DEAR ERIC: I eat at a local restaurant a couple times a week and tend to get one of three meals. This one waitress asks me what I want to eat, but then interrupts me to make guesses or tell me my choice. I just put my head down and nod yes or no to the guesses. It’s frustrating, but not life-threatening. She enjoys it. I hate it. However, if I were to say something, it would force her to make the choice of being herself, doing something she likes doing, or appeasing me so I can order the way I want to order. I don’t know if this is a big enough problem to have a “high road.” The answer will not change my life. She can easily change, and I can easily suffer. The question is who gets to be themselves? – Speaking Up DEAR SPEAKING UP: I worked in the service industry for more than a decade. I loved it. I loved seeing regulars, meeting new people and carrying a lot of beverages in my hands at one time. The whole bit. I also loved knowing what people wanted, but I would always ask and confirm. That’s part of the job. She may think you’re a regular who likes to be known in this way. So, informing her that that’s not the case won’t be keeping her from being herself. It will be helping her to do her job better. You may not have the kind of temperament that easily or comfortably course-corrects in social situations. That’s just fine. But know you won’t be causing her suffering by saying something like “I’ve already decided on my meal. Let’s skip the guessing today and I’ll just tell you.” This also clears the path for the two of you to talk about something else, if you want. Ideally, it’s a conversation that you’ll both enjoy. (Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com .) ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Latest Advice Columns Dear Abby: Woman wonders whether to socialize with dinner group members who ignore her daughter Dear Annie: I have a crush on my 18-year-old co-worker and I think she likes me, too ... even though I’m 42 Hints from Heloise: Use lemons to clean charred pots and peppermint oil spray to repel spiders November 23 birthday horoscope and your daily astrology Miss Manners: If I don’t like a necklace my father-in-law gave me, can I give it to my sister-in-law?Europe’s ambition to develop a robust homegrown EV battery industry to reduce dependence on China is faltering, with Chinese and Asian manufacturers stepping in to fill the void. The most notable setback has been the collapse of Northvolt , a Swedish startup once celebrated as a cornerstone of Europe’s green energy vision. Despite securing the EU’s largest-ever green loan and support from Volkswagen and BMW, Northvolt filed for bankruptcy protection in the US , with its cofounder and CEO, a former Tesla executive, stepping down. Across Europe, 12 out of 16 planned European-led battery factories have been delayed or canceled. In contrast, 10 of 13 projects in Europe led by Asian manufacturers, such as China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) and South Korea’s Samsung SDI , are moving forward, underscoring a widening gap in the race for EV battery dominance. Europe’s original vision, driven by massive government subsidies, included factories in Sweden , Poland , Germany , and Canada , designed to produce greener batteries using 100% recycled materials like nickel, manganese, and cobalt. However, this ambition is now unraveling. Industry experts warn of severe repercussions. Andy Palmer, former CEO of Aston Martin, stated that the failure to establish domestic battery production jeopardizes Europe’s automotive industry , risking factory closures and job losses as automakers consider relocating to regions with stronger supply chains. Other projects are also faltering, with Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis delaying plants in Germany and Italy, while Volkswagen has pushed back capacity targets for its European facilities. The UK’s Britishvolt collapsed last year, further compounding the region’s struggles. China, supplying 80% of the world’s lithium-ion batteries , has outpaced Europe with massive investments in its domestic EV sector . Companies like CATL and BYD have become global leaders, while European automakers are now scaling back their electrification strategies and canceling battery orders, leaving the continent’s dreams dimming.Manmohan Singh, one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers of India and the first Sikh to hold the prestigious position, passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92. The former Prime Minister was admitted to the emergency department of AIIMS, New Delhi, on Thursday evening. “With profound grief, we inform the demise of the former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM,” the official statement from the hospital read. Singh is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and three daughters: Upinder Singh, Daman Singh, and Amrit Singh, along with their families. Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, West Punjab (now in Pakistan), Manmohan Singh was the son of Gurmukh Singh and Amrit Kaur. The family migrated to India during the partition in 1947, first settling in Haldwani and later moving to Amritsar in Punjab. Singh pursued his education in Economics at Panjab University, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He then went on to study at the University of Cambridge, completing his Economics Tripos in 1957. Later, Singh earned a doctorate in Economics from the University of Oxford in 1960. His career as an economist took him to the United Nations between 1966 and 1969, where he also began his journey into public service. His time in government began when Shri Lalit Narayan Mishra appointed him as an advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, a pivotal moment that marked the start of his distinguished bureaucratic career. In 1958, Singh married Gursharan Kaur, a history professor and author. Together, they raised three accomplished daughters: Upinder Singh , a history professor and Dean of Faculty at Ashoka University, is also a renowned author with six published books. Formerly the head of the History Department at the University of Delhi, she has won multiple awards, including the Infosys Prize for Social Sciences. Notable books by her include Ancient Delhi and A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India. Daman Singh , an author and graduate of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and the Institute of Rural Management in Anand, Gujarat, is known for works such as The Last Frontier: People, Forests in Mizoram, and the biography Strictly Personal, which chronicles the lives of her parents. She is married to Ashok Pattnaik, an Indian Police Service officer, who served as the CEO of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) in 2016. Amrit Singh , the youngest daughter, is a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), advocating for civil liberties and human rights. Manmohan Singh’s leadership as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 was marked by economic reforms that transformed India’s global standing. His tenure is remembered for the liberalization of India’s economy, moving the country towards greater market integration and fostering rapid growth. His death marks the end of an era for Indian politics, leaving behind a rich legacy that shaped the nation’s economic landscape. Also Read: Manmohan Singh: ‘A Technocrat with A Vision,’ Remembered As A Master Of Politics And Policy Written By Priyanka Negi Updated By Priyanka Negi
Ivanka Trump celebrated Christmas Eve at Mar-a-Lago, where her father, President-elect Donald Trump , took on the role of DJ, as told by sources to Page Six. The festive spirit continued into Christmas night, with Ivanka sharing a stunning photo on social media . She dazzled in a one-shoulder, form-fitting black dress adorned with a dramatic white flower print, capturing the essence of holiday glamour at the exclusive club. Also Read: Vivek Ramaswamy steps in as Sriram Krishnan's controversial views on immigration spark debate Christmas Eve at Mar-a-Lago A spy revealed to Page Six that Ivanka entered her dad’s private Christmas party in a “form-fitting, below-the-knee, all-white dress with bare shoulders, but long sleeves” at the Palm Beach club. She was reportedly accompanied by her husband, Jared Kushner and and their three children. The insider shared with the outlet, “Melania wore a perfectly fitted chic black pantsuit with discrete jewellery and her large diamond wedding ring.” A source revealed that the tickets to the party went out for a whopping $ 350 a pop. Regarding who was there at the gathering and who was not, the insider said, “No Elon, no Don Jr. and his gf, no Eric and Lara Trump... the family arrived at 7:30 p.m. and left at 9:00 p.m.” However, Trump Jr. and Anderson were spotted at the family Christmas celebration the next day where the latter appeared in a red dress. Also Read: Family feud turns violent at Phoenix airport on Christmas Day, 3 shot and 1 stabbed Donald Trump plays DJ at the party The source revealed to the outlet, “The president played a serious set and was very into the music.” About the presidential playlist, the source shared that it included artists like “Andrea Bocelli [singing the] theme from ‘Phantom of the Opera” along with the 1966 Elvis Presley holiday tune–If Everyday Was Like Christmas. The source further shared, “He closed his set with ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and some of the crowd jumped up and started doing ‘the Trump dance. The President-elect [also] started doing his signature dance and the room burst into applause and cheers. The ballroom was filled, but not overcrowded, because the size of these holiday events is being limited.” The source added, “There were no toasts by [Trump], but Ivanka was observed raising her glass and saying something with a smile to her father and Melania.” Trump is also known to DJ every night during the dinners via his iPad.Donald Trump again trolls Canada and Justin Trudeau in Christmas message; here's what he posted on social mediaDriver hit with $7,000 fine in single traffic stop as cops launch new crackdown that will last weeksGetting smart about car insurance can provide cost savings and peace of mind
Title: Zheng Siwei Urges Huang Yaqiong to Get Married, Hoping She Will Start a Family Next YearDuring a Labour away day ahead of the last election, the party’s candidates were put through their paces as parliamentary debaters. The topic chosen, assisted dying , was a deliberately intractable issue designed to test their analytical skills. Yet just months later, scores of new MPs find themselves having to make a very real decision over changing the law. “I’m genuinely the most back and forth on this that I’ve been on anything,” said one new MP who has found themselves on either side of the debate over recent months. Like so many, with the issues so finely balanced in their mind, a single conversation can sway their thinking. “I had a conversation during the election campaign with a woman whose husband was on a [syringe] driver for 12 days,” the MP said. “I can honestly say that conversation really changed my mind and put me in the pro camp. But the challenge for the people who are pro is whether they can convince everybody that this bill is narrow enough. I don’t know what they could do prior to Friday to get that over.” All MPs are now grappling over how they will vote in Friday’s once-in-a-generation decision on the assisted dying bill brought forward by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater. They talk of being bombarded with campaign material from the pro and anti campaigns, as well as being swayed by personal stories of friends, family and constituents. However, Labour MPs involved in that pre-election debate practice say it could never have prepared them for the real thing, as discussing the principle of assisted dying has given way to assessing the merits of the specific bill now before them. “The general public get to say whether they’re pro or against it as a principle,” said a Labour MP. “The MPs in the grey area now are the ones asking: ‘How would this work?’ We’re trying to think of it pragmatically.” MPs across the political divide said that there had been a large amount of lobbying in their inboxes, but they are taking very different approaches to reaching their final decisions. Some said they were talking at length to their colleagues to thrash out the issues. Others said they were keeping their thoughts to themselves. While new MPs find themselves thrown into a major ethical debate only months into their career, Friday’s free vote on the issue has been no easier for some veteran MPs. John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor who entered parliament in 1997, said he had thought about the issue for decades – but had only very recently switched in favour of backing the bill. “I’ve been in parliament 27 years now,” he said. “This has become a recurring debate every few years. It’s a hardy perennial that comes back. “Up until now, I was unsure and opposed previous attempts at assisted dying. I was concerned, as everyone is, to make sure that we get it right and that there’s safeguards in place. “I’ve been trying to talk to as many organisations as possible. I’ve read everything that’s come into my inbox. I’ve tried to interrogate the proposals as much as possible that Kim and others put forward. And so now, for the first time, I’ve come to the view that, yes, I’ll support an assisted dying bill. I think the safeguards that Kim has put forward are pretty strong. But again, if there are other improvements that could be made, I’m open minded to looking at those. But as a matter of principle, I now think we need to move forward on it.” Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion As it is a free vote, there are figures from the political left and right on both sides. Former Tory cabinet ministers Kit Malthouse and David Davis are among the leading advocates for a change in the law . It is also an issue that has divided politicians who have almost always agreed. McDonnell will be voting in the opposite division lobby to some of his oldest political fellow travellers on the left, including Diane Abbott . Jeremy Corbyn has also previously indicated he will oppose assisted dying. “I haven’t spoken to either Jeremy or Diane,” he said. “I will do, but it’s not left or right. It’s a very individual position. And again, it’s only in this recent period, in the last few months, that I’ve come to the conclusion that, actually, I can’t any longer deny people that right.” Other MPs said that they and many of their colleagues had a clear instinct on the issue but wanted to show they were willing to consider all sides before casting their vote. “There are some people who feel that you’re denying them a fundamental human right versus other people who think you’re allowing people to kill themselves against the will of God ,” said a Tory MP. “You get quite strong, visceral opinions from constituents.”
Despite the daunting task ahead, Romaine remains optimistic about his team's chances of securing a victory. He believes in their capabilities, their resilience, and their ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most.In conclusion, the impending arrival of the English Premier League Golden Boot winner at Barcelona has generated a buzz of excitement and anticipation among football fans worldwide. With Coach Xavi at the helm and the winger set to join the ranks, Barcelona's future looks brighter than ever. Stay tuned as the saga unfolds and the winger officially dons the famous colors of the Catalan giants. Football fans, get ready - Barcelona, Here Comes the Golden Boot Winner!
Getting smart about car insurance can provide cost savings and peace of mindIn the end, only one team will emerge victorious and lift the coveted Serie A trophy, but for now, the race is wide open, and anything can happen. With just 3 points separating the top 5 teams after 15 rounds, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the season, and fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the twists and turns that lie ahead.
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In a surprising move, Tencent Video recently announced changes to their membership plans, resulting in a reduction of available screens and devices for new subscribers. Previously offering access on up to 5 screens and 2 devices, the popular video streaming platform has downsized its offerings, leading to a phenomenon commonly referred to as "shrinking" memberships.None