go no. 5

go no. 5 Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's and Cal’s are exploring changes of their own in . Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. “For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached,” he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and

Betty White Forever: New stamp will honor the much-beloved 'Golden Girls' actorAtlassian CEO Michael Cannon-Brookes sells $2 million in stock

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Participants from both public and private institutions also participated as key stakeholders in the successful implementation of the “Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT)” project. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the project's objectives and foster collaboration among stakeholders to ensure its success. The ASCENT is a $ 400 million Government of Rwanda project funded by the World Bank/International Development Association (IDA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support Rwanda’s goal of achieving universal energy access. The project will be implemented by BRD and Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL). BRD part of the project focuses on increasing access to off-grid electricity, clean cooking solutions, and productive uses of energy (PUE) in 30 districts across the country. ALSO READ: Rwanda needs $1.5bn to achieve universal energy access by 2029 According to Philbert Dusenge, the ASCENT Project Coordinator at BRD, the project will invest $27.5 million (part to be implemented by BRD), focusing on providing off-grid electricity to remote areas, clean cooking solutions, and PUE. He explained that the project operates under a result-based financing model, where contracted ESCs will distribute technologies like solar home systems, PUE technologies, and clean cooking products. The project also offers a line of credit facility to ESCs directly through BRD or on-lending through PFIs. Subsidies will be offered to address the affordability of these technologies, enabling Rwandans to access improved energy solutions that help mitigate climate change by reducing emissions and deforestation, he said. He also highlighted the project’s focus on small businesses, such as restaurants, in transitioning from harmful cooking methods like charcoal to clean cooking technologies. The PUE component will help small businesses access affordable technologies like irrigation systems, which will enable them to continue farming and generate income even when seasonal Rains are inconsistent, Dusenge added. BRD will oversee technical assistance, institutional capacity-building, and project implementation support through its various subcomponents. ALSO READ: 70% of industrial parks operational as gov’t woos more investors The Environmental Risk Management Specialist for the ASCENT project, Lydie Pacifique Igiraneza, emphasised the aims of the project to reduce emissions and improve environmental health while highlighting the importance of grievance redress mechanisms. We anticipate grievances from beneficiaries regarding product malfunctions, eligibility issues, or product non-receipt and to address this, ESCs are required to set up call centres with toll-free numbers to resolve complaints. Additionally, financial institutions involved in the credit facility must also implement grievance mechanisms to address concerns from their clients, she said. Igiraneza also pointed out that the project's distributed products may generate electronic waste (e-waste), which could harm the environment if not properly managed. We have put in place an environmental code of practice to ensure compliance with regulations on safe e-waste management. Only certified entities will handle the collection, treatment, and disposal of e-waste to prevent environmental harm, she stated. She emphasised the need to maximise the positive impacts of the project while minimising any negative effects through careful management of both social grievances and environmental risks. ALSO READ: Lawmakers propose clean cooking solutions for schools to check firewood use Aphrodise Uwiragiye, an Engineering Risk Analysis Specialist at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), believes that the ASCENT project is beneficial as it will enhance staff capacity and improve the quality of inspections. This project will support us in conducting our routine inspections more effectively, ensuring that consumers receive high-quality solar home systems,” he stated. He also emphasised RICA's crucial role in regulating the project while also advising importers to always seek an import permit before bringing products into Rwanda to ensure compliance. No solar home systems can enter Rwanda without RICA inspection and clearance. We ensure that products meet the required standards and regulations, helping to prevent substandard products from entering the market, he added. In his address, Alphonse Kanyandekwe, the acting Director of Engineering and Urban Planning Standards at Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), explained that the ASCENT project aligns with the Government of Rwanda's goal of ensuring universal access to energy. He further reiterated that the Government of Rwanda is exploring means to upgrade the present capacity of the testing laboratory to further reduce the turnaround time from months to a few weeks or even days. RSB is responsible for developing national standards, providing testing services, and certifying products in the energy sector, including those related to off-grid energy, clean cooking solutions, and productive uses of energy, he said. Kanyandekwe addressed concerns about the turnaround and time for results, emphasising that their lab is one of the few in the region capable of conducting these tests, which has improved efficiency despite the high volume of samples received. In the past, testing could take up to eight months due to the complexity of tests required for cooking solutions, such as thermal efficiency and emissions. However, recent improvements have reduced the turnaround time from eight months to about two months, he added.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessica Agasaro" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }

Looking ahead, make plans to attend the 10 th annual Gift Raps Hip-Hop Giveback show for fans of the Oklahoma City hip-hop community and those who want to make a difference for those in need this holiday season. Performers include Jabee, a three-time Emmy Award-winning music artist and community booster; and Oklahoma City-area hip-hop artists Original Flow, Willis Writer, Chloe Hart and Dezzy. Gift Raps is happening on Dec. 27 in partnership with LiveFree OKC and OK City Center, as a news release states. The show starts at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. at Resonant Head, 400 SW 25 th , Sweet A, in Oklahoma City. Admission is free with a donation of toys, socks, gloves or nonperishable food items, the release noted. People also can buy tickets for $5 at resonanthead.com . “Gift Raps is more than just a hip-hop show; it’s a way for us to come together as a community and give back,” stated Jabee Williams, founder of the event, in the news release. “We want to spread hope and provide tangible support to families who need it most, especially during the holidays.” LiveFree OKC and the OK City Center will collect and distribute the donations. LiveFree works to reduce violence and support families affected by community violence; the OK City Center provides essential services like food, clothing and sheltered to underserved people in the area. Everyone is sparkling this December, and it’s been fun to stop by a few of your community events while I was On the Town! In the last week, those included: – The President’s Christmas celebration at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City, hosted by OMRF President Andy Weyrich and his wife, Amy. Guests stopped by OMRF’s festive Research Tower after work to mingle and enjoy the space decorated for the holidays. I love OMRF’s mission to conduct biomedical research in Oklahoma, and its important work brings research dollars and researchers to this state. It is focused on understanding and curing human disease in research, as its website notes, and it’s always great to toast the people who support this important work. For information go to org . – Wilspec Technologies, Inc., celebrated its 25 th anniversary kickoff holiday-style with a party at City & State Venue & Events hosted by founder and President Larry Wilhelm and his wife, Ashlie Wilhelm, the company’s human resources manager. Wilspec designs and manufactures custom electronic sensors and controls for industrial applications worldwide, like parts for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems, worldwide and is based in Oklahoma City. Learn more at wilspec.com . If you haven’t seen it already, I recommend checking out the relatively new City & State event venue at 19 NE 6 in Oklahoma City. Every event I have been to there has been unique and intimate in this former 1920s automotive garage – you can sit booth-style in one room or enjoy a large room or a patio, all separately. For information about the venue, go to cityandstateokc.com . Have an idea, item or event for On the Town? Email [email protected] .

British golfer calls for Donald Trump to become Prime Minister - 'Better than Starmer'

Nissan persuades US court to decertify brake defect class actionsNEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's he's preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Republican senators is demanding that the Biden administration revoke a science and technology agreement with China, barely a week after the two countries renewed cooperation for five more years to keep ties from deteriorating. In a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the lawmakers, led by Sen. Jim Risch, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the era in which such cooperation made sense “is long gone” and the extension only “opens the door for further cooptation of American research.” The renewal of the agreement just before President Joe Biden leaves office “denies the incoming administration a chance to weigh in on this highly controversial agreement,” they said, urging the administration to “reverse course.” In addition to Risch, the letter was signed by Sens. John Barrasso, Pete Ricketts, Todd Young and Bill Hagerty. The first such agreement was signed in January 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic ties to counter the influence of the Soviet Union and when China severely lagged behind the U.S. and other Western nations in science and technology. RELATED COVERAGE What to know about the debt ceiling debate as a government shutdown looms in Washington Israel and Hamas appear close to a ceasefire deal. These are the sticking points Biden expected to visit Pope Francis in final international trip of his presidency, AP sources say The agreement was extended in 2018, and it was given temporary extensions last year and this year to allow for negotiations as the tech war between the two countries has escalated. The State Department has said the new agreement has a narrower scope and more guardrails to protect U.S. interests, including covering only basic research and not facilitating the development of critical and emerging technologies. The Republican senators said they had “deep concerns” that those measures were not sufficient to protect intellectual property and prevent illicit transfer of knowledge. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter Thursday. Deborah Seligsohn, assistant professor of political science at Villanova University, said the U.S. stands to lose more if it cuts off science and technology cooperation with Beijing. “The irony is that as China has become our peer, we have so much more to gain from working with Chinese science than we did in earlier eras, and yet at this moment, when we have the most to gain, there is a demand that we shut the door,” she said.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H2 Clipper, Inc. (“H2C”), a leader in sustainable hydrogen-based infrastructure and transportation, announces that Nick Gaines has joined the company’s subsidiary, H2C Safety Pipe, Inc. (“H2CSP”), as Regulatory Affairs Specialist. In this role, Gaines will engage with regulators, legislators, and the environmental community to champion a zero-leakage hydrogen standard in California that advances a responsible transition to a clean energy future. Gaines brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, policy, and community development. Most recently, he has been serving as Director of Public Policy at the Matthew Perry Foundation, where he has been overseeing external campaigns and grantmaking initiatives, including the foundation’s inaugural grant program in California. His impressive career also includes roles in public service, where he led technology and climate policy initiatives, including microgrid development and climate resilience legislation, for Senator Henry Stern. He has also managed political campaigns and developed broadband equity frameworks at Michael Baker International. Gaines combines a deep understanding of regulatory environments with a passion for innovation. He said, "I'm thrilled to join H2C Safety Pipe at this pivotal moment in the clean energy transition. The work we do will help ensure that California deploys the best available technologies and avoids the greenhouse gas mistakes of the past methane distribution system in the transition to a clean energy future. I'm excited to contribute my expertise to this mission and collaborate with the talented team at H2C and H2C Safety Pipe." H2C Safety Pipe CEO Robert Shelton commented, "We see a parallel scenario to natural gas pipelines unfolding with the development of the transportation and distribution infrastructure for hydrogen. Our goal is to learn from past errors around leakage in the gas industry to establish more robust protections and state regulations for hydrogen distribution. By instituting rigorous safety standards, such as requiring double-wall containment with active leak monitoring and mitigation systems for all future hydrogen pipelines. We can establish a global standard for safe, sustainable energy distribution networks that are essential for our transition to a low-carbon future." Gaines’ appointment underscores H2C’s commitment to leveraging the best talent and technologies to accelerate a clean energy future. His expertise and vision will help ensure the state of California adopts the highest standards of safety and innovation, while fostering trust among all stakeholders. About H2C Safety Pipe, Inc. H2C Safety Pipe focuses on “last mile” distribution systems that deliver pure hydrogen to end users. Its patented two-layer pipe system is designed to supply local regions with safe and reliable clean energy. This breakthrough pipe technology provides the most cost-effective, safest, and scalable way to address safety for end-user delivery of fuel cell grade hydrogen, especially for sensitive populated areas. H2C Safety Pipe’s technology will save companies and governments billions of dollars by avoiding the construction of new hydrogen pipelines by retrofitting existing ones for hydrogen. This leverages otherwise stranded assets in the energy transition and significantly reduces regulatory challenges. To learn more about H2C’s other hydrogen-related midstream technologies, please visit: https://www.h2clipper.com/ About H2 Clipper, Inc. H2 Clipper, Inc. is the developer of high-speed, Pipeline-in-the-SkyTM hydrogen-powered airships for long distance global transport that use no fossil fuels and have a host of commercial and humanitarian applications, and of the novel Safety PipeTM “last mile” distribution system to deliver pure hydrogen to end users. Since 2008, the company has made significant strategic investments to research, develop, and patent core IP in modern airship design and midstream solutions for efficient delivery of both gaseous and liquid hydrogen. Media Contact: Shannon Albertelli Trevi Communications, Inc. shannon@trevicomm.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2f9f3f5-7a28-46f0-a785-8b6b71d11684AVITA Medical Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for Cohealyx, Expanding its Addressable MarketAAR resolves Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations with the DOJ and SEC

Lilly's 21 lead Brown over Canisius 83-76Subscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . Pope Francis and the Holy See drew polarized reactions across the globe after unveiling a Nativity scene featuring a wood-carved infant Jesus laying on a keffiyeh in his manger last Saturday, December 7. The symbol of solidarity with Palestine, which sparked both praise and outrage internationally, has since disappeared from the scene along with the entire manger and model of baby Jesus as of today, December 11. Initially reported by Christian and Italian news outlets , the removal of the manger, baby Jesus, and the keffiyeh was first observed during Pope Francis’s general audience at Paul VI Hall , where only the carved figures of the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and some surrounding stuffed sheep remain. The Nativity was designed by Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, two Palestinian artists from the city of Bethlehem in the Occupied West Bank, and carved by Bethlehem artist Peter Khano from a single olive tree per cultural tradition. It was a joint gift to the Vatican from Dar al-Kalima University, the Palestinian Embassy at the Holy See, and the Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs in Palestine. Hyperallergic contacted the artists and a spokesperson for the Holy See for comment. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities It’s worth noting that the Vatican and many Christians abide by the tradition of waiting until Christmas Eve to put the model of baby Jesus in his manger in their respective Nativity scenes; however, the manger itself is usually left empty until Christmas rather than omitted overall. Further, the scene’s removal came after an outpouring of online criticism about the keffiyeh’s inclusion from pro-Israel entities, with netizens , organizations , and outlets alike accusing the Vatican of blasphemy by distorting or misrepresenting the identity of Jesus Christ as Palestinian instead of Jewish. One user on X commented that using the keffiyeh, “a garment that represents violence to Jews,” turned the Nativity scene into a site of hate for Jewish people. Pope Francis, who has used his platform to acknowledge the death and suffering in Gaza and advocate for peace throughout the region on multiple occasions, drew outrage last month after calling for an investigation into Israel’s attacks to determine whether they constitute genocide . He has twice met with the families of hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, and with some of the freed hostages after their release as well. The keffiyeh, a cultural garment tied to Palestinian identity and broader Arab heritage, has been at the center of controversy in the last year. The Noguchi Museum in New York City recently barred its employees from wearing the scarf , calling it an example of “political dress” that could cause discomfort to visitors. The policy sparked various protests in solidarity with four museum staff members who were terminated after they refused to comply with it. Weeks after the 2023 attack, Christie’s auction house in London pulled two paintings by Lebanese artist Ayman Baalbaki from its Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art sale after multiple complaints — though his portrayal of a keffiyeh in one painting is related to experiences of loss and displacement due to the Lebanese Civil War. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.A social agency that runs a supervised consumption service (SCS) in Toronto’s Kensington Market has launched a court challenge against new legislation that will see 10 such sites shuttered across the province, arguing that the law violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Bill 223, the Community Care and Recovery Act, was passed in the legislature on Dec. 4 without committee review, input from affected communities, or debate. Among other things, it prohibits SCSs from operating within 200 metres of schools and child-care centres. Ten sites across the province, five of which are in Toronto, fall within this radius and must close their doors by March 31, 2025. Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site (KMOPS), run by The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) Community Services and kept open through financial donations, is one of those sites slated to be closed. The organization also runs a child-care centre next door to its SCS. The act also imposes limitations and restrictions on existing SCSs, bans municipalities and other organizations from seeking or supporting federal exemptions to open new ones without the province’s approval, and bars any local initiatives that aim to decriminalize small amounts of drugs for personal use. Further, it prevents municipalities from seeking federal money for safe supply programs, again without the province’s approval. On Tuesday, TNG held a news conference to announce the legal challenge. Sandra Ka Hon Chu, co-executive director of the HIV Legal Network, moderates a Dec. 10 news conference where a Charter challenge was launched against a new law that would shutter some supervised consumption sites. CEO Bill Sinclair says that for decades, the 110-year-old organization he leads has been “listening and adapting” to meet the most crucial needs of the community it serves. “Six years ago, in 2018, we were alarmed by the increasing overdoses in our community and we wanted to urgently learn how to prevent death and how to be part of the solution,” Sinclair said, adding KMOPS hasn’t recorded a single death since it opened five years ago. “We did learn how to make a difference and how to save lives and since then we’ve continued to make a difference and provide life saving health care and health services, housing, employment, and more in Kensington Market.” Sinclair says with this court challenge, filed this week, TNG, and its two co-applicants, are “demanding our right to continue to provide this care and save lives.” Bill Sinclair, TNG's CEO, speaks during a Dec. 10 news conference where a Charter challenge was launched against a new law that would shutter some supervised consumption sites. Rahool Agarwal, a lawyer from Lax O’Sullivan LLP, and Carlo Di Carlo, of Stockwoods LLP, are providing pro-bono services to this case. They said their goal is to get the application up as soon as possible and are prepared to seek an injunction to prevent the restrictions in the new legislation from going into effect until it is decided. During today’s news conference, Agarwal said they’re committed to scheduling a hearing in Superior Court before the end of March when the 10 SCS sites are set to close. He said they believe this new legislation violates sections 7, 12, and 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantee every Canadian’s right to life, liberty, and security of the person; freedom from treatment and punishment by the state that are cruel and unusual; and thirdly, the right to equality before the law and freedom from discrimination by the Canadian government. Agarwal argued that people who depend on SCSs will no longer have access to the services they need and as a result will “face a dramatically increased risk of death by overdose.” “They’ll be forced to result to unhealthy and unsafe consumption, engaging their very lives on a daily basis,” he said, adding that people who use these sites will face an “enhanced risk and threat of criminal prosecution” without them. “And finally, the law will infringe clients’ right to security of the person, because without supervised consumption, the data is clear that there will be a dramatically increased risk of infectious diseases as well as harms to other aspects of their health, including their mental and psychological well being.” Lawyer Rahool Agarwal speaks during a Dec. 10 news conference where a Charter challenge was launched against a new law that would shutter some supervised consumption sites. Agarwal also says the new law discriminates on the basis of “immutable characteristics,” specifically for those who suffer from substance-use disorder, which he noted is a recognized illness under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. “Denying them real and meaningful access to those types of services will exacerbate the disadvantages they already face in society, the exclusion they face from Canadian society as a whole,” Agarwal said. “Most service users are already marginalized and disadvantaged in many other ways, and this will only exacerbate those disadvantages.” He added the Community Care and Recovery Act also “intrudes upon the federal government’s powers over the criminal law.” “Only the federal government can try to suppress conduct that it deems to be socially undesirable, and that’s what Ontario is trying to do through the back door with this legislation, and that’s why this legislation is also unconstitutional,” he said, adding they’ll be looking to the “strong precedent” set in the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the country’s first supervised injection site in B.C. for this case. In 2011, the country’s top court ruled that the federal health minister’s decision to not to exempt Vancouver’s Insite facility from the application of criminal drug laws breached the Charter right to life, liberty, and security of the person. New law plays on ‘heinous’ stereotypes, lawyer says Di Carlo said this case is “about the Ontario government favouring politics over people’s lives,” and “partnership over data.” “There’s no science-based evidence to support the idea that closing supervised consumption sites will make anyone safer,” he said, pointing to two Ontario government-commissioned reports that recommended keeping existing drug consumption sites open across the province, increasing funding to stabilize staffing and hiring permanent security guards to boost safety. Di Carlo said they also found SCSs reduce overdose deaths, improve access to health care services for marginalized community and referrals for addiction treatment, and minimize social disorder. “This is the science. It’s uncontroverted and overwhelming in support of supervised consumption services,” he said. Agarwal added that this data shows SCSs “save lives in a way that other forms of medical care and treatment simply do not.” “We know that if this law is permitted to take effect, the most vulnerable members of our society will be denied a medical service they need to survive, and people will die. And how the Ontario government can simply not only condone that behaviour, but to compel it. That is beyond me,” he said. “Ontario knew that when it passed this law, it had reports that itself commissioned in its possession that told it that these types of services help people, they save lives, they reduce the risk of death and disease. And despite that information, they decided to pass that legislation, and therefore knowingly increased the risk of death and grievous bodily harm.” DiCarlo went on to say that this new legislation simply “plays on heinous and pernicious stereotypes about a community that’s marginalized and unable to push back when a government acts capriciously, when it passes laws that have no rational basis and will harm lives.” “It’s impractical to expect that the vast majority of the individuals that are currently receiving services at one of the sites that’s about to shut down will be able to walk to a clinic that’s kilometers away that might remain open. And for the ones that do remain open, they will undoubtedly become overrun, making it even harder for people to access those services,” he said. Former Toronto mayor John Sewell speaks during a Dec. 10 news conference where a Charter challenge was launched against a new law that would shutter some supervised consumption sites. Former Toronto mayors Barbara Hall and John Sewell are also lending their support to the Charter challenge. Hall said that years ago she, Sewell and many others supported the Toronto Board of Health in opening supervised consumption and they continue to do so. “We knew there was a need then and we’ve seen incredible results. We heard about the fewer losses of life, but we know that one, aren’t enough (SCS), and two, there aren’t enough treatment spots for those who want them, so we need to help,” she said. In a statement provided to CTV News Toronto, a spokesperson for Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones reiterated that the legislation is precipitated by “serious concerns” due to the “presence of drug consumption sites near schools and daycares.” “We’ve heard from families of the harassment, verbal and physical assault they have experienced walking their child to daycare or school. We have also heard about the phone calls parents have received that their child has picked up a dirty needle, or bag of toxic drugs in the school yard,” Hannah Jensen from the health minister’s office said in a written statement. “Enough is enough and our government is taking action to protect children and their families while taking the next step to create a system of care that prioritizes community safety, treatment, and recovery by investing $378 million to create (19) Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. Each drug consumption site closing will have the opportunity to turn into a HART Hub.” These hubs are expected to be up ad running before the end of March. Jensen added that these sites are “similar to existing hub models in Ontario that have successfully provided people with care, will reflect regional priorities by connecting people to more comprehensive care than the support services previously offered at Consumption and Treatment Services. These enhanced services include primary care, addiction care, support, supportive housing, and other social services.” Solicitor General Michael Kerzner told The Canadian Press he could not comment on the legal action, but added the province has made it clear it wants parks to be safe for children and families. With files from The Canadian Press

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Marine engineers and Naval architects under the auspices of Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) have said that Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure need $1 billion upgrade. The Marine engineers and Naval architects, who converged for 13th Annual Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that going by increasing decay and infrastructure deficits in the maritime sector, $1 billion would be required to bridge the gap in the maritime sector. While identifying inadequate power supply, steel production, and financial support as the bane of development in maritime industry, NIMENA added that banks’ refusal to accept vessels as collateral due to their classification as movable assets further compounded problems in the sector. Speaking through a communiqué, NIMENA lamented dormancy of Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) and lack of funds to acquire vessels and compete with foreign vessel owners. They also worried about the waiver system which allows the Minister of Transportation to issue waiver to foreign vessels to do what Nigerian vessels ought to do, just because Nigerian maritime operators do not have the vessel. Read also: Indigenous ship acquisition hindrances, vessel financing crisis, reecho at marine engineers summit The stakeholders noted the problems of maritime industry and the blue economy on how limited access to capital hampering indigenous operators and minimal disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financial Fund (CVFF). On maritime safety compliance, NIMENA said with over 90% of global trade reliance on maritime transport, safety standards are paramount for safeguarding lives and the environment. The Body of Marine engineers and Naval architects called for stengthening certifications and standards to drive professionalism, enhance safety, and stimulate economic development. Delivering a keynote address, Andrew Aligbe, a Marine Engineer and Managing Director of Gelose Marine Services Limited, dwelt on the Cabotage Act and the Role of Waivers in Advancing the Maritime Industry; He mentioned Technological Innovations in Naval Architecture; Maritime Safety Compliance; Establishing Marine Classification Standards for Shipbuilding; and Welding Standards and Regulations in Maritime Engineering as part of variables needed for a robust development in the maritime industry.INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Brebeuf Jesuit quarterback Maverick Geske committed to Indiana. Geske led the state of Indiana in passing yards by over 800 yards this season. He threw for 4,039 yards and over 360 yards per game. He threw for 40 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Geske helped lead Brebeuf to an 8-3 record, their most amount of wins since 2021. They also had five games with more than 50 points, including an 83 point outburst against Terre Haute South. This is the second straight season that IU has landed a quarterback recruit from the state of Indiana. Last season, they got Tyler Cherry from Center Grove. He was third in the state in passing yards in 2023. Geske was right behind him in 4th in 2023.Ministers want the Civil Service to be ‘more efficient and effective’. Ministers will not set an arbitrary cap on the number of civil servants amid reports more than 10,000 jobs could be lost as the result of a spending squeeze. Sir Keir Starmer has been warned by a trade union not to impose “blunt headcount targets” for the size of the Civil Service but Government sources insisted there would be no set limit, although the number “cannot keep growing”. Departments have been ordered to find 5% “efficiency savings” as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review, potentially putting jobs at risk. The size of the Civil Service has increased from a low of around 384,000 in mid-2016, and the Tories went into the general election promising to reduce numbers by 70,000 to fund extra defence spending. Any reduction under Labour would be more modest, with the Guardian reporting more than 10,000 jobs could be lost. A Government spokesman said: “Under our plan for change, we are making sure every part of government is delivering on working people’s priorities — delivering growth, putting more money in people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, rebuilding Britain and securing our borders in a decade of national renewal. “We are committed to making the Civil Service more efficient and effective, with bold measures to improve skills and harness new technologies.” Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect trade union said: “We need a clear plan for the future of the civil service that goes beyond the blunt headcount targets that have failed in the past. “This plan needs to be developed in partnership with civil servants and their unions, and we look forward to deeper engagement with the government in the coming months.” A Government source said: “The number of civil servants cannot keep growing. “But we will not set an arbitrary cap. “The last government tried that and ended up spending loads on more expensive consultants.” The Government is already risking a confrontation with unions over proposals to limit pay rises for more than a million public servants to 2.8%, a figure only just over the projected 2.6% rate of inflation next year. Unions representing teachers, doctors and nurses have condemned the proposals. In the face of the union backlash, Downing Street said the public sector must improve productivity to justify real-terms pay increases. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s vital that pay awards are fair for both taxpayers and workers.” Asked whether higher pay settlements to staff would mean departmental cuts elsewhere, the spokesman said: “Real-terms pay increases must be matched by productivity gains and departments will only be able to fund pay awards above inflation over the medium-term if they become more productive and workforces become more productive.” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises. “And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings. “The Government must now engage unions and the millions of public sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.”

Nightmare for Guardiola continues as Juventus beats Man City 2-0; Bologna holds Benfica to a goalless drawBashar Barhoum woke in his prison cell in Damascus at dawn, thinking it would be the last day of his life. The 63-year-old writer was supposed to have been executed after being imprisoned for seven months. But he soon realized the men at the door weren’t from former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s notorious security forces, ready to take him to his death. Instead, they were rebels coming to set him free. As the insurgents swept across Syria in just 10 days to bring an end to the Assad family’s 50-year rule Dec. 8, they broke into prisons and security facilities to free political prisoners and many of the tens of thousands of people who disappeared since the conflict began back in 2011. Barhoum was one of those freed who were celebrating in Damascus. “I haven’t seen the sun until today,” Barhoum told The Associated Press after walking in disbelief through the streets of Damascus. “Instead of being dead tomorrow, thank God, he gave me a new lease of life.” Barhoum couldn’t find his cellphone and belongings in the prison, so he set off to find a way to tell his wife and daughters that he’s alive. Videos shared widely across social media showed dozens of prisoners running in celebration after the insurgents released them, some barefoot and others wearing little clothing. One of them screams in celebration after he finds out that the government has fallen. Syria’s prisons have been infamous for their harsh conditions. Torture is systemic, say human rights groups, whistleblowers and former detainees. Secret executions have been reported at more than two dozen facilities run by Syrian intelligence, as well as at other sites. In 2013, a Syrian military defector, known as “Caesar,” smuggled out over 53,000 photographs that human rights groups say showed clear evidence of rampant torture, but also disease and starvation in Syria’s prison facilities. Syria’s feared security apparatus and prisons did not only serve to isolate Assad’s opponents, but also to instill fear among his own people, said Lina Khatib, Associate Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa program at the London think tank Chatham House. “Anxiety about being thrown in one of Assad’s notorious prisons created wide mistrust among Syrians,” Khatib said. “Assad nurtured this culture of fear to maintain control and crush political opposition.” Just north of Damascus, in the Saydnaya military prison known as the “human slaughterhouse,” female detainees, some with their children, screamed as men broke the locks off their cell doors in the early hours Sunday as insurgents entered the city. Amnesty International and other groups say that dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, estimating that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. “Don’t be afraid ... Bashar Assad has fallen! Why are you afraid?” said one of the rebels as he tried to rush streams of women out of their jam-packed tiny cells. Tens of thousands of detainees have so far been freed, said Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based pro-opposition war monitor. Over the course of 10 days, insurgents freed prisoners in cities including Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Damascus. Omar Alshogre, who was detained for three years and survived relentless torture, watched in awe from his home far from Syria as videos showed dozens of detainees fleeing. “A hundred democracies in the world had done nothing to help them, and now a few military groups came down and broke open prison after prison,” Alshogre, a human rights advocate who now resides in Sweden and the U.S., told The Associated Press. Meanwhile, families of detainees and the disappeared skipped celebrations of the downfall of the Assad dynasty. Instead, they waited outside prisons and security branch centers, hoping their loved ones would be there. They had high expectations for the newcomers who will now run the battered country. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where he is,” said Bassam Masri. “I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years,” since the start of the Syrian uprising in 2011. Rebels struggled to control the chaos as crowds gathered by the Court of Justice in Damascus. Heba, who gave only her first name while speaking to the AP, said she was looking for her brother and brother-in-law who were detained while reporting a stolen car in 2011 and hadn’t been seen since. “They took away so many of us,” said Heba, whose mother’s cousin also disappeared. “We know nothing about them ... They (the Assad government) burned our hearts.”