WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote of 59 to 34, the United States Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) voted in support of her nomination. Noem and Cramer served in the U.S. House of Representatives together for three terms. The South Dakota Governor asked Cramer to serve as her Senate “Sherpa,” helping her navigate the confirmation process.
“Kristi Noem is tough and determined, and the right person to implement President Trump’s number one promise to the American people,” said Cramer. “We need her leadership now more than ever to crack down on illegal immigration, stop the devastating flow of drugs, secure our borders, and restore safety to communities across the nation. I applaud the Senate for swiftly confirming her nomination, and I look forward to working with my friend and fellow Dakotan to Make America Safe Again.”
Cramer joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune in introducing Noem during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, advocating for her qualifications and experience. In his introduction Cramer said, “Securing the homeland is our first Constitutional priority. It is the number one priority of the voters, and it is the top priority for President Trump. Naturally, he asked the toughest, smartest, most capable protector he knows, Kristi Noem, to lead DHS. She’s a rancher, mom, and grandmother from the prairies who knows how to protect her own.”
Last week, Noem’s nomination passed out of committee with a 13-2 vote. During her confirmation hearing, Cramer highlighted the overwhelming support for Noem’s leadership, pointing to letters of endorsement from key stakeholders, including leaders from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe located in North Dakota and South Dakota, who emphasized the importance of her commitment to strengthening national security and community safety.
At this sombre occasion, I want to acknowledge that more than a year has passed since the appalling 7th October terror attacks by Hamas. We welcome, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage release deal. The deal offers hope, as well as much needed relief. The United Nations will do our utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Dear Friends,
This year marks eighty years since the end of the Holocaust.
The history of the Holocaust is one of total moral collapse, dehumanisation, complicity, and unimaginable atrocities. But amidst all the horror, there are also stories of humanity, and of courage.
I think of those victims who resisted Nazi brutality and supported one another with kindness and solidarity. I think of those survivors who have told their stories to the world, including Rabbi Schneier and others present today. We owe you — and the children of survivors who made sure those stories lived on – a profound debt of gratitude. And I think of those noble people of conscience who may not have been targeted by the Nazis but were so horrified by what they saw that they felt compelled to act.
That includes a number of diplomats who used their power to save lives. They were from a variety of countries, including many represented here today.
One important example from my own country, Portugal, is Aristides de Sousa Mendes. Stationed in Bordeaux, as the Nazis approached in 1940, Sr. Sousa Mendes faced crowds desperate for visas out of France.
The orders of the Portuguese Government were clear. The infamous “Circular 14” had been issued, denying visas for refugees’ safe passage to Portugal – with Jews named specifically. Sr. Sousa Mendes decided to disobey, and worked quite literally day and night to issue thousands of visas, saving countless lives.
The government punished Sr. Sousa Mendes for his defiance. He died in poverty, after being expelled from the diplomatic corps without pension. But his extraordinary efforts have not been forgotten. In 1966, he was recognised as one of the Righteous Among the Nations, and, last year, I was pleased to support the opening of a museum in his honour in Portugal.
In these days of global turmoil, rising antisemitism, and growing hate towards many communities, it is vital that we remember the stories of people like Sr. Sousa Mendes, who used their power for good in the worst of times. They remind us that it is our duty – individually and collectively – to stand with humanity and against bigotry and discrimination.
In that spirit, I am pleased to report that the United Nations has launched an Action Plan to Enhance Monitoring and Response to Antisemitism. We have long worked to combat this evil, through a wide range of activities, including our Holocaust Outreach program. This new Plan builds on that work, and the insights of people like Rabbi Schneier, to recommend ways the United Nations system will further enhance efforts to combat antisemitism.
This goes to the heart of the mission of the United Nations, which was established in the aftermath of the Holocaust. We will never waiver in the fight for a world that promotes and protects the human rights of all.
Council continues to work with local agencies in the ongoing emergency response to Storm Éowyn which has resulted in some damage to roads and property throughout the City and District.
Staff continue to be on site carrying out health and safety inspections and providing services from early this morning. Teams from across all Council services have been meeting and co-ordinating efforts throughout the weekend and this work will continue over the coming days.
The health and safety of both staff and the general public is our first priority and for that reason we would encourage the public to be patient and to expect some delays to services.
As we continue to work with partner agencies work to assess and remedy damage caused by Storm Éowyn members of the public should exercise caution when close to obvious debris and damage, including power lines. The public are also advised to take note of further yellow weather warnings in place over the weekend relating to winds, snow and ice and to take the appropriate measures to keep them and their property safe. Please follow the Met Office for updates.
Bin collections
Refuse Collection crews are out working today servicing bins that were missed from Fridaydq. For any bins not emptied today the advice is to make contact with our Customer Services Team on 028 71 374107 on Monday morning or by email at refuse&[email protected] and arrangements will be made to have them emptied as soon as possible.
Cemeteries and outdoor sites
The City Cemetery, Ballyoan, Altnagelvin and Strabane Cemeteries are all open to the public. Users are strongly advised to take due care and attention at all facilities both for fallen trees and for slippy pathways. The public are urged not to visit historical sites. Our staff are on site to clear all main arterial routes at our facilities as a priority.
Recycling Centres
All of our recycling centres, with the exception of Plumbridge, are open.
Leisure Centres
All Council Leisure centres are open as normal.
Community Assistance
All of our Leisure Centres are open and available to the public who are without power or water and who require assistance with heat, tea/coffee and phone charging and shower facilities. We have extended the opening hours at Templemore, Melvin and Derg Valley Leisure Centre to 10pm tonight, Saturday.
Tomorrow Sunday, Templemore, Foyle Arena and Melvin will be open from 9am – 6pm while Riversdale and Derg Valley Leisure Centres will open from 1pm – 6pm
Council facilities
The Guildhall, Tower Museum and the Alley Theatre are open and operating as normal.
Street cleansing
Our street cleansing teams have been out and about from this early morning servicing the city and towns and working with grounds maintenance teams to make sure Council facilities are safe to access.
Grass pitches
All Council grass pitches and 3g pitches will remain closed for the weekend. User groups are being contacted.
Parks and play parks
Ongoing health and safety inspections are ongoing today to get as many of our parks, play areas and greenways open to the public. There are several trees down at the Bay Road and Strathfoyle greenways and a number of other parks, we have teams out on site carrying out clearance and repair works. The public are asked to avoid areas where there are trees and to take due care and attention as there may be debris or fallen branches etc.
Again, the public are asked to be patient and expect some delays to opening of facilities after the storm to allow these checks and possible clean-up work to be carried out.
Looking ahead
Please take note of further weather warnings in place over the weekend including a YELLOW warning for SNOW & ICE for Northern Ireland between 1800hrs on Saturday 25th and 1000hrs on Sunday 26th January 2025: MEDIUM Likelihood of LOW Impacts and a YELLOW warning for WIND for Northern Ireland between 1000hrs and 1900hrs on Sunday 26th January 2025: MEDIUM Likelihood of LOW Impacts
Strong winds affecting Northern Ireland, potentially disrupting transport and infrastructure
“Today the world celebrates as President Trump secured the release of four more Israeli hostages who were, for far too long, held against their will by Hamas in horrific conditions. The United States will continue with its great partner Israel to push for the release of all remaining hostages and the pursuit of peace throughout the region.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
In connection with a murder and wounding case happened in Yuen Long on January 22, Police further arrested two 22-year-old men for murder and wounding, and a 20-year-old woman for conspiracy to wounding in Tin Shui Wai, Tsing Yi and Yuen Long respectively yesterday (January 24).
In the murder and wounding case, a 24-year-old man died and a 28-year-old man was injured.
Together with the arrests made earlier, Police arrested a total of eight men and one woman, aged 19 to 27. Among them, Police today (January 25) laid holding charges against the 20-year-old man and the 22-year-old man each with one count of murder and one count of wounding. The 20-year-old man was also laid holding charges with one count of driving without a valid license and one count of driving without third party insurance. The case will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts in the morning of January 27.
Besides, the four male arrestees, aged 22 to 26, were released on bail and are required to report back to Police in late February. The 20-year-old female arrestee is being detained for further enquiries.
For the two men who had been charged earlier, the case was mentioned at Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts this morning.
Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North is under way. Anyone who witnessed the case or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3356.
With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, the Government’s principal officials started travelling to all 18 districts throughout the city today to visit different families for four consecutive days and distribute blessing bags in celebration of the festival.
The year-end caring visits in 18 districts are co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Department.
Chief Executive John Lee and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak, accompanied by representatives from the District Services & Community Care Team, visited singleton elderly households living in Oi Man Estate, Ho Man Tin to learn more about their daily lives, wishing them a healthy and happy Year of the Snake.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan visited an elderly family and an ethnic minority family living on Oak Street in Tai Kok Tsui and Reclamation Street in Mong Kok respectively to understand their daily lives and needs.
Additionally, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui visited grassroots families and elderly people living in Yat Tung (l) Estate, Tung Chung.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau and Under Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee visited singleton and doubleton elderly households living in Wah Fu Estate, Southern District.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin prices stabilizing around $100,000, analysts predict a high-volatility phase in the market. To help traders seize this opportunity, BexBack Exchange introduces an exceptional promotional package: a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading. Plus, with a No KYC policy, BexBack ensures a private and seamless trading experience.
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Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
PARIS, France, January 25, 2025/APO Group/ —
NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), through its subsidiary EVOSPORT, today announced a new collaboration to support youth basketball in Morocco. The collaboration marks the league’s most expansive youth basketball development programming ever in Morocco and makes UM6P an official partner of NBA Africa.
UM6P is a Moroccan university that focuses on developing solutions to specific continental and, more broadly, global challenges. The university is engaged in economic and human development and puts innovation at the forefront of African growth. In alignment with this vision, UM6P has launched EVOSPORT, its subsidiary dedicated to sports development, with the ambition of contributing to the creation of a dynamic and sustainable Moroccan and African sports ecosystem.
The collaboration between NBA Africa and UM6P will be implemented by EVOSPORT, in collaboration with Act4Community, which is a part of OCP Group’s ecosystem. Together, they will launch four Jr. NBA leagues that will reach nearly 2,000 boys and girls ages 18 and under annually in Khouribga, Gantour, Laayoune and El Jadida, as well as Morocco’s first NBA Basketball Schools in all four locations. More than 200 local coaches will also participate in Jr. NBA Coaches Workshops in each city.
The announcement was made today at a signing ceremony at UM6P France in Paris, the university’s branch in Europe, by UM6P President Hicham El Habti, NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi and Basketball Africa League (BAL) President Amadou Gallo Fall.
“We have seen firsthand through our previous initiatives in Morocco that there is incredible passion for basketball across the country,” said Akamanzi. “Together with UM6P and ahead of the first BAL games in Morrocco in April, we look forward to significantly expanding our youth basketball development efforts in the country and providing opportunities for thousands of Moroccan youth to learn and play the game.”
“We are thrilled to work with NBA Africa to bring this transformative youth basketball program to Morocco,” said El Habti. “At UM6P, we believe in the power of sports to inspire and develop young minds. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to foster innovation and contribute to the socio-economic development of Africa. Through EVOSPORT, we are committed to creating opportunities for young athletes to thrive and achieve their full potential.”
UM6P, as a key component of OCP Group’s ecosystem, has significantly contributed to the group’s long-standing commitment to sports development in Morocco. The collaboration with NBA Africa supports the youth targeted by the Act4Community program and reflects OCP Group’s corporate social responsibility aiming for sustainable and tangible improvements in living standards through job creation, entrepreneurship, culture and sports.
The announcement builds on NBA Africa’s and the OCP Group’s previous collaboration that has featured previous Jr. NBA leagues in the cities of Benguerir and Khouribga. NBA Africa has reached more than 100,000 Moroccan youth and coaches through youth basketball development programming to date.
LONDON, Jan. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The GameFi sector, a fusion of gaming and decentralized finance (DeFi), has emerged as a groundbreaking space within blockchain technology. Among the standout projects transforming this industry is Monsta Mash, a GameFi ecosystem that has achieved an extraordinary milestone by raising over $1 million in its presale stage. With its innovative approach and ambitious roadmap, Monsta Mash is carving its place as a leader in the GameFi landscape.
GameFi, short for “Game Finance,” merges traditional gaming elements with blockchain to offer players unique opportunities to earn real-world rewards through gameplay. Leveraging models like Play-to-Earn (P2E) and Tap-to-Earn (T2E), players can acquire cryptocurrencies or other digital assets. This combination of entertainment and financial incentives has fueled exponential growth in the sector, which is expected to reach $126.17 billion by 2032, according to market forecasts.
The Monsta Ecosystem: A GameFi Powerhouse
Monsta Mash distinguishes itself by combining action-packed gaming with blockchain technology. Built on the fast and scalable Solana network, the platform delivers an immersive gaming experience that overcomes the limitations of traditional GameFi projects. Its utility token, $MASH, is the core of this ecosystem, enabling players to convert in-game victories into tangible rewards.
The app, “Cryptids – Monsta Mash,” is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, with download milestones demonstrating its growing popularity among blockchain gaming enthusiasts. With a $0.00365 token presale price, Monsta Mash has attracted significant investor interest, including cryptocurrency whales, setting the stage for its projected price surge to $8 by the end of 2025.
The Journey Through Presale Stages
Monsta Mash’s presale journey is a testament to its potential and strong investor confidence. The platform had already secured over $1 million in funding. As it progresses through subsequent presale stages, the $MASH token price is projected to rise, offering early investors significant returns. Analysts predict $MASH will exceed $4 by mid-2025, making it one of the most promising tokens in the blockchain gaming space.
Monsta Mash’s rise reflects broader trends in the GameFi industry, which has seen remarkable growth in unique active wallets and user engagement. As blockchain gaming evolves, Monsta Mash is positioning itself as a leader by providing a blend of financial opportunity and engaging gameplay. Its innovative use of Solana’s capabilities ensures scalability and a seamless user experience, further solidifying its competitive edge over established ecosystems like Gala and The Sandbox.
Why Join the GameFi Movement with Monsta Mash?
For those eager to explore the GameFi industry, Monsta Mash offers a gateway to unparalleled opportunities. With its robust ecosystem, exciting gameplay, and the potential for financial gains, Monsta Mash invites players and investors alike to be part of the next big wave in blockchain gaming. Whether you’re a seasoned crypto enthusiast or new to decentralized technology, Monsta Mash provides an accessible and rewarding entry point into the dynamic world of GameFi.
Don’t miss your chance to join this revolution. Dive into the Monsta Mash ecosystem today and embrace the future of gaming and finance. Visit their official website and secure your $MASH tokens before the next big leap! Use Code “MONSTA50” for an additional 50% bonus.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by “Cryptids Game”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
What is the current situation in North and South Kivu with regards to this crisis?
Since December 2024, several fronts have been opened in the two provinces to control certain key positions. In Lubero territory, in North Kivu, the conflict resumed in December with massive population displacement. It continued in Masisi territory, where intense fighting took place in January 2025, particularly for control of the town of Masisi Centre, before moving down towards South Kivu, to Minova and Numbi in Kalehe territory.
During the hostilities, the M23/AFC managed to take control of several towns. In recent days the fighting has moved closer to the provincial capital of Goma, with intense clashes in Sake, just 20 kilometres from the city. Artillery explosions can be heard regularly from Goma. Fighting is taking place on all the roads around Goma and has led to a new influx of displaced people into the city, including from some camps on the outskirts of the city where people flee towards Goma, in a situation of panic.
How is this situation affecting the population?
Unsurprisingly, the humanitarian consequences for the population are very serious. Hundreds of thousands of people have once again fled the fighting. According to the United Nations, 400,000 people have already fled since January. Tens of thousands headed for displacement sites around Goma, where more than 650,000 people were already living, exhausted by almost three years of fighting. The clashes in recent weeks have led to a new influx of people into these completely unhygienic sites where – as we have been saying for far too long – families are surviving without proper shelter and lacking everything: food, water, health care, etc.
Unfortunately, these sites are not spared from the fighting. Rockets are being fired near these camps or the health facilities where people have sought shelter. It’s appalling and unacceptable. We are also seeing a very worrying proportion of civilians among the hundreds of wounded we are helping to treat. Some are victims of stray bullets, but others are victims of the warring parties’ failure to respect certain basic rules of conflict. In Masisi, the hospital we support came under fire while more than 10,000 people were seeking shelter. Two people were hit just outside the hospital and two of our staff were injured by rocket fire. The presence of combatants or artillery positions in close proximity to health facilities and camps for internally displaced people puts lives at immediate risk. It is important for everyone to remember that even war has its rules.
What is MSF’s current response on the ground?
We are doing our utmost to maintain our regular and emergency activities, but in some areas we have had to limit the risks by reducing the size of our teams. Around Goma, for example, direct armed violence has reduced our ability to go to certain affected sites over the past two days, although we continue to supply medical facilities, help them prepare for an influx of wounded, and bring in fuel to run water pumps as soon as conditions allow. This allows these facilities to continue to function, even with a more limited presence of our teams.
In Goma itself, we continue to support the Kyeshero Hospital to treat some of the wounded and to relieve the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is on the front line treating the wounded at the Ndosho hospital. It is clear that the hospitals in Goma are completely overwhelmed by the number of wounded.
In the rest of North and South Kivu, despite the security and logistical challenges and restrictions on movement, we are maintaining our presence and continuing to treat patients, including the wounded. In three weeks, nearly 400 casualties have been treated at the Minova General Referral Hospital, the Numbi Hospital Centre and the Masisi General Referral Hospital. We are also continuing to support displaced people in more remote areas, such as Lubero, where we are also working to improve access to water in health facilities and at the Magasin site for displaced people.
Headline: Possible Rainfall Poses New Concerns for Wildfire Survivors
Possible Rainfall Poses New Concerns for Wildfire Survivors
LOS ANGELES – Wildfires have burned through more than 50,000 acres of Los Angeles County since January 7. Now, weather authorities are forecasting possible rain showers for the weekend. It may be a good time for residents of areas impacted by the wildfires to prepare for the hazardous by-products of fire and rain: flooding, debris flows and mudslides. Large-scale Wildfires Can Lead to Flooding and Debris Flows Where intense fires occur, soils can develop a top layer that repels water due to charred remnants of organic material. Normally, live vegetation sucks up rain, reducing runoff, but wildfires leave the ground barren. Unable to absorb the rain, the soil succumbs to flooding. The flood risk can remain elevated from two to five years. Debris flows are fast-moving slurries of material — water, rock, soil, vegetation, and even boulders and trees — that rush downhill. Mudslides flow down slopes that become saturated and collapse. Californians who live downhill or downstream from burnt areas are at the greatest risk for dangerous debris flows. Even smaller debris flows can be dangerous.What Individuals in Burn-scarred Areas Can DoPost-fire flooding can be unpredictable because surface changes from the fire are not always obvious. Wildfire survivors should learn to recognize the signs of coming flood events: soil that is crunchy to walk on; increased slope erosion; or even unusual sounds from the surrounding terrain — mudslides and debris flows can be loud. When the rain comes:With rain in the forecast, elevate your valuables to higher points in your home, pack a “go-bag” and make an exit plan.Watch where the water goes. If you see gullies, rapid flooding, debris flows or mudslides in your area, check local media for alerts and prepare to evacuate. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) actively monitors flooding activity and issues alerts when an area is at risk. Avoid debris; it can include sharp and heavy hidden objects that can cause serious injury and worse. Heed the guidance of local authorities. With flooding events come health hazards, including broken utility lines and disrupted infrastructure. Sign up for local emergency alerts.Just one inch of floodwater can cause costly damage to your home, but most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. You may consider purchasing flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by FEMA. You can purchase flood insurance coverage at any time. However, there is a 30-day waiting period after you’ve paid the premium before the policy becomes effective. For more information about the NFIP, visit fema.gov/flood-insurance or call 877-336-2627. barbara.murien… Sat, 01/25/2025 – 13:49
A co-founder of a national Palestinian solidarity network in Aotearoa New Zealand today praised the “heroic” resilience and sacrifice of the people of Gaza in the face of Israel’s ruthless attempt to destroy the besieged enclave of more than 2 million people.
Speaking at the first solidarity rally in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau since the fragile ceasefire came into force last Sunday, Janfrie Wakim of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) also paid tribute to New Zealand protesters who have supported the Palestine cause for the 68th week.
“Thank you all for coming to this rally — the first since 7 October 2023 when no bombs are dropping on Gaza,” she declared.
“The ceasefire in Gaza is fragile but let’s celebrate the success of the resistance, the resilience, and the fortitude — the sumud [steadfastness] — of the heroic Palestinian people.
“Israel has failed. It has not achieved its aims — in the longest war [15 weeks] in its history — even with $40 billion in aid from the United States. It has failed to depopulate the north of Gaza, it has a crumbling economy, and 1 million Israelis [out if 9 million] have left already.”
Wakim said that the resistance and success in defeating Israel’s “deadly objectives” had come at a “terrible cost”.
“We mourn those with families here and in Gaza and now in the West Bank who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives — 47,000 people killed, 18,000 of them children, thousands unaccounted for in the rubble and over 100,000 injured.
Grieving for journalists, humanitarian workers “We grieve for but salute the journalists and the humanitarian workers who have been murdered serving humanity.”
Janfrie Wakim speaking at today’s Palestine rally in Tamaki Makaurau. Video: APR
She said the genocide had been enabled by the wealthiest countries in the world and the Western media — “including our own with few exceptions”.
“Without its lies, its deflections, its failure to report the agonising reality of Palestinians suffering, Israel would not have been able to commit its atrocities,” Wakim said.
“And now while we celebrate the ceasefire there’s been an escalation on the West Bank — air strikes, drones, snipers, ethnic cleansing in Jenin with homes and infrastructure being demolished.
“Checkpoints have doubled to over 900 — sealing off communities. And still the Palestinians resist.
“And we must too. Solidarity. Unity of purpose is all important. Bury egos. Let humanity triumph.”
Palestinian liberation advocate Janfrie Wakim . . . “Without its lies, its deflections, its failure to report the agonising reality of Palestinians suffering, Israel could not have been able to commit its atrocities.” Image: David Robie/APR
90-year-old supporter During her short speech, Wakim introduced to the crowd the first Palestinian she had met in New Zealand, Ghazi Dassouki, who is now aged 90.
She met him at a Continuing Education seminar at the University of Auckland in 1986 that addressed the topic of “The Palestine Question”. It shocked the establishment of the time with Zionist complaints and intimidation of staff which prevented any similar academic event until 2006.
Wakim called for justice for the Palestinians.
“Freedom from occupation. Liberation from apartheid. And peace at last after 76 years of subjugation and oppression by Israel and its allies,” she said
She called on supporters to listen to what was being suggested for local action — “do what suits your situation and energy. Our task is to persist, as Howard Zinn put it”.
“When we organise with one another, when we get involved, when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress,” she said.
“We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
Introduced to the Auckland protest crowd today . . . Ghazi Dassouki, who is now aged 90.
As a symbol for peace and justice in Palestine, slices of water melon and dates were handed out to the crowd.
Calls to block NZ visits by IDF soldiers Among many nationwide rallies across Aotearoa New Zealand this weekend, were many calls for the government to suspend entry to the country from soldiers in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
“New Zealand should not be providing rest and recreation for Israeli soldiers fresh from the genocide in Gaza,” said PSNA national chair John Minto.
“We wouldn’t allow Russian soldiers to come here for rest and recreation from the invasion of Ukraine so why would we accept soldiers from the genocidal, apartheid state of Israel?”
As well as the working holiday visa, since 2019 Israelis have been able to enter New Zealand for three months without needing a visa at all.
This visa-waiver is used by Israeli soldiers for “rest and recreation” from the genocide in Gaza.
Minto stressed that IDF soldiers had killed at least 47,000 Palestinians — 70 percent of them women and children.
“All these red flags for genocide have been visible for months but the government is still giving the green light to those involved in war crimes to enter New Zealand,” Minto said.
Last month, PSNA again wrote to the government asking for the suspension of travel to New Zealand for all Israeli soldiers and reservists.
Meanwhile, 200 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails have been set free under the terms of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Seventy of them will be deported to countries in the region, reports Al Jazeera.
Masses of people have congregated in Ramallah, celebrating the return of the released Palestinian prisoners.
A huge crowd waved Palestinian flags, shouted slogans and captured the joyful scene with their phones and live footage shows.
The release came after Palestinian fighters earlier handed over four female Israeli soldiers who had been held in Gaza to the International Red Cross in Palestine Square.
The smiling and waving soldiers appeared to be in good health and were in high spirits.
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
January 24, 2025
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after voting against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense:
“Pete Hegseth is woefully unqualified to serve as the Secretary of Defense. His history of misconduct is disqualifying on its own, and his personal beliefs on the role of women in combat and the laws of war are an insult to our men and women in uniform. Pete Hegseth’s main qualification for this job is his commitment to pursuing a brazenly political agenda at the behest of President Trump and his confirmation will come at a serious cost to U.S. national security.”
NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plume Network, the first full-stack L1 RWA Chain, announced today a major expansion of its cross-chain ecosystem with the planned deployment of SkyLink across 16 blockchain networks. This development comes at a crucial time as Real World Assets (RWAs) have doubled in total on-chain value in the past year to almost $17 billion, emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors in Web3.
Plume Network’s SkyLink, an interoperability solution for secure, cross-chain RWA yield distribution, will launch with an initial cohort of networks including Solana, Movement, Injective, Omni Network, Zircuit, Ape Chain, Core, Polyhedra, Gravity by Galxe, Merlin, Xion, Rome, Echelon, D3, Hemi, and Memento.
Users on these networks now have permissionless access to institutional-grade RWA yields, streamed directly to their wallets via SkyLink’s mirrored YieldTokens. The solution leverages LayerZero’s SyncPools for seamless omnichain functionality.
Notably, the mirrored tokens introduced by SkyLink ensure that total value locked (TVL) remains securely on the original chain, maintaining liquidity and bolstering the value of each network.
“The growth of the RWA sector depends on the collaborative efforts of diverse blockchain ecosystems, each contributing unique strengths to build a robust cross-chain infrastructure,” said Teddy Pornprinya, Co-founder of Plume Network. “By aligning with these networks, we’re establishing the foundation for an interoperable RWA landscape where institutional-grade yields are easily accessible across any chain or rollup.”
With traditional markets worth over $100 trillion in commodities, bonds, and stocks representing an enormous tokenization opportunity, this expansion addresses a key market need: while RWA tokenization has shown remarkable growth, the ability to distribute yields across different blockchain ecosystems has remained fragmented.
SkyLink’s integration with LayerZero enables unified pools with cross-chain mint and burn functions, allowing seamless issuance and redemption of YieldTokens across multiple chains while preserving Plume’s asset custody and compliance infrastructure.
The integration enables:
Continuous yield streaming across any supported blockchain network
Permissionless access to institutional-grade RWA yields
Native composability for yield-bearing tokens across DeFi applications
Unified compliance and security standards across all chains
“Looking ahead to 2025, we believe multi-chain interoperability will be crucial in unlocking the next phase of RWA adoption,” added Jason Meng, Head of Business Development at Plume Network. “Our goal is to make Plume the hub for cross-chain RWAfi yield distribution, supporting the growing demand for real world asset exposure in DeFi. We are actively seeking to integrate new networks to expand this ecosystem further.”
About Plume
Plume Network is the first full-stack L1 RWA Chain and ecosystem purpose-built for Real World Asset Finance (RWAfi), enabling the rapid adoption and demand-driven integration of real world assets. With 180+ projects building on the network, Plume offers a composable, EVM-compatible environment for onboarding and managing diverse real world assets. Coupled with an end-to-end tokenization engine and a network of financial infrastructure partners, Plume simplifies asset onboarding and enables seamless DeFi integration for RWAs so anyone can tokenize real world assets, distribute them globally, and make them useful for native crypto users.
Your full name: Shukyee Ma Position: CSO Email: shukyee@plumenetwork.xyz
Disclaimer: This content is provided by “Plume Network”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
Dundee City Council is providing an update on its services on Saturday (Jan 25) following a day of disruption due to Storm Eowyn on Friday.
Families are being advised that all local authority nursery, primary and secondary schools are preparing to open as normal on Monday January 27.
Some damage has been reported at Grove Academy which means that the swim and sport centre operated by Leisure & Culture Dundee will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Work will be carried out over the weekend so that Grove Academy opens on Monday as normal.
Saturday operating arrangements are in place for Council services and buildings, and council buildings will open as usual on Monday.
Any changes to the above arrangements will be shared via our social media channels.
Re-arranged waste collections will also be put in place from Monday after services were stood down on Friday.
These are:
Grey bin (general waste) collections that were scheduled for Friday January 24 will now be collected on Monday January 27.
Any bulky uplifts that were scheduled for Friday January 24 will now be uplifted on Monday January 27.
Blue bin (paper/cardboard) collections that were scheduled for Friday January 24 will now take place on Wednesday January 29
Burgundy bin (metals, plastics, cartons) and food waste collections will be uplifted at the next scheduled pick-up day.
Commercial waste (including recycling) collections will also be uplifted at the next scheduled date.
Baldovie & Riverside Household Waste Recycling centres re-opened on Saturday.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice remain in place for the city on Saturday.
For the latest updates on all our services, please visit our Storm Éowyn page.
Updates will also be posted on our social media channels, including Facebook and X.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 25) that the Tuen Mun Swimming Pool in Tuen Mun District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.
It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.
The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Washington, D.C. — Tonight, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on President Donald Trump reinstating the expanded Global Gag Rule or “Mexico City Policy,” from his first term—which had detrimental effects on women, providers, and public health partners around the world. The Global Gag Rule prevents foreign organizations receiving U.S. global health assistance from providing information, referrals, or services for legal abortion or advocating for access to abortion services in their country—even with their own money.
Trump also issued a second executive order tonight that rescinds President Biden’s Executive Orders 14076 and 14079, which were issued to protect reproductive health in the U.S. following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Executive Order 14076 directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Department of Justice (DOJ) to take and consider steps to protect reproductive health care services and access, including expanding access to contraceptives. Executive Order 14079, which took further steps to protect access to reproductive health care, including providing technical assistance for providers and directing the Secretary of HHS to advance access through Medicaid for patients traveling across state lines for care.
“It is unsurprising, but extremely telling, that some of the very first moves of Donald Trump’s second administration prioritize attacking reproductive health care and targeting vulnerable women and girls around the world.
“When we invest in a safer and healthier world, that pays dividends for America. Make no mistake: this dangerous policy prevents NGOs from using their own resources to provide lifesaving reproductive health services, and it forces organizations to make impossible choices that restrict access to care for some of the most desperate people across the globe.
“There is nothing ‘pro-life’ about reinstating a policy that, during Trump’s first term, undermined lifesaving public health work, caused widespread fear and confusion among health workers, and led to worse health outcomes and more unsafe abortions. And in the wake of the Dobbs decision here at home, the Trump administration is also pulling back important executive orders that directed agencies to protect access to reproductive health services.”
“These are just some of the first of many attacks on reproductive health care we can expect to see from the Trump administration—Democrats will fight back every way we can, but we need everyone to raise their voices to prevent these blatant attacks from going unnoticed, or worse, becoming normalized.”
Senator Murray has long pushed to repeal the Global Gag Rule, and is a longtime cosponsor of the bipartisan Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act, which would permanently repeal the rule, put an end to the back-and-forth between administrations, and provide stability for global health NGOs and the women around the world who rely on them for critical health services. As the top Democrat on the HELP Committee from 2015-2022, Senator Murray spoke out forcefully against the expanded Global Gag Rule Trump issued at the beginning of his first administration.
NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KTON, an institutional-grade liquid staking protocol incubated by TONX, the leading TON-focused venture studio backed by top VC firms from the Asia-Pacific region, is gearing up for its V1 launch in February 2025. TONX, which recently unveiled a $5M accelerator program to foster innovation within the TON and Telegram ecosystem, is behind TONX API, the leading developer platform trusted by Blum, Catizen, Google Cloud, and over 20 leading projects. TONX is also the force behind Tonkey, a multisig solution managing $400M in assets and adopted by the TON Foundation. KTON is set to enter the United States and global markets, bringing its enterprise-grade liquid staking solution to institutional and retail users.
Telegram recently announced it will exclusively support The Open Network (TON) for its blockchain ecosystem. KTON is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this growth as it is being built specifically for TON users. Building on TONX’s success in the API and security space, KTON is positioned to capture the $6.12 billion TON liquid staking market opportunity.
KTON allows users to stake TON while receiving $KTON, unlocking liquidity without sacrificing staking rewards. Unlike existing solutions that often concentrate risk or lack robust standardization, KTON provides institutional-grade security tailored for family offices, trusts, and exchanges. Users can start staking with as little as 1 TON, and there is no lock-up period.
Liquid staking has transformed blockchain ecosystems with Lido Finance dominating Ethereum’s LST market at $30B TVL. KTON aims to capture similar potential in TON’s nascent LST market, currently valued at $377M.
“Our research reveals TON’s LST ratio matches Solana at 10% of staked tokens, yet TON’s total staking rate is merely 13.7% versus Solana’s 69%, indicating a 5x growth potential. Furthermore, if TON’s LST ratio reaches Ethereum’s 36%, the market could surge 18X, unlocking an additional $6.12B in value,” said Dr. Awesome Doge, founder of TONX and KTON. “KTON aims to bridge this gap by providing the infrastructure needed to unlock this liquidity and drive TON’s DeFi expansion.”
KTON’s staking service will unlock liquidity, enabling seamless integration with leading TON native DEXs and protocols, and more DeFi giants which are entering TON like Ethena and Curve Finance. This offers TON users flexible and stable yield strategies through various DeFi opportunities while maintaining staking rewards.
“TONX’s triumph is a powerful testament to why KTON has solidified its place as a trusted pillar in the ecosystem,” said Howard Peng of TON Ventures.
Staking Ratios of Solana, Ethereum, and TON | TONX
Distribution of TON Staking (Total Issuance in USD) | TONX
KTON Sets New Standards for TON Liquid Staking Infrastructure
KTON is addressing the critical challenges of existing liquid staking solutions, such as concentration risks and lack of standardization, by introducing a decentralized protocol with institutional-grade security.
To further enhance accessibility, KTON is launching a Telegram Mini App designed for the platform’s 950M users in a move to bridge DeFi adoption and mainstream accessibility. By integrating liquid staking directly within Telegram, KTON simplifies the process, ensuring that anyone can participate with ease. This innovative approach positions KTON to drive the widespread adoption of TON blockchain technology, expanding its reach in the US market and globally.
The platform’s roadmap goes beyond staking rewards. Following the launch of KTON V1, the planned upgrade will introduce a dual-token model featuring $KTON and a new governance token. This system allows $KTON holders to earn rewards while actively participating in KTON DAO governance.
Unlock Your Yield with KTON, Launching February 2025
KTON is poised to seize the $6.12 billion market potential in TON’s liquid staking ecosystem with its enterprise-grade staking services. Launching this February, KTON provides the most secure and user-friendly solutions for both retail and institutional clients, enabling them to unlock liquidity, maximize staking rewards, and confidently participate in TON’s thriving DeFi ecosystem. KTON’s commitment to security, combined with a decentralized governance structure, makes KTON a trusted choice for staking at scale.
For partnerships and customized solutions, contact: contact@kton.io
About KTON
KTON is a next-generation liquid staking protocol built for the TON ecosystem, designed to unlock liquidity for both retail and institutional users. Through its liquid staking token $KTON, users can participate in TON’s growing DeFi ecosystem while earning staking rewards. Combining institutional-grade security with decentralized governance and seamless Telegram integration, KTON aims to drive TON’s ecosystem growth and mass adoption.
Founded in 2021, TONX is a SuperApp platform layer driving the new Web3 economy. As a cornerstone of the TON ecosystem, it delivers powerful tools like TONX API, a trusted RPC solution integrated with over 20 leading projects, and Tonkey, a secure multi-signature wallet managing over $400 million in assets.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by “TONX”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Foreign Secretary announces £20 million in additional funding while visiting the Adré on the Chad-Sudan border.
Foreign Secretary to drive new international commitment to a political process towards ending this conflict
On first UK Foreign Secretary visit ever, David Lammy sees impact of UK aid supporting nearly 800,000 on Chad-Sudan border town of Adré
UK addresses upstream drivers of migration as the FCDO continues its drive to secure borders
Refugees fleeing war-torn Sudan will receive further UK support to increase food production and lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services, as Foreign Secretary announces £20 million in additional funding while visiting the Adré on the Chad-Sudan border.
This builds on the doubling of UK aid in November to address the humanitarian emergency in Sudan to £226.5 million. These UK funds are providing emergency food assistance to nearly 800,000 displaced people, of whom over 88% are women and children, as well as improving access to shelter, drinking water, emergency health care and education.
Not only is this aid vitally needed on humanitarian grounds, but it will also help people to stay within their immediate region meaning that they are better able to return when conditions allow. Since the conflict began, 3.6 million refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, with a significant number travelling on to Europe and the UK.
Unscrupulous smuggling gangs are looking to profit from the misery in Sudan. And the longer this war lasts, the greater its ripple effect. We must give credit to countries like Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan for managing this crisis alongside others nearby.
Nearly 2,000 Sudanese nationals arrived on small boats in the year ending September 2024. As part of the Plan for Change, the Government is determined to reduce the number of people making dangerous small boat crossings across the Channel and net migration.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
Sudanese people are facing violence on an unimaginable scale. This is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world.
Millions have already fled their homes – in the face of a struggle for power that has led to abhorrent atrocities against civilians and famine on an unconscionable scale.
The international community must wake up and act urgently to avoid this horrific death toll escalating further in the coming months, driving instability and irregular migration into Europe and the UK. Under this government’s Plan for Change, we are addressing upstream drivers of migration to secure UK borders.
The UK will not let Sudan be forgotten. To do so would be unforgiveable.
Working with partners, the Foreign Secretary is determined to re-energise a political process on this issue. He plans to convene a meeting of Foreign Ministers to galvanise international efforts to work towards an end to the conflict and get aid to where it is needed the most.
This builds on the UK and Sierra Leone’s resolution at the UN in November, which gained the support of every UN Security Council member except Russia. He will build consensus on how the international community can support region-led mediation efforts that have Sudanese voices at the centre.
The UK is calling for greater access so aid can get to where it is needed most and will continue to push for every border crossing and route to be open, accessible, and safe.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, Principal Officials (POs) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government have started travelling to all 18 districts throughout Hong Kong today (January 25) to visit different families for four consecutive days (January 25 to 28) to chat with them, learn about their living conditions, distribute blessing bags in celebration of the Chinese New Year, share the festive joy and celebrate the Chinese New Year together. The year-end caring visits in 18 districts are co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Department.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Kowloon City), Mr Ivanhoe Chang, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, together with Kowloon City District Council members and representatives from the District Services and Community Care Team (Care Team) (Kowloon City) visited singleton elderly households living in Oi Man Estate today to understand their daily lives. The officials presented them with Chinese New Year blessing bags and wished them a healthy and happy Year of the Snake.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong), Mr Edward Yu, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, together with Yau Tsim Mong District Council members and representatives from the Care Team (Yau Tsim Mong) and the Ethnic Minority Care Team, visited an elderly family and an ethnic minority family living on Oak Street and Reclamation Street respectively to understand their daily lives and needs, and share the festive joy together.
In addition, accompanied by the District Officer (Islands), Miss Amy Yeung, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, together with an Islands District Council member and representatives from the Care Team (Islands) visited grassroots families and elderly people living in Yat Tung (l) Estate. Accompanied by the Acting District Officer (Southern), Miss Samantha Chan, the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, together with Southern District Council members and representatives from the Care Team (Southern) visited singleton/doubleton elderly households living in Wah Fu Estate.
The POs of the Government will continue to pay home visits in various districts during the coming three days to extend care and blessings, and bring festive joy to the public.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SHENYANG, Jan. 25 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday inspected the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Northern Theater Command ahead of the Spring Festival.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extended festive greetings to service personnel of the PLA and the People’s Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of militia and reserve forces, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.
The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, falls on Jan. 29 this year.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China, U.S. should find right way to get along in new era: Wang Yi
BEIJING, Jan. 24 — China and the United States should find the right way to get along in the new era, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held at the latter’s request on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Chinese President Xi Jinping held an important phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump last Friday and reached a series of consensus. The development of the China-U.S. relations have ushered in a new important node, Wang said.
Xi comprehensively expounded China’s policy to the United States, and Trump responded positively, expressing his expectation to maintain good relations with Xi and emphasizing that U.S.-China cooperation can solve many problems in the world, Wang said.
The two heads of state have pointed out the direction and set the tone for China-U.S. relations, said Wang.
The teams of both sides should follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain communication, control differences, expand cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, and find the right way for China and the United States to get along in the new era, he said.
Wang said that the Communist Party of China’s leadership is the choice of the Chinese people. China’s development has a clear historical logic and a strong innate driving force, he said, adding China’s goal is to deliver a better life to the people and make greater contributions to the world.
China has no intention to overtake or replace any country, but must safeguard its legitimate rights to development, he said.
Elaborating on China’s principle and position on the Taiwan question, Wang asked the United States to handle it with caution.
Taiwan has been an integral part of China’s territory since ancient times, Wang said, stressing that China will never allow Taiwan to be separated from the motherland.
Wang noted that the United States made solemn commitments to the one-China policy in the three China-U.S. joint communiques and should not go back on its word.
For his part, Rubio said that the United States and China are two great nations. The U.S.-China relations are the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century and will shape the future of the world, he said.
The United States is willing to engage in candid communication with China, resolve differences properly, manage bilateral relations in a mature and cautious way, jointly address global challenges and maintain world peace and stability, he said.
Rubio said the United States does not support “Taiwan independence” and hopes the Taiwan question can be resolved by peaceful means which are acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Wang said major countries should act like major countries and should take on their due international responsibilities, safeguard world peace and help all countries achieve common development.
Wang expressed his hope that Rubio would make the right decisions and play a constructive role for the future of the Chinese and the American people, as well as for global peace and stability.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Dear friends! I congratulate you on one of my favorite holidays – Russian Students’ Day!
This holiday of youth, enthusiasm, and determination has been celebrated at all times. I remember my student years with warmth and nostalgia, an important part of which were construction teams. Full of enthusiasm and ideas, we participated in SSO work shifts, made friends and worked, learned mutual assistance and support, laid the foundation for our future life.
Dear students, I am glad that today you are studying at our wonderful university, which is already 125 years old, that together with you we are moving science forward, adding new discoveries to the treasury of human knowledge. You, the young generation, are talented and brave, open and cheerful, happy and ambitious, looking to the future with hope and without fear, in a word, such as students have always been. You accept the challenges of modernity, overcome difficulties and pave your own unique path.
Our university is a leader in many areas, and I am proud of you, our young generation. I am proud of your successes not only in studies, but also in science, sports, art, social activities and work.
And today I am happy to congratulate you on your Day! With all my heart I wish you to spend your student years with full dedication and remember them for the rest of your life. I wish you not to lose the inspiration of true researchers, set high goals for yourself and make your dreams come true!
Happy holiday, dear ones!
Rector of SPbPU, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Year of the Snake is just around the corner! This Spring Festival marks the first celebration since it was inscribed on the Representative List of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, drawing global attention to its unique charm.
From pasting spring couplets and hanging red lanterns to dragon dances and family feasts, these traditions continue to unite generations.
Follow Xinhua’s foreign reporter, Maria, on a journey to discover the magic and spirit of the Spring Festival. Let’s embrace the festive vibes together!
China’s film market is off to a strong start in 2025, with box office pre-sales for the Spring Festival surpassing 525 million yuan (about 73.2 million U.S. dollars) as of Saturday, fueling optimism about the performance of the world’s second-largest film market this year.
The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar for family reunions and also one of the most lucrative movie-going seasons in China.
“The Spring Festival often sees the release of quality films, and the box office performance during this period sets the tone for the development trends of the entire year,” stated China International Capital Corporation, an investment bank offering consultancy services.
Figures from film data platform Beacon showed that advanced ticket bookings for movies set for release during the holiday exceeded 500 million yuan within just five days of pre-sales beginning on Jan. 19, signaling an upturn in China’s movie market.
After facing downturns in recent years, China’s film market is set to rebound in 2025, with a strong start during the holiday season, according to observers.
They predicted that the total box office revenue of the 2025 Spring Festival holiday season, running from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, one day longer than before, has the potential to surpass the 2024 record of approximately 8 billion yuan and reach a new high.
Zhang Yue, president of Ao Yo International, a culture and media corporation, told a news service under the Chongqing Daily that a diverse range of films from various genres and subjects will be screened during the holiday, offering audiences more options.
“As living conditions improve, people’s demand for cultural and entertainment consumption has risen. The box office performance during the holiday is crucial for the market’s recovery this year,” Zhang was quoted as saying.
Six domestic films are set to debut on Jan. 29, the first day of the 2025 Chinese New Year. Among them is the highly anticipated blockbuster “The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero,” an adaptation of a Chinese wuxia classic, which has generated 223 million yuan and become the biggest box office draw in the pre-sales chart.
“Ne Zha 2,” the sequel to the 2019 animated blockbuster “Ne Zha,” claimed the second spot, with advanced bookings totaling 89 million yuan. It is closely followed by the latest installment of the “Detective Chinatown” franchise and “Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force,” the second film in a mythology trilogy.
“My friend and I booked the tickets immediately upon hearing the news that ‘Creation of the Gods II: Demon Forces’ will be released,” said Song Jiaming, a film enthusiast from Beijing. “The first film in the series was a huge success in 2023, and we’re both excited for the upcoming release.”
The strong holiday season has raised optimism for a record-breaking year at the box office. The box office revenue of 2025 has reached 2.2 billion yuan by Saturday, according to Beacon.
Industry insiders believe that policy support and the recovery of market confidence will create new opportunities for growth in the film industry this year.
Song told Xinhua that she used to be a fan of Western movie franchises like “Avatar” and “The Lord of the Rings.” However, her interest has gradually shifted as an increasing number of domestic films, with strong cultural resonance, have graced the silver screen.
“Domestic films are playing an increasingly important role in the Chinese film market. They account for more than 80 percent of the box office with a trend of continuous growth,” according to Huang Wenyu, an industry analyst.
As the quality of domestic films improves and their range of genres expands, they are expected to maintain their dominance in the Chinese film market, Huang added.
To boost the film market, the China Film Administration has launched a consumption promotion campaign, offering subsidies totaling 600 million yuan to the public until the end of February.
Besides, local governments in provincial-level regions including Guangdong, Hubei and Jiangsu will issue tens of millions of yuan in additional vouchers to encourage more people to go to the cinema.
Analysts also noted that with the film market expected to show steady growth this year, competition will intensify. They have called for a focus on enhancing film production quality, improving overall film standards, optimizing the competitive landscape, and promoting digital transformation.
The Symphony Kukai has been staged in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, showcasing the life of Kukai, a prominent symbol of cultural exchange, through a moving musical performance by both Chinese and New Zealand musicians.
In his speech before the Friday performance, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said that he is delighted to see this event bringing together cultures in such a positive way and taking place in Auckland.
Zhou Li, cultural consul of the Chinese consulate general in Auckland, noted in his remarks that Kukai serves as an exemplary figure of mutual learning between civilizations. Today, when China is promoting the Global Civilization Initiative, it is believed that civilization is colorful because of exchange and civilization is enriched by mutual learning, said Zhou.
Symphony Kukai, composed by renowned Chinese composer Zou Ye, was presented in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time. Conducted by British maestro Derek Morgan, the Auckland Philharmonia performed the symphony, joined by the choir of Central Conservatory of Music from China and the choir from the Music Association of Auckland. Together, they brought the piece to life and delivered a soul-stirring experience for the New Zealand audience.
Kukai, a Japanese monk who traveled to China during the Tang Dynasty to study, returned to Japan with significant cultural and technological advancements. He not only introduced Tang Buddhism to Japan but also brought back knowledge in fields such as education, literature, medicine, architecture, water management, and science, making him a distinguished figure in global cultural exchange.
The Symphony Kukai premiered in 2023 and has since toured Lanzhou, China; Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan; and London, Britain, to widespread acclaim. The Auckland performance, organized by Beijing Tianguzhiyin Cultural Media, was supported by local New Zealand media and community groups. The Great Hall of Auckland Town Hall, which accommodates more than 1,500 people, was filled to capacity for the event with thunderous applause at the end.
I’m standing in a basement kitchen prodding at a sheep’s liver, looking for marks on its smooth surface. People crowd around to film the proceedings, since I’m here to ask a question that everyone wants to know the answer to: will Donald Trump win the US election?
I’m following instructions that were first written down by the ancient Babylonians 4,000 years ago, and still survive today. Every crease on the liver has a meaning, and cuneiform tablets discovered in modern-day Iraq explain how to interpret them.
Armed with this knowledge, it’s possible to calculate the answer to any question, so long as it is yes or no, by adding up the number of positive or negative signs and seeing which comes out on top.
Since this liver had an overwhelming number of bad omens in it, I concluded that it declared no for Trump this time. Though in 2016 this method predicted a win well before he had won the Republican nomination, and in 2020 foretold that he would not be reelected that year.
Will Trump win the US election?
What started as an entertaining talk for a university open day has since become a serious part of my research – not because I sincerely believe in it, but because it gives us some of the earliest evidence in history for how human beings reason and think.
Looking at livers also makes a serious underlying point about how humans have coped with uncertainty throughout history, and still struggle to today. People have developed techniques as varied as astrology, tarot cards and even peering into entrails in response to the agony of not knowing, or the strain of trying to make a difficult decision.
Given the level of feeling invested in this election, it’s a unique moment where perhaps we can appreciate that, in this respect, we are not so different from those who lived thousands of years ago, even if our methods of looking into the future are different.
Asking the entrails
Developed in its classic form in Babylon, entrail divination was practised throughout ancient Mesopotamia, the written history of which spans from the 3rd millennium BC to the 1st century AD.
It was enormously important in all sections of society – a standard part of political decision-making at the royal court, but accessible to all. Budget options were even available for those who could not afford a sheep.
People addressed their questions directly to the gods and believed that at the moment of asking, the answer would be written on the entrails. This could then be “read” by a diviner trained in this esoteric language.
Sitting in the British Museum is an archive of real questions that were asked by the king of Assyria (a kingdom in northern Mesopotamia) in the 7th century BC. All kinds of affairs of state were put before the gods. Are the Egyptians going to attack? Has the enemy taken the town under siege? And will the governors return home safely?
Reading the archive, you get a real sense of nerves on a knife-edge as the king waited for news from far away, wanting to know what had happened to his troops and trying to decide what to do next.
Not only did he ask them about what would happen in the future, but he also consulted them on possible courses of action. Should the Assyrian army go to war? Should the king send a messenger to make peace? Asking the opinion of the gods would have helped him feel more confident in his next steps.
The Babylonians did not have elections. But that did not mean the king could do whatever he wanted. It was important for his public image to have the gods onside, as well as for his own reassurance.
Whenever a powerful official was appointed, the entrails would be read to ensure the gods approved. The head of the army, high priests and other important positions were all subject to this requirement. On one occasion, even the choice of crown prince – and hence the future king of Assyria – was put to this test.
Interpreting the entrails was held to almost scientific standards of exactitude. Diviners worked in pairs or groups of up to 11, checking each other’s work to make sure they got it right. This was not a vague or woolly process, but a real attempt to ensure “accuracy” that could not be manipulated to simply come up with the answer that the king wanted to hear.
Modern forecasting
We all want to know what the future has in store, and have come up with ingenious ways of trying to find out, from opinion polls and data modelling to Paul the octopus, who developed a reputation for picking the winners of football matches during the 2010 World Cup. But are our methods really any better than looking inside a sheep?
As all investors are warned, past performance does not guarantee future results. Yet the only data we have to inform our predictions comes from the past, and most of our models can’t take into account “unknown unknowns”.
As many experts have found, predicting the future is a difficult business: opinion polls can lie and people change their minds, while economists have often been blindsided by a sudden crash.
Since liver divination only answers “yes” or “no”, it is going to be right 50% of the time just through the law of averages. Despite its randomness, its success rate may well have seemed convincing at the time.
And when we trust the authority of the source, it’s easy to find a way to explain away a wrong result – the prediction got halfway there, answered a different question, or would have been right if x hadn’t happened.
We shouldn’t be blind to the weaknesses of our own methods. We are often wrong, and the Babylonians could sometimes be right.
Selena Wisnom does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
In 2021, Ireland’s then Taoiseach (prime minister), Enda Kenny, delivered a formal apology to the survivors of the Magdalene laundries. The laundries were religious institutions where unmarried mothers and other “fallen” women were forced into slave labour.
“It struck me,” he said, “that for generations Ireland had created a particular portrait of itself as a good living God-fearing nation. Through this and other reports we know this flattering self-portrait to be fictitious … by any standards it was a cruel, pitiless Ireland distinctly lacking in a quality of mercy.”
His words might well serve as a prologue to the new film adaptation of Claire Keegan’s 2020 novella, Small Things Like These. So too might a brief moment in the equally excoriating, if less nuanced film, The Magdalene Sisters (2002). In it, one of the young women begs a local delivery boy to help her escape, but in the end he lets her down.
History films work in various ways. One is to comfort the viewer that such a time is consigned to the past. Melodramas like The Magdalene Sisters and that other notable Magdalene story, Philomena (2013), find a form of closure when their victims confront their oppressors.
Another is to refuse a neat ending, to force us to imagine what might happen in the lives of the protagonists after the final credits have rolled. In Small Things Like These, that protagonist is coal-man, Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), who finds himself inexplicably troubled as he is finishing off his delivery business in the days before Christmas 1985.
All is well at home, where his five daughters quarrel amicably around the kitchen table as they do their homework under the eye of his wife, Eileen (Eileen Walsh). Money is tight but they’re getting by.
Making a delivery to the local convent, he comes across a young woman, Sarah (Zara Devlin), locked in the coal shed. The discovery sets off his own memories of being brought up by a single mother, and, after her death, by a wealthy landowner, Mrs Wilson (Michelle Fairley). The film confronts kindly Bill with a dilemma: to shut his eyes, as do the other inhabitants of New Ross, to what is going on in the convent, or to aid the young woman.
The mother superior, Sister Mary (Emily Watson), knows that the stooped coal-man standing uneasily in her office is no match for her. As she warns him, the future education of his younger daughters in the school adjacent to the convent is not guaranteed. Other of the villagers, who sense his confusion, tell him not to involve himself. His wife, even as she doesn’t fully understand what is going through his head, is horrified by the merest suggestion that he will disrupt the status quo.
The price of compassion
In a less nuanced film, this advice might prompt the viewer to further empathise with Bill, egging him on to action. But here, the suffocating moral blanket that lies over the city – visually rendered as a thick fog that merges into a drizzle and occasional snow, and the narrow, constricting streets through which he moves – remind us that nonconformity comes with a heavy price.
The community may pile into the church for Christmas mass but, as Eileen admonishes Bill, there is no point in helping the starving child he meets on the road with the spare coins from his pocket – his father will only drink the money. What small closure comes at the film’s end is fragile and contingent.
The trailer for Small Things Like These.
Another risk of telling stories from history is to sacrifice the particular for the universal. Small Things Like These manages, through its visuals and its achingly believable performances (Murphy’s most of all) to be a film rooted in the Ireland that Kenny evoked in his speech. At the same time, it prompts us to question the limits of compassion – how much easier is it to conform to social norms than step outside them.
The film ends fittingly with a tribute to the more than 56,000 young women who were sent to Magdalene institutions for “penance and rehabilitation” between the years 1922 and 1996. And the children who were taken from them.
It is not history’s job to impose lessons on the present. But at the same time, it would be inadequate for viewers not to ask what we would have done in Bill’s place. And, more uncomfortably, what, faced with the knowledge of the multiple injustices of our own society, we ourselves are doing now.
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Ruth Barton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
As we wrap up the 20th anniversary of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I want to take a moment to reflect on the critical messaging our Cyber Warriors have shared this month and reiterate the key ways we can all contribute to safeguarding our Navy’s information and communications technology. Every member of the Navy team – active and reserve Sailors and Navy civilians – is integral to the Navy’s cybersecurity efforts and ensuring America’s Warfighting Navy remains the world’s pre-eminent warfighting force.
The growing threats from adversaries in the cyber domain are real and rapidly evolving. These threats have direct and significant implications for our operational readiness, with the potential to affect our ability to fight and win in a cyber-contested environment. To ensure we remain ready to defend our Nation, our information systems must deliver secure, interoperable, and effective mission performance during peacetime and sustained combat operations.
Every day, our adversaries seek to exploit vulnerabilities in the systems you rely on to execute our national security objectives. It’s our responsibility to identify and reduce those vulnerabilities. Whether you’re operating ships, submarines, or shore-based infrastructure, understanding the cyber risks within our systems and actively working to mitigate them is essential. We must always remain vigilant, reporting any cyber threats we encounter and acting quickly to neutralize them.
Our greatest strength in this fight is our people – you are our true secret weapon. Our Sailors and Navy civilians are our most valuable assets in defending against cyber threats, and it’s up to each of us to contribute. By practicing good cyber hygiene, continually educating ourselves on emerging threats, and empowering our shipmates with the knowledge and tools they need, we fortify our collective defense.
Every day each of us stands as the first line of defense in protecting our Nation’s critical information systems and networks. Whether at home, at work, or while deployed, the choices we make online can have far-reaching impacts on our Navy’s readiness and operational security.
I urge all of you to stay vigilant and stay informed on the evolving cyber landscape. Together, through awareness, education, and teamwork, we can uphold our Navy’s—and our Nation’s—high standard of cybersecurity.
