause The Legault government has already invoked the notwithstanding clause preemptively twice since taking power — in 2019 to pass Quebec's secularism law that bans certain civil servants from wearing religious symbols in the workplace and again in 2021 when the provincial government tabled Bill 96 to limit the use of English in certain situations. Earlier this month, the premier said his government might invoke it to pass another law — one that would force new doctors to practise in the public system for five years. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has used it twice — in 2021 to impose limitations on third-party political expression for a year prior to an election, and again the following year to ban education workers from striking. Last week, he threatened to use it again to target homeless encampments . In 2023, Saskatchewan used it to ban transgender students from using their chosen names and pronouns in schools without formal permission from their parents. The CCLA said it was "never meant to circumvent normal court process or to be used regularly by any government to override the rule of law" when it was added during the 1981 constitutional settlement negotiations. In February, Quebec’s Court of Appeal upheld the province’s secularism law, Bill 21. Bérard and the CCLA are among the stakeholders involved in challenging the law at the Supreme Court, which has not yet decided whether it will hear the case. Legault has said Bill 21 was a reasonable approach to ensure Quebec remains secular. But Bérard said his actions prove otherwise. "Yeah, of course. Where did he spend the weekend again? OK, yeah, that's probably for secularism," he asked rhetorically, in reference to Legault's recent trip to Paris to watch the reopening of the Notre-Dame Catholic Cathedral. "[The prayer ban] is so 'deux poids, deux mesures' as we say in French (a double standard), and it's just a matter of how can I score electoral gains?" He's not the only one raising concerns about Legault's repeated use — or threat to use — the notwithstanding clause. In an op-ed in the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday to mark Human Rights Day, The Ligue des droits et libertés wrote that Legault's recent intention to use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places "demonstrates this dangerous trend toward weakening human rights protections." "The current rhetoric on 'Quebec values' is particularly problematic, as the values of a majority, as defined by a government sensitive to the vagaries of public opinion, can pose a direct threat to rights and contribute to the exclusion or marginalization of certain minorities," the LDL wrote. "The LDL insists on the need to ensure the protection of human rights, notably through Charters, and reiterates that these rights must never be subservient to the values of the majority."Volleyball: ETBU women open NCAA tourney with Allegheny sweep

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Pics: Akshay Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP) Udupi, Nov 23: The annual day celebration for secondary section of St Mary’s English Medium School, Kannarpady, Udupi, was held with the theme of “Evolving to Excel”, at the school premises on Saturday, November 23. The ceremony commenced with a prayer song by the school choir group. Former principal Fr Johnson L Sequeira in his address remarked, “Annual day is a joyous occasion. It is a culmination of all the academic activities of a school. We are here with a sense of gratitude, happiness, and joy to celebrate the talent of all students. I am coming here after six months, it is wonderful to see, meet and greet everyone. Evolution is a process of change, not only physically, but change in thoughts, relationship and action. We evolve every day. Evolution is not a one day process it takes millions of years to gather, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. If you are ready to walk an extra mile with others, ready to smile at your enemy, ready to share your everything to the needy then you're evolving, if not there is room for improvement. That is why we are here to evolve ourselves to become a better citizen and that is what education St Mary’s does. We have a beautiful mission and vision forming moral responsible and socially responsible, global citizens. Here not only education is given, but also values are inculcated in the lives of every student, students are taught discipline, so that the students when they step out into the world they become global citizens.” Fr Charles Menezes, correspondent, said, “This is a day to celebrate excellence of our students, who made difference in their lives and history of school. We are happy with the results that you show through various activities conducted in school and academics. I sincerely thank the parents for trusting us and admitting their children in this school, so that we will mould them in the manner they want. Each member of the school and parent are responsible for their formation, and when they do, we will be happy. Our school is evolving day by day to give better facilities to students, so that they may learn and change their life.” Walter D’Souza, senior accountant was felicitated on the occasion. Receiving the honour he said, “I have spent 36 years and countless in St Mary’s along with my colleagues, parents and students. It is not easy to say goodbye to a place that has been a significant part of my life. I am blessed to be associated with all correspondents of St Mary’s School. When I expressed my thoughts they fulfilled it and I am grateful. All principals and vice-principals helped me to get the best to serve in this institution. I am immensely grateful for the trust and opportunity you all bestowed upon me. Although I will be out of this location, I will have every one of you deep in my heart.” Fr Johnson Sequeira was felicitated on the occasion. The principal of the school Fr Vijay Joyson D’Souza presented the annual report for the academic year 2024-25. Endowment prizes were distributed to students who made commendable achievements in various fields. Vice-Principal Rita Quadros welcomed the gathering. Faculty member Cybil Soans delivered the vote of thanks. Students Zitain, Ashel D’Souza, Joshua and Dhavi mastered the ceremony. The formal function was followed by a cultural extravaganza, showcasing vibrant performances by the students of the secondary section.

The NFL issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union on Thursday following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood. Burglars have entered through side doors, via balconies, or second-floor windows. They’ve targeted homes in secluded areas and focus on master bedrooms and closet areas. Players were warned to avoid updating any social media with check-ins or daily activities until the end of the day. Posting expensive items on social media is discouraged. The homes of Mahomes and Kelce were broken into within days of each other last month, law enforcement reports show. The break-ins happened just before and the day of Kansas City’s 26-13 home victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, where Kelce’s superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift watched from the stands. No injuries were reported in either case.

NoneTHE KING beamed as he arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance this evening. King Charles arrived without Camilla following news the Queen had to miss the performance because of "lingering post-viral symptoms" from a recent chest infection. 6 King Charles III attends the Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall Credit: PA 6 The event will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada Credit: PA 6 The King meets Iris King-Taylor and Louie Cooper, children of Royal Variety supporters Credit: Reuters 6 The King received the show's programme from 10-year-old Louie Cooper Credit: Getty The King received a posy of flowers meant for Camilla from eight-year-old Iris King-Taylor as he arrived at the event on Friday evening. The flowers were picked from the gardens of the Royal Variety charity's nursing home Brinsworth House, in Twickenham. The King wished "everyone a very enjoyable evening" as the Royal Variety Performance started at the Royal Albert Hall. The King seemed amused as he laughed at comedian Matt Forde's impression of Donald Trump on the stage of the Royal Variety Performance. Read more on Royals GLAM MANDY Amanda Holden flashes abs in sequin top and skirt at Royal Variety Performance GET WELL SOON Camilla suddenly pulls out of Royal Variety show while battling infection During the show, the comedian referenced the unfounded claims Donald Trump repeated during his presidential debate against Democrat candidate Kamala Harris earlier this year, that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating locals' pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield. Matt Forde exclaimed in the president-elect's voice: "They're eating the cats, they're eating the dogs!" He then turned to address Charles from the stage, saying in Mr Trump's voice: "Your Majesty King Charles, you're named after a Spaniel - be very careful, they'll eat you alive." The King was seen laughing in response to the joke from the royal box of the Royal Albert Hall. Most read in Royals CASE RULING McGregor sexually assaulted rape accuser in Dublin hotel, civil case jury rules TAN CAM RAID Scots Turkish barbers raided after 'sunbed spy cam' discovered in shop STORM ON Storm Bert to bring 'multi-hazard event' to Scotland amid 'danger to life' alerts HAIL HAIL Bizarre moment Celtic fan abruptly stops AGM for a Hoops-themed PRAYER In a statement from Buckingham Palace, the King said he was "delighted" to accept the position as patron of the Royal Variety Charity earlier this year, following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. It is the first time Charles has attended the event as patron. He said in the statement: "The charity's crucial work in assisting those who have fallen ill, had an accident or hit hard times is as essential now as it ever has been. "I would like to thank all of those who have worked so hard to stage this year's production and wish everyone a very enjoyable evening." It is the latest high-profile event that Camilla has not been able to attend because of her illness, having also had to miss Remembrance events earlier this month. The King received the show's programme from 10-year-old Louie Cooper before taking the stairs up to the royal box in the auditorium. Presenters Amanda Holden and Alan Carr led the stars arriving at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance. The event will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada - based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film. Sir Elton John, who is introducing his West End adaptation, told the King: "I'm very happy to be here." Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet. The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill. Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary. Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde - who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine. Watch emotional King Charles lead the nation in remembering our fallen soldiers at today's poignant Remembrance Sunday ceremony Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year's show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly's campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection. It comes hours after Camilla insisted the "show must go on" after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. "With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight's Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned." A royal source said the Queen was "naturally disappointed to miss the evening's entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that 'the show must go on'". "She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon," the source added. Read more on the Scottish Sun COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle HITTING THE HIGH NOTES Much-loved pub named best music bar in Scotland The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year. 6 King Charles III meets Jack Philpott who plays Oliver in ‘Oliver The Musical’ Credit: PA 6 It is the latest high-profile event that Camilla has not been able to attend because of her illness Credit: GettyHomeowners and businesses said they “have lost everything” as flash floods and strong winds wreaked havoc during Storm Bert over the weekend. Hundreds of homes were flooded, roads were turned to rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across the UK during the height of the storm. The third storm of the season – Storm Conall – followed just days after on Wednesday, bringing more heavy rain, flooding and travel disruptions to parts of southern England. Some residents and business owners have had to appeal to the public for help amid fears they will not be able to clear the devastation by Christmas. Lynn Bridgeman, who lives in a caravan park in Taunton, Somerset, said she went through an “absolutely terrifying experience” in the early hours of Sunday when strong winds caused her awning to collapse. She said: “At three o’clock in the morning, my caravan went up on one wheel and that was the most horrifying thing I have ever experienced. “I thought the caravan was going to topple over. I literally screamed. “When I got up in the morning, I couldn’t get out of the caravan because the awning had come down and the pole got pushed into the door.” Ms Bridgeman, who kept her clothes, food, and electrics in the awning, said her neighbours had to cut out what was left of the canopy to get her out of the caravan. The 53-year-old mother of three, who had already lost her home 18 months prior after deteriorating health prevented her from working, set up a GoFundMe page hoping to raise enough money to replace her lost possessions – and assist other residents of the park who have been affected by the storm. So far, £305 has been raised out of a £12,000 target. “I have lost everything,” Ms Bridgeman said. “I had everything in that awning, from my food to my clothes to my electrics. “We had been preparing for the winter and it’s all gone, and all the money that we put into it. “I just absolutely feel destroyed. Every time I open up my caravan door at the moment, I burst into tears. “Losing things that you have worked for is very hard. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, to have to stand there and just rebuild again.” She added: “Luckily, we are all family here in this site. This is why I did this GoFundMe – so hopefully I can not only help myself, but them too.” In Chippenham, Wiltshire, Becky Lyons’s business flooded in the early hours of Monday, damaging equipment and stock. The 39-year-old owner of the Pawesome Pet Shop said the water rose up to two feet and meant she was unable to get inside her shop until 2pm, when the water had come down to one foot. She said: “There was mud and silt everywhere. “The water was just high enough to catch everything on our bottom shelves and our freezer full of raw food.” Ms Lyons, who has lived in the region for 18 years, said the flooding from Storm Bert was the worst she has seen so far. “The flooding has never got that bad,” she said. “It was a perfect storm.” Staff from the neighbouring Pasty Cove in Chippenham helped clean out the damage and also set up a GoFundMe page to help Ms Lyons absorb the financial loss from the destroyed stock and equipment, raising £280 out of a £3,000 target. Thanks to this, the pet shop was able to reopen for business on Wednesday. “The community support has been amazing – I think that needs shouting out”, she said. Near Shaftesbury in Dorset, Charlotte Reynolds’ sheep sanctuary, home to 54 rescued animals, also suffered losses to Storm Bert as strong winds blew away the largest shelter and dampened £400 worth of hay bales meant for feeding the sheep. Ms Reynolds, who founded The Smallest Flock Sheep Sanctuary in 1977, said the situation has been “stressful”. “To me, the sheep are a family – my three sons have grown up with them and I want them to be safe and dry and well,” she said. A fundraiser set up to fix the damage at Ms Reynold’s sanctuary already raised over £1,600 out of a £1,750 target. “I feel relieved,” Ms Reynolds said. “Obviously as a non-profit, we fundraise to stay afloat and we can’t get what we need unless we have enough money. “As soon as we have enough, we shall purchase a new shelter.” Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament on Wednesday that MPs in communities affected by flooding after last weekend’s Storm Bert will receive “whatever they need”.Highest-scoring NFL Thanksgiving games: Most points by one team and combined in holiday history | Sporting News

Roddy Gayle Jr. scores 16 to lead Michigan to 72-49 victory over Tarleton State

When pro-European forces won in Moldova in November, their victory only passed by the slimmest of margins. A concerted Russian influence campaign was potentially behind it. A new government has formed in Moldova. Re-elected in early November, the pro-European President Maia Sandu has replaced only the ministers in charge of Interior, Agriculture and Infrastructure. Interior Minister Adrian Efros had earlier announced his resignation after it emerged that Moscow had used activists and hackers to interfere in the elections. In the summer, Maia Sandu's lead looked confident and everyone expected a strong Yes vote in the EU accession referendum. In both cases, the margin of victory for the pro-Western forces was tiny. Most young people in Moldova align themselves with Europe, but why then did 49% of the population vote against the EU? International observers say the answer lies in Russia and its annexed state, the breakaway Transnistrian republic. The border dividing Moldova into two parts is not recognised by the international community, yet it has stood for 34 years. The Transnistrian Republic has its own currency, number plates and, of course, flag. In the capital Tiraspol, time has stood still since the break-up of the Soviet Union. The monochrome of Lenin and Marx monuments is broken only by a statue of Harry Potter. 2,000 Russian soldiers stationed Transnistria ensure that things are done according to Moscow's wishes. That is why, in this part of Moldova, Russia's invasion of Ukraine can only be referred to as a defensive war or a special military operation. Those who express opposition to the war often find themselves behind bars. This is what happened to Viktor Plescanov, the country's best-known political prisoner. In 2022, the 50-year-old engineer hung a Ukrainian flag on his terrace and posted "Freedom for Ukraine" on his social media, only to be confronted by the authorities shortly afterwards. In September 2022, he was sentenced to three years and two months in prison without trial on terrorism charges. "The conditions in prison were hellish. It was like the 19th century. This is not Europe," explained Viktor, who at one point gave up and attempted suicide. He also showed on his arm exactly where he had tried to slit his wrists. Meanwhile, his wife, Oxana went from embassy to embassy recruiting supporters and telling Viktor Plescanov's story to the world. Eventually, under pressure from the OSCE and the US Ambassador in Chisinau, the Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnozelsky pardoned Plescanov. But dozens of political prisoners remain in Tiraspol jails. This could be a serious obstacle to Moldova's EU accession, because if Moldovans were to join the integration process, Russian and Ukrainian separatists would come with them, something Brussels would prefer to avoid.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Fresh off one of its best showings of the season, the Baltimore defense now has another problem to worry about. Roquan Smith missed practice again Friday because of a hamstring injury. Although the Ravens didn't officially rule him or anyone else out — they don't play until Monday night — the All-Pro linebacker's status seems dicey. “Definitely it will be a challenge if Roquan can’t go,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “We’re holding out hope and everything like that. I think it’ll just be by committee. Not one person is going to replace Roquan. Roquan’s an every-down linebacker.” Although the Ravens lost 18-16 last weekend, Baltimore didn't allow a touchdown. That was an encouraging sign for a team that ranks 26th in the league in total defense. Baltimore is on the road Monday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens appear to have dodged one potential nightmare. Star safety Kyle Hamilton injured an ankle against Cincinnati on Nov. 7, but he was able to play almost every defensive snap the following week against Pittsburgh. But Smith was injured in that game and didn't practice Thursday or Friday. Linebacker Malik Harrison had a season high in tackles last weekend and figures to have a significant role if Smith can't go. “We tell these guys, ‘You’re one play away to going in there — you never know, so you got to stay ready.’ Malik — he was ready,” Orr said. “I thought he went in there and did a good job, especially after the first series, he settled down. That’s what we expect from him.” It's hard to tell whether last week can be a significant turning point for Baltimore's defense. The Ravens allowed only 10 points in a dominant win over Buffalo in Week 4, then yielded 38 against Cincinnati the following game. After allowing 10 against Denver, the Ravens were picked apart by the Bengals again a few days later. So they still haven't shown they can play a good game defensively and then build on it. “I think it’s easier said than done. It’s something that we kind of got caught up saying against Buffalo and then coming up the next week and not doing," Hamilton said. "We’re aware of it now and know that we played a good game, but I think we can get a lot better, and I think that’s kind of the mindset everybody on defense has right now.” Hamilton's ability to make a difference all over the field is part of what makes him valuable, but positioning him deep is one way the Ravens can try to guard against big passing plays. Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson threw for only 205 yards against Baltimore. That's after Joe Burrow passed for 428 and four touchdowns in the Ravens' previous game. “I’ve always seen myself as a safety. A versatile one, but at the end of the day, I think I play safety,” Hamilton said. “If I’m asked to go play safety, I feel like that’s not an issue for me to play safety if I’m a safety.” NOTES: In addition to Smith, WR Rashod Bateman (knee), DT Travis Jones (ankle), S Sanoussi Kane (ankle) C Tyler Linderbaum (back) and CB Arthur Maulet (calf) missed practice Friday. WR Nelson Agholor (illness) returned to full participation after missing Thursday's practice. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLPitt QB Eli Holstein carted off with leg injury

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