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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a law that allows those who sign up to fight in Ukraine to write off unpaid debts worth almost $100,000, the government announced. The new legislation will be a strong motivation for some to join up, experts said, as Russia seeks new ways to recruit fighters for the nearly three-year conflict grinding through troops. The new legislation will allow those who sign a one-year contract to fight in Ukraine after December 1 to free themselves of existing bad debts. It also covers their spouses. The law concerns debts where a court order for collection was issued and enforcement proceedings began before December 1, 2024. The total amount of unpaid debt that can be covered is 10 million rubles, around $96,000 at current rates. Parliament approved the bill earlier this month. The legislation will largely concern younger Russians of fighting age, since those in their 30s and younger are most likely to have loans. Russia has extremely high interest rates for loans and many Russians have almost no cash savings, although the proportion of home owners is relatively high. "Previously (for those fighting) there was only provision for taking repayment holidays on loans," Sergei Krivenko of advocacy group Citizen Army Law told Vazhniye Istorii Telegram channel. The new legislation applies to those who are conscripted for national service and those mobilised for the so-called "special military operation", Krivenko said. Conscripts cannot be sent to the front line but can choose to sign a contract to join the professional army and be sent to fight in Ukraine. Russian authorities "are strengthening the motivation to sign a contract," political analyst Georgy Bovt wrote on Telegram. The legislation provides "another way to get rid of an unbearable burden of credit, at least for several hundred thousand people," Bovt wrote. Over 13 million Russians have three or more loans, according to a central bank report released last month covering the first two quarters. This was up 20 percent on the same period last year. The average amount owed by those with three or more loans is 1.4 million rubles ($13,400 at current rates). Many start with a bank loan and then apply for further loans from microfinance organisations. Russians serving on the front line are already paid far more than the national average. Ukraine also has legislation allowing those fighting to get preferential terms for loans and in some cases to write off debts. bur/twParticipants can register here for the virtual event airing 9:00am ET / 3:00pm CET PARIS and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANOBIOTIX (Euronext: NANO –– NASDAQ: NBTX – the ‘‘Company’’), a late-clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering nanoparticle-based therapeutic approaches to expand treatment possibilities for patients with cancer and other major diseases, today announced a virtual event titled "Accelerating the Future of Nanotherapeutics," scheduled to take place at 9:00 AM ET / 3:00 PM CET on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Nanobiotix remains focused on advancing its lead program which is proceeding as planned. To enable further growth, Nanobiotix will leverage new nanotherapeutic technologies with the potential to improve treatment outcomes for millions of patients. The event will feature a presentation by Laurent Lévy, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Nanobiotix, and Matthieu Germain, PhD, Head of Curadigm at Nanobiotix. Together, they will outline the future potential of the Curadigm Nanoprimer Platform, an innovative nanotherapeutic technology designed to transform the development of intravenously-administered therapeutics. Following the presentation, a panel discussion will bring together leading experts to explore the transformative potential of Curadigm. Participants include: Laurent Lévy, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Nanobiotix Matthieu Germain, PhD, Head of Curadigm, Nanobiotix Margaret A. Liu, MD, Supervisory Board Observer, Nanobiotix, and globally recognized authority in gene therapy, vaccines, and immunotherapy Jeffrey Bockman, PhD, Expert Advisory and Executive Vice President, Oncology at Lumanity, who will serve as the panel moderator Event Details: Title: Accelerating the Future of Nanotherapeutics Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024 Time: 9:00 AM ET / 3:00 PM CET Format: Virtual Registration: Click here Viewers can watch the event online or the replay archived on the Company’s website at www.nanobiotix.com . About CURADIGM Curadigm is an early-stage nanotherapeutic platform designed to disrupt the design and development IV-administered therapeutics and improve outcomes for patients. Curadigm’s Nanoprimer platform increases drug bioavailability while decreasing unintended off-target effects, specifically liver toxicity. The platform can be used with most intravenous (IV) therapeutics across multiple drug classes. Curadigm is dedicated to advancing therapeutic development based on our deep understanding of how drugs interact with the body, to impact both known and novel drugs across multiple clinical indications. About NANOBIOTIX Nanobiotix is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company pioneering disruptive, physics-based therapeutic approaches to revolutionize treatment outcomes for millions of patients; supported by people committed to making a difference for humanity. The Company’s philosophy is rooted in the concept of pushing past the boundaries of what is known to expand possibilities for human life. Incorporated in 2003, Nanobiotix is headquartered in Paris, France and is listed on Euronext Paris since 2012 and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in New York City since December 2020. The Company has subsidiaries in Cambridge, Massachusetts (United States) amongst other locations. Nanobiotix is the owner of more than 25 umbrella patents associated with three (3) nanotechnology platforms with applications in 1) oncology; 2) bioavailability and biodistribution; and 3) disorders of the central nervous system. For more information about Nanobiotix, visit us at www.nanobiotix.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter Disclaimer This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceed therefrom, and the period of time through which the Company’s anticipates its financial resources will be adequate to support operations. Words such as “expects”, “intends”, “can”, “could”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “potential”, “should” and “will” or the negative of these and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements which are based on the Company’ management’s current expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements, including risks related to Nanobiotix’s business and financial performance, which include the risk that assumptions underlying the Company’s cash runway projections are not realized. Further information on the risk factors that may affect company business and financial performance is included in Nanobiotix’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 24, 2024 under “Item 3.D. Risk Factors”, in Nanobiotix’s 2023 universal registration document filed with the AMF on April 24, 2024, in Nanobiotix’ 2024 semi-annual report under the caption “Supplemental Risk Factor” filed with the SEC on Form 6-K and with AMF on September 18 2024, and subsequent filings Nanobiotix makes with the SEC from time to time which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and except as required by law, Nanobiotix assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly. Contacts Attachments 2024-12-17 -- NBTX -- Hosting Virtual Event -- FINAL.pdf
India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies at 92Border plan promises round-the-clock aerial surveillance, drug detection support OTTAWA — The RCMP plans to create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada's border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. The move is part of the federal government's $1. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press Dec 17, 2024 3:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) march towards the front lawn of Parliament Hill during the 47th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Service in downtown Ottawa, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — The RCMP plans to create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada's border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. The move is part of the federal government's $1.3-billion upgrade to border security and monitoring to appease U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's concerns about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. as soon as he is inaugurated next month unless both countries move to improve border security. Canada will also propose to the United States the creation of a North American "joint strike force" to target organized crime groups that work across borders. In addition, the government intends to provide new technology, tools and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to seek out deadly fentanyl using chemical detection, artificial intelligence and canine teams. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told a news conference Tuesday he has discussed parts of the plan with American officials and that he is optimistic about its reception. "We have a lot of work ahead of us," said LeBlanc, who tried to play down the notion Canada was simply bowing to American demands. "The fight against fentanyl is very much a fight that Canadians want to have because of its impact in Canada," he said. "Deepening, strengthening, being more visible in the posture at the border is something that we're happy to do with our American partners." The announcement followed a promise in the fall economic statement Monday to earmark the money over six fiscal years for the RCMP, the border agency, Public Safety Canada and the cyberspies at the Communications Security Establishment. Among the other planned measures: — a Canadian Drug Profiling Centre to complement existing laboratory capacity by allowing for more specialized analysis of synthetic drug samples, helping determine where substances were made; — a Precursor Risk Management Unit to increase oversight over chemicals used to make drugs and monitor emerging illegal drug trends; — an obligation for port owners and operators to provide the border agency with the space and facilities needed to conduct export inspections, just as they currently do for imports; — stronger efforts against money laundering to help starve organized crime groups of profits from human smuggling and drug and firearms trafficking; — and new restrictions on countries that do not rapidly facilitate the return of their citizens in the event of fraudulent entry or a removal order. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, who also attended the news conference, said the goal "for us is get the technology out there as soon as we can." "I can't just buy a helicopter tomorrow, but there are processes where you can rent the helicopter, and we're exploring every facet." Duheme said an aim of the joint strike force would be develop specialists on fentanyl, bringing together law enforcement partners both in Canada and abroad. The union representing rank-and-file Mounties welcomed the move to spend more on border security. National Police Federation president Brian Sauvé said in a statement Monday that members had been protecting the border with limited resources, and the new money will allow them to continue delivering on their mandate. Aaron McCrorie, the border services agency's vice-president of intelligence and enforcement, said in a recent interview that irregular migration and smuggling of drugs such as fentanyl are common concerns for Canada and the United States. "These aren't concerns that are unique to the United States. We share those same concerns," he said. "In that sense, it really speaks to the need for us to work collaboratively." McCrorie said the Canadian border agency is working closely with U.S. counterparts including Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security, as well as with agencies in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. "Criminal enterprises, organized crime, they don't respect international boundaries. They collaborate, they exploit weaknesses in the system," McCrorie said. "And so the best way to confront them is to collaborate on our side, fill those gaps, support each other's efforts." He said Canada's border agency has two targeting officers embedded with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the American agency plans to soon send a targeting officer to Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Tories call for House hearings on U.S. tariff threat amid Liberal tumult Dec 17, 2024 3:35 PM B.C.'s projected deficit grows again to $9.4 billion in latest fiscal update Dec 17, 2024 3:19 PM Potential scenarios for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals Dec 17, 2024 3:15 PM Featured FlyerBy Hyunsu Yim and Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's parliament began a session on Friday where a vote to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo over short-lived martial law is scheduled, as the Constitutional Court said it would swiftly decide suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate. The push to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has been acting president since Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 for declaring martial law on Dec. 3, has thrown South Korea's once-vibrant democratic success story into uncharted territory. Ahead of the parliamentary session, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said his Democratic Party, which has majority control of parliament, will go ahead with the plan to impeach the acting president, accusing Han of "acting for insurrection". "The only way to normalise the country is to swiftly root out all the insurrection forces," Lee said in a fiery speech, adding the party was acting on the public order to eradicate those who have put the country at risk. There has been overwhelming public support for Yoon's removal, according to opinion polls conducted after his martial law attempt. The plan for a vote to impeach Han was unveiled on Thursday by the main opposition Democratic Party after he declined to immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court, saying it would exceed his acting role. It remained unclear how many votes are needed to impeach Han as acting leader. The threshold for a prime minister is a simple majority, while a two-thirds majority is needed for a president. It is also unclear whether Han and the ruling party would accept any outcome. If Han is suspended, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will assume the acting presidency by law. Lee's pledge to oust Han came minutes after Choi warned that impeaching the acting president would seriously damage the country's economic credibility and asked political parties to withdraw the plan. "The economy and the people's livelihoods are walking on thin ice under a national state of emergency and it cannot cope any greater political uncertainty that will result from another acting president assuming the acting presidency," he said. Choi spoke for the country's cabinet, flanked by ministers. The South Korean won weakened to a fresh low of 1,486.7 per dollar on Friday, the weakest since March 2009, as analysts said there was little to reverse the negative sentiment stemming from the political uncertainty. The vote to determine Han's fate comes on the same day the Constitutional Court held its first hearing in a case reviewing whether to overturn the impeachment and reinstate Yoon or remove him permanently from office. It has 180 days to reach a decision. Speaking for the court in a preparatory hearing, Justice Cheong Hyung-sik said the court will move swiftly on the case considering its gravity, denying a request by Yoon's lawyers for a postponement in proceedings to better prepare the case. In the hearing that wrapped up under an hour, the court set the next hearing for Jan. 3. Yoon Kap-keun, one of the lawyers representing the impeached president, later told reporters the legal team is still adding members and that Yoon himself plans to appear in person in the future. The hearing follows weeks of defiance by Yoon ignoring requests by the court to submit documents as well as summons by investigators in a separate criminal case over his martial law declaration. Yoon was not required to attend Friday's hearing. If he ousted, a new presidential election would be held within 60 days. WORST POLITICAL CRISIS IN DECADES The events following the Dec. 3 martial law declaration have plunged the country into its gravest political crisis since 1987, when widespread protests forced the ruling party of former military generals into accepting a constitutional amendment bringing in direct, popular vote to elect the president. Yoon shocked the country and the world with a late-night announcement on Dec. 3 that he was imposing martial law to overcome political deadlock and root out "anti-state forces". The military deployed special forces to the national assembly, the election commission, and the office of a liberal YouTube commentator. It also issued orders banning activity by parliament and political parties, as well as calling for government control of the media. But within hours 190 lawmakers had defied the cordons of troops and police and voted against Yoon's order. About six hours after his initial decree, Yoon rescinded the order. Yoon and senior members of his administration also face criminal investigations for insurrection. (Writing by Josh Smith, Jack Kim; Editing by Ed Davies and Michael Perry)CLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. He is now. And who knows? Maybe for a lot longer than expected. Winston entered Cleveland football folklore on Thursday night by leading the Browns to a 24-19 win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak stopped. Winston's performance at Huntington Bank Field, which transformed into the world's largest snow globe, not only made him an instantaneous hero in the eyes of Browns fans but added another wrinkle to the team's ever-changing, never-ending quarterback conundrum. In his fourth start since Deshaun Watson's season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Winston made enough big plays to help the Browns (3-8) get a victory that should quiet conjecture about coach Kevin Stefanski's job. Some wins mean more than others. In Cleveland, beating the Steelers is as big as it gets. But beyond any instant gratification, Winston has given the Browns more to consider as they move forward. Watson's future with Cleveland is highly uncertain since it will still be months before the team has a grip on whether he's even an option in 2025, his fourth year since signing a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract that has proven calamitous. It's also possible the Browns will cut ties with Watson. They signed Winston to a one-year contract to be Watson's backup. But the unexpected events of 2024 have changed plans and led to the possibility that the 30-year-old Winston could become Cleveland's full-time QB or a bridge to their next young one. So much is unclear. What's not is that Winston, who leaped into the end zone on fourth-and-2 for a TD to put the Browns ahead 18-6 in the fourth quarter, is a difference maker. With his larger-than-life personality and the joy he shows whether practicing or throwing three touchdown passes, he has lifted the Browns. A man of faith, he's made his teammates believe. Winston has done what Watson couldn't: made the Browns better. “A very, very authentic person,” Stefanski said Friday on a Zoom call. “He’s the same guy every single day. He's the same guy at 5 a.m. as he at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Winston, who is 2-2 as a starter with wins over the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has a knack for inspiring through fiery, preacher-like pregame speeches. But what has impressed the Browns is his ability to stay calm in the storm. “He doesn’t get rattled,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks against the Steelers . “He’s just tuned in and focused as anyone I’ve seen at that position. Turn the page. There was a turnover, came back to the sideline, ‘Love you. I’m sorry. We’re going to get it back.’ He was already on to the next one, ‘How can we complete the mission?’ “I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it’s a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can’t ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we’re actually brothers and that’s what we have to attain. That brotherhood.” What's working Winston has done something else Watson couldn't: move the offense. The Browns scored more than 20 points for just the second time this season, and like Joe Flacco a year ago, Winston has shown that Stefanski's system works with a quarterback patient enough to let plays develop and unafraid to take shots downfield. What needs help The conditions certainly were a factor, but the Browns were a miserable 1 of 10 on third down, a season-long trend. However, Cleveland converted all four fourth-down tries, including a fourth-and-3 pass from Winston to Jerry Jeudy with 2:36 left that helped set up Nick Chubb's go-ahead TD run. Stock up RT Jack Conklin. Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt in their rivalry within the rivalry partly because Conklin did a nice job containing Pittsburgh's edge rusher, who was held without a sack and had one tackle for loss. Conklin has made a remarkable comeback since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last year. Stock down Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. Their desire to build a dome is well intended, but an indoor game could never come close to matching the surreal setting of Thursday night, when snow swirled throughout the stadium and covered nearly all the yard lines and hash marks. “It was beautiful,” Winston said. Injuries WR Cedric Tillman is in the concussion protocol. He had two catches before taking a big hit on the final play of the third quarter. Key numbers 9 — Consecutive home wins for the Browns in Thursday night games. Three of those have come against Pittsburgh. What's next An extended break before visiting the Denver Broncos on Dec. 2. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
NonePOCATELLO, Idaho — Jack Layne threw threw touchdown passes, Nate Thomas had 171 yards rushing and Idaho beat Idaho State 40-17 Saturday in the regular season finale for both teams. Layne threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Emmerson Cortez-Menjivar on a trick play that opened the scoring about 6 minutes into the game and his 15-yard TD pass to Mark Hamper with 37 seconds left in the second quarter gave Idaho (9-3, 6-2 Big Sky Conference) a 10-point halftime lead. Andrew Marshall returned the opening kickoff of the second half 100 yards for a touchdown, Layne threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Dwyer that made it 30-10 with 5:17 left in the third quarter and Carlos Matheney's 9-yard TD run capped the scoring with 1:54 to play. Kobe Tracy was 27-of-44 passing for 249 yards with three interceptions for Idaho State (5-7, 3-5) and ran for a 3-yard TD in the fourth quarter that made it 30-17. Idaho, ranked No. 8 in the FCS coaches poll, awaits a likely at-large berth into the FCS playoffs. The Vandals' only losses have come at Oregon — which is No. 1 in the AP Top 25 and the College Football Playoff Ranking — in the season opener, at home against FCS No. 5 UC Davis and at FCS No. 2 Montana State.
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New Jersey fines firms $40K for sports betting violationsSINGAPORE: Ringo Lee, a tour operator in Taiwan with over 30 years of experience, used to see brisk business from mainland tourists. “I used to own six large buses, ferrying tourists from mainland China around Taiwan for sightseeing every day,” he told CNA. That was in 2015. Lee has had to face a new reality in recent years. “I have none now, all of (those buses) have been sold," he lamented. “Today, there are virtually no tourists coming from across the strait.” Cross-strait tourism has effectively fallen into the doldrums over the past eight years, driven by a combination of politics and the pandemic. However, positive language from recent talks in Shanghai suggests an easing of travel curbs could be on the horizon, albeit at a city-to-city level, observers note. Analysts CNA spoke to believe this is a good first step in getting cross-strait tourism off the ground again, as well as in building mutual trust - although they caution this will require considerable goodwill from both sides. While the economic benefits to both Beijing and Taipei are clear, observers note that any action taken will invariably be politically tinged, posing concerns over whether it will last - especially as an increasingly assertive China eyes reunification while Taiwan baulks. BOOSTING TOURISM ON THE ITINERARY? Cross-strait tourism has become sharply limited since 2016 when Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party came into power. Amid heightened cross-strait tensions, the imposition of strict travel curbs due to the COVID-19 pandemic delivered another gut punch. China currently bars its citizens from travelling from the mainland to Taiwan for tourism. Mainland tourists from Fujian province are the exception - and even then, they can only visit Kinmen and Matsu. Meanwhile, Taiwan maintains a ban on group tours to mainland China. Taipei also raised its travel warnings for mainland China - along with Hong Kong and Macau - to the second-highest level in June, warning against “unnecessary travel”, after Beijing threatened the death penalty for “diehard” Taiwan separatists . But there have been recent indications that some easing of travel curbs could be on the cards. At the 2024 Shanghai-Taipei City Forum on Dec 17, Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan extended a cordial invitation to Taiwan residents to visit Shanghai. He also pledged to promote group tours to Taiwan for Shanghai residents, with Taipei as a key destination. Hua's remarks hint at a potential trial initiative to allow Shanghai residents to be the first to restart cross-strait tourism, said Lee, who is chairperson of the High-Quality Travel Association in Taipei as well as an assistant professor of tourism studies at Taipei City University of Science and Technology. "Starting with a city-to-city exchange allows trust to build gradually. It offers an ideal scenario where issues can be resolved at a local, non-central level, free from ideological and political interference," he said. A trial involving individual cities in both mainland China and Taiwan could be a “sensible option” for restarting cross-strait tourism, Lim Tai Wei, a professor from Soka University’s business faculty and an expert in East Asian studies, told CNA. But Lim emphasised that the “right political atmosphere” is ultimately necessary for such exchanges to be successful. Donald Trump’s return to the White House next month could also complicate matters, he pointed out, as how he addresses the Taiwan issue could significantly impact the future of cross-strait relations. TAIWANESE TOUR OPERATORS FEEL THE PINCH Cross-strait relations were arguably at their best between 2008 and 2016 when the Kuomintang’s (KMT) Ma Ying-Jeou was Taiwan’s president. During that time, direct sea, air and mail links were resumed after a six-decade ban. Mainland Chinese became Taiwan's largest source of inbound tourism within a year of the inaugural direct flight in 2008. By 2014, over 3 million Chinese tourists were visiting the island annually, according to government statistics. By 2016, mainlanders accounted for nearly half of the 10 million annual arrivals to the island, which has a population of 23 million. Since then, numbers have fallen off a cliff amid tough travel curbs. In the first ten months of this year, only around 14,000 mainland Chinese residents visited Taiwan for leisure, according to official Taiwanese data. Currently, only Chinese citizens who meet strict criteria are allowed to visit Taiwan for leisure, provided they depart from a third location and the trip is self-guided. This group represents less than one per cent of the entire market value chain, noted Lee the tour operator and industry academic. Taiwan’s tourism industry has endured "notable pains" in pivoting to alternative revenue streams since the decline in mainland Chinese tourist arrivals, with “a lot” of operators ending or abandoning investments made during the mainlander boom, Lee highlighted. "These extreme fluctuations in the number of mainland Chinese arrivals disrupt the market and distort related mechanisms. No other major tourist destination around the world faces a similar issue," he said. The indefinite suspension of group tours from Taiwan to mainland China has also caused significant economic losses for Taiwanese tour operators, over 90 per cent of whom organise such tours, Lee pointed out. Taiwan was set to lift the COVID-19-era restriction in March but halted the plan a month before, citing Beijing's failure to reciprocate the goodwill gesture. Lee asserts that demand in Taiwan for sightseeing visits to mainland China remains strong. According to China immigration data, mainland China welcomed 2.96 million Taiwanese visitors from the start of the year till October, a 68.4 per cent year-on-year increase. Analysts have attributed this upward trend to several mainland initiatives to attract Taiwanese visitors, including streamlined entry permit applications and discounted or complimentary tickets to major tourist attractions. With cross-strait tourism a far cry from its heyday, any boost would be welcome news to both Beijing and Taipei, analysts note. Taiwan is already grappling with a widening travel deficit, where more residents are heading abroad compared to the number of people who visited. Having access to mainland Chinese tourists would help narrow the gap and boost the island’s economy. Estimates suggest that outbound Taiwanese travellers could reach 17.5 million this year, while only 7.5 million international visitors are expected to come to Taiwan. This gap of 10 million trips and a trade value deficit of NT$738 billion (US$22.5 billion) would be the largest ever recorded. While allowing mainland Chinese tourists into Taiwan would be an economic boon for the island, the industry must beware of over-dependence, warned Wu Se-chih, director of the China Research Center at Taiwan Thinktank. He told CNA that based on past experiences, travel by mainland Chinese tourists has typically been heavily restricted, with requirements to sign up with designated operators and adhere to fixed itineraries. “This practice tends to benefit only a small group of industry players, with very little trickling down to the broader business community," he said. "Moreover, Chinese authorities have the ability to 'turn off the tap' whenever they choose, when it comes to allowing tourists into Taiwan. This presents significant risk and uncertainty to the sector." Meanwhile, China is trying to boost a stuttering economy weighed down by geopolitical and trade tensions with the West, as well as challenges at home like a beleaguered property market and a rapidly ageing population. “Taiwan, as a Northeast Asian entity, currently has the highest per capita income in the region, excluding Hong Kong and Macau. This makes it a significant source of tourism consumption for China, representing a clear convergence of interests between the two sides," said Lim from Soka University. TOURISM AS A BARGAINING CHIP While the economic gains are clear, analysts warn that any moves made to boost cross-strait tourism - if they do materialise - will inevitably have a political dimension. Taiwan Thinktank’s Wu asserts that both mainland China and Taiwan have strategically used tourism as a bargaining chip, particularly in their attempts to gain a “political upper hand” over one another. "We've seen both sides publicly express a willingness to facilitate more tourism visits for residents on both sides, but despite the passage of time, there has been little to no progress,” he noted. This is because any potential move by either side is tied to their respective political agendas, Wu noted. “For China, it views mainland Chinese arrivals as an 'economic gift', while for Taiwan, under the DPP leadership, it's about maintaining a firm stance against China’s carrot and stick cross-strait approach," he explained. Beijing views Taiwan as a part of China and has vowed to reunify it, by force if necessary. On the day of the Shanghai-Taipei forum, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office stated in response to a query that the mainland welcomes the early restoration of tourism to Taiwan for mainland residents. At the same time, the spokesperson urged Taiwan’s ruling DPP to remove existing restrictions and obstacles on cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. Taiwan's Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai said the following day that Taiwan would review and consider relaxing the ban on group tours and other tourism exchanges - if the mainland lifted its political restrictions. Lee, the tour operator and academic, hopes that both Beijing and Taipei can leave politics out of the equation, at least when it comes to cross-strait tourism. "(We) in the industry often hope that politics would not interfere with the development of tourism exchanges with mainland China. We wish for an open and free market, similar to what exists with other travel destinations," he added. But such a hope is effectively a pipe dream, said Soka University’s Lim. "When it comes to cross-strait matters, it is impossible for both sides to set aside their political standpoints and differences to establish a free and open market,” he explained.
Romania's new coalition government, led by Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, secured a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday. The coalition, consisting of Social Democrats, centre-right Liberals, and the Hungarian ethnic party UDMR, controls about 54% of the legislative seats. Its immediate challenge is to guide the country out of a political crisis exacerbated by the growing influence of far-right parties, which recently claimed roughly 35% of seats in the new legislature. The government's formation follows a tumultuous series of events, including allegations of Russian interference in the presidential election and public disenchantment over handling of crises like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Ciolacu and most of the former ministers continue in their roles. The coalition aims to solidify voter trust and is strategizing to back a single presidential candidate, currently named as Crin Antonescu, to counter the far-right's influence in the upcoming election. Ciolacu's administration faces the monumental task of reducing a significant budget deficit while adopting reforms to boost economic performance. However, experts like Babes-Bolyai University's Sergiu Miscoiu warn that the government's fragile majority may hinder its longevity, with the 2025 budget being an immediate hurdle. (With inputs from agencies.)
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A pastor in a secretive and extreme Pentecostal church has advocated corporal punishment of children as a way to prevent school shootings and gender dysphoria. The leaked recording of the pastor advocating a “rod of correction” policy emerged as Victoria’s child safety watchdog expressed concern about practices at the Geelong Revival Centre. Liana Buchanan, Victoria’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. Credit: Justin McManus Liana Buchanan, principal commissioner for children and young people, said the experiences and allegations recently revealed by former Geelong Revival Centre members were “extremely concerning”, and described some “unacceptable institutional responses”. “Children deserve to be safe and protected by the organisations they participate in,” Buchanan said. “Our recently tabled annual report notes that some religious organisations continue to struggle with identifying and managing risks to children. That risk is certainly amplified where there is a culture of silence and adults and children are afraid to speak out. “We know that ‘closed institutions’ carry more risks of child abuse than other types of institutions. These institutions need to be aware of these heightened risks and have legal responsibilities to take action to keep children safe, prevent child abuse and respond to allegations of child abuse.” The latest annual report from the Commission for Young People and Children, tabled in state parliament last month, included data indicating a higher proportion of sexual offence allegations in religious bodies than any other sector. Buchanan encouraged people with experience or knowledge of abuse within the centre’s network of churches to contact her agency, which has statutory powers to investigate breaches of child safety laws. After decades of operating with minimal external scrutiny, the GRC and its affiliate churches across Australia are examined in a new investigative podcast, LiSTNR’s Secrets We Keep: Pray Harder , and reports by this masthead. This masthead has obtained a recording of a sermon given by a Tasmanian pastor of a GRC-affiliated church in which members are warned that society did not understand the need to physically punish children to ensure obedience. “As far as the world is concerned, well. They would be very critical of us for preaching and teaching these things,” Tasmanian pastor Neil Griggs says in the recording. “Let’s not go over the top about this word ‘beating’. It just means to smack. It doesn’t mean to be brutal. ‘Thou shalt beat him with the rod or smack him and shalt deliver his soul from hell.’ Well, isn’t that worth doing? Deliver his soul from hell. “If we don’t teach children obedience, it won’t be well with them ... if we don’t correct them and chasten them, and reprove them, and rebuke them when they need it, it will not be well with them.” The leaked sermon from Griggs provides an example of how the church leadership persuades adult members that children without discipline could face disastrous outcomes later in life. “And here we are now, the children. The scourge of social media has twisted them all up. Unrestrained. Unchecked. Spoilt ... everything that their heart could desire had wealth lavished upon them, and they’re not happy,” he said. “And they grow up, and they go and get a gun, and they go into a school and they shoot people. And they’re all upset. No, we’re telling them. Well, you’ve got some problems. Not because you weren’t smacked as a child. Is everybody else’s fault? Maybe. Maybe think about it. Maybe you should be a girl instead of a boy or a boy instead of a girl.” As part of the investigation, former members have revealed alleged cover-ups of child sexual abuse, the violent physical punishment of children, pressure on church members to forgo medical treatment, homophobic and racist teachings and harsh restrictions placed on the freedoms of women and girls. There is no suggestion Neil Griggs has been responsible for any abuse or for failing to report child safety issues. Griggs did not respond to requests for comment. The GRC leadership has also repeatedly declined to answer questions from this masthead. Dozens more former members have come forward since the release of the podcast to detail harrowing accounts of their alleged sexual, physical and emotional abuse while growing up inside a church that controls almost every aspect of its members’ lives. Loading In August, 38-year-old GRC member Todd Hubers van Assenraad pleaded guilty to 16 child sexual abuse charges involving nine children aged under 16. The Age is not suggesting his victims were from families associated with the church. The use of corporal punishment on children is legal in Victoria. However, the use of excessive force is illegal. As is the exposure of children to emotional harm through constant abuse or use of threats to frighten them. Griggs, in his sermon, encouraged mothers, who the church prefers to stay at home rather than work, to question their children about what they were taught at school each day and to remind them what the Bible says. “Find out what happened at school today when they’re amongst all those unsaved people, or with all those perhaps well-meaning, unsaved teachers, with all their worldly ideas ... parents are the ones who say what’s going to happen and when it’s going to happen.” Despite the pastor’s call for moderate physical punishment, more than a dozen former church members have given accounts of their violent childhood beatings with belts, fists and rods. The Geelong Revival Centre. Credit: Simon Schluter A single mother described a male member of the church repeatedly hitting her autistic toddler son, causing what she claimed were life-changing injuries. The woman has sought legal advice over this incident, which allegedly happened a few years ago. A former pastor at a GRC-linked overseas assembly also detailed his knowledge of deafness in one boy growing up in the church due to repeated blows to his head by his father. Former members also claimed the church’s empowerment of men led to domestic violence within households and situations where children were physically punished by adults who were not their parents or guardians. Former church members said the “cult-like” nature of the GRC and the constant “doomsday” predictions had children constantly in fear about the end of their world and the possibility that they and their families could burn in hell if they had fallen out with their pastor. If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (see lifeline.org.au ), Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (see beyondblue.org.au ) or 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Investigations For subscribers Richard Baker is a former multi-award winning investigative reporter for The Age. Most Viewed in National LoadingCHENNAI: PMK’s special general council meeting in Puducherry on Saturday ended on a sour note as S Ramadoss, founder of the party, and his son and party president Anbumani Ramadoss had a rather uncomfortable exchange of words in front of hundreds of cadres. In the end, Ramadoss, without directly mentioning his son, declared that anyone who is not in agreement with him is free to leave the party. The annual event was uneventful until senior Ramadoss announced his grandson Mukundan Parasuraman as the president of the party's youth wing. Mukundan is the son of Ramadoss' daughter and Anbumani's nephew. "To assist Anbumani, Mukundan is appointed as the youth wing president with immediate effect," Ramadoss announced at the meeting. However, a livid Anbumani immediately refuted that he did not need Mukundan to assist him and added that his nephew joined the party only four months ago. "What experience does he have in politics? Appoint someone with experience and who had worked in the field," he told his father. In a casual way, Ramadoss reminded Anbumani as well as the cadres that the PMK was founded by him and everyone should abide by him. "No one will continue in the party if they do not listen to me. I say again, Mukundan has been appointed as the president of the youth wing," he reiterated. At this point, Anbumani murmured "alright, alright", only to be asked by the senior to "get out then. Anyone who does not agree can leave (the party)". Anbumani stood up and announced that he has opened a new office in Panaiyur near Chennai and asked his supporters to meet him at his new office. He further shared the address and phone number of the new office, but did not openly declare whether he intended to float a new party or claim the existing one. Cracks visible since LS polls For those who have been closely following PMK and the Ramadoss family, the war of words between the father and son may not come as a surprise as rumours were making rounds that they have not been seeing eye to eye for the last few years. But no one would have expected the rift to turn ugly in front of the cadres. Difference of opinion between Ramadoss and Anbumani was more palpable during the alliance negotiations for the recent Lok Sabha polls. While Ramadoss wanted to align with the AIADMK, Anbumani preferred to stay with the BJP-led alliance. Anbumani managed to convince the party to go with BJP and fielded his wife Sowmya Anbumani in the Dharmapuri constituency, but the decision proved to be disastrous for the party. Party sources revealed that Ramadoss announced some protest against the state government after the Lok Sabha election failure without informing the president. However, PMK MLA Arul Ramadas (Salem-West) downplayed the incident, saying there was no clash between the leaders. "Cadres have been demanding a party office near Chennai and the office is opened based on the demand. There is no difference of opinion between the leaders and it is the media that is blowing it out of proportion," he added.CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Zion Fruster had 15 points in Eastern Illinois' 99-55 victory over Division-III Blackburn on Saturday night. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Zion Fruster had 15 points in Eastern Illinois' 99-55 victory over Division-III Blackburn on Saturday night. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Zion Fruster had 15 points in Eastern Illinois’ 99-55 victory over Division-III Blackburn on Saturday night. Fruster shot 6 of 11 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the free-throw line for the Panthers (4-8). Obadiah Curtis added 15 points while going 7 of 9 from the field while they also had five steals. Kooper Jacobi went 6 of 9 from the field to finish with 13 points. Odis Grissom led the Beavers in scoring, finishing with 19 points. Blackburn also got seven points and five assists from Darius Duff. Caleb Schaab had seven points and two steals. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement
"NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix" begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Netflix's 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries will be able to stream the games, marking the first time one outlet has distributed an NFL game globally. Netflix will have the games available in five languages — English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The games will also air on CBS affiliates in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston. NFL policy dictates that games on cable or being exclusively streamed must also be on an over-the-air station in the competing teams' markets. It will also be available on mobile devices in the U.S. for those who have NFL+. The biggest reason is money. The league is getting $150 million from Netflix for the two games this season. It also continues the NFL's moves into streaming — Thursday night games are in their third season on Amazon Prime Video and the "Sunday Ticket" package moved to YouTube TV last year. But Christmas is on a Wednesday when games usually aren't played. That's true, but the league wasn't about to give up Christmas after seeing the ratings. Last year's three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million. The Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Texans played on Saturday, giving them the same turnaround they would have if they played on Sunday and then Thursday. All four have clinched playoff spots in the AFC, but seeding remains up for grabs. Kansas City (14-1) can clinch the top seed — which would mean a first-round bye and home field throughout the playoffs — with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are tied atop the AFC North at 10-5, with the Steelers holding the tiebreaker due to a better conference record. Houston (9-6) has wrapped up the AFC South and holds the fourth seed. Netflix hopes so. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of nonfiction series and sports, said the system was stress tested, and then some, during the Nov. 14 bout, along with internet service providers reporting they were also overwhelmed by the surge that occurred before and during the fight. The bout peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, including 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. According to the website Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers logged problems with outages or streaming leading up to and during the fight. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. The largest audience for a streamed-exclusive NFL game was 23 million on Peacock for last season's AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs. Nielsen will measure the ratings for the Christmas Day games, with early numbers expected late afternoon on Thursday. It will probably be at kickoff for both games, but especially around 5:45 p.m. EST. That would be near halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, and when Beyoncé will be performing. Mariah Carey will kick off the day with a taped performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." There is no word if Taylor Swift will make the trip to Pittsburgh to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been spending time in Kansas City since she wrapped up her Eras Tour two weeks ago. How many Christmas games will Netflix carry in the next two seasons? The NFL will have at least two games on Dec. 25 in 2025 and '26, with Netflix slated to have at least one each year. Amazon Prime Video will have a night game with Christmas on a Thursday next year. Netflix's worldwide partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment will begin on Jan. 6 when "Monday Night Raw" moves to the streaming service. On Friday, Netflix secured the U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup.
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