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77170979

2024 Oceania Para Athletics Championships

2024-06-17 15:45:43+00:00

The 2024 Oceania Para Athletics Championships were the second Oceania Para Athletics Championships for Oceania athletes with a disability. It was held at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva from 4 to 8 June 2024. They were staged concurrently with the 2024 Senior, U18, and Masters Championships. All athletes are classified according to their impairment and competition is a combined format where athletes of multiple different classifications compete against each other. Each classification consists of a three character code, starting with a letter and followed by a two-digit number. The letter specifies the event type: T for track and jumping events, and F for throwing events. The first digit of the number specifies the type of impairment and the second digit the severity of the impairment; the lower the second number, the more impaired. T/F11–13 (visual impairment) T/F20 (intellectual impairment) T/F31–34 (wheelchair events for athletes with a movement disorder, including cerebral palsy) T/F35–38 (ambulant events for athletes with a movement disorder, including cerebral palsy) T/F40–41 (short stature, including dwarfism) T/F42–44 (leg impairment, lower limb affected by limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement) T/F45–47 (arm impairment, upper limbs affected by limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement) T/F51–57 (wheelchair events for athletes with a lower body impairment, including paraplegia) T/F61-64 (Lower limb/s competing with prosthesis affected by limb deficiency and leg length difference) Eight Oceania Athletics member federations participated. In addition, Regional Australia (an invitational team) competed but were ineligible for Championship medals. New Caledonia were initially scheduled to take part, however, due to a coinciding civil unrest in the territory, they were unable to send a team. = = * Host nation (Fiji)

76528499

My Sassy Girl (2024 film)

2024-04-04 07:24:04+00:00

My Sassy Girl is a 2024 Philippine romantic comedy film loosely based on the 2001 South Korean movie of the same title. It stars Toni Gonzaga and Pepe Herrera. The film was released on January 31, 2024, under Viva Films. My Sassy Girl was the final movie appearance of Joey Paras, who died on October 29, 2023. The movie tells the love story of Sheena and Junjee. Junjee just cannot seem to catch a romantic break. Their personalities stand opposite to the characteristics traditionally associated with masculinity and femininity in Asian societies in general. Toni Gonzaga as Sheena Pepe Herrera as Junjee Yayo Aguila Bodjie Pascua Alma Moreno Boboy Garrovillo Joey Paras Benj Manalo Mark Christopher Israel The film was announced in 2021. Filming and production completed in the same year. = The film earned ₱5.2 million on its opening day and ₱27 million on its whole run. = The movie received a score of 70/100 from 9 reviews according to review aggregator website Kritikultura, indicating generally positive reviews. Goldwin Reviews gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and said, "Kinulang sa kilig ang palabas na’to dahil sa katangian at kilos ng mga karakter. Ngunit dahil sa mga biruan nila, nagkaroon ng saya. Dahil sa pagganap ng mga bida, nagkaroon ito ng puso. My Sassy Girl may not be that romantic and sassy, but it has enough comedy, drama and heart to consider it a decent film." Fred Hawson of News.ABS-CBN.com, also gave the film a mixed reaction and rated it 6/10, remarking, "On their own, Toni Gonzaga and Pepe Herrera were very capable actors in both their dramatic and comedic scenes. However, there was not much real spark nor romantic thrill between them to excite or delight viewers when they were together. In any case, the way director Fifth Solomon handled the revelations building up to the ending was still able to make us root for the two of them to wind up together despite all the gaslighting and ghosting that went on."

76101331

My Zombabe

2024-02-15 06:35:23+00:00

My Zombabe (stylized as MY ZOMBabe) is a 2024 Philippine romantic comedy zombie film directed by Bobby Bonifacio Jr. and written by Juvy Galamiton and Bobby Bonifacio Jr.. It stars Empoy Marquez and Kim Molina. The film is about a man fall in love with a beautiful woman who is turning in to a zombie.. It was generally negative reviews from critics. The film starts with Pong (Empoy) dreaming about a zombie woman who is running in the woods, he is calling Yasmine (Kim) repeatedly and when the woman is about to look at him he suddenly wakes up and Gohan (Yayan) immediately helps his brother to calm him down. Pong is still looking for Yasmine and Gohan jokingly tried to find Yasmine but he told him that Yasmine is already been gone for a very long time. Pong said that he still misses Yasmine then Gohan said that the reason he can't move on is because he still has a photo of Yasmine under his pillow. Gohan tried to tear the picture of Yasmine but Pong stopped him to do it. Gohan discovers that there's a lot of pictures of Yasmine inside of Pong's pillow and tells him to stop daydreaming and they are gonna be late in their morning routine. (A siren noise is played in background indicating of their morning zumba). Both of them are running and catching up with the others dancing their zumba routine. While the people are dancing the captain is telling them to watch the person next to them because if the person is infected they will forgot the steps of their zumba dance. One of the front dancer is Ahmed who is look pale and forgetting their steps, the captain tell him that he is the star dancer why he look confused in his dance step and question why he look so pale. Marisol, wife of Ahmed is telling alibis that they are having their anniversary and didn't have enough sleep. Gusting also said that maybe Ahmed is tired doing their daily morning routine. The Captain hardly stepped on Ahmed's foot and asking if it's hurt or he didn't feel anything. The Captain wants Ahmed to shut his eyes and the Captain grab his head and aim it into his butt then he fart. Marisol asking her husband to tell what the smell of their Captain's fart and when Ahmed did not speaking anything the Captain aim his gun to Ahmed. Marisol wants Ahmed to sing their favorite song, while hugging him Marisol started to sing. Pong, Gohan and the other people are watching them while crying. When Ahmed is trying to sing he suddenly change and turned into zombie, causing to people to afraid and run. Gohan and Pong run to their house and listening on what happening outside then they hear two gunshot. Pong and Gohan are back to beach together with the people to have a prayer. When the night gets deeper Pong is imagining Yasmine while playing guitar he imagined that they about to kiss when suddenly see the real yasmine and she is already a zombie. They are both yelling and pong pushes yasmine. The Captain appears and asked Pong of what happened, Pong said that he was bitten by an ant. As the captain leaving Gohan came worrying if Pong was bitten by a zombie, Pong tells him to help him dig the sand and when they dug the sand they saw Yasmine unconsciously and they bring her to their house and that's the start of their struggle of how they keep Yasmine a secret to the captain. Empoy Marquez as Pong Kim Molina as Yasmine / Jasmine Alcantara Yanyan De Jesus as Gohan Anjo Yllana as Captain Andrea Del Rosario as Marisol Gary Lim as Gusting Andrew Muhlach Billy Villeta Liz Alindogan Shirley Fuentes Marnie Lapuz Mark Gabrador William Noyer Zombabe was planned on 2018. They started to shoot the film on 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Zombabe was released theatrically on January 10, 2024 under Viva Films. It was previously set on January 8 before pushed back two days later in current date to give more space away from the extension of 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. The movie received a score of 67/100 from 10 reviews according to review aggregator website Kritikultura, indicating generally positive reviews. Philbert Dy of Letterboxd gave Zombabe a 3 stars and wrote: The movie as a whole is still pretty clunky, with scenes that go on for far too long, and a resolution that is just another example of the film's apparent disdain for narrative and logical consistency. And yet, it lands on something sweet and unusual; arriving at a conclusion that feels kind of unique in our cinema.

77279842

Outside (2024 film)

2024-07-03 18:42:05+00:00

Outside is an upcoming Philippine zombie film written and directed by Carlos Ladesma. It stars Sid Lucero, Beauty Gonzalez, Marco Masa, Joel Torre. The film tells the story of a family trying to outrun the zombie outbreak by returning to the father's childhood farmhouse. A Violent outbreak forces a family to seek shelter in an abandoned farm house, only to unearth an old secret that becomes a far greater threat. Sid Lucero Beauty Gonzalez Marco Masa Joel Torre Aiden Tyler Patdu James Blanco Enchong Dee Ping Pimentel Beauty Gonzalez and Sid Lucero was confirmed to be part of the film in a press statement on a streaming platform on October 11, 2023. The film is set release worldwide in Netflix on October 11, 2024.

77065841

Chancellorship of Jeremy Hunt

2024-06-02 15:09:01+00:00

Jeremy Hunt served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 2022 and 2024, during the premierships of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Hunt was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by Truss on 14 October 2022, following the dismissal of Kwasi Kwarteng, and retained the post in Rishi Sunak's ministry following Truss's resignation. During his time in the position, Hunt presented two budgets in 2023 and 2024 and two autumn statements in 2022 and 2023. After the Conservatives lost the election in a landslide to the opposition Labour Party led by Keir Starmer, Hunt was succeeded as chancellor by Rachel Reeves. Following the dismissal of Kwasi Kwarteng on 14 October 2022 due to the September 2022 mini-budget, Jeremy Hunt was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by Prime Minister Liz Truss. He swiftly appointed four economic advisors to a panel to advise him: Karen Ward (a former top advisor to Philip Hammond), Rupert Harrison, Gertjan Vlieghe, and Sushil Wadhwani. On 18 October, Tory MP Sir Roger Gale stated "Jeremy Hunt is de facto prime minister at the moment". This was echoed by media, including The Guardian, with the Financial Times writing that many MPs believe he is now the country's de facto leader. The Economist called him "chancellor in name but prime minister in practice" and "the most powerful person in Britain". The New Statesman went on to name him as the third most powerful right-wing figure of 2023, behind only Nigel Farage and Rishi Sunak. Following Truss's resignation, Hunt declined to stand in the party leadership election to replace her. Following Rishi Sunak's appointment as Prime Minister, it was confirmed that Hunt would continue as Chancellor. Hunt's autumn statement took place on 17 November 2022 and retracted the majority of planned reforms from Kwarteng's mini-budget. His 2023 spring budget, delivered on 15 March 2023, was the first full budget statement to be presented by Hunt since his appointment as chancellor. Announcements included a fuel duty freeze, an extension of the "Energy Price Guarantee" for three more months, investments in low-carbon energy projects and 30 hours of free childcare for working people in England. In July 2023, Hunt outlined reforms to the pension industry with the aim of boosting pension pots and increasing investment in British businesses. In a speech to business leaders, Hunt claimed the Mansion House reforms could generate £75 billion of investment into high growth businesses and increase the average Briton's pension pot by 12% over the course of their career. In November 2023, Hunt gave the November 2023 United Kingdom autumn statement. He presented the March 2024 budget on 6 March 2024. After the Conservatives lost the election in a landslide to the opposition Labour Party led by Keir Starmer, Hunt was succeeded as chancellor by Rachel Reeves. Hunt presented two budgets in 2023 and 2024 and two autumn statements in 2022 and 2023. = The budget addressed the ongoing cost of living crisis, and saw the announcement of a five-year package of tax increases and spending cuts designed to steer the UK through recession. An economic forecast published on the same day by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) stated the UK had entered a recession after experiencing two quarters of a shrinking economy, and predicted the UK's economy would shrink during 2023. A reduction in households' disposable income was also forecast. In his statement, Hunt committed to maintaining scheduled public spending plans until 2025, but said that spending would slow after then. He also lowered the threshold at which earners become eligible to pay the top rate of income tax, and announced an increase in the National Minimum Wage, as well as increases for pensions and benefits in line with inflation. The Energy Price Guarantee was extended to April 2023, but raised from £2,500 to £3,000. Rachel Reeves described the measures as "an invoice for the economic carnage" caused by the government of Liz Truss. = The statement was presented as a budget for growth, with the objective of bringing about the conditions for long-term sustainable economic growth within the UK. The UK had narrowly avoided going into recession at the end of 2022, and although there were some signs of recovery during the weeks preceding the budget, inflation remained high and the country continued to be impacted by an ongoing cost of living crisis. In his statement, Hunt set out plans to remove barriers to employment (with measures such as an increase in the amount of free childcare), encourage business investment (with measures including a programme of tax cuts for business worth £27bn), and address labour shortages in some industries (such as the construction sector). Government help for families facing financial pressure was also extended, with the Energy Price Guarantee extended for a further three months. The cap on the lifetime allowance for tax-free pensions contributions was also abolished in an attempt to encourage workers such as NHS doctors and consultants to remain in employment longer. The budget was criticised by Sir Keir Starmer, who accused the Conservatives of turning the UK back into the "Sick man of Europe", while Reeves said that Labour would reverse the pension tax changes. Stephen Flynn, the Leader of the Scottish National Party at Westminster, highlighted what he believed was the lack of support for families struggling financially. The pension tax changes were welcomed by the British Medical Association, who described it as "potentially transformative for the NHS". The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg questioned whether some of the measures, such as the plans to increase childcare, could be achieved, and suggested the government would be "punished" if they were not. = The statement, Hunt's second as Chancellor, came at a time when the Conservatives were trailing in the opinion polls, with the Labour Party experiencing a double-digit lead, and was his last autumn statement before the next general election. Hunt was under pressure to cut taxes from those on the right of his party, but the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had forecast that the UK economy would grow much more slowly over the coming two years than had previously been predicted. Inflation would not meet the 2% target forecast for 2024. However, Hunt told the House that because the economy had "turned a corner" there would be some scope for tax cuts, and he described his statement as setting out 110 measures for growth. Measures announced in the statement included reducing the amount of National Insurance contributions from 12% to 10%, making permanent a tax-break scheme for businesses purchasing equipment, a rise in the minimum wage, known as the National Living Wage, changes to benefits criteria, and investment in manufacturing and artificial intelligence. The statement received a generally unfavourable reception from Westminster's main opposition parties, but was greeted more warmly by business. Reeves did not highlight any specific aspects of the statement, but instead criticised "the full scale of the damage to the economy" done by the Conservatives since 2010. while Rain Newton-Smith, Director of the Confederation of British Industry, said the Chancellor was "right to prioritise 'game-changing' interventions that will fire the economy". = It was the third budget presented by Hunt since his appointment as Chancellor, the last to be delivered during his tenure as chancellor, and the last budget to be presented by the Conservative government of Rishi Sunak before the party was defeated by Labour in the 2024 general election. In the budget, Hunt abolished the non-dom tax status, reduced employee's national insurance by 2%, froze alcohol and fuel duties, increased tobacco and vapes duties, extended the oil and gas windfall tax, increased the child benefit threshold, announced further energy measures, announced further levelling-up funding, reduced capital gains tax by 4%, extended the Household Support Fund and increased the VAT threshold to £90,000 for small businesses, and kept income tax personal allowances at the same level (fiscal drag) The Budget announced the "biggest ever funding boost from government" for renewable energy. Further funding for science and technology investment were announced, with more investment to come from the private sector. The budget announced more measures to protect farmers with the agricultural property relief.

76022261

ITC Ratnadipa

2024-02-07 09:18:54+00:00

ITC Ratnadipa (Sinhala: අයිටීසී රත්නදීප, lit. 'ITC Gem Island') is a luxury hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The hotel is part of the Indian hotel chain ITC Hotels, while WelcomHotels Lanka Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ITC Limited, is the proprietor. The hotel is located adjacent to the Galle Face Green and next to Shangri-La Colombo and Taj Samudra hotels. It is ITC Hotels' first foreign investment. The hotel is 140 metres (460 ft) tall and accompanied by a 224 metres (735 ft) tall Sapphire Residences building. The two buildings are connected by Ahasa One, a 55 metres (180 ft) sky bridge. The sky bridge is built 100 metres (330 ft) above ground, connecting 19-21 levels of the two buildings. The groundbreaking of the hotel took place on 19 November 2014. The project was intended to open in 2017 but was delayed several times. WelcomHotels Lanka received its third extension in seven years to commence operations. The project received strategic investment status from the government of Sri Lanka and received tax breaks. The hotel was inaugurated by Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe on 25 April 2024. The groundbreaking ceremony of ITC Colombo One took place on 19 November 2014 with the attendance of the minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, and the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Y. K. Sinha. ITC Hotels invested US$300 million to the project. The hotel is located adjacent to the Galle Face Green. The project was expected to be completed by 2017. The initial plan was for the hotel to have 350 rooms and 130 luxury apartments. At the time, it was one of the largest foreign investments in Colombo. Access Engineering secured the piling work contract of the project in January 2016. That was the second time Aceess Engineering awarded a contract for the project. In 2015, the engineering company completed the excavation and shoring work of the project. In July 2018, WelcomHotels Lanka announced that ITC One Hotel and Sapphire Residences will be completed by 2021. ITC Hotels launched Sapphire Residences on 2 October 2018. The occasion was celebrated with a musical concert held in Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre. The concert was supported by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka. Sixty musicians performed in the concert, including an on-stage collaboration of L. Subramaniam and the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra. The Sapphire Residences building is 224 metres (735 ft) tall, and the hotel component stands at 140 metres (460 ft). The two buildings is connected by Ahasa One, a 55 metres (180 ft) long sky bridge connecting 19-21 levels of the two buildings. It is the first sky bridge in South Asia. The sky bridge built by the Indian engineering firm Larsen & Toubro. A documentary film titled Making of the Iconic Ahasa One Sky Bridge aired on Ada Derana on 30 May 2021. Ahasa One built above 100 metres (330 ft). The sky bridge accommodates two 50 metres (160 ft) long infinity pools and a jazz lounge and bar. In May 2021, WelcomHotels Lanka received an 18-month extension to commence commercial operation begins on 1 January 2022 from the minister of Finance Mahinda Rajapaksa. The project was gazetted under the Strategic Development Act in October 2012 and received generous tax breaks. ITC Limited stated in its 2021/22 annual report that the project impeded by the Sri Lankan economic crisis. The project was running on schedule until the third quarter of 2019. The project completed superstructure construction in of the residence building, the hotel and the Podium, the commercial and retail area in June 2022. In June 2023, Sujeet Kumar was appointed as the general manager of ITC Ratnadipa. Kumar previously worked as pre-operational general manager of Sheraton Colombo in 2016. In July 2023, the opening of the hotel delayed yet again. WelcomHotels Lanka received its third extension in seven years from President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the minister of Investment Promotion. The project received 5.86 acres (2.37 ha) land and is exempted from foreign exchange regulations. The hotel was inaugurated by president Ranil Wickremesinghe on 25 April 2024. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha also participated in the event.

76745646

2024 Scottish government crisis

2024-04-26 16:18:27+00:00

In April 2024, Humza Yousaf, first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), faced a confidence challenge following his termination of the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, which meant that Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, co-leaders of the Greens and their only government ministers, were removed from government. This was following changes to landmark climate policy by Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan, after which a planned Greens vote on the continuation of the agreement was announced. Facing a motion of confidence in him Yousaf announced his intention to resign as first minister and party leader on 29 April. = The Scottish electoral system is designed to make single-party government difficult to achieve. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has been in power in Scotland since 2007. The Scottish Parliament election in 2021 resulted in a hung parliament with the SNP winning 64 seats, one short of an overall majority. In August 2021 a power-sharing agreement between the government and the Scottish Greens was created to support the leadership of Nicola Sturgeon and the formation of the Third Sturgeon government. This meant that the first Green Party ministers ever in the UK were to be appointed: Patrick Harvie became Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights and Lorna Slater became Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity. The Bute House Agreement was, despite some policy concessions, popular with the SNP membership, with some 95 per cent voting in favour at the time of the agreement. Some policies were changed to gain the Greens' support, such as their proposal to stop North Sea oil drilling, which some SNP figures, such as Kate Forbes, criticised, alongside their plans to phase out the natural gas industry. The SNP MSP Fergus Ewing, who was later suspended from the SNP group in parliament for a week because of his rebellions, blamed the Greens for the government delaying the duelling of the A9 road, the longest road in Scotland. The controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill resulted in the United Kingdom government using section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 for the first time to block the bill. The Green Party's bottle deposit return scheme was delayed in 2023. The co-operation deal was defended by MSPs from the SNP and the Greens, including Humza Yousaf, who—mere days before ending the deal—stated that he "really valued the deal" and wished "to keep achieving a lot with the Green Party". The Green MSP Ross Greer spoke of the deal's policy achievements, including "record funding for wildlife and nature", "free bus travel for under-22s", and "the most progressive tax system in the UK". Following Sturgeon's resignation and the subsequent leadership election the Greens decided to stay in government. = Humza Yousaf's leadership had been under scrutiny following the arrest of Peter Murrell on 18 April 2024, amid the ongoing Operation Branchform. On 18 April 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan scrapped climate change targets, causing the Greens to call a vote on whether to continue the power-sharing deal. However, before this vote took place, Yousaf announced the end of the Bute House Agreement on 25 April 2024. After the termination of the agreement, the Scottish Conservatives called a vote of no confidence against Yousaf, which the Scottish Greens said they would support. Because of the narrow vote margins in the Scottish Parliament, if the vote had taken place, Ash Regan of the Alba Party would have been the sole decider on the vote's result. Alex Salmond, former SNP First Minister and now leader of Alba, called Regan the "most powerful MSP in the Scottish Parliament". Regan, who had left the SNP the year prior, was called "no great loss" by Yousaf at the time of her defection. She sent him her list of demands to secure her support, which included progress on Scottish independence and defending "the rights of women and children". On 26 April, Yousaf postponed a scheduled speech at the University of Strathclyde on labour strategy in an independent Scotland. The same day he claimed that he had no plan to resign as first minister of Scotland. He claimed the day after that a snap Scottish Parliament election was a possibility. On 28 April, Salmond said that Alba was "prepared to assist" Yousaf in the confidence vote. His demand was a renewed Scottish independence plan. He appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and said that the SNP should return to the "people's priorities" of education, jobs and industry. Yousaf reportedly ruled out any electoral pact. It was Salmond who firstly appointed Yousaf to government: in 2012, as minister for Europe and International Development in the Second Salmond government. Chair of the Alba Party Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said that an "electoral pact" is not part of negotiations. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton ruled out Yousaf's offer of talks. Late on 28 April, it was speculated that Yousaf planned to step down the next day, fearing that he could not survive the no confidence vote against him: he did, announcing that he would resign as both leader of the SNP and first minister of Scotland once his successor has been chosen. In his resignation speech Yousaf reasserted that he believed the vote of no confidence could have resulted in his favour, however he choose to resign instead as he was "not willing to trade [his] values and principles, or do deals with whomever, simply for retaining power". The day after, officials at Holyrood announced that Labour's motion of no confidence would be voted on by MSPs the next day, which would have required the entire Scottish government to resign if it were to be passed. The vote went ahead the next day, ending in favour of the continuation of the current Scottish government, with 58 MSPs – from Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, and Alba – voting for the motion and 70 – from the SNP and the Greens – voting against.

75807417

Michael Matheson iPad scandal

2024-05-31 13:48:17+00:00

The Michael Matheson iPad scandal, commonly known as "iPadgate," emerged as a significant controversy in Scottish politics in late 2023. Michael Matheson, then serving as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care in the government of Humza Yousaf was revealed to have incurred nearly £11,000 in roaming charges after taking a Scottish Parliament iPad on a family holiday to Morocco. Matheson initially attempted to claim the charges as a parliamentary expense, but later admitted that the iPad had been used by his sons to stream football matches, and agreed to personally pay back the full cost of the data roaming bill. Following an investigation by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, Matheson resigned as Health Secretary in February 2024. Matheson was subsequently banned from Holyrood for 27 days and had his salary withdrawn for 54 days, the heaviest sanction ever awarded to an MSP. Michael Matheson, serving as Scotland's Health Secretary, incurred an £10,935 data roaming bill on his Parliamentary iPad during a family holiday in Morocco over Christmas 2022. This became public knowledge in November 2023. Matheson claimed that he incurred the charges while completing constituency work, and that he had not been aware that he needed to replace the SIM card in the iPad to switch over to the Scottish Parliament's current mobile contract. Matheson attempted to claim £3,000 of the bill from his expenses budget, with the Scottish Parliament paying the remainder out of its own budget. Matheson's bill was described as being more than the total of all MSPs' mobile phone, business line, tablet and staff phone bill expenses claimed in 2022/23 combined: the total for all phone-related expenses in that year was £9,507. First Minister Humza Yousaf described this as a "legitimate parliamentary expense". It was subsequently revealed that Matheson had been emailed by Parliamentary officials in February 2022, warning him of the need to update the SIM cards in his devices almost a year in advance of his holiday. Following this, Matheson agreed to personally pay back the full cost of the data roaming bill. On 16 November, Matheson admitted to the Scottish Parliament that the charges had been incurred owing to his sons using the iPad to watch football matches, and that he would refer himself to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for investigation, but would not stand down as health secretary. An investigation by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) found that Matheson had breached multiple sections of the MSP code of conduct, particularly those related to the misuse of parliamentary expenses and facilities. On 8 February 2024, ahead of the publication of the investigation into the incident, Matheson resigned as Health Secretary. In his resignation letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf, Matheson said that he had not yet received the Corporate Body's report, but that; "it is in the best interest of myself and the government for me to now step down to ensure this does not become a distraction to taking forward the government's agenda." The SPCB's report, published on 14 March, upheld three complaints against Matheson and concluded that he had breached sections 7.3 and 7.4 of the MSPs' Code of Conduct. The report was passed to the Scottish Parliament's Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, which reported on 23 May 2024, recommending a suspension for 27 parliamentary sitting days and a withdrawal of Matheson's salary for 54 days. This marked one of the most severe punishments ever imposed by the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister, John Swinney, said that the SNP would not support the proposed sanctions against Matheson, and cast doubt on the integrity of the committee's process: describing the process as "prejudiced", Swinney claimed that Conservative MSP Annie Wells should have removed herself from the committee due to previous comments about Matheson's conduct. Michael Matheson also said the issue had "become highly politicised", which he claimed had "compromised the fairness of the process". He described the proposed sanctions as "excessive" and "unfair", but said that he would accept the Scottish Parliament's decision. The scandal had far-reaching political repercussions. Opposition parties, including the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour, were particularly vocal in their criticism. They accused Matheson of deceit and called for his resignation. The affair also drew criticism towards First Minister Humza Yousaf for his initial support of Matheson and perceived failure to take swift action. Stephen Kerr, a Scottish Conservative MSP, described the incident as a "devastating and damning" episode. Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour Deputy Leader, criticized Yousaf's judgment and leadership, suggesting the scandal indicated broader issues of accountability within the SNP. However, some supporters of Matheson argued that the political backlash was disproportionate and that Matheson’s intentions were not malicious but rather a mistake that he sought to rectify by repaying the costs. Yousaf's successor as First Minister, John Swinney, continued to support Matheson. This was described as "incredible and indefensible" by the Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross, and "unbelievable and embarrassing" by the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. The Scottish Conservatives declared their intention to table a non-binding motion calling for Matheson to resign as an MSP. The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Màiri McAllan, insisted on 30 May 2024 that the Matheson scandal was a "political bubble issue... which I now think needs to be put to bed". A poll by Savanta for The Scotsman found that 65 per cent of Scots believed that Matheson should resign as an MSP. Matheson resigned as Health Secretary in February 2024, stating he did not want the scandal to overshadow the government's work. His resignation came before the formal conclusion of the inquiry into his conduct. In his resignation letter to First Minister Yousaf, Matheson expressed his desire to ensure the government’s agenda was not distracted by the controversy. Yousaf accepted the resignation "with sadness" but acknowledged that the affair had been mishandled. He admitted that Matheson should have addressed the situation more appropriately from the outset but defended him as a man of integrity who had served the public for many years. The Scottish Parliament voted on the committee's recommendations on 29 May 2024: SNP Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes introduced an amendment that re-iterated the party's complaints about the investigation into Matheson, but did not attempt to change the sanction. The SNP's position on the sanctions appeared to change throughout the day of the vote on the committee's recommendations, and despite indications that it would back the proposed sanction, the party ultimately abstained on the vote on the committee's recommendations: the SNP amendment was backed by 68 MSPs, with 56 against, and the amended motion sanctioning Matheson passed with the backing of 64 MSPs. Matheson was supported throughout the scandal by the First Minister Humza Yousaf, and by his successor, John Swinney. This has had lasting repercussions for the SNP and its leadership. Critics argue that Yousaf's support for Matheson, despite the evidence of misconduct, weakened his position and raised questions about the party's internal controls and ethical standards. The affair has fuelled broader concerns about transparency and accountability within the SNP, highlighting the need for more stringent oversight and reform. However, supporters of Yousaf and Matheson pointed out that the political climate often amplifies mistakes and that both politicians took steps to rectify the situation. They argued that the focus should remain on their broader contributions to public service and governance. Yousaf resigned as First Minister in April 2024 following a crisis in his government. His successor as First Minister, John Swinney, continued to support Matheson, describing him as a "friend and colleague" who had "made mistakes", and describing the committee investigation into Matheson as prejudiced.

77125138

2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election

2024-06-10 16:52:40+00:00

The 2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election will take place in 2024 after Douglas Ross announced his resignation on 10 June. The MSP Douglas Ross was elected leader of the Scottish Conservatives unopposed in August 2020 after his predecessor Jackson Carlaw resigned. In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election the Conservatives remained the second largest party with the same number of MSPs as at the previous election. Ross was elected as an MSP, having already been an MP. He kept both jobs, donating his MSP salary to charity. The Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak called the 2024 United Kingdom general election to be held on 4 July. Ross initially said that he would stand down as an MP. David Duguid, a former minister who was recovering from spinal surgery, had been expected to run for re-election as the Conservative candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. On 5 June, he was deselected by the party "on health grounds". The next day, Ross was announced as the candidate. He initially said he would continue as MP, MSP and party leader. Ross said that the Scottish Conservatives management board had made the decision to replace him. The chair of the Scottish Conservatives said that Ross, who sits on the board, had not been part of discussions about Duguid. Duguid said he had wanted to stand, that no members of the board had visited him in hospital, and that the board was not accurately describing his condition. Ross was separately criticised for expense claims he had made for flights and parking allegedly part of his additional job as a football assistant referee. On 10 June, Ross announced that he would resign as leader on the day of the general election. He also said that if he became an MP he would resign as an MSP. He later said that he decided to resign so that the leader of the Conservatives would be an MSP. On 4 July, Ross failed to win election to Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, losing to the SNP candidate Seamus Logan. The following Conservative politicians have been discussed as potential candidates by the media: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland since 2021 Murdo Fraser, shadow covid recovery secretary, former deputy leader and MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife since 2001 Meghan Gallacher, deputy leader since 2022 and MSP for Central Scotland since 2021 Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland from 2017 to 2021 and North East Scotland since 2021 Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland since 2016 Sandesh Gulhane, shadow health secretary, MSP for Glasgow since 2021 Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland since 2021 Liam Kerr, shadow energy secretary, MSP for North East Scotland since 2016 Stephen Kerr, shadow education secretary, MSP for Central Scotland since 2021

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List of statutory instruments of Scotland, 2024

2024-01-06 15:21:11+00:00

This is a complete list of Scottish statutory instruments in 2024. The Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 (Commencement No. 6) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 1 (C. 1)) The M90/A90/A9000 Trunk Road (Netherley Road, Stonehaven) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 2) The Non-Domestic Rate (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 3) The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 4) The Non-Domestic Rates (Transitional Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 5) The Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 6) The M90/A90/A9000 Trunk Road (Saltoun Place, Fraserburgh) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 7) The Social Security Information-sharing (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 8) The M80 and M8 Trunk Roads (Monkland Canal Pipeline Access) (Temporary 40mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 9) The Council Tax (Dwellings and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 10) The Wine (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 11) The Official Controls (Import of High Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 12) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 13 (C. 2)) The North East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 14) The M8 (Newhouse to Easterhouse) M73 (Maryville to Mollinsburn) M74 (Daldowie to Hamilton) A725 (Shawhead to Whistleberry) Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 15) The South East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 16) The North West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 17) The South West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 18) The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 19) The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 20 (C. 3)) The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 21) The National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 22) The Road Works (Scottish Road Works Register Fees and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 23) The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 24) The Non-Domestic Rating (Valuation of Utilities) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 25) The Firefighters’ Pension Schemes (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 26) The A82 Trunk Road (Spean Bridge) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 27) The A85 Trunk Road (Comrie) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 28) The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 29 (C. 4)) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 30) The Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 31) The A84/A85 Trunk Road (Main Street, Callander) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 32) The A83 Trunk Road (Inveraray) (Temporary Prohibition of Use, Pedestrians and Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 33) The A90 Trunk Road (Stirling to Invernettie Roundabout) (Temporary 40mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 34) The Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 35) The Sandeel (Prohibition of Fishing) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 36) The Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 37) The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments and General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 38) The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (Codes of Conduct for Members of certain Scottish Public Authorities) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 39) The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (Modification) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 40) Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers) (Amendment) 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 41) The Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 42) The National Health Service (Common Staffing Method) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 43) The Personal Injuries (NHS Charges) (Amounts) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 44) The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Cancellation of Registration and Relevant Requirements) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 45) The Building (Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 46) The A68 (Lauder and Jedburgh) A6091/A7 (Selkirk and Hawick) A702 (West Linton and Carlops) Trunk Roads (Temporary 20mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 47) The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 48) The A77 Trunk Road (Dalrymple Street, Girvan) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 49) The A77 Trunk Road (Ballantrae) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 50) The A82 Trunk Road (Spean Bridge) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 51) The A701 Trunk Road (Heathhall) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 52) The A9/A99 Trunk Road (Latheron) (Temporary 40mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 53) The M8 (Newhouse to Easterhouse) M73 (Maryville to Mollinsburn) A8 (Newhouse to Bargeddie) A725 (Shawhead to Whistleberry) Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 54) The Non-Domestic Rates (Islands and Remote Areas Hospitality Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 55) The Regulation of Care (Social Service Workers) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 56) The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Commencement No. 10 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 57 (C. 5)) The Discretionary Financial Assistance (Scotland) Revocation Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 58) The Non-Domestic Rates (Transitional Relief) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 59) The Scottish Landfill Tax (Standard Rate and Lower Rate) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 60) The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 61) The Social Security (Gibraltar) (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) (Further provision in respect of Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 62) The Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 63 (C. 6)) The South East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 64) The South West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 65) The North West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 66) The North East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 67) The A96 Trunk Road (Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass)) (Side Roads) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 68) The A96 Trunk Road (Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass)) (Trunking & Detrunking) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 69) The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 70) The Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 71) The Bus Services Improvement Partnerships (Objections) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 72) The Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 73) The Scottish Social Services Council (Appointments, Procedure and Access to the Register) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 74) Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 Amendment) (Payment and Electronic Money Institution Special Administration) 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 75) Not Allocated (S.S.I. 2024 No. 76) The A9 Trunk Road (Almond Bridge) (Temporary Vehicle Width Restriction and Temporary 30mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 77) The Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 78) The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement No. 13 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 79 (C. 7)) The Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 80) The Meat Preparations (Import Conditions) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 81) The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (Commencement and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 82 (C. 8)) The A830 Trunk Road (Glenfinnan) (Temporary Prohibition of Waiting) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 83) Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 Amendment) (National Security Prevention and Investigation) 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 84) The A82 Trunk Road (Fort Augustus) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 85) The Plant Health (Export Certification) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 86) The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 87) The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Expiry of Section 10: Extension) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 88) The Rent Adjudication (Temporary Modifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 89) The Local Authority (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 90) The A835 Trunk Road (Ben Wyvis) (Temporary Clearway) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 91) The A87 Trunk Road (Eilean Donan) (Temporary Clearway) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 92) The M8 (Newhouse to Easterhouse) M73 (Maryville to Mollinsburn) M74 (Daldowie to Hamilton) A8 (Newhouse to Bargeddie) A725 (Shawhead to Whistleberry) A7071 (Bellshill) Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 93) The A737 Trunk Road (Beith) (Temporary 30mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 94) The North East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 3) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 95) The North West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 3) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 96) The South East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 3) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 97) The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 98) The Budget (Scotland) Act 2023 Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 99) The Community Care (Personal Care and Nursing Care) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 100) The Scottish Local Government Elections Amendment (Denmark) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 101) The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 102) The A830 Trunk Road (Morar) (Temporary Clearway) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 103) The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 104) The Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 105) The Social Security Up-rating (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 106) The National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 107) The A85 Trunk Road (Comrie) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 108) The A83 Trunk Road (Lochgilphead) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 109) The Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Act 2023 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 110 (C. 9)) The Charities (References in Documents) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 111) The Scottish Food Commission (Appointment) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 112) The Tied Pubs (Scotland) Act 2021 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 113 (C. 10)) The M77/A77 Trunk Road (Girvan to Lendalfoot) (Temporary 40mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 114) The M8 Trunk Road (Junction 26, Hillington) (Temporary 50mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 115) The M8 Trunk Road (Junction 15, Townhead) (Temporary 40mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 116) The A86 Trunk Road (Spean Bridge to Kingussie) (Temporary 30mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 117) The A82 Trunk Road (Fort William to Spean Bridge) (Temporary 30mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 118) The Legal Aid (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 119) The M8 (Newhouse to Easterhouse) M73 (Maryville to Mollinsburn) M74 (Daldowie to Hamilton) A725 (Shawhead to Whistleberry) Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 120) The North East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 4) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 121) The North West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 4) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 122) The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 123) The South East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 4) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 124) The South West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 3) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 125) The A86 Trunk Road (Kingussie) (Temporary 30mph Speed Restriction) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 126) The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 127) The Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 128) The National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (Public Services Reform) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 129) The Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Fees) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 130) The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Commencement No. 8) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 131 (C. 11)) The A76 Trunk Road (New Cumnock) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 132) The A85 Trunk Road (Comrie) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 133) The A85 Trunk Road (Comrie) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) (No. 3) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 134) The A82 Trunk Road (Fort William) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 135) The Tied Pubs (Scotland) Act 2021 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 136 (C. 12)) The A85 Trunk Road (Comrie) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 137) The A830 Trunk Road (Glenfinnan) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 138) The Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws Extension Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 139) The Education (Fees and Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 140) The Disability Assistance for Older People (Consequential Amendment and Transitional Provision) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 141) The Registration of Social Workers and Social Service Workers in Care Services (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 142) The A9 and A96 Trunk Roads (Inshes to Smithton) (Side Roads) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 143) The M8 Trunk Road (Junction 29A, Bishopton) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 144) The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 145 (C. 13)) The Seed (Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 146) The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 147) The Sheriff (Removal from Office) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 148) The North East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 5) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 149) The North West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 5) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 150) The South West Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 4) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 151) The South East Scotland Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 5) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 152) The M8 (Newhouse to Easterhouse) M73 (Maryville to Mollinsburn) A8 (Newhouse to Bargeddie) A725 (Shawhead to Whistleberry) Trunk Roads (Temporary Prohibitions of Traffic and Overtaking and Temporary Speed Restrictions) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 153) The A85 Trunk Road (Oban) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 154) The A87 Trunk Road (Portree to Prabost) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 155) The Food Additives and Novel Foods (Authorisations and Miscellaneous Amendments) and Food Flavourings (Removal of Authorisations) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 156) Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules) (Amendment) 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 157) The International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 158) Act of Adjournal (Criminal Procedure Rules 1996 Amendment) (Mutual Legal Assistance) 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 159) The A84 Trunk Road (Kildean Roundabout to Stirling Auction Mart Roundabout) (40mph Speed Limit) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 160) The Transport Partnerships (Transfer of Functions) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 161) The Scottish Tribunals (Listed Tribunals) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 162) The Damages (Review of Rate of Return) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 163) The Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 164 (C. 14)) The Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 165) The Disability Assistance for Older People (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 166) The A83 Trunk Road (Inveraray) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 167) The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 168 (C. 15)) The Early Release of Prisoners and Prescribed Victim Supporters (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 169) The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024 (Commencement) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 170 (C. 16)) The Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Inspections) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 171) The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (Independent Health Care) Modification Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 172) The Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 173) Act of Adjournal (Criminal Procedure Rules 1996 Amendment) (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024) 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 174) The Equality Act 2010 (Specification of Public Authorities) (Scotland) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 175) The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 176) The A78 Trunk Road (Greenock) (Prohibition on Use of Road) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 177) The Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 178) The Police Service of Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 179) The A76 Trunk Road (New Cumnock) (Temporary Prohibition on Waiting, Loading and Unloading) (No. 2) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 180) The A85 Trunk Road (Comrie) (Temporary Prohibition on Use of Road) (No. 3) Order 2024 (S.S.I. 2024 No. 181)

76861821

Gaga Chromatica Ball

2024-05-08 21:03:48+00:00

Gaga Chromatica Ball is a television special directed and produced by American singer-songwriter, Lady Gaga. The television special documents Gaga's performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on September 10, 2022 as part of The Chromatica Ball (2022), which supported her sixth studio album, Chromatica (2020). The concert film was released on May 25, 2024, through HBO and its streaming service, Max. Gaga partnered with the network 13 years prior for the release of her first solo concert film Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden. The Chromatica Ball, Lady Gaga's seventh headlining concert tour, was initially announced for the summer of 2020 as a limited concert series in support of her sixth studio album, Chromatica (2020). Due to the uprising concerns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was postponed until 2021, before later being pushed back again for 2022. New dates for the tour were scheduled and officially announced in March 2022. The new itinerary expanded the tour to include additional cities, notably Düsseldorf, Germany, where the tour made its debut. The concert tour began in July, visiting North America, Europe, and Asia before concluding on September 17 in Miami Gardens, Florida. It ultimately grossed an estimated $112.4 million from 20 shows and 834,000 tickets sold. Gaga commissioned an unknown project recording in September 2022, located at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. In June 2023, the artist shared a lengthy social media post in which she confirmed that the upcoming project was a concert film. She shared that she had been working on the film alongside various other projects, including completing the filming of Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), while also spending alone time "healing". Gaga both directed and produced the film with Arthur Fogel and John Janick acting as executive producers. The special includes the entirety of the show, including the interludes. The show itself, approximately 120-minutes long, was divided into a prelude, four acts, and a finale, each accompanied by interludes directed by Nick Knight. It depicted Gaga's journey from confinement to liberation. The prelude featured Gaga performing her earliest songs. She appeared atop a set piece reminiscent of a giant slab of concrete singing "Bad Romance", while standing still inside a leather sarcophagus-type garment with only her face visible, which she gradually shed layers during "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". The first act opened with Gaga seemingly covered in blood, on an elevated operating table for "Alice", followed by "Replay" and "Monster" with intense choreography. The second act featured her in a vinyl dominatrix ensemble for "911" and "Sour Candy", followed by "Telephone" with flamethrowers. "LoveGame" combined dance-pop with heavy metal elements. The third act included "Babylon" and "Free Woman", transitioning to "Born This Way" at the piano. In the fourth act, Gaga wore insect-inspired attire while playing the piano on another stage, singing "Shallow", "Always Remember Us This Way", "The Edge of Glory", "Angel Down" and "Fun Tonight". "Enigma" featured a dynamic performance with a spinning microphone stand. The finale included "Stupid Love" and "Rain on Me" in a crystal bodysuit, followed by an encore with "Hold My Hand" from Top Gun: Maverick (2022). The special concludes with Gaga teasing the release of new music as an unknown snippet plays and "LG7 Gaga returns" flashes on the screen. Gaga announced the special's release date on May 8, 2024 via her social medias. She revealed its trailer the same day, which primarily featured "Stupid Love"—Chromatica's lead single. Gaga Chromatica Ball aired on HBO and was made available for streaming on Max on May 25. 13 years prior, HBO had aired Gaga's previous concert film, Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden (2011), with the network's executive vice president, Nina Rosenstein, sharing that they were "thrilled" to work with her again. On May 23, 2024, Gaga held a premiere screening for selected fans in Los Angeles. The event included exhibits displaying costumes and props from the tour in addition to a Q&A session with the singer. Upon release, Gaga Chromatica Ball received positive reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive. Writing for The Daily Beast, Coleman Spilde praised the special, stating that "it's an exhilarating watch from start to finish" that shows refinement of "Gaga's big, offbeat ideas". Spilde singled out the performances of "Sour Candy" and "Replay" as "particularly fun to watch" and complimented Gaga's ability to make her older hits like "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" sound "fresh" within the show. Joey Nolfi with Entertainment Weekly called the special "bonkers, brash, and unabashedly pop" and felt that the inclusion of the tour's interludes clarified the overall storyline and thematic elements of both Chromatica and the tour. Nolfi also highlighted the performance of "Sour Candy" while calling the piano segment of the special "powerful".

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76th Primetime Emmy Awards

2024-02-11 21:00:07+00:00

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will honor the best in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2023, until May 31, 2024, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The ceremony will be held on September 15, 2024, and will be broadcast in the United States on ABC. This will be the second primetime Emmy ceremony to be held in 2024, the 75th Emmys delayed from September 2023 to January 15, 2024 due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. Nominations will be announced on July 17, 2024 by actor Tony Hale and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.

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The Roast of Tom Brady

2024-05-06 13:12:19+00:00

The Roast of Tom Brady (also billed as The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady) is a celebrity roast special that aired on the streaming service platform Netflix. Former American football quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers served as the night's roastee with many celebrities in attendance, in addition to comedians, former teammates, and former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. The show was hosted by Kevin Hart and "roastmaster general" Jeff Ross with an introduction from Rich Eisen. It aired live on Netflix as part of the "Netflix is a Joke" comedy festival in Los Angeles, California on May 5, 2024. The roast included jokes surrounding Brady's divorce from Gisele Bündchen, Spygate, Deflategate, trainer Alex Guerrero, O. J. Simpson, Bill Belichick's job status, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, cryptocurrency, and Brady losing to Eli Manning in the Super Bowl multiple times. During the special, Kim Kardashian was booed by the crowd while toasting to Brady. There was a joke made by Ross referencing Robert Kraft's 2019 soliciting prostitution charges, which Brady objected to by getting up and warning Ross "don't say that shit again." Numerous references were also made to Aaron Hernandez, a former teammate of Brady's found guilty of murder who later took his own life while serving time in prison and Brady's previous relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan who got pregnant with their child after their relationship ended in 2006. = = = = Numerous celebrities attended the event including: Airing on Netflix, the roast was executive produced by Brady, Hart, Ross, and Casey Patterson, and was directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller. Live and unedited, it was promoted as "The GROAT" by Netflix. The roast was viewed two million times on its debut night. It broke into the top 10 most-watched shows of the week in early May 2024. Bündchen was reportedly "deeply disappointed" by the roast's "irresponsible" jokes. Moynahan later posted on her Instagram account a day after the roast quoted :Loyal people take shit more personal because they never would've did that shit to you which she captioned "So true".

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South Park: The End of Obesity

2024-05-16 03:15:35+00:00

"South Park: The End of Obesity" is a 2024 American adult animated comedy television special episode. It is the seventh South Park television special, and the 328th episode of the series overall. The special premiered on May 24, 2024, on Paramount+. The special satirizes celebrities' glamorized usage of semaglutide-based weight loss drugs and Big Sugar, as well as Lizzo and the inaccessibility of the American health care system. A doctor informs fourth grader Eric Cartman and his mother Liane that his obesity is a threat to his health. When Liane says that proper diet and exercise has not worked for him, the doctor recommends a diabetes drug called semaglutide, which have been shown to help people lose weight. This prompts Cartman to fantasize about being able to viciously insult people with impunity without fear of being mocked for his weight, and even going all the way to Pakistan to continue this. However, insurance companies only cover the drug for diabetes, and are too expensive for Liane. The doctor prescribes that Cartman listen to the music of Lizzo, who frequently encourages body positivity. This leaves Cartman despondent, so his friends, Butters Stotch and Kyle Broflovski, accompany him to an insurance company office. However, when they request to make a claim with a dejected-looking claims officer, they are sent on a labyrinthine journey through the bureaucracy of the American health care system. They ultimately decide to make it themselves after learning the raw semaglutide powder can be purchased cheaply from a factory in India and mixed with biostatic water purchased locally. Their other friends, Stan Marsh and Kenny McCormick, join them in this scheme. Meanwhile, Randy Marsh observes many local mothers wearing crop-tops after attaining toned midriffs after losing weight with semaglutide, a recurring visual gag in the episode. After they see Randy wearing one of his daughter's crop-tops (which he has donned in order to embarrass her into dressing more conservatively), they invite him to a semaglutide-sharing party. Randy begins taking the drug himself, believing it to be a party drug that leaves him with neither a hangover nor an appetite, though this leaves his wife Sharon feeling self-conscious about her weight. She begins taking Lizzo, but it causes her to defecate from her ears. The doctor tells her she has developed diabeardes, a form of diabetes that afflicts the ears. This means she now qualifies for semaglutide, which he prescribes her. After the homemade semaglutide appears to be successful in curbing Cartman's appetite, Kyle decides to produce more in order to benefit people who cannot afford it. However, news of this draws the ire of a sugar industry cartel consisting of mascots of breakfast cereals and sugary snacks. In addition, when a government crackdown in response to semaglutide abuse leaves the mothers without their supply, they and Randy begin robbing pharmacies, and then Kyle and his friends. The boys' supply is then destroyed when the sugar mascots kill everyone at the Indian factory and set it on fire. Kyle finds and purchases a truckload of semaglutide powder from another supplier in North Carolina, but it is carjacked by Randy and the mothers. However, Randy realizes that what the mothers are doing is wrong, and steals the truck without them. A violent chase ensues, which is joined by the boys, and then by the sugary mascots. Though Kenny is killed, Randy and the boys escape their pursuers, but when they open the truck, they find that the only thing inside is the insurance claims agent, who tells them that the insurance company works with the supplier, which will mean another trip through the American healthcare system. Before Sharon takes her first injection, Randy stops her, confessing that he has been using it himself. Surprised at how sympathetic she is to his desire to use it, he realizes that she is the coolest woman he knows, and does not want her to change at all. Deciding that semaglutide drugs are bad, he invites her to go to a Holiday Inn and take MDMA together like they did in college. Meanwhile at school, Kyle gives a speech calling for the end of fat shaming, which garners a positive reception. Overjoyed, Cartman proceeds to joyously insult his classmates and everyone else in town without being mocked in return for his weight, and books a flight to Pakistan to continue this. The teaser trailer, released on May 15, 2024, shows Eric Cartman meeting with a doctor, who says that they need to resort to "drastic measures" to reduce his weight. It then shows Kyle Broflovski discouraging Cartman from using something, but Cartman says, "Let's do it". It also shows Randy Marsh and Butters Stotch discussing the weight loss drugs and the American health care system. Trey Parker Matt Stone April Stewart Mona Marshall Kimberly Brooks Jessica Makinson Vernon Chatman Jennifer Howell Feraz Ozel Betty Boogie Parker Abdullah Saeed On August 5, 2021, Comedy Central announced that Trey Parker and Matt Stone had signed a $900 million deal for extending the series to 30 seasons through 2027 and 14 feature films, exclusive to the Paramount+ streaming platform. It was eventually confirmed that they would be released as two films per year. Parker and Stone would later state that the projects would not be feature films, and that it was ViacomCBS who decided to advertise them as movies. John Schwarz of Bubbleblabber gave the episode an 8/10, calling it "one of the more movie-parody efforts" and remarked that "Not since The Imaginationland Trilogy has Trey Parker dipped into this bag of tricks to truly go nuts by integrating fantastical elements, like a crew of pissed off breakfast cereal mascots, into the plot of the show and does so in such hysterical fashion." Renaldo Matadeen writing for CBR felt that the episode "speaks to another real-world issue, where bodies like the FDA and other authorities warn against such secondary pharmacies." Rapper Lizzo, who is referenced in the episode, reacted in a video post on Instagram, "Guys, my worst fear has been actualized. I've been referenced in a South Park episode."

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Lanzhou–Zhangye high-speed railway

2024-06-15 09:42:12+00:00

The Lanzhou–Zhangye high-speed railway is a high-speed rail line from Lanzhou to Zhangye, both in China's Gansu Province. The line runs along the Hexi Corridor and roughly parallels the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway. Once fully completed it will form an alternative route to the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway. The line is constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation and designed for operations up to 250 km/h (160 mph). Test runs on the 194.3 km (120.7 mi) long Lanzhou to Wuwei section started in March 2024 and the line opened for passenger traffic on 15 June 2024. The new stations are Yongdeng North, Tianzhu West, Hesongyi (overtaking station), Gulang North, and Wuwei East.

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Line 6 (Changchun Rail Transit)

2024-03-31 11:09:28+00:00

Line 6 of the Changchun Rail Transit (Chinese: 长春轨道交通6号线; pinyin: Chángchūn Guǐdào Jiāotōng Lìu Hào Xiàn) is a rapid transit line running from west to east in southern Changchun. Construction of line 6 started on 30 September 2019. Construction of the tunnels was completed on 30 April 2023. The tracks were completely installed by 26 May and powered by 29 May. Test trains were run starting in 8 December. On 28 March 2024, line 6 started its official operation. Shuangfeng — Changchun Movie Wonderland

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2025 Jubilee

2024-01-18 22:53:38+00:00

The Jubilee of 2025 is a jubilee that will be celebrated in the year 2025. It was announced by Pope John Paul II at the end of the Great Jubilee. This jubilee was preceded by the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy of 2015–2016. At the close of the 2000 Jubilee, Pope John Paul II spoke to the children of the world, noting that the children and young people of that time would be "the leading players at the next Jubilee in 2025". On December 26, 2021, Pope Francis entrusted the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization with the task of making preparations for the Jubilee, since he considered it fundamental for the strengthening of Catholicism. On January 3, 2022, at a meeting held in Rome, it was determined that the motto of the event would be "Pilgrims of Hope". On February 22, the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization called a competition to design the official logo of the 2025 Jubilee, with the main prompt being that the participants base their submissions off of the motto. The Pontifical Council would choose the design which communicated the message the best. The competition was open until May 20, and at the end of June 2022, the official logo was presented. On the other side, Pope Francis established that 2024 would be the Year of Prayer, to recover the desire to be in the presence of the Lord, to listen to him and worship him. For this purpose, once again the Dicastery for Evangelization prepared a series of eight volumes titled Notes on Prayer and Other Subsidies. The papal bull of convocation, named Spes non confundit, took place May 9, 2024, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Ascension. It explains the necessary indications for the celebration of the Jubilee, in which several points were highlighted, among which the following stand out: A word of hope A path of hope Signs of hope Appeals to hope Anchored in hope

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Lakewood Church shooting

2024-02-11 22:17:09+00:00

On February 11, 2024, a shooting occurred at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, perpetrated by 36-year-old Genesse Moreno. Witnesses at Lakewood Church stated that they heard multiple shots fired around 2:00 pm CST, the start time of the Spanish-language services. The shooter, Genesse Moreno, claimed to have a bomb in her backpack, but no bomb was subsequently found. She also sprayed "some type of substance on the ground". She shot a 47-year-old man in the leg, wounding him. Moreno said "Stay calm, all I need is help", then proceeded to fire more rounds. Two off-duty officers, serving as security at the church, killed Moreno after she pointed an AR-15 at them. Moreno's seven-year-old son was shot in the exchange of gunfire. The child was taken to the Texas Children's Hospital in critical condition. Moreno was shot and killed four minutes after entering the church. Reports of a second shooter caused some alarm among Houston residents, leading police to evacuate businesses in the commercial district. Police confirmed that there was no second shooter. The wounded 47-year-old man was released from the hospital by February 12. The seven-year-old had a portion of the frontal lobe of his brain surgically removed, and had his breathing tube removed after 13 days. His grandmother Rabbi Walli Carranza urged people to "demand that no one’s second amendment rights overtake an innocent child’s inherent right to life". Camera footage from body cameras and surveillance cameras was released by the police. Police confirmed the following day that they identified the shooter as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno (August 21, 1987 – February 11, 2024). Moreno was raised in Conroe, Texas, and had both a criminal record and documented mental health issues. Carranza, her ex-mother-in-law, said that she had schizophrenia that caused her to become violent, and claimed that "What was needed for years was a collaborative mental health and law enforcement response". She legally obtained her weapon in December 2023; Carranza criticized the lack of a red flag law. Carranza unsuccessfully petitioned for conservatorship of Moreno's son, the injured child, in 2022. As of February 19, 2024, no motive is known. Police confirmed that Moreno's AR-15–style rifle had a "Palestine" sticker on it and claimed that antisemitic writings had been discovered. According to the Anti-Defamation League, Moreno had made multiple comments propagating anti-semitic conspiracy theories, praising Osama bin Laden, and promoting terrorist organizations. Moreno previously used the alias Jeffery Escalante; although she at no point was identified as anything other than a cisgender female, her use of this alias caused far-right commentators, including Libs of TikTok and Fox News, to spread misinformation claiming that the shooter was a transgender woman. Fox News later edited its article to remove the claim. Republican politicians, including Ted Cruz, Donald Trump Jr., Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Josh Hawley promoted the claim. This continued an ongoing trend of conservative commentators claiming that the LGBT community is to blame for increasing gun violence in America. However, this claim contradicts statistics that trans people are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence. Lakewood Church asked people to "pray for Lakewood and our community". Joel Osteen, its pastor, said: "Of course, we're devastated. We don't understand why these things happen. We're going to pray for the 5-year-old little boy, the lady who is deceased and the other gentleman. We're going to stay strong and continue to move forward."

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2024 Wakeley church stabbing

2024-04-15 11:12:42+00:00

On 15 April 2024, at approximately 7:15 pm local time, a knife attack took place at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. During a live-streamed sermon, the attacker walked up to the pulpit, first stabbing bishop Mari Emmanuel, resulting in permanent vision loss in Emmanuel's right eye, before stabbing a priest and injuring another churchgoer. While no one was killed, this attack was the second stabbing incident to have taken place in Sydney in three days, following the deadly mass stabbing at Bondi Junction. The New South Wales Police Force have arrested a 16-year-old male over the attack. They have classified the stabbing as a terrorist attack, but have not revealed the name or exact motive of the accused. Wakeley is home to many Christians belonging to the Assyrian diaspora, including Emmanuel himself. Wakeley hosts the highest number of Assyrian Christians of any suburban neighbourhood in Australia, many of them refugees from Iraq and Syria. Originally from Iraq, Mar Mari Emmanuel was ordained a bishop in 2011, but later broke away from the Ancient Church of the East due to theological differences and established his own Christian denomination. Emmanuel criticised liberal Christian denominations, as well as other religions such as Judaism and Islam in his sermons. He was a prominent critic of lockdowns and vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. He espoused conservative stances on issues such as LGBT rights and sexuality. He had also voiced solidarity with the Palestinians during the Israel–Hamas war, and had called for peace. Clips from his live-streamed sermons have been posted on social media and have amassed millions of views, giving him an international following. According to Emmanuel himself, about one month before the stabbing, threats were spread on TikTok stating "the Bishop has two weeks to live". The stabbings took place around 7:10 pm in the suburb of Wakeley, 34 kilometres (21 mi) south-west of Sydney CBD. An assailant wearing a black jumper entered Christ The Good Shepherd Church on Welcome Street, shouted "Allahu Akbar", and attacked several people with a knife, starting with the presiding bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who was preaching and being live-streamed to the internet. The attacker approached the pulpit and stabbed Emmanuel repeatedly in the head and upper body. The weapon was allegedly a flick knife, banned in Australia, but it was not fully opened. In a video released by one of the churchgoers, the teenager can be heard saying Arabic: "If he didn't insult my prophet, I wouldn't have come here". Members of the congregation rushed forward to subdue the attacker, and gathered around the victim. Eleven ambulances were sent to the church. Three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack: bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, 53, who was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition; the hospital was placed under a partial lockdown. Two men were treated for lacerations suffered in restraining the attacker, including a 39-year-old priest and another man in his 60s. One of the fingers of the alleged assailant was severed after the attack. This was not done deliberately by the crowd but occurred during the ensuing scuffle. A suspect was apprehended and taken into custody. While not as yet named, he was first reported to be 15 years old, later revised to 16. He was known to police but was not on a terrorism watchlist. He had previously been convicted in January 2024 for weapons offences and stalking, intimidation and damaging property, but was released on a good behaviour bond by a court in Sydney. Footage showed the alleged attacker smiling while held to the floor by a police officer after being apprehended by churchgoers. The assailant's identity was withheld due to juvenile laws in New South Wales. His father said that his son showed no signs of radicalisation before the attack. According to a Muslim community leader who spoke with the suspect's family, the suspect expressed remorse to his mother and apologised for his actions. He added that the suspect's relatives, who transferred residence for fear of retaliation, condemned the attack, while the suspect's mother said that he had sought treatment from psychiatrists to control his anger. Police stated that the stabbing had "elements that are satisfied in terms of religious motivated extremism." At a press conference in Canberra, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director General Mike Burgess said that the intelligence agency was aware of allegations by the assailant that the bishop had insulted the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force Karen Webb said police had spoken with the boy's parents, but could not provide details. A counter-terrorism task force was set up to investigate, particularly whether other persons were involved. The task force consisted of officials from the New South Wales Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, and ASIO. On 18 April, the 16-year-old suspect was charged with a terrorist act. He was refused bail and appeared before a bedside juvenile court hearing on 19 April. The magistrate recommended that he undergo a mental health assessment and ordered him remanded at a children's detention center upon being released from hospital pending his next court hearing on 14 June. At that hearing, the suspect was charged with one count of injuring with intent to murder Emmanuel and another count of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm the other priest who was injured in the attack. More than 100 police personnel were deployed to the church location to confront crowds estimated to be up to 2,000 people gathered outside the church and the hospital, where they believed the alleged attacker was being held. The crowd screamed "Bring him out!" as police and paramedics remained inside the church with the alleged offender for a few hours. The crowds clashed with police and attacked police vehicles. Riot police used pepper spray on the tumultuous crowd outside the church. A police helicopter circled the area, broadcasting: "All persons, please vacate the area immediately." A total of 30 people in the crowd were injured during the riots, with seven hospitalised. Fifty-one police officers were also injured. Three injured police officers were taken to hospital but released the following day. Twenty police vehicles were damaged, with ten rendered unusable. Dozens of rounds of live ammunition, police uniforms and bulletproof vests were also stolen from the damaged police vehicles. Six paramedics were trapped inside the church for more than three hours due to the violence. Several houses were also broken into. Police operations ended before 1 am on 16 April. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb vowed that the violent rioters will be "prosecuted" and also stated that many rioters were not even associated with the church. She also announced the formation of Strike Force Dribs to respond to the riot, as well as the implementation of additional patrols to help "community harmonisation." Police said that they were identifying rioters based on 600 hours of footage covering the event. In his first statements since the attack, released on 18 April, Mar Mari Emmanuel said that he was "recovering quickly" and that he had forgiven the attacker. He also urged his congregation to cooperate with authorities and not to retaliate. Mar Mari Emmannuel lost sight in one of his eyes as a consequence of the stabbing. On 17 April one of the injured was discharged from hospital. Muslim community leaders expressed fears that the decision by the authorities to label the incident a "terrorist attack" may encourage Islamophobia, and questioned whether the terrorism label was being applied consistently. Police were deployed in mosques across Sydney after reports that text messages were being circulated calling for the Assyrian Christian community to retaliate against Muslims. The Lakemba Mosque, the largest in the country, also hired additional private security after receiving fire bomb threats on 15 April. The Islamophobia Register of Australia recorded 46 reports of hate-related incidents following the Wakeley stabbing and the earlier stabbing incident in Bondi Junction, which it partially attributed to misinformation released by Islamophobic figures. = The first arrest in relation to the riots was made on 17 April, when a 19-year-old man from Doonside was charged with riot, affray and destroying or damaging property during public disorder. Police said they were seeking the identities of around 50 people from the crowd. Two more arrests were later made in the following days, a 28-year-old man from Horningsea Park and a 45-year-old man from Fairfield Heights. A fourth person, a 23 year old man from Fairfield, surrendered to police on 22 April. The tenth arrest was a 27-year-old Granville man. Karen Webb stressed that the rioters were not related to the church's parish, and only used the original attack "as an excuse" to brawl with the police. On 24 April, as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged stabbing incident, counter-terrorism police arrested seven teenagers (aged 14–17), whom police alleged profess a "religiously motivated violent extremist ideology" and were an "unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales". The next day, five of those arrested were charged with terrorism and extremism offences, including possessing extremist material and conspiring to plan or prepare for a terrorist act. Police alleged that these offences were identified based on a search of the accused stabber's electronic devices. Throughout early June, five more arrests were made in connection to the riots, which included two men aged 41 and 31, as well as a 17-year-old boy from Fairfield West, Wakeley and Green Valley, respectively, with additional arrests made at Fairfield Police Station and a correctional facility in Cessnock, all totaling to 29 charges. The Christ the Good Shepherd's administration requested prayers for the victims of the attack as well as the alleged perpetrator in accordance with Bishop Emmanuel and Father Isaac's wishes. It also called on those that had gathered at the church to "leave in peace". The Assyrian Church of the East also said that its "hearts and prayers are with the victims" and hoped for their "comfort and speedy recovery". Bishop Emmanuel stated he had forgiven his assailant and called for his followers to be calm and law abiding amid the riots. Councillor Steve Christou of the Cumberland City Council stated "It just shows the remarkable courage of a man and the forgiveness he has within him to pray for his alleged attacker." Regarding the government's attempts to remove videos of the attack from social media, Emmanuel said he was not opposed to the videos remaining online, citing freedom of speech concerns. The attack was condemned by other religious leaders, groups and organisations including the Australian National Imams Council and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry following a meeting with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who also expressed sympathies with victims and emergency services and called for calm. Frank Carbone, the mayor of the City of Fairfield, said the attack and subsequent riot was "a very emotional situation", adding that the community was "very upset" over the incident. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, saying that there was no place for "violence in our community" and "violent extremism". He also called on Australians to "unite, not divide, as a community, and as a country." Mike Burgess, the Director-General of Security of ASIO, declared that Australia's terror threat level was "possible", which meant extremism was an existing danger. The Australian government ordered Meta Platforms and X to remove offensive content relating to the attack within 24 hours or face fines. In response, X said it would not do so and would go to court over the issue, with its owner Elon Musk accusing the government of censorship. Despite X blocking footage of the stabbing in Australia, on 22 April, the Federal Court of Australia granted an appeal by the Australian eSafety Commission to order X to block the footage globally on a temporary basis within 24 hours while hearing on a petition to make the ban permanent. The ban was extended on 10 May, but was lifted on 13 May, with Justice Geoffrey Kennett saying that it was unreasonable for the eSafety Commission to require X to remove access to the video globally and noting that a block would be "ignored or disparaged" by other countries. The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant dropped the Federal Court case on 5 June 2024, but stated that she would continue legal action in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

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Typhoon Ewiniar (2024)

2024-05-24 02:22:55+00:00

Typhoon Ewiniar, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Aghon, was a fairly strong tropical cyclone that impacted parts of the Philippines, particularly Luzon, in May 2024. The first named storm and typhoon of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season, Ewiniar emerged from an area of atmospheric convection 441 km (274 mi) southeast of Palau. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) labeled the system as a low-pressure area on May 21. It intensified the next day and became a tropical depression, giving it the name Aghon by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) after entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility on May 23, marking it as the fifth-latest start of a Pacific typhoon season since reliable records began; the depression intensified into a tropical storm, assigning it the name Ewiniar. The cyclone made nine landfalls in the Philippines. Afterward, it began to move over the warm tropical waters of Lamon Bay, where the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and the JMA upgraded Ewiniar into a minimal typhoon. Beginning to weaken for the final time on May 30, the storm passed directly over the island of Minamidaitōjima and began an extratropical transition. It was last noted by the JMA early on June 3, near the International Dateline, and absorbed into another extratropical cyclone just south of Prince William Sound on June 6. Strong winds and flooding caused power outages and disruptions of transport, with rough seas stranding over 7,175 people in various ports, and more than 152,266 people were directly impacted. In Japan, heavy rainfall was observed in several regions, with a maximum of 52.5 mm (2.07 in) of rain being recorded in Miyake, Tokyo. Agricultural damage in the Philippines totaled ₱85.63 million (US$1.74 million). Damage to infrastructure was valued at ₱942.55 million (US$19.14 million). In all, the typhoon killed at least six people and left eight injured, resulting in at least ₱1.03 billion (US$20.88 million) in damages. Typhoon Ewiniar emerged from an area of atmospheric convection 441 km (274 mi) southeast of Palau. The disturbance was moving northwestward towards an environment favorable for tropical cyclogenesis, characterized by sea surface temperatures of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F), low vertical wind shear, and moderate to strong outflow aloft associated with an upper tropospheric trough west of the system. On May 22, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) labeled the system as a low-pressure area. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) subsequently issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) as the disturbance developed rainbands wrapping from the southwest, with deep convection obscuring the system's consolidated circulation center. At 18:00 UTC, the JMA recognized the system as a tropical depression. Early on May 23, the depression entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). However, later that day, the JTWC cancelled their TCFA, since the depression was still weak. Early morning of May 24, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) upgraded the system from a low-pressure area into a depression, assigning it the name Aghon, marking it as the fifth-latest start of a Pacific typhoon season since reliable records began.The JTWC then reissued a TCFA on the system while it was 233 km (145 mi) northeast of Davao City, Philippines. At 18:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to Tropical Depression 01W based on surface observations from Guiuan. Aghon made its first landfalls over Homonhon Island and Giporlos in Eastern Samar in the early morning of May 25 (PHT). At 12:00 UTC, the JTWC reported that the tropical depression had intensified into a tropical storm while it was still in Tayabas Bay. In the evening, it made five more landfalls over Basiao and Cagduyong Islands of Catbalogan, Samar; Batuan in Ticao Island; Masbate City; and Torrijos, Marinduque. The JMA then classified the system as a tropical storm at 00:00 UTC of the following day, assigning it the name Ewiniar. In the morning of May 26 (PHT), the storm made its 8th landfall over Lucena, Quezon in Luzon island; nonetheless, the system developed a small dense overcast holding a ragged, formative eye. The JTWC then reported that Ewiniar had rapidly intensified into a typhoon due to strong equatorward and poleward outflow. In the evening, the storm made its ninth landfall over Patnanungan in the Polillo Islands; however, the outermost deep convective was diminishing because of the topographical effects from Luzon island, and the further development of a poleward outflow channel. Ewiniar then turned northwestward along the northwestern edge of a mid-level subtropical high. Soon after, the JMA upgraded Ewiniar to a severe tropical storm at 18:00 UTC on May 26 as its maximum sustained winds increased to 95 km/h (60 mph). On the following day, Ewiniar intensified into a typhoon, according to the JMA, making it the first typhoon of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season; although its structure consolidated, the system's pinhole eye became obscured by cirrus clouds. At 06:00 UTC, the JTWC estimated maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph), equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, though it was slightly weakening as a result of moderate wind shear. Infrared satellite imagery showed a partially-exposed circulation center with deep convection over the southern portion of the storm; however, Ewiniar maintained its convective symmetric structure as it accelerated northeastward. On May 28, the JMA recorded maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) as the system's peak intensity. The storm then deteriorated from subsidence from a mid-latitude trough aloft as evidence by the structure's erosion and warming cloud tops. The center was still well-defined, as its outflow was enhanced by a longwave trough, though wind shear was moderate. At 12:00 PHT (04:00 UTC) on May 29, the typhoon left the PAR. Shortly afterwards, it passed directly over the island of Minamidaitōjima. At 06:00 UTC, Ewiniar had weakened into a severe tropical storm. Environmental conditions became more unfavorable as sea surface temperatures decrease and vertical shear increases, as dry air invaded the system from the lower troposphere. Stratocumulus cloud lines went towards the elongated central convection due to this while the storm accelerated along the subtropical ridge to its northeast, weakening into a tropical storm as according to the JTWC. On May 30, the JTWC reported that Ewiniar had begun losing its tropical characteristics while 719 km (447 mi) east-northeast of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. Moreover, the JMA downgraded Ewiniar to a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC. The storm then developed a cold front to its southwest as deep convection detached from the fully-exposed and asymmetrical center, briefly becoming a subtropical cyclone. By 18:00 UTC on that day, the JMA reported that Ewiniar had transitioned into an extratropical low. The JTWC then ceased issuing advisories on the system the next day as it entered the baroclinic zone and an area of high wind shear. The extratropical remnants of Ewiniar were last noted by the JMA on June 3 near the International Dateline; however, the Ocean Prediction Center indicated that these extratropical remnants crossed the International Dateline and entered the Central North Pacific Ocean late on the same day. On June 6, Ewiniar's remnant was absorbed into another extratropical cyclone, just south of Prince William Sound. = Upon the system's designation as a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 from Sorsogon, part of Albay, Catanduanes, part of Camarines Sur, Samar, Northern Samar, part of Leyte, the entire province of Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. Ewiniar also raised Signal No. 1 alerts from the eastern portions of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, and Romblon, and the entirety of Aurora, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, and Agusan del Norte. Flights arriving and departing were cancelled because of the adverse weather conditions, with eleven domestic flights and one international flights affected. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 65 people were preemptively evacuated. After Ewiniar reached the severe tropical storm category on the afternoon of May 26, the agency raised Signal No. 3, indicating an expectation of winds of 89–117 km/h (55–73 mph) within the next 18 hours for the eastern section of Quezon, including the Polillo Islands, while storm signals were also raised in Metro Manila and parts of Bataan, Batangas, Pampanga and Oriental Mindoro. Moving northeastward and then intensified into a typhoon category, the agency raised Signal No. 1 in parts of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, and Camarines Norte. Classes and government work in some parts of Metro Manila, Aurora, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, and Nueva Ecija were suspended due to the typhoon. The University of the Philippines Los Baños also suspended classes due to the inclement weather brought by Ewiniar. = The Japanese government issued a high alert as Ewiniar was likely to enhance a stationary front near the nation, which would cause heavy rainfall throughout Japan. On May 27, the JMA stated that the typhoon would bring heavy rain to portions of Okinawa Prefecture. Weather warnings were also raised in the Izu Islands and the Kantō region. = Typhoon Ewiniar (known as "Aghon" in the Philippines) made multiple landfalls over the Philippine archipelago over the course of several days. Following the passage of Ewiniar, it marked the beginning of the nation's rainy season on May 29, 2024. Some flooding occurred in Misamis Oriental, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol on May 25, causing a tree in Legazpi, Albay to fall down and injure three people. A tornado also spawned in Lavezares, Northern Samar, destroying four houses and damaging eight others. A passenger boat sank in stormy waters off the coast of Aroroy, Masbate, leading to the rescue of its 35 passengers and crew. In Bicol, four people were injured and almost 6,000 people were stranded in ports after sea travel was suspended, while 600 others were also stranded in ports in Eastern Visayas. A power outage occurred in parts of Eastern Samar. A falling tree destroyed two vehicles in Taytay, Rizal. Flooding and power outages occurred in Quezon and Laguna Provinces, while a barge ran aground in Mauban. A landslide blocked a road in Dinapigue, Isabela. Rough sea conditions also damaged an oil container on board a ship in New Washington, Aklan, causing an oil spill. Around 7,175 were stranded in ports across the Philippines due to the storm. As rains continued throughout the day, the Angat Dam reached its spilling level of 179.79 meters (589.9 ft), while the Ipo Dam also reached its spilling level of 99.96 meters (328.0 ft). A total of 7,659 homes were affected, including 752 which were destroyed. Power outages were reported in 115 cities and municipalities. At least 21,000 ha (52,000 acres) of farmland in Calabarzon, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas suffered damage. Across the Philippines, roads were blocked in 57 places, and two bridge was rendered impassable by vehicles. Nineteen houses were washed away by strong waves in Tanza, Cavite. One infant drowned after a house was swept away by floods in Padre Burgos, Quezon, while two others were killed by falling trees in San Antonio, Quezon and Lucena. A minor was also killed by a falling tree in Misamis Oriental. After Ewiniar left the Philippines, Lucena, Quezon was declared in a state of calamity. along with the 1st and 2nd districts of Quezon. The NDRRMC reports that assistance and relief goods worth ₱15.52 million (US$315,092.86) have been distributed to affected families. The assistance provided varies, both in type and agency responsible, with most of the relief provided being food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The government also provided ₱1.2 million (US$24,365.48) and an allocation of ₱3 billion (US$60.91 million) worth of aid to the victims. As of June 6, 2024, the NDRRMC estimated damages in the agricultural sector reaching over ₱85.63 million (US$1.74 million). The NDRRMC also reported damage to infrastructure estimated at around ₱942.55 million (US$19.14 million), for a total of ₱1.03 billion (US$20.88 million), in damages. Overall, Typhoon Ewiniar killed six people and left eight injured, and around 152,266 others were directly impacted by Ewiniar in the Philippines. = Sustained winds of 20 km/h (12 mph) were recorded as the storm passed directly over the island of Minamidaitōjima. Intense winds occurred in Kitadaitō, Okinawa. A maximum wind gust of 89 km/h (55 mph) was recorded. Accumulated rainfall totaled 52.5 mm (2.07 in) in the village of Miyake, Tokyo, and 36 mm (1.4 in) in Chuo Ward.

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2024 Balochistan bombings

2024-02-07 10:27:18+00:00

On 7 February 2024, twin bombings killed at least 30 people in Balochistan Province of Pakistan, targeting political campaign offices on the eve of the 2024 general election. At least 40 people were reported injured. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for both bombings, and said both attacks were carried out by motorbikes rigged with explosives. In the runup to the general election on 8 February, several attacks targeting election-related facilities had occurred in Balochistan Province, some of which were claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army, which had urged a boycott of the vote. More than two dozen attacks were reported across the province in the week before the bombings, while caretaker provincial home minister Muhammad Zubair Jamali said that almost 80% of Balochistan's 5,028 polling stations had been declared "sensitive". Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) (JUI-F), whose offices were targeted in the second attack, had previously seen one of its rallies targeted by a suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State – Khorasan Province in July 2023. The first blast, caused by an IED which was planted on a motorbike, killed at least 16 people outside the office of independent candidate Asfand Yar Khan Kakar in Pishin. ISIL claimed it was targeting an election gathering. Pishin Deputy Commissioner Jumadad Mandokhail said that all the victims were supporters of Kakar, and that the bombing occurred in Khanozai bazar. Another 23 people were injured. The injured were taken to the Medical Superintendent Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for treatment. The attack reportedly occurred while the candidate was meeting his polling agent, according to the BBC. About an hour-and-a-half later, a second explosion at the offices of the JUI-F killed 12 people and injured 18, four critically, in a bazaar in the Qilla Saifullah District. The deputy commissioner of Qilla Saifullah said the explosion originated from a device planted on a motorcycle parked near the office. At the time of the explosion, there were a large number of workers inside the building according to police reports. Some of the injured were airlifted by helicopter to the provincial capital, Quetta. The Foreign Ministry announced the closure of the country's borders with Afghanistan and Iran until 9 February to ensure security during the election. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for both attacks in a statement posted on Telegram. They released a statement on its affiliated Amaq News Agency taking responsibility for the bombings, claiming that the bombing in Pishin killed and wounded around 45 "apostates", and the bombing in Killa Saifullah killed and wounded another 35. On 9 February, Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military, issued a statement claiming the mastermind of the bombings was killed during an intelligence-based operation. According to them, Abdul Shakoor of ISIS, who allegedly planned to conduct further high-profile attacks in Balochistan, was killed during an exchange of fire in Killa Saifullah district. = President Arif Alvi condemned the attacks and expressed sympathies to the families of the victims of the attack. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar denounced the bombings and expressed condolences to the families of the dead, vowing that "every attempt to sabotage the law and order situation will be thwarted" and pledging the government's commitment to hold elections peacefully. The Balochistan provincial government announced three days of mourning but emphasized that the elections will take place as scheduled. PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif condemned the attacks, saying that they "cannot dampen our spirits". Former President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari both condemned the attacks, expressing "deep sorrow and regret" over the loss of lives. Bilawal said that the planners of the attack should be "punished severely" according to the law, and that targeting civilians is a barbaric act. = British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said that she was "appalled" by the attacks and condemned "those seeking to prevent people from voting". The Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks and expressed condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Pakistan. It also reaffirmed its stance against terrorism, calling upon nations to cut off funding sources and to not allow safe havens for terrorists. The spokesperson of the Iranian embassy in Islamabad denounced the bombings and expressed condemnation over the loss of lives and injuries caused by the incident. He also conveyed Iran's solidarity with the Pakistani people. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the bombings "in the strongest terms", affirming its stance against terrorism and extremism and expressing solidarity with Pakistan and its people. The Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the UAE's strong condemnation of such criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism. The ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to Pakistan's government and the victim's families, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery to all those injured. = United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres "strongly condemned" the bombings, and his spokesperson added that the attacks were "clearly related" to the elections being held the following day. Amnesty International voiced concern over the escalation of violence targeting election candidates and political entities, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the bombings. It condemned the violence, calling it a "blatant infringement on the democratic process" and a violation of human rights.

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2024 Gwadar attack

2024-03-23 01:08:14+00:00

On 20 March 2024, the Gwadar Port Authority Complex was attacked by armed Baloch separatists. All eight militants and two soldiers were killed in the attack. In a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing said a group of militants tried to enter the Port Authority Colony. The attackers executed multiple blasts before engaging in a shoutout with the security forces. Pakistani security forces quickly responded to the gunfire and bomb attacks. In the two-hour-long battle, soldiers killed all eight militants. Two members of the security forces were also killed. Majeed Brigade, an armed wing of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) which demands the secession of Balochistan province, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group called the attack a warning to foreign investors interested in Gwadar, signalling to China of its investments in Gwadar port.

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2024 Shangla bombing

2024-03-26 17:09:01+00:00

On 26 March 2024, in Bisham Tehsil, Shangla District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a suicide bomber attacked a bus transporting five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver on their way to the Dasu Dam, killing all of them. The bomber rammed an explosive-filled car into the bus that was travelling from Islamabad to Kohistan on the Karakoram Highway. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. The Taliban-led government of Afghanistan also rejects Afghan involvement in the attack. This was the third attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan in the past week, as a Pakistani naval base and a port used by China were also attacked by Baloch separatists. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan told Chinese nationals in Pakistan to stay alert. Aftab Khan Sherpao, Central Chairman of Qaumi Watan Party, expressed concern in a tweet, saing that the attack was "proof of the rising tide of terrorism." On 29 March, Chinese investigators arrived in Pakistan to join a probe into the attack. On 1 April, Pakistani police said that they had arrested 12 people in connection with the attack. On 23 May, the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet decided to pay USD 2.58 million to the families of Chinese workers that died in the attack.

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2024 Sibi bombing

2024-03-05 23:23:28+00:00

The 2024 Sibi bombing was a bombing done by IS—KP in Sibi against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf during one of their political rallies for the 2024 Pakistani general election. There were several heavy clashes between terrorists and security forces in Balochistan before the bombing. On January 30, a bomb went off during a political rally by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the city of Sibi, the blast killed 4 people and injured 5. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party condemned the bombing and stated the attention the bombing got should be used to suppress terrorists instead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party itself, PTI also called for a full investigation of the attack. The United States Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs made a post on X condemning the attack. They also stated that the Pakistani people have the 'right to choose their own leader', also condemning the attempt to undermine the election.

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2024 Bangalore Cafe bombing

2024-03-01 12:40:53+00:00

On 1 March 2024, an improvised explosive device (IED) inside a bag exploded at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bangalore, India. At least 8 people were injured and taken to hospital, though none were in critical condition. The blast occurred at 12:55 PM (UTC+05:30) at the Rameshwaram Cafe's Whitefield branch. It was caused by a low-intensity IED. Initially, the Bengaluru Police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances act.Even though a gas leak was suspected as the cause of the blast, the fire department ruled it out in the beginning itself. After checking CCTV visuals, Siddaramaiah, the chief minister of Karnataka confirmed that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED). He also said that a man was seen placing a bag containing the IED in the cafe. On 4 March 2024, National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a first information report (FIR) following a direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The NIA released a photo of the suspect wearing a cap, mask and eyeglasses and offered ₹10 lakh (US$12,000) as reward for information on the blast suspect. The suspect was later identified by NIA as Mussavir Hussain Shazib, who hails from Thirthahalli, Karnataka. His accomplice was identified as Abdul Mateen Taha, who also hails from Thirthahalli. Taha was also a part of Islamic State (ISIS) module in Shivamogga and was wanted for the murder of a Tamil Nadu police inspector named K. Wilson. On 12 April 2024, the NIA arrested Shazib and Taha from their hideout in Kolkata. After the bombing, both of them had travelled through different routes and used different identities to escape from the law enforcement agency. Both of them were planning to leave Kolkata when NIA officials arrested them. NIA said that Shazib had placed the bomb at the cafe and Taha was the mastermind of the blast. At least 10 people were injured after an IED blast at the famous cafe located in Bengaluru's Brookefield area. The main accused was captured in CCTV footage on March 1 wearing a full-sleeve shirt, a cap, eyeglasses, and a face mask. He was seen walking towards the cafe with a bag, believed to be carrying the explosive. At the cafe, the accused ordered Rava Idli and was captured on a CCTV camera placed above a counter in the cafe. However, he did not eat the food and left the cafe. The explosive went off minutes later. In subsequent CCTV footage, he was seen changing his clothes and appearance multiple times after the explosion. The early investigation and forensic analysis of the IED used for the blast suggests that an ISIS module from the state’s Shivamogga region, which came on the radar of security agencies as far back as 2020, could have been involved.

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2024 Reasi attack

2024-06-09 23:25:44+00:00

The 2024 Reasi attack was an Islamic terrorist attack that occurred on 9 June, 2024 in the Reasi district of the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Several unidentified Muslim militants opened fire on a passenger bus boarded by Hindu pilgrims travelling from the Shiv Khori cave to Katra, causing it to lose control and plummet into a deep gorge, followed by further firing at the crashed bus by the gunmen. Nine people were killed in the attack, and an additional 41 were injured. The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the ambush but later denied involvement, while the Jammu and Kashmir Police believes that the ambush was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, of which the TRF is considered a front. The Jammu and Kashmir region, which both India and Pakistan claim fully but only exert partial administration, has been the pinpoint of a decades-long conflict between the two states. They have fought two wars over the territory since 1947. Since 1989, the conflict has devolved into an armed resistance against Indian control. India has claimed Pakistan of backing and harbouring the militants, which it denies. Eight civilians were killed in the territory in the first five months of 2024. Militant incidents in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division have risen over the past four years, with mainly security forces being targeted. At approximately 6:15 p.m. on 9 June 2024, militants armed with firearms ambushed a 53-seater Yatri passenger bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in Teryath village, firing between 25 and 30 gunshots indiscriminately. The driver was struck by gunfire, causing them to lose control and plunge into a gorge. Even after the bus crashed into the gorge, the firing continued. Nine people, including a two-year-old and a 14-year-old, were killed and 41 were injured. The victims were from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. At least ten victims had gunshot wounds, and empty cartridges were recovered at the scene. The ambush happened about an hour before Narendra Modi took the oath as Prime Minister. Three foreign militants and one suspected local, who acted as a lookout, partook in the ambush. The gunmen reportedly used American-made M4 carbine assault rifles, a rifle commonly used by Pakistani Special Forces. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the ambush but later denied involvement. People's Anti-Fascist Front and Revival of Resistance, both offshoots of Jaish-e-Mohammed, also denied involvement. The Jammu and Kashmir Police stated that it believed the Lashkar-e-Taiba was responsible. The actual perpetrators are yet to be determined by the Indian investigators. Fifty people were detained in relation to the ambush by the Reasi district police. A local of Rajouri district was arrested on 19 June over allegations of sheltering the militants and acting as their guide. A search and rescue operation was conducted following the ambush, during which security personnel and a military helicopter were dispatched. Survivors were treated at nearby hospitals. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha announced a compensation of one million (10 Lakhs) Indian rupees for the dead and 50,000 rupees for the injured. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army, and Central Reserve Police Force launched a manhunt for the militants. The search was concentrated around the Teryath-Poni-Shiv Khori area, and included unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), detection dogs, and village defence committees. At least two of the militants are reportedly hiding in the upper region of Reasi, which is forested and could hamper search attempts. The investigation of the ambush was transferred to the National Investigation Agency by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 17 June. = A series of fresh militant attacks has been taking place since December 2023, when militants killed four Indian soldiers. Several armed encounters happened in the Jammu Division within days of the attack in Reasi. On June 11, one civilian was shot at by a gunman in Kathua's Hira Nagar area, and a second encounter took place in Doda's Chattergala area, in which seven security forces' personnel were wounded. A search operation was launched by security forces in Kathua, during which a gunfight broke out between them and militants, resulting in the deaths of a CRPF soldier and both of the militants. Several Pakistan-made items were found in the possession of the two militants, including ₹500 notes worth ₹1 lakh. They also possessed Pakistan-made chocolates, dry channa, stale chapatis, medicines, painkiller injections, two packs of A4 battery cells, and one handset with an antenna and two wires hanging from it. According to the police in Kathua, the militants had one M4 carbine and one AK-47 rifle. Another encounter ensued on 12 June in Doda's Gandoh area, in which one policeman was injured. = Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation after the attack, while Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha stated that Modi has told him to monitor the situation. President Droupadi Murmu said that she was anguished by the attack, and Union Minister Amit Shah vowed that the perpetrators would face "the wrath of the law". Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale vowed to go to war with Pakistan if such attacks persisted. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the attack cowardly and said that he was deeply saddened by it. Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge condemned it, and said that "[Modi's] chest-thumping propaganda of bringing peace and normalcy … rings hollow". Several political organizations condemned the attack, including All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Communist Party of India (Marxist). A number of Muslim parties also joined in condemning it. The Indian Youth Congress held a candle march for the victims, while several anti-Pakistan protests broke out across the Jammu division. = Several Indian celebrities condemned or voiced condolences over the attack, including Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao, Preity Zinta, Rakul Preet Singh, Raai Laxmi, Esha Gupta, Bipasha Basu, Atlee, Varun Tej, Riteish Deshmukh, Sudhanshu Pandey, Urfi Javed, Anupam Kher, Soni Razdan, Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan, and Aly Goni. Social media platform Instagram reportedly censored the hashtag "#AllEyesOnReasi", which was being used in posts condemning the attack. Writing for The Wire, journalist Tanushree Pandey called the hashtag as a symbol of hate, which was used to divide the country. = Pakistani cricketer Hasan Ali and his wife Samiya condemned the militant ambush, by posting a story on Instagram with an AI-generated image, with added text saying "All Eyes on Vaishno Devi Attack". The post went viral and social media reactions to Ali's post were mixed, winning loads of praises from Indians and bombarded with death threats from Pakistanis. Ali responded to the threats by posting a second story on his Instagram, maintaining his stance, and stating that he always stands for peace.

76412611

Blessings (novel)

2024-03-21 19:42:33+00:00

Blessings is a 2024 novel by the Nigerian author Chukwuebuka Ibeh. It was published by Penguin Random House's Viking Books imprint in 2024. Chukwuebuka Ibeh was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on 1 January 2000. He is currently pursuing an MFA degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. His writing, described by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as "so wonderfully observant...with a nostalgia for the past," has appeared in McSweeneys Quarterly Review, The New England Review of Books, Dappled Things, and Lolwe. In 2019, he was named by Electric Literature as one of the "Most Promising New Voices of Nigerian Fiction." Viking Books announced its acquisition of Ibeh's in October 2022. In May 2023, a year before the book's release, the film rights were sold to The Artists Partnership, a talent agency based in London. In that same month, Ibeh gave a TEDx Talk entitled: "What Are African Values?" delivered at TEDxWUSTL in St Louis, Missouri. Blessings was positively received, including public recommendation from Zadie Smith. The New York Times' Joshua Barone praised the novel's prose, describing it as "revelatory yet unresolved, simple yet polyphonic, hopeful yet full of heartbreak." In a five-star review, The Telegraph called it "a smart literary attack on Nigeria’s anti-gay laws." The Guardian described the novel as a "poignant tale of a talented and sensitive Nigerian boy, Obiefuna, who is caught by his conservative father in a clinch with another young man," ultimately deeming it "an emotive, affecting debut." Buzz Magazine called it "a profound exploration of identity and acceptance." Sunday Times called it "a moving debut about love and loneliness."[1] In a slightly less enthusiastic review, Times Literary Supplement praised the book's "remarkably well-executed scenes," while saying it expected "a more compelling portrayal of the city and people of Port Harcourt."[2] Blessings was longlisted for the 2024 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. The book landed among Esquire's list of recommended books of 2024. USA Today named it among the year's "best books by Black authors."

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Little Rot

2024-05-02 08:43:31+00:00

Little Rot is a 2024 novel written by Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi. This novel follows five friends who become ensnared in a mess of sex, lies, and corruption. Little Rot is set in the "elite underbelly of a Nigerian city". The story is about five friends who expect a fun night but end up facing chaos and excitement. The novel tells of a long-term couple, Aima and Kalu, who break up after a long time together. Kalu, disturbed from his recent breakup with his partner Aima, attends a sex party thrown by a close friend of his, Ahmed. Little did he know, this choice would bring chaos and an unexpected, drastic shift in his life and his friends. In the midst of it all, two Nigerian sex workers, Ola and Suoraya, visiting from Kuala Lumpur, become entangled in the unfolding drama. Their drama sees them tangled in the city's shady underworld and a need to escape the dangerous threat. Aima is the wife of Kalu, whose decision brought chaos. Kalu is the husband, who was hurt by the break up with his wife. Ahmed is Kalu's best friend, who sets up the sex party. Ola is a sex worker who got entangled in the web of sex, lies, and corruption. Suoraya is a sex worker who got entangled in the web of sex, lies, and corruption.

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2024 in Paraguayan football

2024-01-29 19:26:17+00:00

The following article presents a summary of the 2024 football season in Paraguay, which is the 114th season of competitive football in the country. The 2024 Primera División started on 19 January 2024 and is expected to end on 9 December 2024. = = = = The second-tier División Intermedia is expected to begin in March 2024. = The Third Division is divided into three leagues: the Primera B Metropolitana, the Primera B Nacional and the Campeonato Nacional de Interligas. = Standings Relegation = Promotion = = = The following table lists all the games played by the Paraguayan national men's team in official competitions and friendly matches during 2024. The following table lists all the games played by the Paraguayan national women's team in official competitions and friendly matches during 2024.

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2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification

2024-04-27 14:48:36+00:00

The 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification decided who qualified for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan. Qualifying occurred between April 2022 and April 2024. The slot allocation is as follows: AFC (Asia): 5 slots (including host Uzbekistan) CAF (Africa): 3 slots CONCACAF (Central, North America and Caribbean): 4 slots CONMEBOL (South America): 4 slots OFC (Oceania): 1 slot UEFA (Europe): 7 slots = = The four best teams not already qualified from the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup in Thailand qualified for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Knockout stage Play offs To decide the fifth qualifier, the four losing quarterfinalists all played in a bracket to decide the spot. = The top three from the 2024 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco qualified for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Knockout stage = The four semifinalists from the 2024 CONCACAF Futsal Championship in Nicaragua qualified for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Bracket = The four semifinalists from the 2024 Copa América de Futsal in Paraguay qualified for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Knockout stage = The winner the 2023 OFC Futsal Nations Cup in New Zealand qualified for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Bracket (1st–4th place) = Unlike other regions, UEFA organises a separate qualification process to decide the seven qualifiers. = The qualifying competition consists of five stages: Preliminary round: The lowest-ranked 24 teams play in the preliminary round, and are drawn into six groups of four teams. The winners and runners-up of each group advance to the main round to join the 24 highest-ranked teams which receive byes to the main round. Main round: The 36 teams are drawn into twelve groups of three. The 12 winners and four best runners-up progress directly to the elite round. The remaining eight runners-up enter main round play-offs. Main round play-offs: The eight teams are drawn into four ties, to be played home and away. The four winners of the ties complete the elite round line-up. Elite round: The 20 teams are drawn into five groups of four. The winners of each group qualify directly for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up advance to the play-offs. Elite round play-offs: The four teams are drawn into two ties to play home-and-away two-legged matches to determine the last two European qualified teams. If only two teams enter, a draw will be held to determine the order of matches. In the preliminary round each group is played as a round-robin mini-tournament at the pre-selected hosts. In the main and the elite round, each team plays one home and one away match against each other team in its group. = Ranking of runners up = The matches were played on 12–17 April 2024. The winners of each tie will qualify to the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Teams that enter the play-offs Croatia Finland Netherlands Poland

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2024 Paraguayan Primera C

2024-06-11 01:22:46+00:00

The Primera División C 2024 championship will be the twenty-seventh official edition of Paraguay's Primera División C, one of the Fourth Division tournaments, it is organized by the Paraguayan Football Association. There will be 12 teams that will compete in the championship. The mode of dispute would be maintained, as in previous seasons, of round-robin matches, that is, two rounds made up of 11 rounds each with reciprocal locality. The team that accumulates the most points at the end of the 22 dates will be declared champion. In case of parity of points between two contenders, the title is defined in an extra match. If there are more than two in dispute, it is resolved according to the following parameters: 1) goal difference; 2) highest number of goals scored; 3) greater number of goals scored as visitor; 4) draw. The tournament will crown the 27th champion in the history of the Primera División C. Both the champion and the runner-up will directly obtain promotion to the Third Division (Primera División B). The last club in the average table will be descheduled for the following season. = The clubs are divided into two halves. The first half is distributed throughout the country's capital and the second through the Central Department. = List of the teams that will compete in this tournament. The number of participating teams for this season is 12. The average points of a club is the quotient obtained by dividing its accumulated score in the last three seasons in the division, by the number of games it has played during said period. This determines, at the end of each season, the team that will be deprogrammed for one year.

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2024 Paraguayan Women's Football Championship

2024-02-02 00:09:20+00:00

The 2024 Campeonato Anual FEM is the twenty-fourth official Paraguayan Annual W Championship, the highest league of women's association football in Paraguay. It is organized by the Paraguayan Football Association. Unlike previous seasons, starting with this edition the Apertura and Clausura tournaments will no longer be played. This is due to the implementation of the Copa efe, the Copa Paraguay FEM and the Supercopa FEM, all of which are new local tournaments. The tournament will consist of two stages. In the first stage the twelve teams compete in a double round-robin tournament, one game at home and one away. The top six teams from the first stage will advance to the Hexagonal Final, where the six teams will compete again in a double round-robin tournament and the champion will be determined. With this new format, the championship will take place from April to September of the current year; and both the champion and vice-champion teams will qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores Femenina. = The majority of the clubs (8) are concentrated in the country's capital, while three are located a short distance away in cities of the Departamento Central. One is located in the department of Amambay and one is located in Alto Paraná. The Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Fútbol Femenino (CARFEM), property of the Paraguayan Football Association, is included due to its frequent use by teams that choose to officiate there as home venues. Note: The social and administrative headquarters of the Sol de América club is in Barrio Obrero, Asunción, but its playing field is located in Villa Elisa where it has been home since 1985. = List of the teams that will play the two tournaments of the season. The number of participating teams for this season is 12. = =

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18th Metro FM Music Awards

2024-04-25 13:01:55+00:00

The 2024 Metro FM Music Awards is the 18th annual ceremony of the Metro FM Music Awards, the ceremony was aired live on SABC1 and hosted by ProVerb and LootLove on April 27, 2024, at Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Tyla leads with six nominations ahead of Kabza De Small and Tyler ICU with five each. Loot Love and ProVerb was announced as hosts of 18th Metro FM Music Awards. Below is the full list of nominees. Winners are listed first highlighted in Bold face. Global Icon Award - Tyla Lifetime Achievement Award - Oskido Lifetime Achievement Award - Boom Shaka

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35th Golden Melody Awards

2024-07-07 10:57:12+00:00

The 35th Golden Melody Awards (Chinese: 第35屆金曲獎) took place in Taipei Arena, Taipei, Taiwan in 2024. The award ceremony for the popular music categories was hosted by LULU Huang and broadcast on TTV on 29th June 2024. Faith Yang received the most nominations with 8 for her eighth recording studio album Flow, receiving nods from the jury for Album of the Year, Best Mandarin Album, Best Female Mandarin Singer, Best Vocal Recording Album among others. Shi Shi (孙盛希) won her first Female Mandarin Singer award on her third nomination in the category, beating Faith Yang, while MC HotDog claimed Best Male Mandarin Singer, edging out Jude Chiu, a third-time nominee and JJ Lin, who released his 20th anniversary album in 2023. Below is the list of winners and nominees: [1]

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2024 Americana Music Honors & Awards

2024-05-11 14:35:53+00:00

The 2024 Americana Music Honors & Awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Ryman Auditorium the in Nashville, Tennessee. The marquee event for the Americana Music Association and the centerpiece of their annual Americanafest, artists are awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry and the americana genre. The show is set to be livestreamed on the Circle YouTube channel and on the AMA's Facebook page, alongside live radio broadcasts on Sirius XM and local Tennessee stations WSM, WMOT and WRLT. An hour-long special of highlights will on PBS in November as part of Austin City Limits. Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell led the nominations, with three each. The eligibility period for the 23rd Americana Music Honors & Awards is April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The nominees were announced by Gina Miller on May 7, 2023, at a ceremony at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville which featured performances from SistaStrings, Sierra Ferrell, Kaitlin Butts, Megan McCormick with Amanda Fields and Ethan Ballinger, and The War and Treaty.

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2024 Basadi in Music Awards

2024-06-28 02:03:00+00:00

The 2024 Basadi in Music Awards will take place on August 10, 2024, at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg to celebrate and honour women's in South African music industry. It will be hosted for the second time by actress Unathi Nkayi. The nominees were announced on May 27. Tyla received the most the nominations with 5, followed Lwah Ndlunkulu and DJ Zinhle with four each. Below list are nominees.

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2024 Hainault sword attack

2024-05-01 18:55:02+00:00

On 30 April 2024, a man crashed a van into a pedestrian and property in the suburban area of Hainault, London, and proceeded to randomly attack people with a sword. One victim, a 14-year-old boy named Daniel Anjorin, was killed, and four others were injured, including two police officers. A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene after being struck by several Taser rounds and tackled to the ground. On 30 April 2024, between 06:50 and 07:00, residents of Hainault reported hearing screaming and shouting in the street and police were called. Around this time, a man in a yellow hoodie had crashed a van into a home, also hitting a pedestrian, whereupon bystanders approached the vehicle under the assumption an accident had occurred. The attacker, who was injured in the crash, exited the van and asked a woman where he was before pulling a sword, described by witnesses as a samurai, or samurai-style sword, from his trousers and proceeding to slash at the neck of the man he had hit with the vehicle while yelling he was going to kill him. Around fifteen minutes later, the attacker forced his way into a family home and attacked a 35-year-old man as he slept in his bed. The man's hand was seriously injured in the attack and he lost large amounts of blood. Relatives of the man credited him with protecting his family from the attacker. Subsequently, the attacker began to approach 14-year old Daniel Anjorin from behind as the boy walked to school. Residents attempted to warn Anjorin of the danger, but witnesses claimed that he had headphones on, and so likely could not hear them. The attacker slashed the boy's neck from behind and then stabbed him in the chest, fatally wounding him. Two police officers arrived at the scene and approached Anjorin to try and help him, but the attacker appeared from a bush, prompting the officers to chase him. At one point, the attacker jumped out and slashed one of the officers as she lay on the ground and wounded the hand of the other officer. Throughout the spree, the attacker would climb over the gardens and garages of residents and roam the area, evading police. Witnesses claimed that the man was shouting and swearing, with video footage that captured the attacker shouting "Is there anybody here who believes in God?". At around 7:22, further police officers were able to confront the attacker in a resident's driveway. Multiple Tasers were deployed against the attacker and he was subsequently tackled to the ground and arrested by a large number of police officers. One victim was killed and four others were injured. A 33-year-old man was wounded after being struck by a van driven by the attacker and sustaining a blade wound to the neck; a 35-year-old man was attacked in a property, receiving laceration wounds to his arm; a 14-year-old boy was stabbed in the neck and chest with the sword and later died of his injuries in hospital; while confronting the suspect, a male police officer suffered a serious hand injury, which required surgery; and a female police officer who also confronted the suspect was seriously injured in the arm, which required surgery. The 14-year-old victim would later be widely identified as Daniel Anjorin. A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and later charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article. Police were initially unable to question the suspect, who was sent to a hospital due to injuries allegedly sustained in the vehicle crash. The Metropolitan Police said that the attack "does not appear to be terror-related" and they did not believe it was a "targeted attack". The motive for the sword attack is as yet unknown. On Sunday 5 May, around 300 people gathered at the car park of Hainault tube station to attend a vigil for Daniel Anjorin. During the Premier League match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium, fans paid tribute to Daniel Anjorin, who was a supporter of Arsenal. In the 14th minute, supporters held up a banner with 'RIP Daniel' on it followed by a round of applause.

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2024–25 FC Barcelona Femení season

2024-05-28 01:23:33+00:00

The 2024–25 season will be the 37th season in the history of FC Barcelona Femení. The team is set to compete in the domestic league, the Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España Femenina and UEFA Women's Champions League as defending champions of all four titles. Supplier: Nike Sponsors: Spotify (front) / Grupo Bimbo (sleeve) / UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency (back) Notes = A variety of transfers for 2024–25 were reported ahead of the season. In December 2023, head coach Jonatan Giráldez announced he would leave the club at the end of the 2023–24 season, and in February 2024, goalkeeper Sandra Paños did the same; it was also reported around this time that English goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck would join ahead of the 2024–25 season. In April 2024, Roebuck signed a pre-contract with Barcelona, and Polish striker Ewa Pajor was reported to have done the same. Barcelona B and first team reserve player Júlia Bartel was connected with a move to Chelsea in May 2024. = The previous season ended later than usual, during the summer international window, with the final 2023–24 Liga F game on 16 June 2024. Barcelona had won all four trophies, for a continental quadruple, by the end of May, going into the 2024–25 season as defending champions. In the days after the 2023–24 season ended, Barcelona announced the signings of Pajor, on a three-year contract, and Roebuck, on a two-year contract, as well as promoting assistant Pere Romeu to fill the vacant head coach position. Caldentey confirmed her departure from the club at the start of June, while Ariana Arias and Bartel did so towards the end of the month, when it was also announced that Lucy Bronze would not renew her contract. = On 4 July, Barcelona signed Portuguese player Kika Nazareth from Benfica for four seasons until 2028. = The 2024–25 Liga F is set to start in September 2024. = = Players from FC Barcelona Femení B and FC Barcelona Femení C who have a squad number and are eligible to play for the first team (those marked with an asterisk are in regular first team training). As of 27 June 2024 = = = = Undisclosed fees are not included in the transfer totals. Win Draw Loss Fixtures = = Results by round Matches = Barcelona will enter the competition in the Round of 16. = = Group stage = As of 4 July 2024 = As of 17 June 2024 = (H) – Home; (A) – Away; (N) – Neutral venue (final) 4 – Player scored four goals. = As of 17 June 2024 = (H) – Home; (A) – Away; (N) – Neutral venue (final) = As of 17 June 2024 = As of 17 June 2024 Source: FCBarcelona.comOrdered by , and = Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card. =

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2024–25 Real Madrid Femenino season

2024-06-23 04:45:17+00:00

The 2024–25 season will be the 9th season in the existence of Real Madrid Femenino and the club's 5th season since being officially rebranded as part of Real Madrid. = On 17 June 2024, Real Madrid announced the departure of their first captain Ivana Andrés having played for the club for four seasons. The next day, the exit of Claudia Zornoza was announced. On 19 June, Real Madrid announced that Kenti Robles would also be leaving the club, with the departures of Sofie Svava, Kathellen, Freja Olofsson, and Hayley Raso also being confirmed over the next four days. On July 1, the first signing of the new season, Filippa Angeldahl, was announced. The next day, the club announced the signing of Alba Redondo On July 3, it was announced that Melanie Leupolz was joining the club for the new season.. Maëlle Lakrar was announced to be joining the club the next day. On 6 July, Eva Navarro became the club's fifth signing ahead of the new season. = As of 1 July 2024 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. = = = = = = = Second Qualifying Round

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February 2024 California atmospheric rivers

2024-02-04 22:01:15+00:00

In early February 2024, two atmospheric rivers brought extensive flooding, intense winds, and power outages to portions of California. The storms caused record-breaking rainfall totals to be observed in multiple areas, as well as the declaration of states of emergency in multiple counties in Southern California. Wind gusts of hurricane force were observed in San Francisco, along with wind gusts reaching over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) in the Sierra Nevada. Widespread landslides occurred as a result of the storms, as well as multiple rivers overflowing due to the excessive rainfall. Meteorologist Dr. Reed Timmer stated that "Biblical flooding" was possible throughout California during the atmospheric river. From February 1 to February 2, 2024, California experienced the impact of the first Pineapple Express storm caused by the atmospheric river, which subsequently traversed the United States and settled over the I-25 corridor in Colorado. Another storm struck on February 4, with the National Weather Service categorizing it as "potentially life-threatening", and forcing Los Angeles into a state of emergency. Seven additional counties declared a state of emergency: Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, San Diego County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County. The rain was expected to last for days, with some parts of California expected to receive record amounts of rain. Various news outlets projected that Los Angeles might witness an accumulation of rainfall equivalent to six months' worth between February 3 and February 5. Simultaneously, the Sierra Nevada mountains were anticipated to receive 1 to 3 feet (30 to 91 cm) of snow, while higher elevations, such as Mammoth Lakes, CA, could potentially experience over 4 feet (120 cm) of snow. The NASCAR exhibition race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was moved forward one day to February 3 from the scheduled February 4 race in anticipation of the rainstorm. Additionally, portions of the San Bernardino Mountains' foothills were expected to receive substantial rainfall, with estimates ranging from 10 to 12 inches (250 to 300 mm). One man was killed on February 4 after a tree struck him due to the winds. = Downtown Los Angeles received 4.1 inches (100 mm) of rain on February 4, 2024, marking it the wettest day since March 15, 2003. Several Malibu, California schools were closed due to inaccessibility because of severe weather causing road closures. Power outages caused by the storms left approximately 850,000 people without power. Fallen trees blocked roads and cut power lines in multiple locations. Wind gusts up to 162 mph (260 km/h) occurred at various high elevation locations, including the Sierra Nevada mountains and Lagunitas Forest. As of February 5, at least three people had died from falling trees. = Downtown Los Angeles had received 7.03 inches (179 mm) of rain in two days from February 4-5 making it the second wettest two-day span in the city's history. For reference, Downtown Los Angeles only averages 14.25 inches (362 mm) of rain in a normal rain year. Heavy rainfall caused more than 300 landslides and severe flash flooding throughout the state. San Diego received record rainfall for California at higher elevations causing floods and prompting road closures. A tornado warning would be issued for portions of San Diego County by the National Weather Service due to a severe thunderstorm produced by the storm complex, although no damage would be caused. = Downtown Los Angeles had received 8.51 inches (216 mm) of rain from February 4-6 making it the second wettest three-day span. Following 1.66 in (42 mm) of rain in Death Valley in 72 hours, California State Route 190 was closed and the park experienced a setback in the recovery from Hurricane Hilary. Two tornadoes were confirmed to touch down in San Luis Obispo county. Significant amounts of snow fell in the Sierra (2-4 feet) which brought the snowpack from 50-70% of average to 70-80% of average. Landslides and fallen trees due to the heavy rain and high wind gusts destroyed and damaged many homes and closed roads throughout California. Bel-Air had a peak 24-hour rainfall of 12.42 inches (315 mm) which equates to a 380-year return interval (0.3%).Los Angeles had been incorporating elements of a stormwater harvesting design to retain the rainwater. From February 4 to 7, the city captured 8.6 billion gallons of water, equivalent to the yearly needs of 106,000 homes. Most of Southern California was 150%-300% of average from October 1 to February 7. Most places throughout Northern California were still 50%-110% of average after the storms.

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February 2024 nor'easter

2024-02-12 16:20:05+00:00

The February 2024 nor'easter was a quick-moving but powerful and disruptive nor'easter that brought widespread effects primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the Northeastern United States. Developing from a combination of an upper-level low and an area of low-pressure in the Southwestern United States on February 10, the system first brought heavy snow to the Texas Panhandle the following day. It then moved northeastwards across the Ohio Valley, causing impacts before beginning to consolidate into a more defined low as it approached the East Coast. The system then began rapid deepening as a nor’easter it moved offshore early on February 13, bringing heavy snowfall to much of the Mid-Atlantic. The system departed later that day, but not before bringing impacts to Atlantic Canada before peaking and gradually weakening thereafter, eventually dissipating on February 18. Many cities in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic, particularly New York City, were expected to receive the heaviest snowfall accumulation in at least two years due to the nor'easter, although the storm was notable for being difficult to predict in the aforementioned regions in the hours leading up to the event. For example, forecasts for Boston released on the morning of February 12 predicted at least a foot of snow, but when the storm moved through the New England region the following day, it hardly dropped any snow on the city after taking a more southerly course. Flights were cancelled or delayed across the Mid-Atlantic, and millions spanning from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts were placed under winter storm warnings. Over 175,000 people across the Northeast lost power, due to the heavy wet nature of the snow, and the nor'easter was responsible for at least one death so far as of February 13. Separately, the system dumped at least 1 foot (12 in; 30 cm) in parts of Texas and Oklahoma causing severe impacts in the region as well. The setup for a potential coastal storm in the Northeastern United States was evident as early as the afternoon of February 8. Uncertainties as to how the system would develop, how much cold air would be available and how the upper-level features would evolve in the run up to the event. The primary factors expected in the development of the system involved an upper-level shortwave trough that would eject out of the Southwest, leading to coastal development. By February 10, the aforementioned feature began developing in the Southwest, and due to limited cold air, heavy wet snow affected the northern parts of Texas and Oklahoma. A weak area of low pressure developed along the Gulf Coast and trekked northeastwards throughout February 11–12 across the Southeast as the system as a whole continued eastward. At 09:00 UTC, the Weather Prediction Center deemed it necessary to begin issue storm summary bulletins for the winter storm. At that time, precipitation mostly consisted of rain showers and squalls, with isolated wet snow in the colder regions of the atmosphere near the upper-level low. Later on February 12, a primary low-pressure area began to consolidate in the Tennessee Valley, strengthening as it moved eastwards and as precipitation began to slowly move into the Mid-Atlantic states. As the system became a nor'easter and moved offshore, rapid deepening – known also as "bombing out" – commenced overnight, with the central pressure falling from 991 mb (29.3 inHg) at 09:00 UTC on February 13 to 964 mb (28.5 inHg) at 03:00 UTC on February 14, a drop of 27 millibars (0.80 inHg) in 18 hours. As this process commenced during the early morning hours on February 13, precipitation rapidly switched from rain to heavy snowfall along much of the Mid-Atlantic, with rates approaching 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) per hour in the northwestern and northeastern portions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively, which led to the heaviest snowfall totals of the event in those areas. The nor'easter moved quickly, with precipitation and snowfall ending across the Mid-Atlantic and eventually New England by evening that day; consequently, the WPC terminated storm summary bulletins for the departing nor'easter at 03:00 UTC on February 14. The system continued to rapidly deepen afterwards as it began impacting Atlantic Canada with heavy snow and gusty winds, peaking at a minimum pressure of 956 mb (28.2 inHg) at 18:00 UTC that day while located south of Nova Scotia. The system slowly began weakening thereafter as it moved further into the North Atlantic Ocean. = Mid-Atlantic Winter storm watches and warnings were issued for the impending nor'easter from as far west as central Pennsylvania to the coast of Massachusetts. = Pennsylvania = Vehicle restrictions were poised to go into effect on February 13 in Pennsylvania as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) began actively pre-treating roadways ahead of the storm. = New Jersey and New York = Schools across the state of New Jersey closed or moved classes to remote learning. Despite not declaring a state of emergency, governor Phil Murphy strongly encouraged citizens to remain indoors and to not travel during the morning commute when the heaviest snowfall would be occurring, as well as encouraging to work from home, if possible. Additionally, a commercial vehicle ban was set to go into effect at midnight and state offices were to open on a delayed schedule. Morris County residents were advised to think twice before traveling, and snowplows and equipment were loaded with salt to begin pre-treating major roadways such as Interstate 280 that evening. In southern New York, where New York City and the surrounding regions and boroughs were expected to receive at least 5–8 inches (13–20 cm) of snow – the heaviest expected for the city since a blizzard in January 2022, schools moved to online learning for February 13. Westchester County declared a state of emergency late on February 12, in order to ensure the safety of its citizens. New England = Connecticut and Rhode Island = Connecticut closed some of its schools and business for February 13. Governor Ned Lamont also announced that a tractor-trailer ban was going into effect at midnight. In the town of Hartford, approximately 100 crews and thirty trucks were prepared to treat roadways with salt for the storm. Rhode Island governor Dan McKee also implemented a tractor-trailer ban beginning at midnight as well, while also stating the state government would be closed the following day. The Department of Housing (DOH) said it would be setting up emergency shelters as well as warming centers across the state. = Massachusetts = In Massachusetts, schools closed altogether for the following day, and Boston mayor Michelle Wu declared a snow emergency and advised residents to stay off the roads altogether. = Parts of the states of Texas and Oklahoma received upwards of over 1 foot (12 in; 30 cm) of heavy wet snow in the storm's precursor stage. Travel in the town of Plainview, Texas was reportedly "crippled" by 14 in (36 cm) of snow, which became the heaviest snow in the region. Portions of New Mexico received over 6 in (15 cm) of snow as well, and Bandelier National Monument was closed during the storm. Further east, hail up to 3 in (7.6 cm) affected Louisiana and eastern Texas. = Mid-Atlantic = Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey = The highest snowfall total in Delaware was only 2.2 in (5.6 cm). Over 140,000 customers lost power in Pennsylvania. Heavy snow fell across the northern suburbs of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, with Tobyhanna recording 14.5 in (37 cm) of snow. However, much less snow fell further south, with only 0.6 in (1.5 cm) of snow at Philadelphia International Airport. Interstate 81 was closed near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania after cars got stuck in snow, and heavy snow also shut down parts of Interstate 83. A fatality occurred in York County in a snowmobile crash. In New Jersey, approximately 13,000 people lost power. In the city of Atlantic City, only trace of snow was recorded. However, snowfall in the state varied widely, as Sussex recorded 15.0 in (38 cm) of snow. = New York = In New York City, snowfall totals reached 3.2 in (8.1 cm) at Central Park, 3.3 in (8.4 cm) at LaGuardia Airport, 4.2 in (11 cm) at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and 4.9 in (12 cm) at Newark Liberty International Airport. Up to 8.7 in (22 cm) of snow fell in portions of Long Island. The snow resulted in numerous subways being delayed, changing from express to local or skipping stops, with the Z Train being suspended altogether. All train services to the World Trade Center was suspended due to a power outage. A ground stop was also briefly imposed at JFK Airport. New England In Hartford, Connecticut, small parts of Interstate 91 closed due to a jackknifed tractor trailer. The heaviest snowfall in the region was nearby, with 15.7 in (40 cm) of snow in West Hartford, Connecticut. However, parts of northwestern Connecticut, often the snowiest region of the state, had lower totals around 4 in (10 cm) of snow. In the state of Massachusetts, over 23,000 customers lost power and snow resulted in Massachusetts Route 28 closing. Despite significant snow in many parts of the state, Boston only received 0.1 in (0.25 cm) of snow.

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January 13–16, 2024 North American winter storm

2024-01-16 06:57:57+00:00

The January 13–16, 2024 North American winter storm brought wide-ranging and significant impacts across much of the continental United States, particularly in the Southern regions of the country. Originating as extratropical cyclone over the northeastern Pacific Ocean on January 12, the system, unofficially named Winter Storm Heather by The Weather Channel, moved ashore the following day, bringing heavy snowfall and ice accumulations to areas closer to the coastline then usual. The winter storm then weakened over the Rocky Mountains, and leftover energy combined with an arctic front settling in near the Gulf Coast resulted in wintry precipitation in states that rarely receive it such as Texas and Louisiana. The system then consolidated and intensified slightly as it began to move northwards towards the Mid-Atlantic states. It then moved just offshore and brought accumulating snowfall to most of the region as well as New England on January 16–17 before it moved into Canada soon after. Widespread, significant and deadly impacts were observed from coast to coast in the U.S. due to the winter storm, as areas that normally did not receive frozen precipitation were affected adversely. In the Northwest, ice accumulations and high wind gusts knocked out power to many as the system moved ashore, in addition to later triggering avalanches in the mountainous regions of the states of Colorado and Utah the following day. Further east, bitterly cold combined with the winter storm resulted in at least 30 deaths in the South, in addition to wintry weather resulting in closures and traffic delays across a large portion of the Southern United States. In the mid-Atlantic and New England, cities like New York City, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia saw their first accumulating snowfall over 1 inch (2.5 cm) in nearly two years, ending a record 700-plus-day streak with no such accumulation. The winter storm entered the Pacific Northwest on January 12, bringing heavy snow, ice and high winds to Northern Oregon. The storm also triggered avalanches in Utah and Colorado. The storm then dove southeast, bringing heavy snow in Texas and Tennessee. The storm then brought the first significant snow in years to the Northeastern United States before exiting. 335,000 flights were delayed from January 13 to 16th, with 8600 cancellations, largely due to weather. = Oregon In the Columbia River Gorge, hurricane-force wind gusts were reported. Winds in the Columbia River Gorge reached 80 mph (130 km/h), with gusts over 50 mph (80 km/h) in Portland. Cold air exiting the Columbia Basin produced the strong winds through the Gorge and into the Portland metropolitan area and Willamette Valley kept temperatures at the surface below freezing while warm onshore flow aloft created a temperature inversion. Freezing rain caused significant ice accumulations with some areas experiencing up to 1 inch (25 mm). Several vehicle crashes occurred in the Willamette Valley. The strong wind and ice accumulation in the Portland area resulted in widespread trees being blown down. Over 200,000 customers lost power throughout the state. Eleven people were reportedly killed with victims being crushed by fallen trees, experiencing hypothermia, or being electrocuted by fallen power lines. Colleges across the area closed due to the hazardous weather, as did Crater Lake National Park. = Heavy snow fell in the Southeastern United States, with 7.6 in (19 cm) of snow in Nashville and 3.4 in (8.6 cm) of snow in Memphis. The heavy snow in Tennessee shut down Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 30 dogs had to be rescued in Nashville at an impound location due to the winter weather and bitter temperatures. Prior to the arrival of the winter storm and associated cold in Texas, officials assured residents that the power grid was ready to handle the weather, after the crippling of the state's power grid during a previous winter storm in February 2021. They advised citizens to conserve power and that the cold weather would not last as long as the 2021 event. In the city of Houston, an 18 wheeler overturned on I-10, shutting down the highway. An injury also occurred due to a car pileup on Texas State Highway 121. Lake effect snow occurred in North Texas, with 2.3 in (5.8 cm) of snow in Coppell and 2 in (5.1 cm) of snow in Forney. Schools across several states, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama closed as a result of the storm. In St. Martin Parish, portions of Interstate 10 and Interstate 210 closed due to the winter weather. In Cullman County, Alabama, many motorists were stranded on Interstate 65 after a series of car crashes shut down the highway. In Louisiana, parts of Highway 23 were also closed. The storm also spawned a tornado in Florida. = In the Northeastern United States, the storm snapped record long streaks without 1 in (2.5 cm) of snow in several cities. Mid-Atlantic In Pennsylvania, 3.3 in (8.4 cm) of snow fell in Philadelphia. The winter storm lead to a brief ground stop at Philadelphia International Airport. Further south, 4.9 in (12 cm) of snow fell in Baltimore, with Washington D.C. recording 4.1 in (10 cm) of snow. Heavy snow resulted in federal offices shutting down on January 16. A parade in Baltimore celebrating Martin Luther King Day was cancelled due to snow. Five fatalities occurred on a car crash on Interstate 81 in northeastern Pennsylvania. Central Park reported 1.2 in (3.0 cm) of snow on January 16, their first inch of snow in a single day since February 13, 2022. The storm total there was 1.6 in (4.1 cm). The winter storm led to ground stops at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, where snow totals were slightly higher than Central Park. Schools were closed on January 16 in Jersey City, New Jersey. In Western New York, lake effect snow led to 3 fatalities, with snow totals in Copenhagen, New York being 40 in (100 cm) in just 27 hours and 15 minutes. The lake effect snow prompted a Buffalo Sabres game against the Chicago Blackhawks to be postponed. New England Most of Massachusetts received around 2 in (5.1 cm) of snow, though some locations in the state picked up 4 in (10 cm). The snow resulted in 100 flight cancellations and 290 delays at Boston Logan International Airport.

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2024 Montserratian general election

2024-04-01 19:29:33+00:00

General elections are scheduled to be held in Montserrat in 2024. The Legislative Assembly has eleven members, of which nine are elected. The other two seats are taken by the Attorney General and the Financial Secretary. The island is a single nine-member constituency, with voters able to vote for up to nine candidates on their ballot paper under plurality-at-large voting. Candidates must receive at least 6% of the vote to be elected. If fewer than nine candidates receive more than 6% of the vote, a second round is held within 21 days.

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2024 Pokrovsk missile strike

2024-01-07 21:06:02+00:00

On 6 January 2024, at around 3:00 pm local time, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Army launched an S-300 missile attack against a residential building in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine, as a result of which 12 people died, including 6 children. On the night of January 6, the Russians shelled the private sector, as a result of which the garage and cars caught fire. The strike at the administrative building was also recorded. In Rivne, Pokrovsk Raion, a private house in which 6 people lived was destroyed. Earlier on that day, Ukraine hit the Saky air base in Russian-occupied Crimea. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message "These hours, a rescue operation is underway in Pokrovsk of the Donetsk region and in the Pokrovsk Raion after a Russian missile strike. S-300 missiles. Necessary rescue forces, equipment of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are involved. Debris is being sorted out. As of this time, it is known about the death of more than ten people, and among them — children, unfortunately... My condolences to all those who lost relatives!". Zelenskyy emphasized, "no one strike will remain without consequences for Russia."

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2024 ASEAN U-16 Boys Championship

2024-05-11 04:05:21+00:00

The 2024 ASEAN U-16 Boys Championship is the 19th edition of the ASEAN U-16 Boys Championship, organised by ASEAN Football Federation. It will be hosted by Indonesia from 21 June to 3 July 2024. This is also the first edition that the tournament was rebranded to ASEAN Championship. Players born on or after 1 January 2008 could participate in this tournament. There was no qualification, and all entrants advanced to the final tournament. The following 12 teams from member associations of the ASEAN Football Federation entered the tournament. The tournament's official draw was held on 30 May 2024 in Jakarta, Indonesia at 14:00 (GMT+07:00). The pot placements followed each teams progress based on the previous edition. (H): Tournament host The following officials were chosen for the competition. Video assistant referees (VAR) would be used from the semi-finals onwards. This was the first AFF tournament which uses the video assistant referee. Referees Assistant Referees Video Assistant Referees In May 2024, the ASEAN Football Federation officially announced the 2 venues for the tournament which was located in Surakarta, Central Java. Players born on or after 1 January 2008 are eligible to compete in the tournament. Each team can register a maximum of 23 players (minimum three of whom must be goalkeepers). = = = = The best runner-up team from three groups advance to the Knockout stage. In the knockout stage, the penalty shoot-out is used to decide the winner if necessary = = = = There were 111 goals scored in 22 matches, for an average of 5.05 goals per match. 6 goals 5 goals 4 goals 3 goals 2 goals 1 goal 1 own goal Indonesia: Indosiar, Vidio.com Cambodia: Hang Meas HDTV Thailand: FA Thailand,Changsuek(Thai Language) (Youtube) FB:FA thailand, Changsuek TV:NBT2HD (Thailand's matches only)

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2024 Asian Men's U20 Volleyball Championship

2024-06-09 20:04:04+00:00

The 2024 Asian Men's U20 Volleyball Championship will be the 22nd edition of the Asian Men's U20 Volleyball Championship, a biennial international volleyball tournament organised by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) with Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI). The tournament will take place in Surabaya, Indonesia from 23 to 30 July. This tournament served as the qualification tournament for the FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship. The top four teams of the tournament qualified for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship as the AVC representatives. Players must be born on or after January 1, 2005. Players who had played twice in the FIVB Junior (U20 or U21) Championships cannot play in AVC U20 Championship as it is a qualification event for the following year of FIVB U21 event. Chinese Taipei was originally going to host the Asian Men's U20 Championship, but then host changed and Indonesia became the host. The 16 AVC member associations submitted their U20 men's national team to the 2024 Asian U20 Championship. The 16 AVC member associations were from 5 zonal associations, including, Central Asia (4 teams), East Asia (5 teams), Oceania (1 teams), Southeast Asia (3 teams) and West Asia (3 teams). = = = = The following teams qualified for the tournament. The overview of pools was released on 12 March 2024.

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2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championships

2024-06-23 19:33:37+00:00

The 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championships (officially known as BNI Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2024) is the 23rd edition of the Asia continental junior championships to crown the best U-19 badminton players across Asia. This tournament is held in Among Rogo Sports Hall, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, between 28 June and 7 July 2024. The 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championships was organized by the Badminton Association of Indonesia, sanctioned by Badminton Asia. This tournament consists of team and individual events. There were 14 teams competing in the mixed team event, which was held from 28 June–2 July, while the individual events were held from 3 to 7 July. = This international tournament is held at Among Rogo Sports Hall, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. = = * Host nation (Indonesia) This table shows the number of players by country in the 2024 Badminton Asia Junior Championships. A total of 18 nationalities are represented. The tournament was marred with the death of Chinese athlete Zhang Zhijie on 30 June, the third day of the tournament. Zhang was declared dead on 23:20 local time at Hardjolukito Air Force Central Hospital after he collapsed in the middle of the match against Kazuma Kawano, which was part of team event tie between China and Japan. Chinese netizens and the Xinhua News Agency criticized the events leading up to his death after a video of his death showed a medic running towards Zhang, then stopping at the edge of court to wait for the referee to give permission. In response, the Badminton Association of Indonesia announced that they would ask the Badminton World Federation to re-consider the rule requiring medics to wait for permission before attending to players.

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Candidates of the 2024 Tasmanian state election

2024-03-01 04:25:01+00:00

This article provides information on candidates who have been nominated for the 2024 Tasmanian state election, which was held on 23 March 2024. A record 167 candidates nominated for the election. Sitting members at the time of the election are shown in bold text. Tickets that elected at least one MHA are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are indicated by an asterisk (*). = = = = = A number of candidates resigned before being officially nominated.

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2024 Tasmanian government formation

2024-03-25 00:33:24+00:00

Following the results of the 2024 Tasmanian state election, which resulted in a hung parliament with the Liberal Party winning the most seats, the incumbent Liberal government, led by Premier Jeremy Rockliff, will negotiate with independents and the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) to seek confidence and supply to form a minority government for the party's fourth consecutive term in office. The Labor opposition, led by Opposition Leader Rebecca White, will not form government. White conceded defeat the day after the election, stating that Labor could not realistically form a government, even with the support of the Greens, led by Rosalie Woodruff. White also resigned as Labor leader after leading the party to defeat for a third time under her leadership. She was succeeded by Franklin MP Dean Winter, who was elected unopposed to the position. The 2024 state election delivered a hung parliament, with no party winning a majority of seats. 18 seats are required for a majority in the 35-seat House of Assembly. Before White conceded defeat, many proposals had been considered possible. One potential alliance was the "traffic light alliance" or the "traffic light coalition", which was a hypothetical alliance or coalition between Labor, the Greens and the JLN. The hypothetical alliance or coalition's name is derived from the colours of the three parties, which are the colours used on traffic lights: red (Labor), yellow (JLN) and green (Greens), similar to Germany's traffic light coalition. Due to Labor having conceded, the Rockliff Liberal government will continue governing Tasmania for another four-year-term, with Rockliff remaining Premier. Tasmania is currently the only state with a Liberal premier. Rockliff ruled out working with the Greens, and ruled out forming a coalition government as that would require some crossbenchers to be given cabinet portfolios. He also stated that he will not compromise on his 2030 Strong Plan policy. On 10 April 2024, the three elected Jacqui Lambie Network MPs announced they had reached a deal to support the Rockliff Government on matters of confidence and supply for an initial 12 month period.

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Results of the 2024 Tasmanian state election

2024-03-22 06:16:07+00:00

This is a list of House of Assembly results for the 2024 Tasmanian state election. = The Expansion of House of Assembly Act 2022 enabled the change of total seats in the lower house from 25 seats to 35 seats. This has resulted in thirteen new MPs being elected (ten to the new seats, and three replacing Lara Alexander, John Tucker and Dean Young who were defeated at the election). = = = = =

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Second Rockliff ministry

2024-03-26 11:30:54+00:00

The Second Rockliff Ministry is the second and current cabinet of Premier Jeremy Rockliff that will be formed following the final counting of the 2024 Tasmanian state election. The Rockliff Government will be in minority, and is currently in negotiations with the Jacqui Lambie Network and Independents to form government, however, he has ruled out providing members of these parties cabinet positions. The expected composition of the Government will be the Liberals, Lambie and Independent David O'Byrne. The Second Rockliff ministry was sworn in on 11 April 2024. The table of ministers can be found below.

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Jaffey farm airstrike

2024-05-07 17:27:33+00:00

On 18 March 2024, Turkish Drone Bayraktar strikes hit the Jaffey farm, about three kilometers west of Bagdad village in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, between 8 pm and 8.30 pm. The TB2 killed 23 civilians including 14 children, five women, and four men. Another 17 civilians were injured in the strikes: 11 children, two women and four men. All victims from the marginalized Gorgaarte clan. Two strikes that killed 23 civilians during Somali military operations supported by Turkish drones is investigated as war crimes, according to Amnesty International. The Victims and other residents confirmed the drone strikes followed heavy ground fighting that started earlier that day between the armed group Al-Shabaab and Somali Armed Forces close to the villages of Jambalul and Bagdad. The federal government of Somalia has initiated a significant military offensive against the al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group, al-Shabab, which holds control over extensive territories in southern and central Somalia. This offensive is led by the highly trained Danab Brigade, which has received specialized training from the United States. the operation is receiving air support from both American and Turkish forces, indicating a concerted effort by international allies to combat the threat posed by al-Shabab in Somalia. The ongoing armed conflict between the Federal Government of Somalia and Al-Shabaab is a devastating impact on civilians. According to Amnesty International documentation, both sides have been found guilty of serious violations of international humanitarian law. Specifically, their document has reported a series of airstrikes conducted by the United States Africa Command resulting in the deaths and injuries of Somali civilians. These incidents have raised concerns about potential breaches of international humanitarian law by AFRICOM. On March 18, 2024, Amnesty International conducted an interview with an eyewitness who reported the presence of Al-Shabaab fighters in Bagdad during clashes. According to the witness, an initial drone strike targeted a mosque on the eastern side of Bagdad around 7:30 pm, resulting in the destruction of the building and damage to nearby houses. Following the initial attack, numerous civilians sought refuge at the Jaffey farm for safety. However, eyewitnesses reported that the first strike on the farm resulted in casualties, with civilians being killed and injured. Subsequently, approximately 30 minutes later, a second attack occurred, causing further harm to both those seeking refuge at the farm and civilians from neighboring villages, Alifow and Gaalgube, who had arrived to assist survivors of the initial strike. On 19 March, Somalia’s Ministry of Information issued a statement on Facebook saying that they had killed over 30 Al-Shabaab militants in the villages of Bagdad and Baldooska in coordination with “international partners”. The statement added: The operation was launched in response to intelligence reports indicating that Al-Shabaab fighters were gathering in these areas and planning an assault against the Somali people… 15 Al-Shabaab members were killed in an airstrike in Bagdad It is unclear whether Turkish or Somali forces were in control of the TB-2 drone at the time of the strikes on the Jaffey farm. One source in the Somali government confirmed that members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency fly the TB-2s during combat operations against Al-Shabaab. However, in 2022, the UN Panel of Experts for Somalia reported Turkey violated international sanctions on Somalia by supplying armed drones without notification to and approval of the UN. According to the Turkish government, Türkiye did not transfer the drones to Somalia in violation of the UN arms embargo, but rather operated the drones themselves “in the fight against terrorism”. Also in 2022, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s then Interior Minister who is now Foreign Minister, was confirmed reports that the armed drones produced by Turkish company Baykar while Turkish forces operate the drones, Somali commanders provide the targets. The recent years, Turkey has been supporting Somalia by providing military equipment and assistance. Satellite imagery and videos verified by Amnesty International’s Crisis Evidence Lab reveal Turkish TB-2 drones at Mogadishu International Airport since at least September 12, 2022. Additionally, Turkey has been training the "Gorgor" unit of the Somali armed forces at Camp Turksom in Mogadishu. In February 2024, the two countries further solidified their partnership by signing a Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. The strikes resulted in the deaths of 23 civilians, including 14 children, five women, and four men. Additionally, 17 civilians were injured, consisting of 11 children, two women, and four men. All of the casualties belonged to the marginalized Gorgaarte clan. They followed heavy ground fighting earlier that day between Al-Shabaab and Somali security forces near the villages of Jambaluul and Bagdad. On 5 April 2024, Amnesty International contacted AFRICOM, inquiring about the potential involvement of US forces in the operation against Al-Shabaab on March 18. However, AFRICOM did not provide a response by the time of publication. Amnesty International sent a letter to the governments of Somalia and Turkey on April 5, requesting details about the March 18 operation, including information about which military forces were operating the drone during the strikes. As of now, neither government has responded to the inquiry.

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Rebellion (2024)

2024-02-09 03:27:10+00:00

The 2024 Rebellion was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). It took place on April 20, 2024, at the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. It was the sixth event under the Rebellion chronology. Eleven matches were contested at the event, including three on the Countdown to Rebellion pre-show. In the main event, Moose defeated Nic Nemeth to retain the TNA World Championship. In other prominent matches, Jordynne Grace defeated Steph De Lander to retain the TNA Knockouts World Championship, Josh Alexander defeated Hammerstone in a Last Man Standing match, Frankie Kazarian defeated Eric Young in a Full Metal Mayhem match, and Mustafa Ali defeated Jake Something in the opening contest to retain the TNA X Division Championship. The event also featured the TNA returns of Mike Santana, Sami Callihan, and Matt Hardy. = Rebellion is a professional wrestling event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. It is annually held during the month of April, and the event was first held in 2019. On February 8, 2024, TNA announced Rebellion would take place in on April 20, 2024, at the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. = The event featured several professional wrestling matches, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on the company's weekly programs, Impact! and Xplosion. At Hard To Kill, Moose defeated Alex Shelley to win the TNA World Championship. However, as he and his stablemates in The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, Alisha Edwards, and DeAngelo Williams) were set to celebrate, they were interrupted by the debuting Nic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler in WWE), who immediately attacked Moose. On the subsequent episode of TNA Impact!, Nemeth made his intentions clear about becoming the next TNA World Champion. Two months later on the March 14 episode, after Nemeth and Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey and Trent Seven) defeated Steve Maclin and The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz), The System attacked and laid out the former three. Immediately following this, TNA announced that Nemeth would challenge Moose for the TNA World Championship at Rebellion, with Speedball Mountain also challenging Myers and Edwards for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. On the March 21 episode of TNA Impact!, Jake Something won a "Rebellion Referendum" six-way match to earn a TNA X Division Championship opportunity against Mustafa Ali at Rebellion. Eric Young and Frankie Kazarian had been embroiled in a rivalry ever since the January 18 TNA Impact!, when the latter attacked the former after losing a tag team match. Kazarian vowed to make 2024 "his year", win the TNA World Championship and be forever remembered as a "king" of TNA, much like he perceives Young to be. The two would eventually have a singles match at No Surrender, with the winner earning a TNA World Title match at Sacrifice. Young would end up winning the match, with Kazarian later attacking the referee in anger. TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella would suspend Kazarian for his actions. Kazarian, however, continued to target Young, costing him his world title match against Moose at Sacrifice. Two weeks later on the March 21 TNA Impact!, Young conducted a promo on the entrance ramp, calling out Kazarian for a Full Metal Mayhem match at Rebellion. TNA would make the match official later via their website. On the March 28 TNA Impact!, Steph De Lander returned to TNA and, with help from an also returning Matt Cardona, won an 8-4-1 match to become number one contender to Jordynne Grace's TNA Knockouts World Championship at Rebellion. At Hard To Kill, Hammerstone made his TNA in-ring debut in a losing effort to Josh Alexander. Two months later at Sacrifice, the two had a rematch where Hammerstone – now a full-time member of the TNA roster – got the victory, although he had given Alexander a low blow away from the referee's view to do so; after which, he stole Alexander's wrestling headgear as a sort of trophy. On the April 4 episode of TNA Impact!, TNA announced a rubber match between Hammerstone and Alexander for Rebellion. The following week, Alexander and Hammerstone got into a pull-apart brawl at the start of the show, to which the former upped the ante by challenging the latter to a Last Man Standing match at Rebellion, which TNA made official. After A. J. Francis made his TNA debut at Hard To Kill, he had been the subject of ridicule by Joe Hendry, who constantly made music videos mocking Francis' appearance, wrestling ability, and musical talents. When Francis retaliated against Hendry, the latter was backed up by Rich Swann; although, at No Surrender, Francis argued to Swann that they didn't have to be on opposite sides. On the March 14 episode of TNA Impact!, Francis and Hendry faced off in Francis' TNA singles debut, which he won after Swann turned on Hendry. Francis and Swann would dub their new alliance "Fir$t Cla$$" the following week. Some weeks later on the April 11 episode, Hendry confronted Fir$t Cla$$ after a tag team match, mocking Swann for turning on him and aligning with Francis. He would then challenge Swann to face him at Rebellion, which was made official by TNA. On April 18, TNA announced that rock guitarist DJ Ashba would perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the event. On the Countdown to Sacrifice pre-show, Laredo Kid was scheduled to challenge Crazzy Steve for the TNA Digital Media Championship, but travel issues forced him off the show. The two would eventually have their title match on the April 11 TNA Impact!. There, Steve played into Kid's frustrations and anxiety, and after grabbing at Kid's mask, the latter shoved the referee in anger, causing a disqualification. The following week, it was announced that Kid will get a rematch for Steve's Digital Media Championship on the Countdown to Rebellion pre-show. At the end of the April 19 TNA Impact!, a vignette played that displayed the phrase "Lights Out", teasing Matt Hardy's return for Rebellion. = There were three matches on the Countdown to Rebellion pre-show. In the opener, ABC (Chris Bey and Ace Austin) and Leon Slater took on the trio of The Rascalz (Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed). In the closing stages, Reed delivered a guillotine leg drop to Austin. ABC then performed Chasing the Dragon on Reed for a two-count. Reed then delivered a plancha over the ring post onto ABC on the outside. As The Rascalz were regrouping, Slater delivered a plancha over the ring post onto The Rascalz. Reed then delivered an assisted cutter to ABC on the outside. Back in the ring, Miguel performed a diving meteora onto Slater, followed by a swanton bomb from Wentz and a springboard 450°splash, but Austin broke up the pinfall. ABC delivered the Art of Finesse/The Fold combination to Miguel, allowing Slater to deliver a swanton 450° splash to Reed to win the match. Next, Crazzy Steve defended the TNA Digital Media Championship against Laredo Kid. In the closing stages, Laredo Kid delivered an Asai moonsault to Steve for a two-count. Steve then performed superplex to Laredo Kid. Steve attempted to go to the top rope, but Laredo Kid stopped him and delivered an avalanche Spanish Fly and pinned him to win the title. In the pre-show main event, Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat) (accompanied by Lars Frederiksen) defended the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship against Decay (Havok and Rosemary). In the closing stages, Luna and Threat delivered simultaneous suicide dives to Havok on the guardrail. Threat then delivered a swanton bomb to Havok on the outside. Luna and Threat then double powerbombed Havok and delivered an assisted Burning Hammer/sit-out powerbomb combination on Rosemary and pinned her to win the match. After the match, Masha Slamovich and Alisha Edwards stared down Spitfire with a chain and kendo stick in hand respectively. = In the opening match of the event, Mustafa Ali defended the TNA X Division Championship against Jake Something. Ali delivered a DDT to Something on the floor, and then a rolling neckbreaker in the ring. Ali then tossed Something onto the ramp and delivered a neckbreaker. Something put Ali into a fireman's carry position, but Ali escaped and delivered a DDT for a two-count. Ali attempted a standing moonsault, but Something caught him and powerbombed him and then delivered a backbreaker for a two-count. Ali then delivered another neckbreaker and a 450° splash to Something for a two-count. Something then dove onto Ali's security guards on the outside. Back in the ring, Something performed a cutter to Ali and then delivered The Void, but Ali put his foot on the bottom rope, stopping the referee's count. Jake then attempted a powerbomb to Ali, but Ali raked his eyes and pushed him into the ring post; Ali then used a roll-up pin on Something to win the match and retain his title. Next, Rich Swann (accompanied by AJ Francis) faced Joe Hendry. In the closing stages, Hendry clotheslined Swann multiple times and then attacked Francis. Swann then kicked Hendry's gut and pinned him for a two-count. Francis then carried a chain, but former NFL football linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was in the crowd, grabbed it, which led to an argument between Francis and Merriman. Merriman then jumped over the barricade and entered the ring. Francis then distracted the referee, allowing Merriman to clothesline Hendry. Swann then delivered a 450° splash to Hendry and pinned him to win the match. In the next match, Eric Young faced Frankie Kazarian in a Full Metal Mayhem match. In the opening stages, Young attacked Kazarian with a ladder. Kazarian then delivered a DDT to Young for a two-count. Young then hit Kazarian with a platter and the lid of a trashcan. Kazarian then attempted to deliver a legdrop to Young onto a ladder, but Young moved out of the way and Kazarian landed on the ladder. Kazarian then speared Young off the apron through a table for a two-count. Young then repeatedly hit Kazarian with a baking sheet for a two-count. Young then put a trash can onto Kazarian's head and hit him with a steel chain. Young, with the chain still in hand, delivered a diving elbow drop to Kazarian for a two-count. Kazarian then delivered a low blow to Young and then dropped him with a flux capacitor through a table and pinned him to win the match. Next, Steve Maclin came out and demanded a match for Rebellion. Director of Authority Santino Marella then came out and said that Maclin was a lucky son of a gun and that he just recently signed a new wrestler to TNA and that was who Maclin was going to face. Mike Santana came out through the crowd and it was revealed that he was Maclin's opponent, marking Santana's first appearance for TNA since August 2019. The bell rang and both men started brawling. Maclin delivered a backbreaker for a two-count. Santana then delivered a clothesline to Maclin for a two-count. Santana then delivered a rolling 450° splash and an elbow drop for a two-count. Santana attempted Spin The Block, but Maclin impeded it with a jumping knee strike. Maclin then hit Santana with a clubby blow for a two-count. Santana then delivered Spin The Block to Maclin and pinned him to win the match. Next, Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards (accompanied by Alisha Edwards) defended the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Speedball Mountain (Trent Seven and Mike Bailey). In the opening stages, Seven delivered a DDT to Eddie for a two-count. Bailey then delivered a running shooting star press to Myers for a two-count. Seven delivered a superplex to Myers, followed by a shooting star press for a two-count. Eddie then delivered a Tiger Driver to Seven and locked in a Boston Crab, but Bailey broke up the pin; Bailey then delivered a moonsault to Myers on the outside. Myers then delivered a diving elbow drop to Seven for a two-count. Bailey leapt off the apron, but Myers caught him with a spear. Myers and Eddie then delivered The Roster Cut/Boston Knee Party combination to Seven to retain the titles. The next match was a Last Man Standing match between Josh Alexander and Hammerstone. In the opening stages, Alexander attempted a C4 Spike, but Hammerstone back body dropped him. Hammerstone then delivered a belly-to-belly suplex to Alexander. Alexander then delivered a half-and-half suplex to Hammerstone on the floor, but Hammerstone got up. Hammerstone then wrapped Alexander's legs around the ring post and locked in a figure four leglock, but Alexander got up by the nine-count. Hammerstone then delivered a fallaway slam and locked in a Torture Rack on Alexander and dropped him, but Alexander got up at the eight count. Hammerstone then delivered a pump kick to Alexander. Hammerstone then dropped Alexander onto a bed of thumbtacks, but Alexander got up. Alexander then delivered a C4 Spike to Hammerstone on the entrance ramp; Hammerstone couldn't get up by the ten-count, thus Alexander won the match. In the penultimate match, Jordynne Grace defended the TNA Knockouts World Championship against Steph De Lander (accompanied by The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch)). In the opening stages, De Lander delivered a big boot to Grace for a two-count. Grace then delivered an elbow smash to De Lander. De Lander then chopped Grace and kicked her in the mid-section. Grace then locked in a sleeper hold, but De Lander escaped. De Lander suplexed Grace for a two-count. Grace then locked in the sleeper hold again on De Lander, but The Good Hands distracted the referee, allowing De Lander to escape and retrieve the TNA Knockouts title. De Lander inadvertently hit the referee with the title belt, and then hit Grace with the aforementioned belt. Hotch of The Good Hands put on a referee shirt and attempted to count the pin, but the lights went out; the lights came back on and PCO stopped Hotch from making the count but holding Hotch's hand. PCO then clotheslined Hotch and was seduced by De Lander. PCO feigned and attempted to chokeslam her, until Kon attacked him from behind. Kon them back suplexed PCO onto the ring apron. Kon then shoved Grace, but Grace responded with a low blow. Grace attempted to carry Kon, but The Good Hands stopped her and Hotch, Skyler and Kon attacked Grace. Kon attempted to twist Grace's neck, but the lights went out again and when they came back on, the returning Sami Callihan was standing in the corner with his trademark hat and baseball bat. Callihan then attacked Hotch, Skyler and Kon with the bat. Callihan then delivered the Cactus Driver '97 to Hotch and tossed De Lander back on the ring. Grace then delivered the Juggernaut Driver to De Lander and another referee came down and counted the three-count, with Grace retaining her title. = In the main event, Moose (accompanied by The System (Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers and Alisha Edwards)) defended the TNA World Championship against Nic Nemeth. In the opening stages, Moose delivered a pump kick to Nemeth. Nemeth then delivered a missile dropkick to Moose. As Nemeth attempted a superkick from the corner, Alisha the grabbed Nemeth's leg, allowing Moose to clothesline him. The referee then ejected The System from ringside. Nemeth then delivered a superkick to Moose for a two-count. Nemeth then locked in a sleeper hold on Moose, but Moose escaped. Nemeth then delivered a Fameasser to Moose on the entrance ramp and then a neckbreaker in the ring. Moose delivered a Sky High spinebuster to Nemeth for a two-count. Moose attempted a spear, but Nemeth impeded it with a roll-up pin for a two-count. Moose them powerbombed Nemeth for a two-count. Nemeth hit another Fameasser on Moose for another two-count. Moose attempted another spear, but Nemeth impeded it with a superkick and then delivered a spear for a two-count. Nemeth attempted another superkick, but Moose moved out of the way and landed a spear to win the match. After the match, The System came out to applaud Moose. The Lights Out vignette then aired on the screen and the lights went out; a laugh echoed around the arena and when the lights went back on, "Broken" Matt Hardy was standing behind Moose, marking Hardy's first appearance in TNA since 2017. As Moose turned around, Hardy delivered the Twist of Fate to Moose. Hardy then chanted "Delete, Delete, Delete" and raised the TNA World Championship as the show went off the air. Kristian Thompson of TJR Wrestling.net gave the show a 7/10 saying "It wasn’t TNA’s best night of wrestling but it was strong on the surprises and newsworthy moments. Mike Santana, Matt Hardy and Sami Callihan all returned from time off or time in other companies and they all add depth to the TNA roster, something they desperately need. You could see the need so clearly in the TNA Knockouts’ Title match where it was overbooked to Vince Russo levels, but there are no new signings on that front. In terms of the matches, I enjoyed Ali vs Something and Hammerstone vs Alexander the most. The main event could’ve been something much more, but some spots fell flat and then that ending was just so anti-climactic. I look forward to the next set of taping and see if this new-found momentum can kick TNA forward again. We felt like this after the reboot in January, but then got some pretty mediocre shows until it started to pick up again in early April". Andrew Sinclair of Voices of Wrestling said that "Rebellion was a decided mixed bag and a hard to show to rate. There was a lot of good. The preshow was good, two matches hit my notebook and you had two other entertaining bouts in the X-Division title match and Full Metal Mayhem. However, the PPV portion started with two bouts overrun with interference, the main event didn’t land and the Knockouts title match was one of the worst things you’ll see anywhere this year. It was ultimately a show where the promotion gave with one hand – re-signing Steve Maclin and bringing Mike Santana back into the fold – and took away with the other by having Sami Callihan and Matt Hardy return". Archie Carter of Wrestling Republic gave the overall show a 3.75 out of 5 stars, saying 'TNA Rebellion was filled with fantastic matches, surprising returns and a great crowd. Ultimately this was an extremely fun show to watch, even if it did have some problems with it. Las Vegas was up for it as well, and a good atmosphere always elevates a show. There was some weird stuff though, like Jordynne Grace and Steph De Lander’s match that featured Good Hands, PCO, Kon and a returning Sami Callihan, also Joe Hendry losing in weird fashion yet again. But I think overall TNA put on a show that was very entertaining and fun for the audience, which also showed a glimpse into their future storylines. Fun is the perfect word to use for TNA right now, it isn’t perfect, but you have a blast watching it each week and this show was no different". Phil Wheat of Nerdly.co.uk gave the overall show a 3.5 out of 5, saying "Rebellion opened on a promising note, with the Countdown pre-show delivering some great matches but by the time the main event rolled around this pay-per-view felt like it had lost its way. The big news of this show was the THREE returning stars – Sami Callihan, Mike Santana and Matt Hardy".

76692144

Slammiversary (2024)

2024-04-21 05:01:43+00:00

The 2024 Slammiversary is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). It will take place on July 20, 2024, at Verdun Auditorium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and celebrate the promotion's 22nd anniversary. It will be the 20th event under the Slammiversary chronology. = Slammiversary is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) to celebrate the anniversary of the company's first event, which was held on June 19, 2002. As such, the event is usually held in the summer (June or July). The first event took place nearly a year after that event on June 18, 2003, and has since been considered one of Impact's premiere PPV events, along with Bound for Glory and – since 2020 – Hard To Kill, and Rebellion. On April 20, 2024, at Rebellion, it was announced by TNA that Slammiversary would take place on July 20, 2024, at Verdun Auditorium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. = The event will feature several professional wrestling matches, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on the company's weekly programs, Impact! and Xplosion. On the June 20 episode of TNA Impact!, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella announced the "Road to Slammiversary Series," where five singles matches would take place over the next few weeks. The winner of each match would go on to Slammiversary to challenge TNA World Champion Moose in a six-way elimination match. The Road to Slammiversary began that same episode, with Josh Alexander defeating Eric Young to qualify. The following week, Steve Maclin and Nic Nemeth qualified by defeating Sami Callihan and Rich Swann, respectively. And the week after, Frankie Kazarian and Joe Hendry defeated Mike Santana and Jake Something, respectively, to earn the final two spots in the match. At Hard To Kill, Ash by Elegance (formerly Dana Brooke in WWE), was spotted in the crowd during the TNA Knockouts World Championship match between Jordynne Grace and Trinity, the former defeating the latter to win the title. Since then, the newly signed Ash took to sitting ringside for Grace's title matches, scouting potential competition. Ash would even return to WWE at NXT Battleground during Grace's match with NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez, preventing Tatum Paxley from stealing the Knockouts World Championship before being hit with it by Grace. Five days later at Against All Odds, after Grace retained her title against Paxley in an open challenge, Ash tried getting physical with Grace for the first time but was unsuccessful. However, on the subsequent episode of TNA Impact!, Ash tried sending a message to Grace after a victory, putting her opponent down with Grace's finisher, the Juggernaut Driver. This brought Grace to the ring, but she was laid out by Ash, who then held the Knockouts World Championship over a fallen Grace. On the next week's episode, a furious Grace granted Ash a title match for that night, but the latter's "Personal Concierge" declared that the two would have their match at Slammiversary instead, which TNA made official. On the May 23 TNA Impact!, Mike Bailey and Trent Seven faced off to see who would challenge Mustafa Ali for the TNA X Division Championship at Against All Odds. Near the end of the match, Ali, who came out to sit ringside and was inadvertently knocked down by Bailey, tried to lunge at the latter, who was perched on the top turnbuckle. This allowed Champagne Singh, who would later join Ali as "Campaign Singh," to shove Bailey off and allow Seven to pick up the win and earn the title shot. At Against All Odds, however, before their match, Seven revealed unseen footage from Ali's interview with Tom Hannifan a few weeks ago, where Ali disavowed and dismissed his hometown of Chicago, where the show was being held. Regardless, Ali was able to defend his title against Seven. Two weeks later on the June 27 TNA Impact!, Ali held a "State of the Union Address" to discuss the footage from Against All Odds, trying to pass it off as AI-generated slander. However, several fans began heckling Ali by chanting for Mike Bailey, who many believe Ali to be avoiding. Ali tried to have the fans escorted from the arena. But, when one of them threw water in Ali's face, he snapped and attacked the fan, before being stopped by Speedball Mountain (Bailey and Seven). Angered at the injunction and believing Bailey had ruined his return to Chicago, Ali threatened to ruin Bailey's return to Montreal as he challenged him to an X Division Championship match at Slammiversary. However, the following week, Ali confronted Santino Marella to call off the match, saying that Bailey hadn't earned it. Marella reluctantly agreed and made a three-way number one contender's match for next week between Bailey, Kushida, and Jonathan Gresham to determine Ali's Slammiversary challenger. For the past month, Fir$t Cla$$ (TNA Digital Media Champion A. J. Francis and Rich Swann) took to mocking the budding romance between PCO and Steph De Lander, starting on the June 13 TNA Impact! when they took the black rose PCO had given De Lander before being attacked by PCO. This later led to a match between PCO and Swann at Against All Odds, which PCO won despite interference from Francis. It was after the match that De Lander accepted PCO's offer for a date, which the two had in-ring on the following TNA Impact! Unfortunately, Fir$t Cla$$ crashed the date, attacking and tying PCO to the ropes before Francis chokeslammed De Lander through a table. Fir$t Cla$$ continued to mock PCO the following week, when Francis, with the help of DJ Whoo Kid, purchased the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship, a retired title that had been defended during the 1970s and 80s in PCO's native Quebec, and upon gaining ownership of the title, Francis revived it as an active championship and declared himself as champion. The week after, Santino Marella confronted Fir$t Cla$$ and announced that Francis would face PCO at Slammiversary for the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship and, if Francis still held it, the TNA Digital Media Championship.

76044355

2024 Vanuatuan constitutional referendum

2024-02-09 15:14:20+00:00

A constitutional referendum was held in Vanuatu on 29 May 2024, the first time a referendum has been held in the country. Voters were asked whether they approve of two proposed amendments to the constitution aimed at reducing instability within Parliament. The proposed amendments are accompanied by the passing of legislation regulating the functioning of political parties. The referendum is mandated by article 86 of the constitution, which requires that any amendments related to the electoral system or parliamentary system must be approved in a national referendum after being passed by parliament. The associated constitutional amendment bill was passed in December 2023 with 47 votes in favour and none against. The amendments to the constitution included: Adding article 17A forcing MPs to vacate their seats if leaving or being excluded by the party under which they were elected. Adding article 17B forcing recently elected MPs who are independents or the only elected member of their party to join a larger party within three months of the first parliamentary session or vacate their seat. Both questions were voted on independently. = =

76381524

2024 British Academy Television Awards

2024-03-17 16:22:23+00:00

The 2024 British Academy Television Awards ceremony was held on 12 May 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, to recognise the excellence in British television of 2023. The ceremony was hosted by Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan for the second time in a row, and was broadcast on BBC One. The nominations were announced on 20 March 2024 alongside the nominations for the 2024 British Academy Television Craft Awards. The nominees for the P&O Cruises Memorable Moment were announced on 14 March 2024. Happy Valley and Succession led the nominations with five each, followed by The Sixth Commandment and The Crown, both with four. Lorraine Kelly was presented with the Special Award. The BAFTA Fellowship, the organization's highest honour, was presented to Floella Benjamin. = The academy announced several category changes and updates for the 2024 edition: In order to be eligible for the Daytime category, episodes must be transmitted between 09:00 and 18:00. For the Best Entertainment Programme, two people will be considered as a pair if they have equal billing on their entered program and are entered together. Previously, pairs were required to be recognised as a presenting duo to be eligible. The categories for Best Mini-Series and Best Single Drama will be merged into a category named Limited Drama, to recognise "scripted one-off programmes or series that tell a complete story over 1-19 episodes". The categories for Best Sport and Best Live Event will be merged again into a category named Best Sport & Live Event Coverage (the merged category had previously been presented from 2012 to 2015). The categories will be split in case there are 12 sports and 12 live events entered. Three category names have been updated and renamed: Best Soap and Continuing Drama into Best Soap Best Reality and Constructed Factual into Best Reality Best Features into Best Factual Entertainment = On 24 April, it was announced that Floella Benjamin would receive the BAFTA Fellowship award for her services to television. Of the honour, BAFTA chair Sarah Putt stated "We are honoured to present Baroness Benjamin the BAFTA Fellowship for her tireless support of children and young people, her impact on television broadcasting, and for her unwavering championing of diversity. She is an unstoppable force for good with a determination to create opportunities and positive role models for future generations that has seen her effect a tremendous amount of positive change over fifty years and counting. She is deservedly a national treasure and we can’t wait to celebrate the impact of her work to date on 12th May at the BAFTA Television Awards." In a statement alongside the announcement, Benjamin expressed "My heart is full of joy and happiness. I feel as if I'm standing on the summit of life's mountain, looking down at the wonderful experiences I have had in my career in the television industry of over 50 years. It's been an adventurous journey, with many challenges and adversities, but here I am, receiving the highest accolade BAFTA can bestow. I am delighted that my work, which has predominantly been for children, is being recognised and celebrated in this way." The nominations were announced on 20 March 2024.

75832735

Mutasd a hangod! season 2

2024-01-17 11:28:34+00:00

The second season of the Hungarian television mystery music game show Mutasd a hangod! premiered on TV2 on 3 February 2024. = Under the original format, the contestants can eliminate mystery singers after each round, and ended with the last remaining mystery singer depending on the outcome of a duet performance by guest artist(s). The contestants must eliminate one mystery singer at the end of each round, receiving 500,000 Ft if they eliminate a bad singer. At the end of the game, the contestants may either end the game and keep the money they had won in previous rounds, or risk it for a chance to win 5,000,000 Ft by correctly guessing whether the last remaining mystery singer is good or bad. = Each episode presents the guest artist and contestants with six people whose identities and singing voices are kept concealed until they are eliminated to perform on the "stage of truth" or remain in the end to perform the final duet. = = Source: AGB Nielsen Médiakutató

75728400

List of 2024 box office number-one films in Japan

2024-01-05 11:55:04+00:00

The following is a list of 2024 box office number-one films in Japan by week. When the number-one film in gross is not the same as the number-one film in admissions, both are listed. Last updated on 8 July 2024.

75936652

2024 Bihar political crisis

2024-01-28 07:07:15+00:00

In January 2024, the Indian politician and eight-time Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, of the Mahagathbandhan block resigned amid rumors of him joining the opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He joined the NDA and took the oath for his ninth term as Chief Minister of Bihar. Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha as became Deputy Chief Ministers . Nitish Kumar left the INDIA bloc and rejoined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, citing internal issues within the opposition alliance. Allegations against the Congress party for attempting to capture INDIA bloc leadership, disagreements over leadership positions, and delays in seat-sharing talks were factors influencing Kumar's decision.

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Champai Soren ministry

2024-01-31 15:40:47+00:00

This is a list of ministers from Champai Soren cabinet starting from February 2024. JMM leader Champai Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister on 2 February 2024 along with two other ministers from INC and RJD. Other INDI alliance partners pledged support to new Government under Champai Soren. The ministry was formed after former Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigned from the post amid corruption charges. Cabinet Expansion took place on 16 February 2024 in raj bhawan 5 JMM MLAs and 3 INC MLAs took oath as ministers including former Chief Minister Hemant Soren younger brother Basant Soren and JMM mla Deepak Birua as new comers.And Joba Majhi was dropped from cabinet.

75776695

Timeline of the Red Sea crisis

2024-01-10 20:49:10+00:00

These are monthly timelines of the Red Sea crisis, which began on 19 October 2023. = On 8 October 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response. Along with the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the group includes the cruiser Normandy, and the destroyers Carney, Ramage, Roosevelt and Thomas Hudner. On 19 October 2023 Carney intercepted three cruise missiles and eight drones launched by the Houthi militants in Yemen. While the real targets of the cruise missiles and drones were uncertain, the missiles and drones were shot down by Carney as the missiles and the drones were headed north along the Red Sea in the direction of Israel during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. Reports showed that Carney actually encountered a larger and more sustained barrage than was previously known on that day after it shot down four cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of nine hours. On 8 November 2023 an American MQ-9 Reaper was shot down off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea by Houthi forces. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh later stated in a press conference that the Houthis later attempted to recover the drone but that the Pentagon believed that they would be unable to recover anything of significance and that U.S. forces were not looking to recover it themselves. On 22 November 2023 Thomas Hudner shot down multiple drones launched by Houthi groups. On 26 November 2023 Houthi forces tried to seize an Israeli-affiliated ship near the coast of Yemen. On 3 December 2023 Carney and civilian-owned commercial ships were attacked in international waters in the southern Red Sea, with anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Missiles struck three commercial ships, while Carney shot down three drones in self-defense during the hours-long assault. The United States Central Command said: "We ... have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran. On 7 December 2023 the US announced it would impose sanctions on 13 individuals and entities whom it claimed are funding the Houthis. On 14 December 2023 Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Defense Minister of Iran, said that any naval coalition formed by the US would face major problems. On 16 December 2023, while operating in the Red Sea, Carney successfully shot down a barrage of 14 unmanned aerial system (UAS) one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Also on 16 December, Hong Kong shipping company OOCL announced that it had suspended its shipments in and out of Israel, due to the surging threat of attack on commercial ships while traversing the Red Sea. On 19 December 2023 US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US had formed a coalition of ten nations who would send ships to assist in fighting against attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. On 21 December 2023, Defence Minister of Greece Nikos Dendias announced in a televised address that Greece will join the US-led coalition. On 21 December 2023, the US announced that more than twenty countries have joined the coalition. On 25 December 2023, the US carried out air strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq. On 26 December 2023, the Indian Navy sent the destroyers INS Kochi and Kolkata to the Gulf of Aden, in response to an attack on a cargo vessel near the coast of India. On 28 December 2023, sanctions were imposed upon several entities by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which said that these entities had helped to convey financial aid from Iran to Houthi forces located in the region of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. On 31 December 2023, the container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued distress call after coming under attack from four Iran-backed small Houthi ships. Several shots were fired at the Maersk Hangzhou and attempts to board were made. However, a contracted security team aboard the container ship returned fire and defended Maersk Hangzhou.The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and destroyer USS Gravely responded to the distress call as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian. Verbal commands were issued to the four small ships, and helicopters from the Dwight D. Eisenhower were dispatched. After taking small arms fire, US Navy helicopters returned fire, sinking three of the small ships. There was no damage to US equipment or personnel. On 10 January 2024, the UK defence secretary stated that UK and US naval forces pushed back the largest attack to date from Houthi rebels. On 12 January 2024, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said that if Yemen is attacked by the US and UK, "we will attack the Americans' base with everything in our power". This attack was the beginning of Operation Poseidon Archer. = The following tables largely cover the maritime engagements of the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in support of the Hamas-led coalition in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, and of the Palestinian cause more generally. On 3 May 2024, the Houthi-aligned Yemeni Armed Forces SPC military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the expansion of their campaign to the targeting of ships in the eastern Mediterranean bound for Israel. in a televised speech, Saree stated that "We will target any ships heading to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea in any area we are able to reach".

75929018

Marlin Luanda missile strike

2024-01-27 07:01:36+00:00

On 26 January 2024, during the Red Sea crisis, the fuel tanker Marlin Luanda was struck by an anti-ship missile fired by Houthi forces. The Marlin Luanda was an oil tanker built in 2018 at the New Times Shipyards in Taizhou, China. The ship was built as the Marshall Islands-registered Navig8 Pride LHJ for Ocean Yi Shipping of Hong Kong and managed by Navig8 Asia Pte Ltd. In February 2022, the ship was sold to Polar 18 Ltd and renamed Marlin Luanda; it was operated by UK-based Oceonix Services, with ship management by Suntech Maritime of Singapore. When attacked, the tanker was under charter to Trafigura, a commodity trading company, also based in Singapore. After the incident, in April 2024, the ship was renamed Boccadasse, without change of ownership, management, or national register. Despite the instigation in November 2023 of Houthi attacks on merchant ships, by January 2024 most oil tankers had continued traversing the Red Sea, with the significant exception of QatarEnergy. While sailing to Singapore from Egypt the tanker, carrying Russian naphtha purchased below the price cap, was struck by an anti-ship missile fired by Houthi rebels, as part of the Red Sea crisis. At the time it was approximately 110 kilometres (59 nmi; 68 mi) south-east of Aden. The strike caused a fire in one of the ship's starboard cargo tanks, and the crew deployed firefighting equipment to combat it. Early reports suggested the crew had abandoned the vessel, but this was later confirmed to be false. Following the strike, the USS Carney set sail towards the stricken vessel; it was also targeted by a Houthi missile. According to an anonymous US official, this was the first time the Houthis had directly targeted a US military vessel since the crisis began. On 27 January, Trafigura released a statement saying that the crew were unharmed, and that they continued to battle the fire with the aid of military vessels. Later that day, Trafigura announced that the fire had been put out with the assistance of Indian, American, and French vessels and that the ship was heading towards a safe port. The USS Carney, French frigate Alsace and the Indian destroyer INS Visakhapatnam assisted. Ten Indian Navy sailors with specialist fire fighting equipment came aboard, and fought the fire with the Marlin Luanda crew of 22 Indians and one Bangladeshi for six hours. The Houthis stated that the vessel was British and was targeted in response to "American-British aggression against our country". Trafigura announced that it was assessing the risk of further voyages through the Red Sea following the strikes, while the tanker Free Spirit carrying crude oil, avoided entering the Gulf of Aden shortly after the strike by reversing its track. On 30 January 2024, the Houthis launched an unsuccessful attack on a second ship operated by Oceonix, the container ship Koi, chartered to CMA CGM.

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2024 missile strikes in Yemen

2024-01-11 23:40:20+00:00

Since 12 January 2024, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, have launched a series of cruise missile and airstrikes, codenamed Operation Poseidon Archer, against the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis had previously declared that their attacks are in support of Palestinians during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war; Houthi attacks on shipping were condemned by the United Nations Security Council the day before the initial strike. US President Joe Biden ordered the strikes, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak convened his cabinet to authorize British participation. American officials said the strikes were intended to degrade Houthi capabilities to attack Red Sea targets rather than to kill leaders and Iranian trainers. As of 2 May, the Houthis recorded 452 American and British airstrikes against its sites in Yemen, resulting in 40 deaths and 35 injuries. On 16 February 2021, the Biden administration removed Ansar Allah, the formal political and military organization of the Houthi movement, from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) blacklist, due to concerns that the designation would impede the delivery of humanitarian aid amid Yemen's worsening political and socioeconomic crisis, as the Houthis controlled much of the most populated territory in Yemen. In April 2022, the United Nations brokered a ceasefire between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), which, despite formally lapsing the following October, continues to hold as of December 2023. With the start of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, the Iran-backed, Houthi-controlled Supreme Political Council declared its support for Hamas and began launching attacks on commercial ships transiting the Red Sea, especially in the Bab el-Mandeb, the narrow strait that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. While the Houthis initially claimed to target only commercial ships bound for Israeli ports or with some link to Israel, they soon began indiscriminately targeting vessels, attempting attacks on ships with no discernible Israeli ties. Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi warned that "Israel is giving the world some time to organize in order to prevent this but if there isn't to be a global arrangement, because it is a global issue, we will act in order to remove this naval siege." To launch attacks on Red Sea shipping, the Houthis use coastal missile batteries, loitering munitions, and fast attack craft armed with light autocannons, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles. By 21 December 2023, the Port of Eilat, which gives Israel via the Red Sea its only easy shipping access to Asia without the need to transit the Suez Canal, had seen an 85% drop in activity due to the Houthi action. Before the Houthi attack on the freighter Maersk Hangzhou on 30 December 2023, the United States had shot down a total of 24 Houthi missiles and drones and deployed naval ships to protect Red Sea shipping lanes, but had not engaged directly with the Houthis. A considerable number of freighters have continued to transit, with mostly large container ships diverting away rather than other shipping, with the strait continuing to be heavily used by bulk carriers and tankers which are under different contract arrangements and often from countries supportive of Gaza's situation so perceiving a minimal risk from ongoing Houthi attacks. In the first week of January 2024 the average number of freighters active each day in the Red Sea included 105 bulk carriers and 58 tankers, down from 115 bulk carriers and 70 tankers the week before. In contrast, six of the ten largest container shipping companies were largely avoiding the Red Sea, with relatively few container ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait from 18 December 2023. As of January 2024, most marine insurances require a warranty of no Israeli involvement to insure vessels for the Red Sea route, with some requiring warranties of no US or UK interest and no calls to Israeli ports in the last 12 months. On 3 January 2024, the United States and a group of countries issued an ultimatum to the Houthis to stop their activities. In the days leading up to the strike, members of the US Congress and The Pentagon demanded a strong and deterrent response to the Houthis. One day before the strike, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning Houthi activities in the Red Sea, in which Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique abstained. = On 12 January, the first wave of strikes began around 2:30 a.m. Yemen time (UTC+3). American fighter jets, armed with precision-guided bombs, were dispatched from regional bases. Simultaneously, 22 fixed-wing aircraft, including F/A-18s, took off from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. In addition, the cruiser USS Philippine Sea, the destroyers USS Gravely, and USS Mason, along with the cruise-missile submarine USS Florida, launched a total of 80 Tomahawk cruise missiles. During this first wave of strikes, more than 100 missiles hit more than 60 targets in 16 locations. About 30 to 60 minutes later, a second wave of more than 50 missiles struck dozens more targets in 12 other locations. The BBC reported four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets flew from the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus in the strike. Two Royal Air Force Voyager air-to-air refueling tankers supported the mission. The Ministry of Defence announced that it had targeted two sites. One, at Bani in northwestern Yemen, had been used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones. The other was Abs Airport, which, according to the MoD, had been used to launch cruise missiles and drones at targets in the Red Sea. Explosions were reported in Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Dhamar. The targets included logistics centres, air defense systems, and weapons storage sites. According to Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run news channel, the strikes hit Hodeida International Airport, Taiz International Airport, al-Dailami Air Base (which shares the runway with Sanaa International Airport), an airport near Hajjah, and a camp east of Saada. This set of airstrikes began Operation Poseidon Archer. On 13 January, At 3:45 a.m. Yemen time (UTC+3) the US struck a radar site near Sanaa, which Al-Masirah reported was at Al-Dailami Air Base. US Central Command said the "follow-on action" was conducted by the destroyer USS Carney with Tomahawk missiles. On 16 January, at 4:15 a.m local time, the US conducted new airstrikes in Yemen, targeting four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles that US officials said were being prepared to target ships in the region. On 17 Januar, at about 11:59 p.m. local time, U.S. ships and submarines fired missiles against 14 Houthi missiles that US officials said were an immediate threat to ships in the region. On 18 January, at 3:40 p.m. local time, the US struck three Houthi anti-ship missiles that US officials said were being prepared to target commercial ships in the region. On 19 Januar, at 6:45 p.m. local time, US Navy F/A-18 aircraft from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower targeted Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen that US officials said were being prepared for launch. Al-Masirah reported airstrikes in the al-Jabaana neighborhood of Hodeida. On 20 January, at 4 a.m. local time, a US airstrikes hit a Houthi anti-ship missile that US officials said was prepared to target shipping in the Gulf of Aden. On 22 January, at about 11:59 p.m. local time, the US and UK conducted joint air and missile strikes against on eight Houthi targets across Yemen, including radars and drone and missile sites. Al-Masirah reported airstrikes in Sanaa and al-Dailami Air Base. On 27 January, at about 3:45 a.m. local time, US forces hit a Houthi anti-ship missile that US officials said was being prepared for use against ships in the Red Sea. On 31 January, at about 3:30 p.m. local time, the US conducted a strike against a Houthi surface-to-air missile that US officials said posed an imminent threat to US aircraft. = On 1 February, at about 1:30 a.m. local time, the US conducted strikes against a Houthi UAV ground control station and 10 Houthi one-way UAVs. On 3 February, at about 7:20 p.m. local time, the US struck six anti-ship cruise missiles that US officials said were an "imminent threat" as they were being prepared to launch against vessels in the Red Sea. Later that day, at about 11:30 p.m. local time, the US and UK struck 36 Houthi targets at 13 locations: underground storage facilities, command and control centers, missile systems, UAV storage and operational sites, radars, and helicopters. The sites were struck using F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower and Tomahawk missiles fired by the USS Gravely and the USS Carney from the Red Sea. Explosions were reported in Sanaa following the strikes. Sky News Arabia reported that over 40 Houthi fighters were killed in the airstrikes conducted that day. On 4 February, at about 4 a.m. local time, the US struck an anti-ship cruise missile which was determined as an imminent threat. Additional strikes occurred at 5:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. local time, targeting five land attack cruise missiles that US officials said were being prepared for launch against merchant and US Navy ships. On 7 February, at 9 p.m. local time, the US conducted strikes against two Houthi mobile anti-ship cruise missiles. A second strike against a Houthi mobile land attack cruise missile occurred at 11:30 p.m. as it prepared to target ships in the Red Sea. Houthi media reported that locations in Al Hudaydah Governorate were targeted. On 8 February, the US conducted seven strikes against Houthi unmanned surface vessels and anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. On 9 February, the US conducted a total of seven strikes against Houthi unmanned surface vessels, mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, and a land attack cruise missile (LACM) that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis said that 17 of its fighters were killed in the strikes. On 10 February, at about 4-5 p.m. local time, the US conducted five strikes against Houthi unmanned surface vessels and mobile anti-ship cruise missiles north of Al Hudaydah. On 13 February, the US conducted a strike on a Houthi mobile anti-ship cruise missile that was being prepared to target ships in the region. On 14 February, the US conducted four strikes against seven anti-ship cruise missiles, three unmanned aerial vehicles, and one explosive unmanned surface vessel in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. On 15 February, the US conducted two strikes against Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles that were being prepared to target ships in the Red Sea. On 16 February, the US conducted two strikes against Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles using unmanned surface vessels. On 17 February, the United States military said it destroyed a Houthi unmanned underwater vehicle and a Houthi unmanned surface vehicle while also conducting three strikes against Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles. On 20 February, a US MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down by Houthi surface-to-air missiles near Hodeidah. On 21 February, the US conducted four strikes targeting Houthi anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles that were prepared to target shipping in the Red Sea. On 22 February, the US conducted six strikes targeting Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to target shipping in the region. On 23 February, the US conducted strikes against seven Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to target shipping in the region. On 24 February, at around 11:45 p.m. local time, the US and UK carried out over a dozen airstrikes targeting 18 Houthi sites, marking their fourth round of joint airstrikes. According to US officials, the strikes aimed at underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter. A day after the attacks, the Houthis' official news agency reported that a civilian was killed and eight others were injured. On 26 February, between 4:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. local time, US strikes destroyed three UAVs and two anti-ship cruise missiles. On 29 February, the US conducted two strikes targeting six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea. = The US conducted a strike targeting a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was deemed as a threat to the US aircraft in the region. On 4 March, the US conducted strikes targeting two Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles that presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. On 6 March, the US conducted strikes against two unmanned aerial vehicles in a Houthi controlled area of Yemen that presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. On 7 March, the US conducted strikes against four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 8 March, the US conducted strikes against two Houthi truck-mounted anti-ship missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 11 March, the US conducted six strikes destroying an unmanned underwater vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. On 13 March, the US conducted strikes against four unmanned aerial systems and one surface-to-air missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 14 March, The US conducted strikes against nine anti-ship missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 16 March, the US conducted strikes against five unmanned surface vessels and one UAV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that posed a threat to shipping in the region. On 18 March, the US conducted strikes against seven anti-ship missiles, three unmanned aerial vehicles, and three weapons storage containers in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 22 March, the US conducted strikes against three Houthi underground storage facilities and four unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including in Sanaa. On 30 March, the US conducted a strike on one unmanned aerial systems in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. = On 4 April, the US conducted a strike on one anti-ship missile in a Houthi controlled territory of Yemen. On 6 April, the US conducted strikes on one mobile surface-to air missile system in Houthi controlled territory of Yemen. On 8 April, the US conducted strikes on an air defense system and a ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 10 April, the US conducted strikes on eight UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 14 April, the US conducted strikes on four UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 16 April, the US conducted strikes on two UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 25 April, the US conducted strikes on one unmanned surface vessel and one unmanned aerial vehicle in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 30 April, The US conducted strikes on one uncrewed surface vessel in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. = On 2 May, the US conducted strikes on three uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 13 May, the US conducted strikes on one uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 15 May, the US conducted strikes on four uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 22 May, the US conducted strikes on four uncrewed aerial system in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 24 May, the US conducted strikes on one land attack cruise missile in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 29 May, the US conducted strikes on two missile launchers in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 30 May, the US and UK Armed Forces conducted strikes against 13 Houthi targets in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. US aircraft from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and other US warships in the area carried out airstrikes against underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, a Houthi ship and other sites in Yemen. Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s also carried out strikes in Hodeida and against Houthi weapons and infrastructure. In Hodeida, the Houthis said that civilian homes and the headquarters of Hodeida Radio were targeted. The Houthis acknowledged 16 deaths and 35 injuries, the highest death toll recorded throughout the US and UK campaign. Additionally, The US conducted strikes on eight uncrewed aerial vehicles in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. = On 7 June, the Houthis' official news outlet reported four joint US and UK airstrikes on Hodeida International Airport and the Port of Salif, and two additional strikes on the Al-Thawra region. Later that day, the US also conducted strikes on four Unmanned aerial vehicles and two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Separately, US forces successfully destroyed a Houthi patrol boat in the Red Sea. On 11 June, the US conducted strikes on two anti-ship cruise missile launchers in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On 12 June, the US conducted strikes on three anti-ship cruise missile launchers in the Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. On 13 June, the US conducted strikes on an air defense sensor in the Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. On 14 June, the US conducted strikes on seven radars in the Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. The US said that the targeted radars had allowed the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping. On 15 June, the US Central Command stated that its military had destroyed seven Houthi radar systems in Yemen that enabled the group to locate and target merchant vessels. It also claimed that a Houthi UAV and two USVs in the Red Sea were destroyed simultaneously. On 17 June, the US and the UK had carried out at least six airstrikes on the Hodeida International Airport and four on the island of Kamaran. On 19 June, the US and the UK carried out three airstrikes on sites located in Al-Taif area of Ad Durayhimi District in Al Hudaydah Governorate, and four airstrikes on the government complex in Al Jabin District of Raymah Governorate. On 28 June, CENTCOM stated that American strikes had destroyed seven drones and a UAV ground control station in Houthi-controlled territory over the past day. According to Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of the US military's Joint Staff, the initial strikes on 12 January successfully achieved their objective of damaging the Houthis' ability to launch complex drone and missile attacks similar to the one they conducted on 10 January. Two US officials, speaking to The New York Times, estimated that the strikes had damaged or destroyed about 20 to 30 percent of the Houthis' offensive capability. Despite damaging or destroying about 90 percent of the selected targets struck, the officials added that locating Houthi targets had proved to be more challenging than anticipated. On 18 January, Joe Biden acknowledged that the strikes had not stopped the Houthis from continuing to attack shipping, but said that efforts to stop them would continue. According to Yemeni sources who spoke to Sky News Arabia, as of 21 January, at least 75 Houthi fighters, including six members of the Lebanese Hezbollah, three Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and two Iranian-backed Iraqi militants, have been killed in the ongoing bombing campaign. = Yemeni government The internationally recognized Government of Yemen issued a statement to Saba News Agency strongly condemning military actions by the Houthis blaming them for "dragging the country into a military confrontation arena for propaganda purposes" and "misleadingly linking it to support for Palestinians". The government reaffirmed its right to enhance security in the Red Sea region, saying stability there and globally "cannot be achieved except by restoring the legitimate state institutions in Yemen." Reaffirming its support for the Palestinian cause, the Yemeni government warned that "the Israeli aggression in occupied territories risks further destabilizing the region and threatening international peace and security". In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Aidarus al-Zubaidi, vice president of the Presidential Leadership Council and president of the Southern Transitional Council, said that the missile strikes were not enough to deter the Houthi attacks and said that "an international and regional alliance is necessary to secure international navigation in the Red Sea." He also urged foreign forces to support government forces in launching a ground operation against the Houthis in conjunction with the strikes. Houthi movement Houthi deputy foreign minister Hussein al-Izzi called the attacks "blatant aggression" and said the US and UK would "pay a heavy price" in an interview with Al-Masirah. Similarly, high-ranking Houthi official Ali al-Qahoum vowed there would be retaliation. Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesman for the group, announced that the Houthis would continue to target Israeli ships or any ships heading to "the ports of occupied Palestine," saying that the US and UK were wrong to think that the strikes "would deter Yemen from supporting Palestine and Gaza". Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official, stated, "Every individual in this world is faced with two choices that have no third: Either to stand with the victims of genocide or to stand with its perpetrators." Following the initial strikes on 12 January, protests attended by hundreds of thousands of people were held in Sanaa and in other Houthi-controlled cities such as Hodeida and Ibb, to denounce the US and British military actions, with demonstrators chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". Following China Ocean Shipping Company, the fourth largest shipping company, and its container shipping subsidiary OOCL stopping all services to Israel, a senior Houthi official said Chinese and Russian vessels not connected with Israel will have safe passage. = United States Reactions from the US Congress were mixed, with some supporting the strikes and others condemning Biden for using military force without congressional approval. Some critics said that in accordance with Article 1 of the Constitution, Biden needed to seek authorization from Congress before initiating military action. Under Article Two of the United States Constitution, the president has the limited authority to take defensive military action without Congressional approval, though supporters and opponents of the strikes disagree that the strikes can be considered defensive. Legal experts have argued that ambiguity in existing law allows for Congress to place limits on the president's authority to take military action without its approval. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell welcomed the action but said the president's decision was overdue. Biden said that he has sent a message to Iran with the Yemen strikes. Joe Biden stated that the "defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels' escalating attacks against commercial vessels" and added that he would "not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary". Following the airstrike on 13 January, Biden said that the US had sent a "private message" to Iran regarding the Houthis. Protesters from Code Pink and the ANSWER Coalition gathered outside the White House several hours after the strikes. In New York City, pro-Palestinian protestors gathered at Times Square. On 17 January, the Biden administration restored the Houthi movement to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorist entities, but did not redesignate it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. According to a survey conducted by the Harvard CAPS–Harris Poll on 17–18 January 2024, 74% of American respondents supported strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. United Kingdom Rishi Sunak said that the strikes stemmed from the principle of self-defense. He also confirmed that the UK received non-operational assistance and support from the Netherlands, Canada, and Bahrain. The UK noted that initial indications suggest the Houthis' ability to threaten commercial shipping has "taken a blow". The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party of England and Wales criticized the Sunak government for bypassing parliament, while the leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons, Stephen Flynn, said that it was "incumbent upon the UK Government to appraise Parliament as soon as possible and MPs must therefore be recalled to Westminster". According to a YouGov poll conducted on 15–16 January 2024, 53% of British respondents supported the government's decision to launch strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, while 22% opposed. = Albania: Defense Minister Niko Peleshi said that Albania supported the reaction of its the US and UK against the Houthis, calling the latter's attacks in the Red Sea "destabilizing, illegal and unjustified". Australia: Defence Minister Richard Marles said to reporters the decision to launch the strikes "was not taken lightly", saying that the action taken was about "maintaining freedom of navigation on the high seas". The Australian Greens party condemned the ruling government, stating that support for US and British strikes amounted to "a dangerous escalation at a time for peace". Belgium: Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib expressed support for the strikes, saying that Belgium was "working with its EU partners and US ally to restore maritime security in the region and avoid any spillover." Canada: Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair endorsed the attacks, with both of them stating the strikes were "consistent with the UN Charter". China: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged restraint. UN ambassador Zhang Jun said the Security Council had not authorised the use of force in Yemen, adding that the strikes "not only caused infrastructure destruction and civilian casualties, but have also resulted in heightened security risks in the Red Sea." Cyprus: Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said that the Cypriot government was in "constant communication with the UK" within the framework set by the Treaty of Establishment regarding the use of British military bases in the country. He also called for an "immediate end to all actions that threaten free and safe navigation", given the country's "significant maritime footprint" in the region. The Cyprus Peace Council said British participation in the airstrikes in Yemen was turning Cyprus into a "war base" and announced plans to hold a demonstration outside the RAF Akrotiri base on 14 January. Denmark: Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated Denmark's full support for the strikes. Egypt: The Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern" over the escalation of military operations in the Red Sea and air strikes in Yemen, and has also called for "uniting" international and regional efforts to reduce instability in the region. France: Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné reaffirmed France's condemnation of Houthi strikes on commercial vessels, stating that "with those armed actions, the Houthis bear the extremely serious responsibility of the escalation in the region". However, the French government did not express support for the US and UK air strikes. Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed the German government's political support for the military strike, and said it was carried out "in accordance with the individual and collective right to self-defense of the United Nations Charter". Japan: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kobayashi Maki stated that Japan supported "the determination of the United States and relevant countries to fulfill its responsibility in ensuring the free and safe navigation of vessels". Italy: The Presidency of the Council of Ministers confirmed it "supports the operations of allied nations, which have the right to defend their vessels, in the interest of global trade flows and humanitarian assistance." Iran: The Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a "clear violation of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and a violation of international laws. Kosovo: Foreign Affairs Minister Donika Gërvalla stated "the Republic of Kosovo fully supports the proportional military actions of our international partners" against the Houthis, adding that Kosovo "as a deeply democratic country, clearly aligns itself with its strategic partners in joint efforts to maintain peace and security in the world." Netherlands: Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed support for the attacks, stating "the US-British action is based on the right of self-defence, aims to protect free passage and is focused on de-escalation." New Zealand: Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins expressed support for the strikes, with Peters stating that the "strikes support international security and trade, on which New Zealanders rely". Collins remarked that the strikes were "a good example of the international community uniting to address a serious threat to international security". On 23 January 2024, six New Zealand Defence Force personnel were deployed to the Middle East to help provide maritime security in the Red Sea including "precision targeting." The opposition Labour and Green parties criticised the deployment, citing the lack of a United Nations mandate and claiming it would inflame tensions. Oman: Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said the attack went against his country's advice and that it would only add fuel to an extremely dangerous situation. State media reported that the Omani government denounced the military action from "friendly countries". Russia: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the attack. Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the strikes "illegitimate" under international law but also called on the Houthis to stop attacking commercial vessels, which he described as "extremely wrong". Saudi Arabia: The Foreign Ministry called for restraint and "avoiding escalation." Syria: The Foreign Ministry condemned the air strikes, stating that it was a "desperate attempt to divert the attention of world public opinion from the war crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people". Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the United Kingdom of attempting to make the region surrounding the Red Sea "a sea of blood". = Hamas: Senior official Sami Abu Zuhri said in a press statement that "the US-UK aggression against the Yemeni forces' sites provokes the entire nation and indicates the intention to expand the conflict zone beyond Gaza's boundaries, which has repercussions". Hezbollah: The Media Relation Office condemned "the blatant US-UK aggression against brotherly Yemen, its security and sovereignty". Palestinian Islamic Jihad: In a press statement, the group expressed support for the Houthis and argued that "this aggression comes as part of the US and UK military aid to Israel and proves that the US administration is the one responsible for the Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza". Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine: In a statement the group condemned the strikes against Yemen and stated that the "Evil coalition's malicious goals are not to protect maritime navigation in the Red Sea, but rather to protect the security of the Zionist entity." Islamic Resistance in Iraq: Prior to the strikes, the IRI said that if Yemen is attacked by the US and UK, "we will attack the Americans' base with everything in our power". After the initial airstrikes, there were reports of a bomb and sirens being heard at the US Embassy in Iraq. = The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), which covers 62% of world shipping tonnage, recommended that its members halt Red Sea transit for up to 72 hours as a result of the strikes. The International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko) recommended that its members halt Red Sea transit for up to 24 hours. = QatarEnergy, the world's second largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, suspended sending tankers through the Red Sea. The LNG tankers were forced to sail around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the war zone. = A joint statement by 26 humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen raised concerns that the military escalation "will only worsen the situation for vulnerable civilians and hinder the ability of aid organisations to deliver critical services." It also urged all parties "to prioritise diplomatic channels over military options to de-escalate the crisis and safeguard the progress of peace efforts in Yemen." = NATO: A spokesperson said "these strikes were defensive and designed to preserve freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways." United Nations: A spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres said that he called for all sides "not to escalate the situation in the interest of peace and stability in the Red Sea and the wider region."

77064959

Fast-track Approvals Bill

2024-06-02 11:44:06+00:00

The Fast-track Approvals Bill is a proposed New Zealand Act of Parliament that seeks to establish a permanent fast track approvals regime for a range of infrastructure, housing and development projects. The Bill is part of the National-led coalition government's efforts to overhaul resource management legislation. The Bill was first introduced into the New Zealand Parliament on 7 March 2024. The Fast-track Approvals Bill was part of New Zealand First's coalition agreement with the incumbent National Party. The Bill has received support from business interests including BusinessNZ, Energy Resources Aotearoa and Foodstuffs. It has also attracted criticism from the opposition Labour, Green parties and Te Pāti Māori as well as environmentalist groups including Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand and the Environmental Defence Society. The Fast-track legislation also attracted several nationwide protests. The Fast-track Approvals Bill proposes to establish a permanent fast-track approvals regime for projects of national and regional significance in New Zealand. The regime's process involves several joint ministers including the Minister for Infrastructure, Minister of Transport, Minister for Regional Development, Minister of Conservation, and the Minister Responsible for the Crown Minerals Act. Under the proposed bill, there are two ways for projects to be approved. First, a list of projects will be automatically fast-tracked once the legislation passes into law. The bill establishes a separate process for approvals subject to various laws including resource consents, notices of requirement, and certificates of compliance under the Resource Management Act 1991, concessions under the Conservation Act 1987, authority to carry out activities prohibited by the Wildlife Act 1953, Reserves Act 1977, aquaculture activity approvals under the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983, archaeological authority under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014, marine consents under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012, land access under the Crown Minerals Act 1991, Public Works Act 1981 and the Fisheries Act 1996. Second, others can apply for projects to be considered by an "expert panel," and then the Ministers for Infrastructure, Regional Development and Transport for final approval. These ministers will decide if projects will be referred to an "expert panel" under the criteria that they would have significant national or regional benefits. Ministers must consider Treaty of Waitangi settlements and consult with a range of stakeholders including relevant local authorities, agencies or statutory bodies, portfolio authorities, iwi (tribal) authorities, relevant Treaty of Waitangi settlement entities, and other Māori groups. The Bill outlines the purpose, functions and composition of "expert panels." Panels have a quorum of four members and must include one person nominated by relevant local authorities and one person nominated by relevant iwi (tribal) authorities. Ministerial approval has been a point of contention for opponents of the fast-track approvals legislation particularly environmental groups who have expressed concern that the legislation allows ministers to overrule the expert panels' recommendations. The Bill also outlines the criteria for both "eligible" and "ineligible" projects. Eligible projects must have significant national or local benefits including delivering significant economic benefits, supporting industries, the development of natural resources and climate change mitigation, and addressing environmental issues. Ineligible projects are activities that occur on land returned under a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, that has been contested by the land owner, Māori customary land and reservations, a protected customary rights area and aquaculture areas protected by iwi settlements and Section 12 of the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004. Following the 2023 New Zealand general election, the National Party formed a coalition with the libertarian ACT and populist New Zealand First parties. As part of National's coalition agreement with NZ First, the Sixth National Government agreed to establish a new fast-track consenting regime to "improve the speed and process for resource approvals for major infrastructure projects, unlocking opportunities in industries such as aquaculture and mining in our region." Members of the National-led coalition government have advocated the Fast-track approvals Bill due to their frustration with environmental protections for delaying or obstructing several major infrastructure projects. The Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said "Gone are the days of the multicoloured skink, the kiwi, many other species that have been weaponised to deny regional New Zealand communities their right to a livelihood, their entitlement to live peacefully with their environment but derive an income to meet the costs of raising families in regional New Zealand." In response to concerns that mining in the Ruataniwha plains would affect the endangered Archey's frog, Jones had said "if there is a mining opportunity and it's impeded by a blind frog, goodbye, Freddy." In March 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown had announced that the proposed fast-track approvals legislation would help facilitate the Government's stated goal of building 15 "Roads of National Significance." Similarly, Infrastructure New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett stated that "fast-tracking roading projects could save significant up-front costs and give communities benefits sooner." = The Fast-track Approvals Bill was first introduced into the New Zealand Parliament on 7 March 2024. During the first debate National Party MP and Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop, ACT Party MP Simon Court, Minister for Resources Shane Jones and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka gave speeches arguing that Bill would eliminate red tape and ease the process for building essential infrastructure such as road, housing, public transportation, mines and renewable energy. By contrast, opposition Labour MPs Rachel Brooking, Green co-leader James Shaw and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer criticised the Bill for eliminating environmental protections, increasing the risk of pollution and climate change and undermining Māori land rights and Treaty of Waitangi obligations. It passed its first reading on the same day by a margin of 68 to 55 along party lines; with the National, ACT and NZ First parties supporting the legislation and the Labour, Green parties and Te Pāti Māori opposing it. It was subsequently referred to the Environment select committee. The deadline for public submissions closed on 19 April 2024. = By 14 May 2024, the Bill had received a total of 27,000 written submissions. 2,900 submitters asked to appear in-person before Parliament's environment select committee. Committee chair and National MP David McLeod said that the committee expected to hear from 1,100 submitters (550 organisations and 550 individuals) over a six-week period. Due to the large volume of submitters, the committee decided to filter the number of oral submissions using a ballot system. Companies and entities will be given ten minutes to make their submissions while individuals will be given five minutes. Since conservation groups such as Forest & Bird and the Environmental Defence Society sent their supporters template messages, the committee opted to prioritise hearing from individuals who made unique submissions. Opposition Green Party MP Lan Pham and Labour MP Rachel Brooking objected to the ballot system, saying it would limit public input on the legislation. In his submission John Ryan, the Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand, expressed concern that the Bill did not require the Joint Ministers to comply with its conflict of interest mechanism, provide reasoning for approving an application or dissenting with the expert panel's recommendations, and called for stronger transparency and accountability safeguards in the legislation. Similarly Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier expressed concern that the fast-track consenting regime would create "enormous executive powers" and opined it needed more "checks and balances." The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, have both raised concerns about the longevity of the proposed legislation, with both suggesting that commercial projects be excluded from the scope. Both the Infrastructure Commission and Upton suggested that focusing on projects that have benefits for the public (e.g. roading, electricity generation and electricity transmission) would result in a broader public buy-in, increasing the chances that subsequent governments would not overturn the legislation. In addition, Upton expressed concerns that the proposed legislation downgraded both the environment and the role of the Environment Minister, could lead to sup-optimal outcomes through poor decision making, and heightened litigation risk. The Commissioner recommended significant changes to the Bill. The Ministry for the Environment expressed concern that the current version of the Fast-track Approvals legislation could marginalise local voices, violate Treaty of Waitangi commitments, adversely affect human and environmental health, expose ministers to legal risks, approve prohibited projects and erode the value of Conservation land. While the Ministry supported a standalone fast-track bill, it did not think that "this version was neither the cheapest, nor the fastest." On 3 April 2024, the New Zealand Government opened the initial fast track application process, which concluded on 3 May 2024. By 12 April, RNZ reported that the Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop had responded to 200 inquiries by organisations seeking information on how to apply for the fast track process. Notable applicants included Trans Tasman Resources (TTR), Stevenson Mining, OceanaGold and Water Holdings. TTR has sought permission from the Environmental Protection Authority to launch offshore mining in Taranaki while Stevenson Mining has sought consent for a coal mine at Mount Te Kuha near Westport. Multinational mining company OceanaGold has expressed interest in mining part of Wharekirauponga Forest Park in the Coromandel Peninsula for gold despite the presence of Archey's frogs. Water Holdings has sought to flood a section of land in the central Hawke's Bay's Ruataniwha plains in order to build a dam. All four projects have attracted opposition from conservation groups including Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand, Forest & Bird, Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki and Wise Water Use Hawke's Bay. On 9 April, Bishop clarified that the generic email sent to 200 organisations was not a "formal invite" to participate in the fast-track consent process after TTR released a statement on 8 April stating that it had been invited to apply for the fast-track consenting process under the proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill, which was in its Select Committee stage at the time. On 19 April, the Government released a list of about 200 organisations that it had provided information on how to apply for fast-track consents. These organisations included district councils, iwi (tribal) groups, mining companies, housing developers, power companies, and fisheries. In late May 2024, The Post newspaper reported that an expert advisory group advising ministers on what should be included in the fast-track approval process would consist of six members: Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust chair person and lawyer David Tapsell, Hamilton city planning manager Mark Davey, former Treasury manager and ACC board deputy chairperson David Hunt, civil engineer Rosie Mercer, former Carter Holt Harvey environmental manager Murray Parrish and seafood industry veteran Vaughan Wilkinson. According to The Post, most of these individuals came from business backgrounds with none having a background in the hard sciences or mining industry. Tapsell, who is of Ngāti Whakaue/Waikato Tainui descent, provided a Māori perspective on the advisory group. = In late March 2024 Sanders Unsworth consultancy partner Charles Finny, who served as the lead negotiator for the New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement disagreed with conservation group Forest & Bird's position that the fast-track approval bill would clash with the environmental provisions of New Zealand's free trade agreements with the UK and EU. He said that the expert panels would help safeguard environmental considerations within the legislation's framework. In May 2024, BusinessNZ economist John Pask suggested some tweaks to the bill in his parliamentary submission. He advocated a "balancing exercise" between economic development and environmental protection. Energy Resources Aotearoa policy director Craig Barry argued that the fast-track approvals legislation was needed since "it has become difficult for projects to gain approval within reasonable time-frames [under the current resource consent process], even for those projects with demonstrable benefits." Foodstuffs New Zealand government relations head Melissa Hodd supported the proposed legislation, saying "it believed it could help it develop additional supermarkets faster." = On 14 March 2024, Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand objected to the proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill, saying that the fast-track consenting "would enable just three Government Ministers to approve development projects more quickly, by bypassing planning legislation and the checks and balances that are in place." The advocacy group advocated its commitment to fighting to protect people and nature regardless of the Government's actions. Greenpeace's parliamentary submission denounced the proposed legislation as "anti-democratic, anti-transparency, vulnerable to corruption and lacking any semblance of environmental protection". It criticised the fast-track process for giving three ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. On 8 May 2024, the Māori iwi (tribe) Ngāti Toa Rangatira organised a protest march against the Fast-track Approvals Bill outside the New Zealand Parliament grounds. The iwi'schief executive Helmut Modlik said that the proposed bill would "allow big corporations to do anything they want in Aotearoa, without any say from the public, iwi, hapū, environmental experts and communities." Iwi members presented trees and a petition to Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. On 12 May, Environmental Defence Society spokesperson and lawyer Raewyn Peart expressed concern that the proposed legislation could allow projects to be built with fewer environment checks and said that it harked back to Think Big projects of the Third National Government. The historian Dame Anne Salmond's submission condemned the proposed Bill's alleged "utter disregard for democracy" and described it as hostile to the environment. She claimed that the proposed legislation lacked any party mandate since it was promoted by a minority party NZ First, which only gained 6% of the popular vote during the 2023 New Zealand general election. She also urged the governing National Party to honour its election promises to safeguarding New Zealand's natural environment, diversity, waters and landscapes for future generations. On 8 June, protests against the proposed legislation were held in Auckland, Whakatāne, Christchurch, Nelson, and Tākaka. = In an unusual move, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) did not provide advice on the Fast-track Approvals Bill before its first parliamentary reading on 7 March 2024. An MFAT spokesperson confirmed that it had prepared advice regarding the bill after 11 March but would not share it due to "legal professional privilege." In addition, the Ministry for the Environment provided advice around the Bill's international obligations in the form of a Regulatory Impact Statement, which was not publicly available. Conservation group Forest & Bird expressed concern that the Fast-track bill could breach clauses in New Zealand's free trade agreements with both the United Kingdom and European Union requiring environmental protections and due process for feedback. The NZ-EU trade agreement requires that the public and advocacy groups be given a sufficient timeframe for providing feedback on the environment impact of mining projects. Forest & Bird spokesperson Geoff Keey said "it was really a bill to override environmental laws. It's not really fast tracking." Similar concerns were raised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) New Zealand chief executive Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb. In early May 2024, the United Kingdom Government confirmed that it was monitoring the passage of the Fast-track Approvals Bill after Liberal Democrats Member of Parliament Wera Hobhouse raised concerns abouts its impact on the New Zealand–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement in the House of Commons. In response, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Trade Minister Todd McClay downplayed concerns that the Bill would affect the NZ-UK free trade agreement, which they argued allowed governments to set their own environmental standards. Bishop claimed that the fast-track approvals process would accelerate the construction of pro-environment and de-carbonisation initiatives like wind farms and solar farms.

76421398

Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill

2024-03-22 23:48:41+00:00

The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill is a proposed New Zealand Act of Parliament that would add ram raids and other "smash and grab" offenses to the Crimes Act 1961 and give Police the power to prosecute juvenile ram raiders including 12 and 13-year olds. The Bill amends the Crimes Act 1961, the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995, the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 and the Sentencing Act 2002 to make ram-raiding a specific offense and to strengthen legal penalties against ram raiders. Inserts a new section 231B into the Crimes Act 1961 to criminalise ram-raiding. Amends the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 to allow bodily samples to be collected from 12 and 13 year old offenders facing ram-raiding charges in the Youth Court. Amends the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 to allow 12 and 13-years olds to be processed in the Youth Court on ram-raiding charges. The Bill also makes livestreaming ram raids, posting a copy of a livestream online or digitally distributing a copy of the livestream a corresponding factor in sentencing youth offenders under the Sentencing Act 2002. Amends the Sentencing Act 2002 to target adults who encourage or help a child or young person commit a ram raid, and offenders who produce and disseminate livestreams of ram raids. = Ram-raiding was perceived as becoming an epidemic in New Zealand during the 2020s. In July 2022, Radio New Zealand reported a 400% increase in ram raids between 2017 and 2022; with 76% of those arrested being under the age of 18 years and 14% having connections to organised crime. Key driving factors included the influence of social media, dysfunctional family backgrounds, lack of role models, and poverty. Most vehicles used in ram-raids are used ex-Japan models such as the Mazda Demio, Mazda Atenza, Nissan Tiida and Toyota Aqua; these cars are easy to steal due to Japan's low crime rate and therefore low uptake of anti-theft measures such as immobilisers. The New Zealand Police took enforcement action against 37% of the ram raids; with 61% of offenders being prosecuted and another 39% being referred to youth agencies. In 2022 alone, police recorded 516 ram raids and apprehended 708 offenders; with 495 being under 17 years, 70 under 13 years, and 88 being adults. In response to ram raids, the Labour Government allocated NZ$6,000,000 for the Police's Small Retailer Crime Prevention Fund in late August 2022. The fund allows stores to purchase protective equipment such as shatterproof glass, bollards, fog cannons, and roller doors to counter ram raids. By March 2023, over NZ$2,000,000 had been spent from the fund. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster expressed concern about police difficulty with prosecuting juvenile offenders. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated that the Government preferred alternatives to incarcerating youths in order to reduce reoffending. By contrast, opposition ACT party leader David Seymour has advocated fitting youth offenders with ankle bracelets to counter ram-raids and robberies. Similarly, the opposition National Party leader Christopher Luxon has advocated sending young ram-raiders and other serious youth offenders to military-style boot camps. = On 29 August 2023, the Ram Raid Offending Bill passed its first reading. Its sponsor Justice Minister Ginny Andersen argued the Bill would address the recent rise in ram raiding, "smash and grab" crimes, and youth crime by giving Police and courts greater powers to prosecute these crimes and deal with 12 and 13 year old youth offenders. The National and ACT parties supported the Bill, with Paul Goldsmith, Mark Mitchell, Chris Baillie and Simon O'Connor describing the bill as an overdue mechanism needed to address retail crime and youth offending. By contrast, the Bill was opposed by the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori. Green MP Golriz Ghahraman argued a tough on crime approach towards retail crime and youth offending would not work and objected to taking bodily samples from 12 and 13 year old suspects. Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer disagreed with taking a punitive approach to youth crime and advocated focusing on addressing poverty and mental health issues among offenders. That same day, Attorney General David Parker expressed concerns that the Ram Raid Offending bill breached the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 on three grounds: the right of a child to be dealt with in an age appropriate way, the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, and the right to freedom of expression. = During a Justice select committee hearing on 12 March 2024 Pride Project members Aaron Tyree and Eryka Kiri, Voyce national spokesperson Tupua Urlich, YouthLaw general manager Darryn Atchison and New Zealand Law Society representatives Dale Lloyd and Professor Jermey Finn criticised the proposed Bill, which they described as punitive and failed to address the causes of crime including poverty and dysfuncfional families. Lloyd said the proposed legislation breached internarional conventions on children's rights while Finn criticised the vague wording on those liable for ram raid offenses. = In early June 2024, several community leaders including doctors, youth advocates and lawyers organised a petition opposing the Ram Raid Bill. They also sent an open letter calling for the Government to stop work on the legislation, arguing that a punitive response would hurt marginalised and impoverished children and young people. Notable individuals and groups supporting the petition and open letter included Kick Back founder and youth worker Aaron Hendry and People Against Prisons Aotearoa spokesperson and criminology lecturer Emmy Rakete.

76537169

Treaty Principles Bill

2024-04-05 11:37:06+00:00

The Treaty Principles Bill is a proposed bill by ACT New Zealand. It aims to redefine the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. As part of its coalition agreement with ACT, the incumbent National Party does not support a referendum on the issue but has agreed to support the legislation up to the select committee level. In March 2022, the libertarian ACT Party announced that it would introduce a new law defining the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi if elected into government following the 2023 election. This law would only come into effect following a referendum on Māori co-governance arrangements that would be held at the 2026 general election. The party's leader David Seymour also called for a referendum on co-governance as a condition for entering into coalition with any future government led by centre-right National Party. Seymour argued that the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was not a partnership between the New Zealand Crown and Māori, and therefore co-governance arrangements were not a "necessary extension" of that. He also claimed that co-governance arrangements created resentment and division. ACT's proposed law and referendum would affect co-governance arrangements at several Crown Research Institutes, state-owned enterprises and healthcare providers such as Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority). However, Seymour indicated that the new law would preserve existing co-governance arrangements with the Waikato, Ngāi Tahu, Tūhoe and Whanganui iwi (tribes). In response, Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith described ACT's proposed co-governance referendum and policies as being motivated by racism and reflecting a "Pākehā" unwillingness to share power. Similarly, Waikato leader Rahui Papa claimed that ACT's co-governance policies clashed with the second and third articles of the treaty which (he argued) guaranteed Māori participation in the social sector. In response, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reiterated the Labour Government's commitment to co-governance arrangements. Meanwhile, National Party leader Christopher Luxon refused to commit to a referendum on co-governance, but acknowledged that further clarity on co-governance was needed. In October 2022, ACT released a discussion document entitled "Democracy or co-government?" which proposed a new Treaty Principles Act that would end the focus on partnership between Māori and the Crown and interpret "tino rangatiratanga" solely as property rights. By contrast, most scholars of the Māori language define "tino rangatiratanga" as the equivalent of "self-determination" in the English language. The proposed Treaty Principles Act does not mention Māori, the Crown, iwi (tribes), and hapū (subgroups) but refers only to "New Zealanders". ACT Party leader Seymour refused to identify whom his party had consulted when developing its co-governance and Treaty of Waitangi policies, particularly its redefinition of "tino rangatiratanga" as property rights. As part of ACT's "colour-blind" policies, its social-development spokesperson Karen Chhour advocated the abolition of Te Aka Whai Ora. Following the 2023 New Zealand general election, a National-led coalition government was formed with the support of the ACT and New Zealand First parties in late November 2023. As part of ACT's coalition agreement with the National Party, the parties agreed to introduce a Treaty Principles Bill based on existing ACT party policy and support it to a Parliamentary select committee. In addition, ACT dropped its election demand for a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi. In January 2024, the Māori King Tūheitia Paki called for a national hui (meeting) on 20 January to unify Māori and discuss the potential impact of the Government's Treaty policies. On 15 January, Tūheitia raised the matter of the Bill during a private meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka . On 19 January 2024, a Ministry of Justice memo on the proposed Treaty Principles legislation was leaked. The proposed bill had three principles: that the New Zealand Government has the right to govern all New Zealanders; the New Zealand Government will honour all New Zealanders in the chieftainship of their land and all their property; and that all New Zealanders are equal under the law with the same rights and duties. The Ministry's paper expressed concerns that the proposed law would conflict with the rights and interests of Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi, that the Crown was trying to define Treaty principles without consulting with Māori, that the Bill breached international agreements such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and that it infringed on the Māori right to self determination. The leak came on the eve of King Tūheitia's national hui on 20 January. In response, Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith confirmed that the Justice Ministry would investigate the leak and described the document as a draft that had not yet been considered by Cabinet. In addition Seymour, who had promoted the legislation, accused the Ministry of being part of a bureaucracy that was "resistant to change." Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer used the leak to rally opposition against the Government's proposed constitutional changes and accused Seymour of seeking to undermine Māori rights enshrined in the Treaty. On 7 February 2024, ACT embarked on a public information campaign to promote the Treaty Principles Bill. This campaign includes the creation of a new website called "treaty.nz," which has a Questions and Answers section outlining the party's approach to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and a video featuring Seymour. Seymour also contested claims that the government was trying to rewrite or abolish the Treaty of Waitangi. The public information campaign also came after a leaked Justice Ministry memo claimed that the proposed bill clashed with the text of the Treaty. ACT's proposed Treaty Principles Bill consists of three articles, It sets out three articles, Article 1 Māori: kawanatanga katoa o o ratou whenua The New Zealand Government has the right to govern all New Zealanders Article 2 Māori: ki nga tangata katoa o Nu Tirani te tino rangatiratanga o o ratou whenua o ratou kainga me o ratou taonga katoa The New Zealand Government will honour all New Zealanders in the chieftainship of their land and all their property Article 3 Māori: a ratou nga tikanga katoa rite tahi All New Zealanders are equal under the law with the same rights and duties

77289630

The University of Larkano

2024-07-05 05:03:56+00:00

The University of Larkano (Urdu: لاڑکانو يونيورسٹی; informally Larkana University or UoLrk) is a public research university located in Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan, marks a significant milestone in the region's educational landscape. This new institution is poised to become a hub for higher learning, research, and innovation, catering to a diverse student body with a wide array of academic programs. The University of Larkano has integrated several prominent educational institutions to form its core faculties. Notably: - The University of Sindh, Larkana Campus, has been transformed into the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. - Quaid-e-Awam University College of Engineering Science and Technology, Nawabshah Campus Larkana, is now the Faculty of Engineering. - The Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Agricultural College Dokri (SZABAC) Larkana has been restructured as the Faculty of Agriculture. In its inaugural batch of 2024, The University of Larkano is offering various undergraduate programs across its three main faculties: = - Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) - Bachelor in English (Language & Literature) - Bachelor in Computer Science = - Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering - Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering - Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering - Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics Engineering = - Bachelor of Science in agriculture (Hons.) The University of Larkano aims to foster a learning environment that promotes academic excellence, critical thinking, and innovative research. Its mission is to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address local and global challenges, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region and beyond. The University of Larkano is committed to providing state-of-the-art facilities to its students and faculty. With modern classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and recreational areas, the campus is designed to support a vibrant and dynamic academic community. As the University of Larkano grows, it plans to expand its academic offerings and enhance its research capabilities. The institution aims to establish itself as a leading university in Pakistan, attracting students and scholars from across the country and internationally.

76209221

AEW Dynasty

2024-02-28 23:40:22+00:00

The 2024 Dynasty was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It took place on April 21, 2024, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, marking AEW's first pay-per-view event to be held in Missouri. Twelve matches were contested at the event, including three on the "Zero Hour" pre-show. In the main event, Swerve Strickland defeated Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Championship. In other prominent matches, The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) defeated FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) in a tournament final Ladder match to win the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship and become record-setting three-time champions, Will Ospreay defeated Bryan Danielson in a highly acclaimed "dream match", and Willow Nightingale defeated Julia Hart to win the AEW TBS Championship. The event also featured the return of Jack Perry, who had been absent from AEW programming since a legitimate backstage altercation at All In London in August 2023. The event was praised by fans and journalists, particularly for the Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson match. Some referred to the match as one of the greatest wrestling matches of all time. = On February 22, 2024, the American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) filed to trademark the name "Dynasty". At Revolution on March 3, AEW announced that it would hold a pay-per-view (PPV) event titled Dynasty on April 21, 2024, at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, marking AEW's first PPV event to be held in the state. The 2021 Full Gear was originally scheduled for the same venue and would have been AEW's first PPV event in Missouri; however, it was relocated and rescheduled to avoid counter programming against other combat sporting events happening at the time. Tickets for Dynasty went on sale on March 8, 2024. = AEW Dynasty featured professional wrestling matches that were the result of pre-existing feuds and storylines, with results being predetermined by AEW's writers. Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television programs, Dynamite, Collision, and Rampage, and the YouTube series Being The Dark Order. From mid-2022 through 2023, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) mainstay Will Ospreay had appeared on AEW programming as a result of a working relationship between the two companies. Ospreay then appeared at Full Gear in November 2023 and signed a contract to join AEW, but did not officially join the roster until February 2024 after his NJPW obligations were fulfilled. Following Ospreay's match on the March 6 episode of Dynamite, he was confronted by Bryan Danielson. The two confronted each other again on the March 9 episode of Collision where Danielson issued a challenge at Dynasty to prove which of them was the best, and the match was later made official. Following Sting's retirement match at Revolution, he and tag partner Darby Allin vacated the AEW World Tag Team Championship. During the post-event media scrum, AEW president Tony Khan announced that a tournament would be held to determine new champions. On the March 15 episode of Rampage, the tournament bracket was revealed and the tournament began on the following night's Collision. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) and FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) won their respective brackets, setting up the tournament final for Dynasty, which was scheduled as a ladder match, also being a title rematch between the teams, as they last faced each other for the title at All In London in August 2023, which FTR won. During the April 10 episode of Dynamite, The Young Bucks showed the surveillance footage of the legitimate backstage altercation between Jack Perry and former AEW wrestler CM Punk, which they blamed as the reason for why they lost their match to FTR at All In. They also defended Perry and conspired that FTR were behind the incident due to being friends with Punk. At Revolution, Swerve Strickland competed in a three-way match for the AEW World Championship where Samoa Joe retained the title. Strickland then accumulated wins throughout March to rise back up in the contendership rankings. Following his victory on the March 27 episode of Dynamite, it once again positioned him as the number one contender for the AEW World Championship, and the title match was scheduled for Dynasty. In late 2023, Willow Nightingale's former tag team partner Skye Blue turned heel for the first time in her AEW career and aligned herself with TBS Champion Julia Hart. Throughout early 2024, Nightingale and her new tag team partner Kris Statlander feuded with Hart and Blue, with Nightingale and Statlander being victorious during the Revolution Zero Hour pre-show and then Hart and Blue victorious in a street fight on the March 20 episode of Rampage. On the March 27 episode of Dynamite, Nightingale defeated Statlander, Blue, and Anna Jay in a four-way match to challenge Hart for the TBS Championship at Dynasty. Throughout the early months of 2024, Mark Briscoe engaged in a feud with House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews), which included interfering in the House's AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament match. At the same time, he was also engaged in a friendly rivalry with Eddie Kingston over the latter's ROH World Championship. After House of Black attacked TNT Champion Adam Copeland during the March 30 episode of Collision, Briscoe and Kingston came out in support of Copeland, leading to the three men challenging House of Black to a trios match at Dynasty, which was later made official. Thunder Rosa won her first AEW Women's World Championship at St. Patrick's Day Slam in March 2022 and was due to defend the title against Toni Storm at All Out in September of that year. However, due to Rosa being sidelined by a back injury, Storm instead won a four-way match at All Out to become interim champion, which was later retroactively recognized as her first reign after Rosa forfeited the title that November. Storm, who took on a "Timeless" gimmick in late 2023 impersonating a golden era film actress, won her third AEW Women's World Championship at that year's Full Gear. After Rosa returned to in-ring action in December 2023, Rosa laid claim to the championship she never lost, and quickly rose through the rankings to face Storm's protegé Mariah May on the April 4 episode of Dynamite in a number-one contendership match, which she won, and the title match was scheduled for Dynasty. = In the first match of the Dynasty: Zero Hour pre-show, Trent Beretta faced Matt Sydal (accompanied by Mike Sydal). Beretta made Matt tap out to a newly added gogoplata submission maneuver to win the match. After that, Orange Cassidy and Katsuyori Shibata faced Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty, accompanied by Anthony Ogogo). In the end, Cassidy pinned Moriarty with a punch to win. In the final pre-show match, AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, and Billy Gunn) faced ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn) in a Winners Take All Championship Unification match. In the end, Bullet Club Gold defeated The Acclaimed to win both championships and become recognized as the first-ever Unified World Trios Champions. = In the opening match of the event, Kazuchika Okada defended the AEW Continental Championship against Pac. In the opening stages, Pac delivered a hurricarana and then performed a twisting plancha to Okada. Pac then delivered an avalanche brainbuster for a two-count. Okada delivered a DDT to Pac on the floor and inside the ring for a two-count. Pac then delivered a springboard moonsault to Okada on the apron. Okada then performed an Air Raid Crash neckbreaker on Pac for a two-count. Okada delivered a diving elbow drop, but Pac inside cradled him for a nearfall. Pac then delivered a lariat and a deadlift german suplex to Okada for a two-count. Pac locked in the Brutalizer, but Okada raked Pac's eyes to break the submission. Okada attempted a tombstone piledriver, but Pac reversed it into a tombstone piledriver. Pac then attempted to deliver the Black Arrow, but Okada got his knees up. Okada then delivered the Rainmaker lariat to Pac and pinned him to retain the title. Next, TNT Champion Adam Copeland, ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe, and Eddie Kingston faced House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews). In the opening stages, King delivered a Bossman Slam and a cannonball to Kingston for a one-count. Black delivered a dropkick to Kingston for a two-count. Kingston then delivered a big boot and a German suplex to Black. King then delivered a running Death Valley Driver into the guardrail to Mark.as Copeland attempted an impaler DDT to King, but Matthews stopped him with a diving meteora. Kingston delivered a lariat and a spinning backfist to Black, a spear by Copeland and the Froggy Bow by Mark, but Matthews broke up the pin. Black delivered a jumping knee to Mark and Matthews delivered an enzeguiri to Kingston, but Copeland, Kingston and Mark responded with a triple spear to The House of Black. Copeland attempted a spear to Black, but Black impeded it with a mist to his face when the referee was distracted and then delivered the Black Mass to Copeland and pinned him to win the match. Next, Julia Hart defended the TBS Champion against Willow Nightingale (accompanied by Stokely Hathaway) in a House Rules match, in which Nightingale's "House Rules" stipulation was that Kris Statlander and Skye Blue were barred from ringside. In the closing stages, Nightingale delivered a running boot and a spinebuster to Hart for a two-count. Nightingale attempted a shotgun dropkick but Mercedes Hart escaped and locked in Hartless. Nightingale escaped and used an inside cradle for a two-count. Hart delivered two superkicks to Nightingale and attempted a moonsault, but Nightingale got her boots up. Nightingale then delivered a lariat and the doctor bomb and pinned her to win the TBS Championship. After the match, Mercedes Moné came out and stood face-to-face with Nightingale. Next, Roderick Strong defended the International Champion against Kyle O'Reilly. In the opening stages, O'Reilly delivered a sliding knee strike and a roundhouse kick to Strong. O'Reilly attempted a high kick, but Strong countered it with a leg lariat. O'Reilly then performed an arm ringer and a twisting arm breaker. Strong delivered a backbreaker for a two-count. Kyle attempted a rising knee strike, but Strong caught him and delivered a uranage backbreaker and a gutbuster for a two-count. O'Reilly attempted another arm ringer, but Strong countered with an Olympic Slam. Strong delivered a pumphandle backbreaker to O'Reilly for a two-count. Strong attempted a Tiger Driver, but O'Reilly countered with a guillotine choke. Strong escaped and sent O'Reilly into the ropes. O'Reilly used an inside cradle and a crucifix driver for two-counts respectively. O'Reilly attempted a Regal Plex, but Strong escaped and delivered a jumping knee strike and the End of Heartache to retain the title. After the match, fellow Undisputed Kingdom members, Mike Bennett and Matt Taven raised Strong on their shoulders, as Adam Cole and Wardlow applauded him. In the fifth match, Hook defended the FTW Championship against Chris Jericho in an FTW Rules match. In the opening stages, Hook delivered a Northern Lights suplex and a T-Bone suplex to Jericho. Hook delivered a German suplex to Jericho on the floor. Jericho delivered a DDT to Hook onto a trash can. Jericho attempted a superplex, but Hook countered it into an avalanche T-bone suplex through a table for a two-count. Hook put the trash can on Jericho's head, smacked it multiple times with a kendo stick and then delivered another T-bone suplex to him for a two-count. Hook delivered another northern lights suplex, but Jericho responded with a codebreaker. Hook attempted RedRum, but Jericho escaped it with a low blow and then a Judas Effect for a two-count. Jericho hit another Judas Effect on Hook for a two-count. After Hook gave the middle finger to Jericho, he responded to hit him in the head with a baseball bat and then pinned him to win the FTW Championship. Next, "Timeless" Toni Storm (accompanied by Mariah May and Luther the Butler) defended the AEW Women's World Championship against Thunder Rosa. In the opening stages, Thunder Rosa performed a tieres and tornillo over the ropes to Storm. Thunder Rosa attempted a diving crossbody, but Storm caught her and delivered a backbreaker. Thunder Rosa delivered a powerbomb and a crucifix driver for two-counts respectively. Storm delivered a low dropkick to Thunder Rosa, but the latter responded with a Death Valley Driver for a two-count. Storm performed a backstabber and a tornado DDT on Thunder Rosa, and then a fisherman suplex for a two-count. Thunder Rosa then delivered a German suplex to Storm, but Mariah May got up on the apron to distract Thunder Rosa. Deonna Purrazzo came out and pulled Mariah down, attacked her and sent Luther into the steel steps. As Thunder Rosa was still distracted, Storm german suplexed her, delivered a running hip attack in the corner and then the Storm Zero for a two-count. As the referee was distracted, Storm delivered a low blow to Thunder Rosa and delivered the Storm Zero to retain her title. After that, Will Ospreay faced Bryan Danielson. In the opening stages, Ospreay performed a plancha and a dropkick. Danielson attempted a flying clothesline, but Ospreay ducked and performed a handspring corkscrew kick. Ospreay then performed a twisting moonsault to the outside and attempted the Hidden Blade back in the ring, but Danielson kicked him and delivered a Tiger suplex for a two-count. Danielson attempted an hurricarana off the top rope, but Ospreay landed on his feet and delivered a hook kick and a Tiger Driver for a two-count. Danielson delivered an avalanche Tiger suplex and the kicks to Ospreay. Danielson delivered a PK, but Ospreay sat up and delivered an elbow strike. Danielson locked in a Cattle Multilation, but Ospreay reached the bottom rope. Ospreay attempted a Tiger Driver, but Danielson escaped it. Ospreay delivered a superkick and an OsCutter. Ospreay then delivered a Hidden Blade off the apron to Danielson. Ospreay performed a Coast-to-Coast and a Liger Bomb to Danielson for a two-count. Danielson locked in La Mistica into the LeBell Lock, but Ospreay reached the ropes. Danielson then delivered the Yes. Kicks and attempted the Busaiku Knee, but Ospreay attempted to intercept it into a powerbomb, but Danielson countered into a hurricarana driver for a two-count. Ospreay attempted the Hidden Blade, but Danielson ducked and delivered the Busaiku Knee for a nearfall. Ospreay delivered the Styles Clash and performed Kawada kicks. Danielson performed the Regal Plex on Ospreay, but Ospreay rolled up and delivered the Hidden Blade. Ospreay attempted the OsCutter, but Danielson caught him mid-air with the Busaiku Knee for another. Ospreay delivered another Hidden Blade and then the Tiger Driver 91. Ospreay then delivered the Hidden Blade to Danielson and pinned him to win the match. After the match, Ospreay and the doctors went to check on Danielson. The penultimate match was a tournament final for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship in which The Young Bucks faced FTR in a ladder match. In the opening stages, The Bucks attempted the EVP Trigger to Harwood, but Harwood ducked and Wheeler delivered a diving double clothesline. The Bucks delivered double superkicks to FTR and attempted to set up the ladder. Nicholas delivered a PK to Harwood off the apron and then delivered a senton to Wheeler onto a ladder. The Bucks put Harwood in between a ladder and hit him repeatedly with a chair, before throwing it into Wheeler's face. Wheeler threw a ladder into The Bucks's face and then delivered a moonsault to both Nicholas and Matthew. Wheeler got crotched in between the ladder, allowing the Bucks to deliver the EVP Trigger. The Bucks attempted to superplex Harwood through the table on the outside, but Wheeler made the save. FTR performed a doomsday bulldog to Matthew. Nicholas delivered a slingshot powerbomb to Wheeler off the ladder. Harwood then speared Matthew through the table on the guardrail. Harwood attempted to powerbomb Nicholas off the apron through another table on the outside, but Nicholas reversed it into a hurricarana through that table. FTR then delivered the Shatter Machine to Matthew off the ladder. Nicholas performed a 450° splash off the top rope through a table to Wheeler. Harwood then delivered a piledriver to Matthew through a bridged ladder. Nicholas attempted to retrieve the titles, but Harwood jumped from the top rope and delivered a sunset flip powerbomb to Nicholas. Harwood and Nicholas climbed the ladder and both attempted to retrieve the title. Harwood pushed Nicholas down and attempted to retrieve the title, until a masked man jumped from the guardrail and pushed Harwood off the ladder. The security guards came down and removed the mask. It was revealed to be Jack Perry, marking Perry's first AEW appearance since August 2023 at the All In event. Nicholas then climbed the ladder and retrieved the title belts, making the Bucks the first three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions. = In the main event, Samoa Joe defended the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland (accompanied by Prince Nana). In the opening stages, Strickland attempted a suicide dive, but Joe caught him and delivered a uranage onto the announce table. Strickland performed a Fosbury Flop, but Joe responded with a powerslam onto the concrete. Joe performed a rolling cannonball and a jumping elbow drop for a two-count. Strickland delivered a German suplex to Joe for a two-count. Strickland delivered a rolling flatliner for a two-count. Joe then delivered a buckle bomb to Strickland and then the Muscle Buster for a two-count. Strickland them delivered the House Call, a 450° splash and the Swerve Stomp to Joe for a nearfall. Strickland attempted to hit Joe with the title belt, but Joe low blowed him and locked in the Coquina Clutch. Strickland escaped by snapping Joe's arm and then hit the House Call for a two-count. Strickland delivered a sunset flip powerbomb and then the Swerve Stomp for the three-count, ending Joe's reign at 113 days, and making Strickland the first African-American world champion in AEW. Mike Malkasian of Wrestling Headlines gave the overall show a 9.5/10, saying "On a PPV that contained one of the greatest pro wrestling matches I’ve ever seen, it was about four hours long. Obviously, watch Danielson and Ospreay, but go out of you way to watch Pac/Okada, Toni Storm/Thunder Rosa, O’Reilly/Strong, and FTR/Young Bucks, too. A night filled with unbelievable wrestling, excellent storytelling, and compelling twists and turns. When you sit back and look at the big picture, there is a heck of a bright future ahead for AEW". Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report graded the show an A, saying "On paper, Dynasty was one of the best cards in AEW history. In execution, Dynasty had one of the best cards in AEW history. Whether AEW can build on the momentum remains to be seen. The company has had many great PPV offerings before, only to fall back into the same booking traps. Phil Wheat of Nerdly gave the overall show a 4.5/5, saying "Just when you think AEW can’t do it better, they do. What can you really say about a PPV this good? Yes there are some low points – in particular the Jericho/Hook match (as you’ll hear from the fans in attendance) – but overall this was an amazing pay-per-view. Definitely an instant classic pay-per-view, Dynasty raised AEW out of the doldrums it has been in for a lot of 2024". John Canton of TJR Wrestling.net gave the overall show an 8.25/10, saying "it was a very good show as usual for most AEW PPVs. Other than that, it was mostly just bell-to-bell action with a few title changes. I think most of the match results were predictable and I did pretty well in terms of picking the winners. A predictable show isn’t bad by any means. Just saying that there weren’t many surprises in terms of results or moments. Good job AEW and the St. Louis crowd was awesome too. I enjoyed the show". Michael Dworkis of The Pop Break simply said "Dynasty earns its own title for best PPV of the year thus far. Almost every match delivered something memorable. There was so much to become invested in, I can’t imagine any fan of wrestling dismissing what was one of the best lineups in recent history". Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter rated the Ospreay vs. Danielson match six and a half stars—the second highest rating ever given after Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada's seven-star match at NJPW's Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in 2018—and described the match as "the second-best match [he's] ever seen". Meltzer also rated the Trent vs. Sydal match, the Cassidy and Shibata–STP bout and the FTW Championship match 3.25 stars, the Unification Trios Championship match 2.75 stars, the AEW Continental Championship 4.75 stars, HOB–Copeland, Mark and Kingston bout and the AEW Women's World Championship match 4.25 stars, the TBS Championship match 2 stars (the lowest rated match on the card), the AEW World Tag Team Championship ladder match 4.5 stars, and the main event 4.25 stars. = At the end of the 2024 Revolution event, AEW World Tag Team Champions Sting and Darby Allin vacated the tag titles due to Sting's retirement. During the post-show press conference, Tony Khan announced that a tournament would take place to determine new champions with two wild card matches taking place to determine which teams would enter the first round. The Infantry (Capt. Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo) defeated House of Black (Buddy Matthews and Brody King) to win the first wildcard match, while Best Friends (Trent Beretta and Orange Cassidy) defeated The Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher and Powerhouse Hobbs) to win the second and final wildcard match.

76555996

All Out (2024)

2024-04-08 05:09:48+00:00

The 2024 All Out is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It will be the sixth annual All Out event and will take place on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at the Now Arena in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. This marks the event's return to the Now Arena, and fourth overall at the venue, after 2019, 2021, and 2022. It also returns the event to Saturday for the first time since 2020. All Out was previously held during Labor Day weekend, and although the 2024 event had originally been scheduled for the holiday on Sunday, September 1, AEW decided to push the event back by a week due to fan concerns of it taking place only one week after All In, which had occurred the prior year. = All Out is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event held by All Elite Wrestling (AEW) since 2019. It was originally held during Labor Day weekend and is one of AEW's "Big Four" PPVs, which also includes Double or Nothing, Full Gear, and Revolution, their four biggest domestic shows produced quarterly. On April 11, 2024, AEW announced that the sixth All Out event would take place on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at the Now Arena in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. However, on May 21, 2024, AEW announced that All Out would take place a week later on Saturday, September 7, 2024, marking the first All Out to not be held during Labor Day weekend. This change came in response to fan concerns of the event being held only one week after All In, which had occurred the prior year. This subsequently returns the event to Saturday for the first time since 2020 as well as to the Now Arena, being the fourth overall at the venue, after 2019, 2021, and 2022. Due to the event being held on Saturday, Collision and Rampage will be held live back-to-back on Friday, September 6 in the Chicago area. = All Out will feature professional wrestling matches that are the result of pre-existing feuds and storylines, with results being predetermined by AEW's writers. Storylines are produced on AEW's weekly television programs, Dynamite, Collision, and Rampage.

76455170

Double or Nothing (2024)

2024-03-27 14:58:34+00:00

The 2024 Double or Nothing was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was the sixth annual Double or Nothing event and took place during Memorial Day weekend on May 26, 2024, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada. AEW celebrated its five-year anniversary by returning to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, five years after the inaugural 2019 event was held. Twelve matches were contested at the event, including two on the "Buy In" pre-show. In the event's final match, which was promoted as part of a triple main event, The Elite (Matthew Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry) defeated Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, Cash Wheeler, and Dax Harwood) in an Anarchy in the Arena match. The second main event, which was the penultimate match, saw Swerve Strickland defeat Christian Cage to retain the AEW World Championship, and in the first main event, Mercedes Moné defeated Willow Nightingale to win the AEW TBS Championship. In another prominent match, Adam Copeland defeated Malakai Black by referee stoppage in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match to retain the AEW TNT Championship. The event also featured the returns of MJF and Juice Robinson, as well as an appearance by Gangrel. = Double or Nothing is considered All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) marquee event, having first been held in 2019, which was the promotion's first professional wrestling event and first pay-per-view (PPV) produced. It is held annually in May during Memorial Day weekend and is one of AEW's "Big Four" PPVs, which includes All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution, their four biggest domestic shows produced quarterly. The event's name is a reference to its Las Vegas theme and it is traditionally held in the Las Vegas area in Paradise, Nevada. Exceptions from this norm occurred in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that were in place at the time, but they maintained the Vegas theme. On March 27, 2024, it was announced that the sixth Double or Nothing event would take place on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, marking a return to the venue after five years, which was when the inaugural 2019 event was held there. It was also announced that during Double or Nothing weekend, Saturday Night Collision the night before on May 25 would also be held at the venue. = Double or Nothing featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds and storylines. Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television programs, Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, and the YouTube series Being The Dark Order. Starting in early 2024, The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) turned heel for the first time since 2022 by embracing their roles as AEW's executive vice presidents. They started abusing their power by (kayfabe) suspending "Hangman" Adam Page and kicking Kenny Omega (who had been inactive due to legitimately suffering from diverticulitis) out of The Elite, while subsequently bringing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) mainstay Kazuchika Okada into AEW and The Elite, which also established Okada as a heel after he attacked Eddie Kingston and won the AEW Continental Championship on the March 20 episode of Dynamite. The Bucks later won the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship at Dynasty against FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) after receiving assistance from a returning Jack Perry, who had been off AEW television and competing in NJPW following his backstage altercation with CM Punk at All In, which led to Perry's suspension (and Punk's firing in which led to the arrival of Adam Copeland in AEW), and Perry officially joined The Elite after assisting them in attacking AEW president and CEO Tony Khan. Omega made an appearance on the May 1 episode of Dynamite to talk about his health and AEW's status, and would later be attacked by The Elite. The following week, Omega (via a pre recorded video from the hospital) used his own EVP power to book an Anarchy in the Arena match with The Elite going up against a "Team AEW" originally comprising FTR, Kingston, and Bryan Danielson. Kingston would be removed from the match after legitimately breaking his leg at NJPW's Resurgence, with his space in the match taken by Darby Allin, who returned from a broken foot on the May 15 episode of Dynamite to assist Team AEW in fending off The Elite. In the main event at Dynasty, Swerve Strickland defeated Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Championship. After condemning The Elite for their actions against Tony Khan, Swerve found out they had chosen his Double or Nothing opponent to be a returning Christian Cage, whose Patriarchy stable would assault Swerve. During another confrontation with The Patriarchy on the May 8 episode of Dynamite, Swerve's Mogul Embassy stablemates would turn on him as well. At NJPW Resurgence in 2023, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Moné to become the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Champion, a match in which Moné suffered a broken ankle. At Dynamite: Big Business on March 13, 2024, Moné made her anticipated AEW debut, and following the show's main event match, helped Willow Nightingale fend off an attack from AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart. On the April 3 episode of Dynamite, Moné declared that she would be challenging whoever was the champion at Double or Nothing, which would also be her AEW debut match. At Dynasty later that month, Nightingale defeated Hart to win the TBS Championship, thus scheduling Nightingale to defend the title against Moné at Double or Nothing. At NJPW's Windy City Riot, Jon Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He then began feuding with The Don Callis Family when Don Callis arranged a title match against Powerhouse Hobbs on the April 24 episode of Dynamite. Moxley won the match and would be called out by Konosuke Takeshita. Takeshita would attack Moxley on the following week's Dynamite, and an eliminator match for a future title shot would be scheduled for Double or Nothing. At Revolution, Roderick Strong defeated Orange Cassidy to win the AEW International Championship. On the April 24 episode of Dynamite, Will Ospreay won a Casino Gauntlet Match to become the number one contender to the championship at Double or Nothing. At Dynasty, TNT Champion Adam Copeland (along with Mark Briscoe and Eddie Kingston) lost a Trios match to House of Black after Malakai Black spit black mist into Copeland's face and hit him with the Black Mass for the win. In the weeks following, Copeland defeated Buddy Matthews and Brody King in singles matches in order to challenge Black at Double or Nothing to a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match with the title on the line. On the May 15 episode of Dynamite, House of Black attacked Copeland and stole his wedding ring which belonged to him and his wife, Beth Copeland. In a backstage promo, Black accepted the match, but on the condition that if he won, Copeland would have to bend a knee to the House of Black. Chris Jericho began feuding with Hook when the latter refused to take on a mentor-student relationship. This led to a match between the two at Dynasty where Jericho won Hook's FTW Championship, turning heel, and adopting a sarcastic advice and guidance offering moniker "The Learning Tree". He took on Big Bill as a "student" when he assisted in Jericho retaining the title in a match against Katsuyori Shibata on the May 1 episode of Dynamite. Hook returned on the May 15 episode of Dynamite to demand a rematch for the title, but Jericho said he would have to earn his way back to contendership. Shibata also wanted another shot at Jericho, so a trios qualifying match was set up for the May 22 episode of Dynamite with qualifying matches on the May 18 episode of Collision. Hook, Shibata, and Bryan Keith won their respective matches against Johnny TV, Rocky Romero, and Boulder, and during the qualifying match itself, Keith tapped out to both Hook and Shibata's submission holds, causing the FTW Championship match to become a three-way match. Serena Deeb returned to AEW after a fourteen-month hiatus due to seizures and set her sights on winning the AEW Women's World Championship from "Timeless" Toni Storm. She became the number one contender after Storm threw in the towel during Deeb's match with Mariah May on the May 1 episode of Dynamite. = In the first match of the pre-show, Deonna Purrazzo faced Thunder Rosa. In the end, as Rosa attempted to lock in a submission, Purrazzo rolled her over and grabbed the ropes for leverage to secure the pinfall. In the second and final match of the pre-show, The Acclaimed (Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and "Daddy Ass" Billy Gunn) faced Cage of Agony (Brian Cage, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun). Cage tried to introduce a steel chair to the match but had the weapon snatched by Vegas Golden Knights mascot Chance the Gila. Caster hit Cage with a Fameasser and Gunn rolled up Kaun in the confusion. = The actual pay-per-view opened with Roderick Strong (accompanied by The Undisputed Kingdom – Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) defending the AEW International Championship against Will Ospreay. In the opening stages, Ospreay performed a springboard somersault plancha from the barricade to Strong, Taven and Bennett. Strong delivered a backbreaker to Ospreay for a two-count, but Ospreay recovered and delivered a handspring enzeguiri. As Taven and Bennett were distracting the referee, Wardlow attacked Ospreay from behind, but the referee caught Wardlow and ejected him, Taven and Bennett from ringside. Ospreay used the opportunity to perform a Sky Twister Press to The Undisputed Kingdom (Strong, Taven, Bennett and Wardlow) on the outside. Ospreay then performed Cheeky Nandos and a Perfect Plex on Strong for a two-count. Strong delivered a superplex and an inverted End of Heartache to Ospreay for a two-count. Strong attempted a running jumping knee strike, but Ospreay countered it mid-air with a Liger Bomb. As the referee was checking on Strong, Don Callis left the commentary booth, jumped on the apron and told Ospreay to use the Tiger Driver '91. Ospreay attempted the Stormbreaker, but Strong escaped and delivered a Sick Kick and a gutbuster. Strong attempted the End of Heartache again, but Ospreay flipped out, delivered the Hidden Blade and then a Stormbreaker to win the title. Adam Cole then came out and cut a promo saying that he shouldn’t be out there, he should be hanging out with the rest of the Undisputed Kingdom, instead of being here. Nobody had any idea how much he has been through, and he’s one of the best of the generation. We do have a little devil inside all of us. Cole was impeded with a video of a man's house, including the Dynamite Diamond Ring, MJF's Burberry scarf and a poker chip. The lights then went out and MJF's music hit, marking MJF's first AEW appearance since Worlds End in December 2023. MJF made his way to the ring, low blowed Cole and delivered a brainbuster to him. MJF then said that he gave Cole his trust and he would never do so again. MJF then picked up the devil mask. MJF then said " No one is on the level of the devil. This stupid, goofy, grotesque, mask, and everything else it symbolizes can go straight to hell". MJF then tosses the mask in the crowd. He said that he has been betting on himself since day one, and in regards to his contract status, MJF showed a tattoo on his calf that says “Bet on Yourself” with an AEW casino chip, and then says he isn't leaving AEW. Next, The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn) defended the Unified World Trios Championship (consisting of the AEW and ROH trios titles) against Death Triangle (Pac, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Rey Fenix) (accompanied by Alex Abrahantes). In the opening stages, The Lucha Brothers (Penta and Fénix) performed a tope con gilo/somersault plancha to The Bang Bang Gang. White delivered a DDT to Pac for a two-count. Fénix delivered a superkick to Austin, Penta delivered a backstabber to Colten, Spinning back kick by Penta, superkick by Fenix, and a twisting Death Valley Driver by Penta to White for a two-count. Pac delivered a rebound German suplex and a running Canadian Destroyer to Austin. The Lucha Brothers then delivered the Fear Factor to White, as Fénix delivered a top rope crossbody to The Gunns on the outside. Pac attempted the Black Arrow, but as White was distracting the referee, Juice Robinson made his return for the first time since October 2023, and shoved Pac from the top rope, allowing White to deliver the Bladerunner to Pac and pin him to retain the trios title. After that, "Timeless" Toni Storm (accompanied by Luther the Butler and Mariah May) defended the AEW Women's World Championship against Serena Deeb. In the opening stages, Storm performed a running hip attack to Deeb, but Deeb responded with a twisting neckbreaker on the floor for a two-count. Deeb then locked in an Octopus Hold on Storm, but Storm reached the ropes. Storm then delivered a backstabber, a DDT and a Perfect Plex to Deeb for a two-count. Deeb then delivered two swinging neckbreakers, a German suplex and a Pepsi Twist to Storm for a two-count. Deeb performed an uppercut and an inside cradle on Storm for a two-count. Deeb locked in a single-leg Boston Crab on Storm, but Storm escaped and delivered the Storm Zero for a two-count. Storm attempted another Storm Zero on the apron, but Deeb reversed and performed a dragon screw leg whip through the ropes there times. Deeb then two Deebtoxes, including one on the apron for a two-count. As Deeb went to the top rope, Storm stopped her, delivered an avalanche piledriver and the Storm Zero, and pinned Deeb to retain her Women's World Championship. In the fourth match, Orange Cassidy faced Trent Beretta. In the opening stages, Cassidy performed a satellite DDT and an elbow suicida. Beretta delivered two german suplexes and a saito suplex. Beretta then delivered a gotch piledriver on the apron to Cassidy and attempted a piledriver on the steel steps, but Cassidy escaped and delivered Beach Break on the floor and then a Michinoku Driver back in the ring for a two-count. Cassidy attempted a Stundog Millionaire, but Beretta countered it into a half-and-half suplex and then the Dudebuster for a two-count. Beretta attempted another piledriver, but Cassidy reversed it into Beach Break for a two-count. Cassidy attempted the Orange Punch, but Beretta transitioned it into the Gogoplata; Cassidy reversed the Gogoplata into a cradle for the three-count. Next, Chris Jericho defended the FTW Championship against Hook and Katsuyori Shibata in an FTW Rules match. In the opening stages, Hook delivered a T-Bone suplex to Shibata and a German suplex to Jericho. Jericho delivered a snap suplex to Hook and brought out a bag full of dice and poured it on the ring. Shibata then delivered a brainbuster to Jericho on the dice. Hook and Shibata delivered a double backdrop driver to Jericho. Hook delivered a Northern Lights suplex to Shibata but Shibata responded with a belly-to-belly suplex. Hook and Shibata then took turns beating Jericho with a kendo stick. Shibata delivered a Death Valley Driver to Hook onto Jericho on a table. Shibata locked in an Indian Deathlock on Jericho, but Hook broke up the submission hold. Hook delivered a saito suplex to Shibata, allowing Jericho to deliver the Codebreaker for a two-count. Jericho attempted the Judas Effect, but Hook ducked and locked in RedRum. As Jericho was about the tap out, Big Bill came out and attacked Hook. Big Bill attempted to chokeslam Hook through a table, but Hook countered and delivered a T-bone suplex to Big Bill through the table. Shibata and Hook then locked in a heel hook and the RedRum respectively on Jericho, but a masked man came out and hit both Shibata and Hook with a trash can. The masked man was revealed to be Bryan Keith, allowing Jericho to deliver the Judas Effect to Shibata and pin him to retain the title. After that, Jon Moxley faced Konosuke Takeshita (accompanied by Don Callis) in a title eliminator match, where if Takeshita won, he would receive a future match for Moxley's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. In the opening stages, Takeshita delivered a running single-arm DDT and a deadlift brainbuster to Moxley. Moxley performed an Ace Crusher and attempted a triangle choke, but Takeshita escaped and delivered a Last Ride powerbomb for a two-count. Moxley delivered a suicide dive to Takeshita and a lariat in the ring. Takeshita performed an overhook tombstone piledriver followed by a wheelbarrow suplex and then attempted the Powerdrive Knee, but Moxley impeded with the Paradigm Shift. Takeshita delivered a pair of elbow strikes and the Powerdrive Knee for a two-count. Takeshita then delivered a Death Rider for a nearfall. Don Callis told Takeshita to carry a steel chair, but the referee removed it. Callis slid another steel chair back in the ring, but as Takeshita attempted to use it, Moxley delivered a Curb Stomp to him onto the steel chair and then the Death Rider for the win. Next, Adam Copeland defended the AEW TNT Championship against Malakai Black in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match. In the opening stages, Copeland delivered a flapjack to Black and powerbombed him into the cage for a two-count. Copeland delivered an impaler DDT to Black and attempted a spear, but Black moved out of the way. Black then sent Copeland into a barbed wire turnbuckle. Black delivered a roundhouse kick and raked a barbed wire bat across the face of Copeland. Black attempted a Con-chair-to with the barbed wire bat, but Copeland moved out of the way and hit Black in the stomach with the barbed wire bat. Black delivered a sunset flip powerbomb to Copeland through a table for a two-count. Black then attempted the Black Mass, but Copeland ducked and delivered a spear for a two-count. Copeland carried the barbed wire bat, hit it on the face of Black and then raked it on Black's head. Copeland delivered a tombstone piledriver to Black and wrapped him in barbed wire on a table. Copeland climbed to the top of the cage and delivered an elbow drop to Black through the table for a two-count. Copeland attempted another Spear, but Black impeded it with a Black Mass for a two-count. As Black was making his way to the floor, Copeland delivered a spear to him. Malakai Black's House of Black stablemates Buddy Matthews and Brody King came out and feigned aligning with Copeland until King delivered a lariat to Copeland. The House of Black continue beating down Copeland, with Matthews and King putting a barbed wire crown of thorns around Copeland's head. The lights then turn red and the debuting Gangrel the. came out from inside the ring and spat red mist into both King and Matthews. Gangrel then delivered impaler DDTs to both King and Matthews. Black delivered a Black Mass to Gangrel, but Copeland then delivered a spear to Black and locked in a barbed wire-assisted crossface on Black. Black passed out and the referee called for the bell, thus Copeland retained his TNT Championship. After the match, Copeland and Gangrel, former members of The Brood, made their way to the ramp as Copeland raised his TNT Championship. The eight match was the first in what AEW promoted as a triple main event, in which Willow Nightingale (accompanied by Stokely Hathaway and Kris Statlander) defended the AEW TBS Championship against Mercedes Moné. In the opening stages, Moné attempted a baseball slide to Nightingale to the outside, but Nightingale caught her and delivered a Doctor Bomb on the apron. Moné delivered a diving meteora to Nightingale for a two-count. Nightingale attempted a bodyslam to Moné, but Moné escaped and delivered a backstabber. Nightingale locked in an ankle lock on Moné, but Moné escaped and went through the ropes and got pounced by Nightingale. Nightingale then delivered a spinebuster for a two-count. Nightingale attempted another Doctor Bomb, but Moné escaped and delivered a knee strike. Nightingale then delivered a deadlift powerbomb and a fisherman suplex to Moné for a two-count. Nightingale delivered a Death Valley Driver to Moné into the turbuckles and attempted a cannonball in the corner, but Moné escaped and delivered a middle-rope meteora for a two-count. Moné delivered another meteora off the apron to Nightingale on the outside and then pushed Statlander. Statlander and Hathaway, who were infuriated with Moné actions, then distract the referee, allowing Nightingale to deliver another Doctor Bomb for a two-count. Moné then delivered the Moné Maker and pinned Nightingale to win the TBS Championship. After the match, Hathaway is shouting at Nightingale and Statlander then shoves Hathaway. As Nightingale and Statlander are making their way up the ramp, Statlander pushed Nightingale to the ground and delivered a discus lariat, thus turning heel for the first time in her AEW career. The second match of the triple main event saw Swerve Strickland (accompanied by Prince Nana) defended the AEW World Championship against Christian Cage (accompanied by The Patriarchy – Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne). In the opening stages, Strickland attempted a suplex, but Christian escaped and delivered a reverse DDT and a frog splash for a two-count. Christian delivered a sunset flip powerbomb and attempted a spear, but Strickland feigned being tired and delivered a powerslam for a two-count. Strickland delivered a neckbreaker and performed a Fosbury Flop to Christian. Mother Wayne then grabbed the AEW World Championship, but Prince Nana seized the title from her. Nick told the referee that Nana was with the title and got ejected from ringside. As Mother Wayne was distracting the referee, Killswitch accidentally headbutted Christian, allowing Strickland to deliver a Swerve Stomp to Killswitch. Strickland attempted the Swerve Stomp to Christian, but Christian moved out the way and delivered a spear to him for a two-count. The referee then ejected The Patriarchy from ringside after seeing that they were trying to interfere again, allowing Strickland to deliver a rolling flatliner to Christian for a two-count and then a Swerve Stomp off the apron. As Christian was taking the referee's attention, Nick Wayne came back out and delivered Wayne's World to Strickland on the outside, allowing Christian to deliver his Killswitch finisher to Strickland back in the ring for a two-count. Nana then came out with a metal pipe to chase out Nick. Christian attempted another Killswitch to Strickland on the announce table, but Strickland escaped and delivered a Swerve Stomp to him onto the announce table. Strickland then attempted the JML Driver back in the ring, but Christian countered it into a victory roll for a two-count. Christian attempted a spear, but Strickland impeded it with a House Call in mid-air. Strickland then delivered another Swerve Stomp and then the House Call for the pin and the win. = The final match of the night, and the third in the triple main event, was the Anarchy in the Arena match, which saw The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry and The Young Bucks – Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) face Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin and FTR – Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler). Allin hit a Coffin Drop off the arena gate onto his foes and then Allin drowned Perry in an ice bucket, Perry knocked himself out while seemingly running over Allin with a small bus. Allin emerged from the wreckage only for The Young Bucks to trap him inside the stage elevator. They then performed an Indytaker onto Allin onto giant poker chips and Nicholas hit a senton atomico off the staging through a table. Towards the end of the match, Perry grabbed AEW founder Tony Khan in a callback to the infamous physical altercation between Perry and CM Punk that led to Punk's AEW termination, in which led into Adam Copeland joining AEW. Perry brought Khan to the rampway but was greeted by Allin's flamethrower. Allin fired his flamethrower at Perry, igniting him. AEW staff were on hand with fire extinguishers to rescue Perry. Matthew hit Harwood with an exploding chair, Okada used a thumbtacked sleeve to hit Wheeler with the Rain Maker, and The Elite hung Allin upside down from the ceiling by his ankles before hitting him with thumbtack-laced superkicks. Danielson tried to save the day but was overwhelmed by his four foes. As Danielson helplessly reached for his unconscious teammate, Perry hit a running knee to pin Danielson. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, reviewing the buy-in, rated Deonna Purrazzo vs Thunder Rosa 2.75 stars and the Trios match 3 stars. For the PPV event, he rated the following matches, the International Championship bout 4.75 stars, (the highest on the card), the Unification Trios match 4 stars, the Women’s World Championship bout 3.5 stars, the Orange Cassidy/Beretta match 3.75 stars, the FTW Championship match 2.25 stars (the lowest on the card), the IGWP Heavyweight Eliminator Match, TNT Championship, and the AEW World Championship match all 4.25 stars, the TBS Championship and the Anarchy in the Arena match both 4.5 stars (The first anarchy in the arena match not to be rated at 5 Stars). This was also the first AEW PPV in 2024 to not have a match rated 5 stars or more by Dave Meltzer. =

76556018

Forbidden Door (2024)

2024-04-08 05:13:37+00:00

The 2024 Forbidden Door was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and supershow co-produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the Japan-based New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It was the third annual Forbidden Door event and took place on June 30, 2024, at the UBS Arena in the Long Island hamlet of Elmont, New York. The event also featured the involvement of wrestlers from NJPW's sister promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom, as well as Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), a partner of both AEW and NJPW. Fifteen matches were contested at the event, including five on Zero Hour pre-show. In the main event, Swerve Strickland defeated Will Ospreay to retain the AEW World Championship. In other prominent matches, Tetsuya Naito defeated Jon Moxley to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Mercedes Moné defeated Stephanie Vaquer in a Winner Takes All match to retain the AEW TBS Championship and win the NJPW Strong Women's Championship, Jack Perry defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Briscoe, Dante Martin, Lio Rush, and El Phantasmo in a Ladder match to win the vacant AEW TNT Championship, and "Timeless" Toni Storm defeated Mina Shirakawa to retain the AEW Women's World Championship. The event also featured the return of Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., who had been on hiatus since September 2023. = Forbidden Door is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Japan-based New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Established in 2022, the event is held in June and features direct competition between wrestlers from the two companies. The event takes its name from the same term often used by AEW when referring to working with other professional wrestling promotions. On April 11, 2024, AEW announced that the third Forbidden Door would take place on June 30, 2024, at the UBS Arena in the Long Island hamlet of Elmont, New York. Rocky Romero, who is a vice president for both AEW and NJPW, said that wrestlers from World Wonder Ring Stardom, a women's Japanese company and sister promotion of NJPW, would also take part in the 2024 event. He also said that wrestlers from the Mexican partner promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) would be involved. = Forbidden Door featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Storylines were primarily advanced on AEW's weekly television shows Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, the YouTube series Being The Dark Order, and also at NJPW, Stardom, and CMLL events. During the May 22 episode of Dynamite, it was announced that on the following week's episode, a Casino Gauntlet match would be held to determine who would challenge Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door. The match was won by Will Ospreay. At Double or Nothing, Adam Copeland legitimately injured his leg in his successful title defense of the AEW TNT Championship. On the following episode of Dynamite, AEW executive vice presidents The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) stripped Copeland of the title due to the injury. As they were about to award the championship to their Elite stablemate Jack Perry, Christopher Daniels—who had been fired by the Bucks two weeks prior—appeared, revealing that AEW president Tony Khan had reinstated him as an interim executive vice president in the absence of Kenny Omega, who had surgery due to diverticulitis, and that any announcement made by Daniels came directly from Khan. Daniels then announced that the TNT Championship would not be handed to Perry and instead, the next champion would be determined by a ladder match at Forbidden Door and the six participants would come from qualifying matches over the next few weeks. The first qualifying match took place on that week's episode of Rampage, where Konosuke Takeshita defeated Penta El Zero Miedo. Mark Briscoe then qualified on the next week's Dynamite by defeating Brian Cage. Perry qualified next by defeating Dustin Rhodes on the June 12 episode of Dynamite, followed by Dante Martin defeating Lee Moriarty on the June 15 episode of Collision. Lio Rush then qualified on the June 21 episode of Rampage by defeating Action Andretti. El Phantasmo earmed the final spot in the ladder match by defeating AR Fox on the June 28 episode of Rampage. Following her successful defense of the AEW TBS Championship on the May 29 episode of Dynamite, Mercedes Moné was interrupted by NJPW Strong Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer, who performs in NJPW, Stardom, and CMLL. The two subsequently stared each other down while holding their respective titles up. The following week, it was announced that the two would face each other at Forbidden Door in a Winner Takes All match for both championships. Before that, however, Moné was scheduled to defend the TBS Championship against Vaquer's CMLL World Women's Tag Team Championship partner Zeuxis on the June 12 episode of Dynamite and it was announced that if Moné lost her title to Zeuxis, then the Forbidden Door match would only be for Vaquer's Strong Women's Championship; Moné retained. Prior to signing with AEW in November 2023, Mariah May performed in Stardom where she teamed together with Mina Shirakawa as part of Club Venus. After signing with AEW, May became a protege of AEW Women's World Champion "Timeless" Toni Storm, who also previously performed in Stardom from 2016 to 2019. Storm made a surprise appearance at Stardom American Dream on April 4 after a Club Venus match and teased a match at Forbidden Door; in return, Shirakawa made her first appearance in AEW on the April 10 episode of Dynamite, saving May from a post-match beatdown before kissing her. Over the next two months, Shirakawa would periodically appear on AEW shows and compete with Storm for May's affection. During Stardom's June 2 event, Storm, along with May, appeared in a vignette where Storm said she had been observing Shirakawa and while she also considered Shirakawa a friend due to her friendship with May, Storm wanted to challenge Shirakawa to a match at Forbidden Door with the AEW Women's World Championship on the line. Shirakawa accepted the challenge and the match was made official on the June 5 episode of Dynamite, with May listed as the cornerwoman for both participants upon her request. At Forbidden Door in 2023, AEW's Orange Cassidy won a four-man match which also involved NJPW's Zack Sabre Jr. The following year on the June 8, 2024, episode of Collision, Sabre challenged Cassidy to a rematch as a singles match at Forbidden Door, claiming the two men had unfinished business. At NJPW's Windy City Riot in April, AEW's Jon Moxley defeated NJPW's Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. After retaining the title at NJPW's Dominion on June 9, Moxley cut a promo for anyone to challenge him. Naito came out to confront Moxley, and a rematch for the title was set for Forbidden Door. At Double or Nothing, MJF made a surprise return from injury after being out since Worlds End in December 2023. He subsequently made his first appearance back on Dynamite on the June 5 episode where he badmouthed The Elite. Following MJF's match on the June 19 episode, Cage of Agony (Brian Cage, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun) and CMLL's Hechicero appeared on the titantron. Cage subsequently announced that The Elite had a gift for MJF and it was that he would be facing Hechicero in MJF's hometown at Forbidden Door. The Owen Hart Cup is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by AEW in partnership with The Owen Hart Foundation in honor of Owen Hart. It consists of two single-elimination tournaments, one each for men and women, and the respective winners receive a trophy called "The Owen". Additionally, for 2024, it was announced that the respective winners would earn matches for AEW's men's and women's world championships at All In in August. During the June 19 episode of Dynamite, it was announced that AEW's Bryan Danielson would face NJPW's Shingo Takagi at Forbidden Door in a first-round tournament match. = = =

76456653

Leipzig FlixBus highway accident

2024-03-27 18:30:38+00:00

On 27 March 2024, in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, an accident involving a Flixbus en route to Zürich, Switzerland from Berlin occurred on the Bundesautobahn 9, with the vehicle veering off the road, killing four people and injuring 35 more. Both sides of the Autobahn were closed. Bus company Umbrella Mobility, that operates the line on behalf of Flixbus, was several times negatively in the news in the year before the accident. A former driver stated that the company's fleet is an "absolute disaster". Next to that in October 2023, a bus driver was caught driving under influence of alcohol with 2.4 per mille of alcohol in his blood. Passengers told German media that the two drivers had an argument just before the accident. The day after the accident it was announced the German Public Prosecution Service started an investigation into the 62-years-old driver of the bus. Justice accuses the driver of unintentional manslaughter and causing bodily harm through negligence. Five days after the accident the head of bus company Umbrella Mobility responded to the accident and blamed the passengers who were killed because they were not wearing their seat belts.

77015439

2024 New Mexico wildfires

2024-05-26 03:57:30+00:00

The 2024 New Mexico wildfire season is an ongoing series of notable wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of New Mexico. The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

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Salt Fire (2024)

2024-06-19 00:31:56+00:00

The Salt Fire is an ongoing wildfire in New Mexico that has burned 7,071 acres (2,862 ha) and is 0% contained. The fire began on June 17 near the town of Ruidoso. A state of emergency was also declared by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The Salt Fire was first reported near Ruidoso on June 17, 2024, at approximately 2:20 PM MDT. On June 18, 2024, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the Salt Fire and nearby South Fork Fire.

77176972

South Fork Fire

2024-06-18 15:03:20+00:00

The South Fork Fire is an ongoing wildfire in New Mexico that has burned 17,569 acres (7,110 ha) and is 87% as of July 3rd, 2024. The fire began on June 17 near the town of Ruidoso and grew very rapidly, surpassing 15,000 acres burned by the following day and destroying at least 1400 houses and structures. Investigators have stated that a lightning strike caused the fire. A state of emergency was also declared by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The South Fork Fire was first reported near Ruidoso near the Mescalaro Apache Reservation on June 17, 2024, at approximately 9:07 AM MDT. Extreme fire behavior occurred across the South Fork on June 18th, with crowning observed. Air resources worked in conjunction with ground resources, firefighters and heavy equipment, to continue constructing protective firelines including around structures. Firefighters quickly put out a spot fire on the South Fork Fire on June 18th. On June 18, 2024, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the South Fork Fire and nearby Salt Fire. That same day it was reported that one person had died from the fire. The following day another person was reported to have died due to the fire, as a result of the fire burning the vehicle they were in. State and federal officials have responded with over 800 firefighters and 40 Army and Air National Guardsmen to assist state police with traffic checkpoints. Various roads have been closed due to the fire including stretches of Highway 48 and Highway 70 near Ruidoso, State Highway 48 from Alpine Village to State Highway 220 and U.S. Route 70 from mile marker 249 to mile marker 258. On June 17, 2024, at 7 PM MDT, just under 10 hours after the fire had begun, the entire town of Ruidoso, New Mexico was ordered to evacuate. Several evacuation centers have been set up in the city of Roswell, about 75 miles west of Ruidoso. Reports indicate that more than 1,400 structures have been destroyed by the fire.

76485066

2024 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

2024-03-30 12:02:07+00:00

The 2024 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year is the 99th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Trainers' Judgement Night held at Hove on 4 May, was won by Liz McNair for the first time. The Irish won another English Greyhound Derby when De Lahdedah won for trainer Liam Dowling, equalling the track record in the process. It was the third consecutive win for the Irish and the fifth winner from the last six editions. = = =

76917447

2024 English Greyhound Derby

2024-05-16 12:32:42+00:00

The 2024 Greyhound Derby sponsored by Star Sports/TRC, took place during May and June 2024, with the final being held on 29 June 2024 at Towcester Greyhound Stadium. De Lahdedah won the event, equalling the track record in the final for trainer and breeder Liam Dowling and owners 'The Garsuns Syndicate'. It was the third consecutive English Derby win for the Irish and the fifth winner from the last six editions. It was the sixth time that the event was held at Towcester after previously being run there in 2017 to 2018 and 2021 to 2023. The dates of the competition were as follows - first round 23, 24 & 25 May, second round 31 May & 1 June, third round 8 June, quarter finals 15 June, semi-finals 22 June. There were 193 entries, which included a large contingent of 52 runners from Ireland and the first representation from a Welsh track (Valley Greyhound Stadium) since the closure of Cardiff Greyhounds. In the ante-post betting, Puppy Derby & Olympic winner King Memphis 16/1 and (Pall Mall champion) Links Maverick 16/1 headed the betting. They were closely followed by the leading bitch Queen Joni 18/1, Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe 20/1, De Lahdedah 20/1, Romeo Command 20/1 and King Capaldi 20/1. Others expected to go well were, Signet Goofy, Faypoint Harvey, Jaytee Etienne, Swords Rex and Clonbrien Treaty. Two greyhounds priced at 100/1 were defending champion Gaytime Nemo and 2023 third placed Cochise. First round The first round, held on 23 May, saw the recent Maiden Derby winner Jaytee Etienne win the opening heat in 28.85, followed by Irish Oaks champion Crafty Shivoo taking heat 2. The first shock arrived in heat 4 with the elimination of Signet Goofy, while the next heat resulted in the progression of Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe. The eighth heat went to De Lahdedah and King Capaldi finished runner-up in heat 9 before Boylesports Bob impressed in a time of 28.87. The second evening on 24 May started badly for the McNair camp because Queen Joni found trouble and was eliminated in the race won by Clonbrien Treaty. However, in the very next race McNair's King Memphis broke the track record with a time of 28.58. Hawkfield Blue won heat 13 in 28.82 and Swords Rex claimed heat 16. The expected Irish challenge and success continued with Pat Buckley's Antigua Hawk recording 28.81 in heat 18, followed by a Graham Holland double with Juvenile champion Faypoint Harvey and defending champion Gaytime Nemo. The final first round heats were held on 25 May and both Links Maverick and Romeo Command were shock eliminations. Four greyhounds set fast times; Barntick Bear impressed winning in 28.68, followed by Glengar Martha 28.75, Ballymac Senan 28.80 and Kings Combs 28.86. Second round Graham Holland's Swords Rex got round two underway with a fast 28.75 success and two heats later King Memphis won in 28.78. Holland then had another winner when Gaytime Nemo recorded 28.76 and the Irish challenge continued with a win from behind for Liam Dowling's De Lahdedah, who would become the new favourite for the event after the second round (King Capaldi failed to progress from the same heat). Superfast Gordon recorded 28.71 and Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe provided Holland with a third winner and Ireland with five out of eight on the night. Pat Buckley's Ballinabola Ed returned to prominence when winning heat 10 on the second night before Antigua Hawk set a time of 28.77 in heat 11. In the very next heat Mark Wallis saw Crafty Shivoo win in 28.59, just one spot outside the new track record. Third round Going into the third round 22 of the last 48 runners were Irish and The Other Kobe continued the Irish success with the first heat win, keeping the hopes of an Irish/English Derby double alive. The next three heats all went to British hounds, Droopys Pivotel, Churchfield Syd and Droopys Doughnut. Heat 5 went to Grouchos Duke before Crafty Shivoo won the strongest heat of the round from De Lahdedah and defending champion Gaytime Nemo. Heat 7 went to King Memphis ahead of Ballinabola Ed and Swords Rex before Ballymack Slick ended the night taking only a third heat win for the Irish. Quarter finals The quarter finals were an eventful round with Churchfield Syd taking advantage of being a wide seed and avoiding the crowding in heat 1, to win in 29.08 ahead of Droopys Pivotel. Defending champion Gaytime Nemo ran on strongly to deny Crafy Shivoo a place in the semi-final. King Memphis won heat 2 easily in a fast time of 28.65, with Whyaye Man and Ballymac Gizmo also qualifying. Heat 3 was missing Swords Rex but Graham Holland's Irish champion The Other Kobe safely progressed, despite being caught on the line by Ballmac Slick, with Edwards finishing third. The final heat saw another wide seed take advantage when Boylesports Bob missed trouble to win by ten and a half lengths from Coss Tokyo and De Lahdedah. Semi finals De Lahdedah won the first semi final with the advantage of the red jacket with Whyaye Man and Boylesports Bob also qualifying for the final. Defending champion Gaytime Nemo just failed to make the decider after leading to the first bend before finishing fourth. Churchfield Syd also had a good draw, as the only wide seed in the second semi final he defeated the strong finishing King Memphis and Ballyamc Gizmo. Irish champion The Other Kobe only managed fifth. At Towcester (over 500 metres): Winner £175,000 = 2½, ¾, head, ½, 2¾ (lengths) 0.08 sec = one length = Churchfield Syd broke smartly from the traps to lead but De Lahdedah showed impressive early pace to take the lead at the second bend, the black dog drew clear to equal the track record in 28.58. Boylesports Bob finished strongly to take second place with Whyaye Man also running on well to take third despite being slightly held up at the third bend. Ballymac Gizmo could never find space and finished fifth behind Churchfield Syd who held on for fourth. The favourite King Memphis, who was so consistent in the rounds made an awful start, missing the break completely and struggled to make an impact from the back.

76051464

Swimming at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay

2024-02-10 11:46:35+00:00

The Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay competition at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships was held on 11 February 2024. Prior to the competition, the existing world and championship records were as follows. = The heats were started on 11 February at 11:43. = The final was started at 20:32.

76052831

Swimming at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay

2024-02-10 15:51:41+00:00

The Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay competition at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships was held on 18 February 2024. Prior to the competition, the existing world and championship records were as follows. = The heats were held at 10:09. = The final was held at 20:37.

76052751

Swimming at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay

2024-02-10 15:38:01+00:00

The Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay competition at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships was held on 16 February 2024. Prior to the competition, the existing world and championship records were as follows. = The heats were started at 10:49. = The final was held at 20:33.

76052772

Swimming at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre backstroke

2024-02-10 15:41:14+00:00

The Men's 50 metre backstroke competition at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships was held on 17 and 18 February 2024. Prior to the competition, the existing world and championship records were as follows. = The heats were held on 17 February at 09:57. = The semifinals were held on 17 February at 20:06. = The final was held on 18 February at 19:02.

76052621

Swimming at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre breaststroke

2024-02-10 15:16:14+00:00

The Men's 50 metre breaststroke competition at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships was held on 13 and 14 February 2024. Prior to the competition, the existing world and championship records were as follows. = The heats were held on 13 February at 09:32. = The semifinals were held on 13 February at 19:34. = The final was started on 14 February at 20:01.

75973618

Rehan Zeb Khan

2024-02-01 08:01:08+00:00

Rehan Zeb Khan (Urdu: ریحان زیب خان; died 31 January 2024) was a Pakistani politician who was a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. He was an election candidate in NA-8 Bajaur participating in the 8 February 2024 elections. Khan was an independent candidate in the 8 February elections who claimed the support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party. Despite the ban on PTI from contesting elections due to a recent court order, Khan was contesting the National Assembly seat from Bajaur constituency. The deceased Rehanzeb was a supporter of PTI, but after not getting PTI tickets, he raised questions on social media about the distribution of tickets. PTI has given party ticket for National Assembly in NA-8 to Gul Zafar Khan while PK-22 ticket to Gul Dad Khan. Rehanzeb was participating in the National and Provincial Assembly elections as an independent candidate. Rehanzeb had also exposed the corruption in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on January 12, after which he was being criticized by troll accounts linked to Tehreek-e-Insaf declared him as party-backed candidate on official accounts, then removed the statement. Rehan Zeib Khan was assassinated on 31 January 2024 during the election campaign in Sadiqabad Phatak Bazar Main Chowk in Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Three of his supporters were also shot and injured. Khan's killing sparked fears of an increase in violence surrounding the parliamentary vote. His death was a major event before the 2024 general elections.

75728774

Masood ur Rehman Usmani

2024-01-05 12:56:39+00:00

Masood-ur-Rehman Usmani (Urdu: مسعود الرحمان عثمانی; c. 1968 – 5 January 2024) was a Pakistani Islamic scholar and religious leader who served as the Central Deputy Secretary of Sunni Ulema Council and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, renamed Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) until his death. He was shot by an unknown person in Islamabad on 5 January 2024. He was also a member of Council of Islamic Ideology, a constituent body of Government of Pakistan. Usmani was arrested in April 2018 by unknown persons from Sharifabad area under Koral police station. After his disappearance, his supporters blocked the Islamabad Expressway. However, the circumstances surrounding his arrest are still unclear. Maulana Usmani was born in 1968 in the Shangla district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. He received his religious education at various madrasas, including Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi and Jamia Ashrafia Lahore. He earned the distinguished title of "Maulana" by completing his Dars-e-Nizami, a traditional Islamic scholarly program. Masood ur Rehman Usmani was shot dead on 5 January 2024 by bike-borne shooters in Ghori Town, a suburb in Islamabad. He was taken to the hospital where doctors declared him dead. = Thousands of mourners attended a funeral Saturday for a Pakistani Sunni Muslim cleric gunned down in broad daylight on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad, police and a spokesman for the cleric’s organization said: The funeral of Masood-ur-Rehman Usmani was held a day after unidentified gunmen shot and killed him and wounded his driver in the neighborhood of Ghauri Town, according to a statement issued by the Islamabad police. = Immediately after the incident, a heavy police force reached the spot and cordoned off the area and an investigation has been started to arrest the accused.

76441020

2024 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team

2024-03-25 17:25:46+00:00

The 2024 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park and were led by seventh-year head coach Gerry Glasco. They were members of the Sun Belt Conference. = The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 31, 2024. Louisiana was picked to finish first in the conference with 144 votes and all first place votes (12). Sophomore outfielder Mihyia Davis was chosen as the Preseason Conference Player of the Year. = Lauren Allred (1st Base, LA) Taylor McKinney (2nd Base, TXST) Alexa Langeliers (2nd Base, LA) Sydney Bickel (Shortstop, MARSH) Brooke Ellestad (Shortstop, LA) Sara Vanderford (3rd Base, TXST) Delaney Keith (3rd Base, CCU) Mihyia Davis (Outfielder, LA) Mackenzie Brasher (Outfielder, USA) Kayt Houston (Outfielder, APP) Sophie Piskos (Catcher, LA) Iyana De Jesus (Designated Player, CCU) Jessica Mullins (Pitcher, TXST) Olivia Lackie (Pitcher, USA) Sam Landry (Pitcher, LA) Schedule Source: *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

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2024 Africa Men's Sevens

2024-06-29 13:43:20+00:00

The 2024 Africa Men's Sevens is the 14th edition of the Africa Men's Sevens, an annual African rugby sevens tournament. Event takes place at the Labourdonnais Sports Grounds, Mauritius between 29 and 30 June and 6 and 7 July 2024. Twelve teams participate. Teams will play in two tournaments across two weekends in Mauritius. The winner is decided by a series table. Ghana withdrew before the tournament and were replaced by South Africa. = = = = = = = = = = = =

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Mauritius at the 2023 African Games

2024-03-12 16:04:19+00:00

Mauritius competed at the 2023 African Games held from 8 to 23 March 2024 in Accra, Ghana. Mauritius competed in 13 sports.

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2024 Copa Libertadores final stages

2024-05-15 21:14:40+00:00

The 2024 Copa Libertadores final stages will be played from 13 August to 30 November 2024. A total of 16 teams will compete in the final stages to decide the champions of the 2024 Copa Libertadores, with the final to be played in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The winners and runners-up of each of the eight groups in the group stage advanced to the round of 16. = Starting from the round of 16, the teams are seeded according to their results in the group stage, with the group winners (Pot 1) seeded 1–8, and the group runners-up (Pot 2) seeded 9–16. Starting from the round of 16, the teams play a single-elimination tournament with the following rules: In the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg (Regulations Article 2.2.3.2). If tied on aggregate, extra time will not be played, and a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winners (Regulations Article 2.4.3). The final is played as a single match at a venue pre-selected by CONMEBOL, with the higher-seeded team designated as the "home" team for administrative purposes (Regulations Article 2.2.3.5). If tied after regulation, 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winners (Regulations Article 2.4.4). The draw for the round of 16 was held on 3 June 2024, 12:00 PYT (UTC−4) in Asunción, Paraguay. For the round of 16, the 16 teams were drawn into eight ties (A–H) between a group winner (Pot 1) and a group runner-up (Pot 2), with the group winners hosting the second leg. Teams from the same association or the same group could be drawn into the same tie (Regulations Article 2.2.3.2). The bracket starting from the round of 16 is determined as follows: The bracket was decided based on the round of 16 draw, which was held on 3 June 2024. = The first legs will be played on 13–15 August, and the second legs will be played on 20–22 August 2024. = Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S1). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S2). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S3). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S4). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S4). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S3). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S2). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S1). = The first legs will be played on 17–19 September, and the second legs will be played on 24–26 September 2024. = Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F1). Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F2). Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F2). Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F1). = The first legs will be played on 22–24 October, and the second legs will be played on 29–31 October 2024. = Winner advances to the final. Winner advances to the final. The final will be played on 30 November 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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2024 Copa Sudamericana final stages

2024-05-15 22:15:44+00:00

The 2024 Copa Sudamericana final stages will be played from 16 July to 23 November 2024. A total of 24 teams will compete in the final stages to decide the champions of the 2024 Copa Sudamericana, with the final to be played in Asunción, Paraguay. The winners and runners-up of each of the eight groups in the Copa Sudamericana group stage as well as the third-placed teams of each of the eight groups in the Copa Libertadores group stage advanced to the final stages. The eight Copa Sudamericana group runners-up will face the eight Copa Libertadores group third-placed teams in the knockout round play-offs, whilst the eight Copa Sudamericana group winners directly advanced to the round of 16. = = = For the final stages, the teams are seeded according to their results in the group stage, with the Copa Sudamericana group winners seeded 1–8, the Copa Sudamericana group runners-up seeded 9–16, and the Copa Libertadores group third-placed teams seeded 17–24. For the round of 16 draw, the seeds 1–8 made up Pot 1, and the eight knockout round play-offs winners (seeds 9–24) made up Pot 2, keeping their seed. Teams from the same association may play each other from the knockout round play-offs onwards. Starting from the knockout round play-offs, the teams play a single-elimination tournament with the following rules: In the knockout round play-offs, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg (Regulations Article 2.2.3). If tied on aggregate, extra time will not be played, and a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winners (Regulations Article 2.4.4). The final is played as a single match at a venue pre-selected by CONMEBOL, with the higher-seeded team designated as the "home" team for administrative purposes (Regulations Article 2.2.6). If tied after regulation, 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winners (Regulations Article 2.4.5). The draw for the round of 16 was held on 3 June 2024, 12:00 PYT (UTC−4) in Asunción, Paraguay. For the round of 16, the 16 teams were drawn into eight ties (A–H) between a Copa Sudamericana group winner (Pot 1) and a knockout round play-offs winner (Pot 2), with the group winners hosting the second leg. Teams from the same association or the same group could be drawn into the same tie (Regulations Article 2.2.3.2). The bracket starting from the round of 16 is determined as follows: The bracket was decided based on the round of 16 draw, which was held on 3 June 2024. = The first legs will be played on 16–18 July, and the second legs will be played on 23–25 July 2024. = Winner advances to the round of 16. Winner advances to the round of 16. Winner advances to the round of 16. Winner advances to the round of 16. Winner advances to the round of 16. Winner advances to the round of 16. Winner advances to the round of 16. Winner advances to the round of 16. = The first legs will be played on 13–15 August, and the second legs will be played on 20–22 August 2024. = Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S1). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S2). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S3). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S4). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S4). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S3). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S2). Winner advances to the quarter-finals (Match S1). = The first legs will be played on 17–19 September, and the second legs will be played on 24–26 September 2024. = Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F1). Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F2). Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F2). Winner advances to the semi-finals (Match F1). = The first legs will be played on 22–24 October, and the second legs will be played on 29–31 October 2024. = Winner advances to the final. Winner advances to the final. The final will be played on 23 November 2024 in Asunción, Paraguay.

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2024 South American Basketball Championship for Women

2024-06-29 11:49:44+00:00

The 2024 South American Basketball Championship for Women will be the 38th edition of the tournament. Nine teams will feature in the competition, held at the Centro de Deportes Colectivos in Santiago Chile from 31 August 1 to 7 September 2024. The top three teams will qualify for the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. = = = Fifth place bracket

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Abeïbara massacres

2024-07-06 17:57:43+00:00

The Abeïbara massacres were several massacres carried out by the Malian Armed Forces and Wagner Group against Tuareg civilians in and around Abeïbara, Mali between June 20 and 29, 2024. At least seventy people were killed in the massacres. Following renewed conflict between former Tuareg rebel groups now under the coalition CSP-PSD and the Malian junta aided by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group that began in August 2023, Malian and Wagner forces launched an offensive on the Tuareg rebel capital of Kidal, capturing it in November 2023. Remaining CSP-PSD fighters fled to the rural towns of Abeïbara, Tinzaouaten, and the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains. The Abeibara area also has a presence of the jihadist coalition Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). In June 2024, Malian and Wagner forces conducted an operation around Abeibara. Their convoys left the towns of Kidal and Tessalit, and settled in Imaswaqassen, a village four kilometers from Abeibara. Clashes broke out with the CSP-PSD in this area between June 21 and 22, and JNIM detonated nine IEDs near and on the Malian and Wagner forces. Malian and Wagner forces launched reprisal attacks on civilians, assuming they were harboring CSP-PSD or JNIM militants. These killings took place between June 20 and 29. The son of the chief of Abeibara stated that the Malian and Wagner forces killed old men and shepherds and looted everything valuable they owned. The massacres took place in a forty kilometer radius in the villages of Aghli, Emadjlal, Hidjous, Akomas, Ouzen, and several others. Photos began circulating online of bodies in the streets of the villages. Tuareg civil rights organization Kal Akal dubbed the massacres as an ethnic cleansing campaign against Tuaregs. Malian and Wagner forces also poisoned water wells to kill livestock and civilians in Abeibara. The exact death toll of the massacres is unknown. JNIM reported that 15 people were killed. RFI reported that all of the people were killed were civilians, with the exception of one CSP-PSD fighter and one to six JNIM jihadists. Wassim Nasr reported at least seventy civilians were killed or missing, citing local groups. Some of the bodies were put in mass graves, while others were tied up and scattered in the bush in isolation. No clan of Tuareg was targeted in particular; Ifoghas Tuaregs, Imghad Tuaregs, and Daoussahak were all targeted and killed. Many of the Imghad and Daoussahak were refugees from the Ménaka offensive in 2022 and 2023.

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Djiguibombo massacre

2024-07-04 01:29:30+00:00

On 1 July 2024, around 40 people were killed by armed men in Djiguibombo, in the Mopti Region of Mali. The attackers, who targeted a wedding ceremony, rode into the village on motorcycles. While the attackers have not been identified, and no group has claimed responsibility, the attack was blamed on militants. Since the start of the Mali War in 2012, northern and central Mali have experienced frequent violence from multiple factions, including ones tied to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Since gaining power after the 2020 coup, Mali's military leaders have struggled to contain the violence, and a 2015 peace deal with Tuareg rebels collapsed.

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February 2024 Enga Province massacre

2024-02-19 19:59:41+00:00

On February 18, 2024, dozens of people were shot and 44 killed in a tribal dispute in Wapenamanda District, Enga Province, the remote highlands region of Papua New Guinea. Casualties numbered at least 49, including both combatants and bystanders. Clans and tribes in New Guinea have fought each other for centuries over various disputes such as land. In more recent times, elections have been a trigger for violence with tribes aligned along local candidate and party lines. The escalation of violence during which the massacre occurred involved around 17 tribes, including the Ambulin and Sikin tribes. Authorities had spoken to security forces about the tense situation the previous week. In retaliation for the death of a woman, her village's warriors, their allies, and mercenaries traveled to attack a neighboring tribe. At 4am on February 18, they were ambushed by men from two different tribes who had been hiding in a school building. Authorities reported that M16s, AR15s, self-loading rifles, and pump action shotguns were among the weapons used in the attack. According to local police, officers were nearly killed as they attempted to intervene in the violence. Following the attack, bodies were found across the area, with some likely still unaccounted for as of February 19. = Initial reports by authorities reported 64 deaths, a number later revised to 26. As bodies were recovered, the number rose again to 49. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape expressed great concern about the situation and asked combatants to lay down their arms, saying "One killing or two killings doesn’t solve the problem. It contributes towards more problems". Miki Kaeok, the representative for Wapenamanda in Papua New Guinea's parliament, called for a state of emergency. Police Commissioner David Manning requested that legislation be introduced to increase police powers to "prevent acts of domestic terrorism". Local leaders, some of whom had warriors killed in the attack, also expressed disinterest in continuing armed combat. = Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese announced the country was willing to assist the government of Papua New Guinea. As of February 20, the Queensland Rugby League is considering whether the Papua New Guinea Hunters will play their first Queensland Cup home games of the 2024 season in Port Moresby, due to concerns over players' safety in Papua New Guinea following the massacre.

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2024 BYU Cougars softball team

2024-02-16 06:51:10+00:00

The 2024 BYU Cougars softball team represents Brigham Young University in the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. Gordon Eakin enters the year as head coach of the Cougars for the 22nd consecutive season. 2024 is the first season that sees the Cougars as members of the Big 12 Conference. BYU enter 2024 having won 13 of the last 14 conference championships but being picked to finish 7th in their new conference. Arizona State: Tia Reid, Scott Sandulli, & Grace Hand Bethune-Cookman: Jon Gross UC Riverside: Chris Hooks Long Beach State: Taylor Storr Cal Poly: Joe Simmons Rutgers: Chris Hooks Sacramento State: Will Schilling UC Davis: Will Schilling Texas Tech: Spencer Linton and Taylei Williams Texas Tech: Spencer Linton and Taylei Williams Texas Tech: Spencer Linton and Taylei Williams Utah Valley: No commentary Texas: Alex Loeb and Cat Osterman Texas DH: Alex Loeb and Cat Osterman Utah: Jacob Suomi Oklahoma State: Dave McCann and Taylei Williams Oklahoma State: Brandon Crow and Taylei Williams Oklahoma State: TBA and Taylei Williams Utah Tech: Houston: Houston: Houston: Utah Tech: UCF: UCF: UCF: Utah Valley: Oklahoma: Oklahoma: Oklahoma: Idaho State: Iowa State: Iowa State: Iowa State: Baylor: Baylor: Baylor: Idaho State: Kansas: Kansas: Kansas: Big 12 Tournament:

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Template:2024 Big 12 Conference softball standings

2024-01-12 08:51:44+00:00

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2024 Big 12 Conference softball tournament

2024-01-12 08:53:46+00:00

The 2024 Big 12 Conference softball tournament was held at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 8 to May 11, 2024. As the tournament winner, Oklahoma earned the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I softball tournament. All ten teams will be seeded based on conference winning percentage. They then will play a single-elimination tournament, with the top six seeds receiving a first-round bye. The following players were named to the all-tournament team:

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People's Socialist Party

2024-05-05 15:37:53+00:00

The People's Socialist Party (abbr. PSP; Nepali: जनता समाजवादी पार्टी), also known as Janata Samajbadi Party is the sixth-largest political party in Nepal. Recently the party was formed after split in the People's Socialist Party, Nepal led by party federal council chairman Ashok Rai supported by majority federal MPs from the PSP-N. = The party was formed after a split in the mother party, People's Socialist Party, Nepal led by Upendra Yadav when a group of MPs, MLAs, and central leaders alleged the party chair to be authoritarian and going against the interest of the ruling collision government of Nepal. The group filed application for party split at election commission on 5 May 2023 which included MPs Ashok Rai, Nawal Kishor Sah, Hasina Khan, Ranju Kumari Jha, Pradeep Yadav, Birendra Prasad Mahato and Sushila Shrestha including Rastriya Sabha MP Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav. The party received its recognition from Election Commission on 6 May 2024.

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Nikolay Kharitonov 2024 presidential campaign

2024-01-03 14:34:21+00:00

The 2024 presidential campaign of Nikolay Kharitonov, member of the State Duma, was announced on 23 December 2023, during the Communist Party's congress. This was Nikolay Kharitonov's second presidential campaign. He had previously unsuccessfully run for President of Russia from the Communist Party in the 2004 election, in which he took 2nd place, receiving 13.8% of the vote. At the age of 75, Kharitonov became the oldest Russian presidential candidate in history, breaking the record of 71-year-old Vladimir Zhirinovsky in the 2018 election. Had he been elected, Kharitonov would have become the oldest president of Russia in history, and by the end of his presidential term (in 2030), one of the oldest world leaders. Kharitonov stated shortly after his nomination that, during the election campaign, he would not be criticising incumbent president Vladimir Putin, who later entered and won the election. Nikolay Kharitonov's candidacy for the presidential nomination from the Communist Party was proposed on 22 December 2023, during a meeting of the plenum of the Central Committee of the party. Besides him, the regional branches of the party also proposed the party leader Gennady Zyuganov, Oryol Oblast Governor Andrey Klychkov and former Irkutsk Oblast Governor Sergey Levchenko. At the Congress of the Communist Party, held on 23 December 2023, Kharitonov was the only candidate for the presidential nomination. 175 out of 188 delegates of the congress voted for his nomination and 6 delegates voted against. On 16 January 2024, Kharitonov, arrived on a three-day visit to the Khabarovsk Krai. During the visit, Kharitonov met with local residents, university students and representatives of public organizations. On 18 January 2024, the Communist Party held a press conference at which Kharitonov's election campaign was presented. According to the presented program, Kharitonov proposes a change in socio-economic policy, the development of industrial and agricultural sectors and new industrialization, which requires the nationalization of the mineral resource base. Kharitonov also advocates the introduction of a progressive scale of taxation. Kharitonov's team has launched a campaign website, but as of 10 February 2024 it is still "under construction". Kharitonov campaigned for the total abolition of capitalism within Russia, stating that “We’ve played capitalism, and that’s enough!” After Kharitonov's nomination, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov announced that he would head his staff. According to Zyuganov, he will manage the election campaign. A number of Communist Party supporters criticized Kharitonov's nomination, viewing him as a weak candidate. Thus, the leader of the Movement for New Socialism, Nikolay Platoshkin, stated that Kharitonov's candidacy was put forward without coordination with the movement and therefore would not be supported by it. The leader of the Left Front, Sergei Udaltsov, criticized Kharitonov's nomination, calling such a decision weaker in terms of competitiveness. A number of political scientists, such as Konstantin Kalachev, Ilya Grashchenkov and Alexander Rudakov, expressed the opinion that Kharitonov's nomination could lead to the loss of a stable second place in the elections for the Communist party.

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2024 Oceania Athletics Championships

2024-03-03 07:06:41+00:00

The 17th Oceania Athletics Championships were held from 1 to 7 June 2024 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji. It was the third time Fiji had staged the sporting event after hosting the inaugural 1990 edition, and the 2017 edition both at the HFC Bank Stadium (formerly ANZ Stadium) in Suva. The venue had a track upgrade earlier in 2024 specifically for the championships. The Championships were held jointly with the U18 Championships, Para Championships and Masters Championships, including the U16 and U20 team challenges. All times are local (UTC+12). Complete results can be found on the Oceania Athletics Association webpage. = Track Field Combined = Track Field Combined = * Host nation (Fiji) Nineteen Oceania Athletics member federations participated in the championships. Marshall Islands and the 3 associate member federations of New Caledonia, Niue and Wallis and Futuna were absent. New Caledonia were initially scheduled to take part, however, due to the ongoing civil unrest in the territory, they were unable to send a team.

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2024 in American Samoa

2024-01-17 22:25:47+00:00

Events from 2024 in American Samoa. US House Delegate: Amata Coleman Radewagen Governor: Lemanu Peleti Mauga Lieutenant Governor: Salo Ale Ongoing – COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania; COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa March 5: 2024 American Samoa presidential caucuses November 5: 2024 American Samoa gubernatorial election June 25 – Sika Anoa‘i, 79, Hall of Fame professional wrestler (WWE).