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Kwara lawmaker empowers artisans, widows items worth N50mST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of Tropicana Field , with the goal of having the home of the Tampa Bay Rays ready for the 2026 season. The vote followed a decision earlier this week by the Pinellas County Commission to delay until December a vote on revenue bonds needed to finance a new, $1.3 billion Rays ballpark, a project that is in serious jeopardy according to Rays executives. “I can't say I'm confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members, who were scheduled later Thursday to vote on their own bonds to pay their share of the new stadium. The Trop's translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York's spring training home across the bay in Tampa. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB wants to give the Rays and Tampa-area politicians time to figure out a path forward given the disruption caused by the hurricane. Assuming Tropicana Field is repaired, the Rays are obligated to play there for three more seasons. “We’re committed to the fans in Tampa Bay,” Manfred said at an owners meeting. “Given all that’s happened in that market, we’re focused on our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.” The vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that's done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The city previously voted to spend $6.5 million to prevent further damage to the unroofed Trop. Several council members said before the vote on the $23.7 million to fix the roof that the city is contractually obligated to do so. “I don’t see a way out of it. We have a contract that’s in place,” council member Gina Driscoll said. “We’re obligated to do it. We are going to fix the roof.” The council voted 4-3 to approve the roof repair. Members who opposed it said there wasn't enough clarify on numerous issues, including how much would be covered by the ballpark's insurance and what amount might be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also noted that city residents who are struggling to repair their homes and businesses damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton are dismayed when they see so many taxpayer dollars going to baseball. “Why are we looking to expend so much money right away when there is so much uncertainty?” council member Richie Floyd said. The new Rays ballpark — now likely to open in 2029, if at all — is part of a larger urban renovation project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which refers to a predominantly Black neighborhood that was forced out to make way for construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate highway spur. The broader $6.5 billion project would transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) tract in the city’s downtown, with plans in the coming years for a Black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, and office and retail space. There’s the promise of thousands of jobs as well. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, a prime mover behind the overall project, said it's not time to give up. “We believe there is a path forward to success,” the mayor said. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbThis is a big week for PlayStation gamers. Not only is Sony offering some incredible deals on consoles, accessories and games at its massive Black Friday sale , but the company is also celebrating the PlayStation's 30th anniversary . To mark the occasion, it's released a new limited-edition 30th Anniversary DualSense controller featuring a unique color scheme inspired by the original console. The controller was originally released on Nov. 21, but very quickly sold out. It's still out of stock at the moment, but according to a source at PS Director a new inventory of the PlayStation Portal 30th Anniversary Edition is expected in the next 1-2 weeks, which will also include a restock of the new DualSense controller. We're keeping a close eye on inventory and will update this page once the 30th Anniversary controller is back on sale. The 30th Anniversary DualSense controller features a throwback design that mimics the controllers of the original PlayStation that hit shelves all the way back in 1994. It's also relatively versatile, and is compatible with the PlayStation 5 console, PC, Mac and mobile devices. The cable isn't included, though, so be sure to use the USB cable supplied with the PS5 console to connect or charge the controller. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money . If you're looking for more customization options and stronger battery life, you can snag the 30th-anniversary edition of the DualSense Edge controller for $220 . It will also be available for purchase along with the standard DualSense controller restock, so you can pick your preference when they drop. It's also important to note that there is a one-controller-per-order policy in effect, and we don't expect that to change when the new restock arrives. And if you're looking to grab even more PlayStation gaming gear, you'll find tons of discounts on consoles, accessories and games in our full roundup of all the best Black Friday PS5 deals available. We've also gathered plenty of great gifts for gamers if you're looking to level up with your player two. How does the 30th Anniversary controller compare to the standard DualSense? The limited-edition 30th Anniversary controller doesn't have any special features or upgraded hardware, so internally it's no different from the standard DualSense that you get with your console. It does, however, feature a unique legacy PlayStation gray color scheme with colored buttons. Will there be more production runs after this restock? Sony is keeping its cards pretty close to the vest in regards to any future restocks, but at the moment there has been no official announcement. And considering all of its 30th Anniversary consoles and accessories are being marketed as limited edition, it's more likely than not that the next restock will be the last. If you're serious about getting your hands on one of these controllers, you'll want to keep a close eye on Sony's online store in the coming days.
NoneIn the Holiday Spirit, SoCal Police Give Out Starbucks Gift Cards Instead of Tickets
Spurred on by a New York Post story about Pope Francis opening "five sacred portals" this Christmas, the goofier corners of the social media world are breathlessly sharing warnings that the Pope is planning to open the "Tomb of Lucifer," or the Devil's Tomb this holiday season. The TikTok video below, from GraceXDigital, has been viewed more than 2 million times and explains the whole conspiracy theory. Grace is asking the Pope important questions, like "Why are you doing this this year, in this economy?" While The Pope is opening five portals to close out 2024, I regret to inform you that His Holiness is not planning to open the Tomb of Lucifer—nothing that awesome ever happens. There is a tomb of Lucifer under the Vatican, but it's not as cool as you'd hope. Nothing in this story is not as cool as you'd hope. What are these portals the Pope is opening? The Pope is actually going to be opening five sacred portals as part of a ritual this year, but "portal" just means "door," and four of the five doors lead to well known basilicas. Despite what some internet cranks are saying, it's not the first time this has happened either: The ritual happens every 25 years, and is meant to usher in a year “renewed in hope” for Catholics. So basically, it's the Pope doing Pope junk. The only never-happened-before part of the story is Pope Francis putting his own spin on the ritual by opening a fifth door inside the Roman prison Rebibbia on Dec. 26. It's meant to offer prisoners a sign to "look to the future with hope and a renewed sense of confidence." The door opening is symbolic, so the prisoners will not be freed to run rampant in Rome. The Tomb of Lucifer and the Vatican Necropolis The one slightly cool part of the story: There is a city of the dead under the Vatican that has a tomb of Lucifer, and you can visit it . The Vatican Necropolis lies 15 to 24 feet below Saint Peter's Basilica, near the site of the Circus of Caligula . Originally an open-air cemetery, the necropolis dates back to the Roman Empire and supposedly contains the remains of the Apostle Peter along with the skeletons of various Popes and other prominent early Catholics. Also found here: the Tomb of Lucifer. But it's not the Lucifer, the Morning Star, the fallen angel who became the head of the demons. That Lucifer's ultimate fate is murky. Maybe he's still alive, subtly convincing people to cheat at Monopoly, or maybe he's in Heaven because he found redemption, or maybe he's in Newark. (According to Dante, Lucifer is in the deepest circle of the abyss, frozen in ice and forced to beat his wings for eternity to power Hell, so I'll go with that.) In any case, the angelic Lucifer isn't a person, so he doesn't have a tomb. According to the Vatican's own Necropolis map , Tomb U is labeled "Lucifer." The Vatican says: "The entrance to the tomb has been reduced because of a fault in the architrave. It is possible, however, to glimpse some of the niches with their characteristic red background and several arcosoli." Red backgrounds? It's gotta be Satan. But nah: The construction of this tomb pre-dates the association of the name "Lucifer" with the devil. We don't actually know why it's called the Lucifer tomb. It might be a reference to some graffiti found around there , or a reference to an important Catholic with that name. It's not referring to the devil, though. Why are there so many Catholic conspiracy theories anyway? Why the Pope opening some doors in Vatican City became a conspiracy theory on TikTok is a complex question. America's history of anti-Catholicism dates back to before the United States was even a thing . While those deep cultural and historical biases are probably part of it, I think the main reason people traffic in this sort of conspiratorial thinking is more innocent: the Catholic Church is really old and really weird, and people like a little spice in their Christmas eggnog. People also like putting together puzzles, and the Catholic Church gives you a lot of pieces to play with. The Vatican is an ancient city full of tunnels, crumbling Roman ruins, and a Necropolis under a basilica. The Pope controls a city-state, can speak with God's voice, and wears some very impressive hats. It's the kind of set-up where anything seems like it could be happening at any time, including the Pope digging up Satan's grave, maybe so they can fight. Like many conspiracy theorists, the author Dan Brown, and the developers of the Assassin's Creed video games, I want the awesome things to be real too. I want a flashy showdown in Vatican City between angels and demons ( and aliens ). But good and evil don't work that way in real life. Even if you dress up the "good guys" in elaborate headgear, they're still fallible old men—51% good on a good day. Evil doesn't reside in a tomb and come at you with flaming swords. It would be cool if the Pope could call on the power of his big buddy God to smite those who need smiting, but despite the hats, scepters, and symbolic authority, the best the Pope can do is throw open some old doors in the papal palace and maybe try to get people to maybe think about the plight of prisoners.NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Aaliyah Nye scored 15 points and No. 23 Alabama coasted to an 83-33 win over Alabama State on Monday at the Emerald Coast Classic. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Karly Weathers both added 12 points for the Crimson Tide (7-0). Zaay Green had 11. Barker, Weathers and Green combined to go 12 of 16 from the field as Alabama shot 51% and made 23 of 34 free throws. Cordasia Harris had eight points for the Hornets (2-3), who shot 27.5% and had 28 turnovers while being outrebounded by 17. Alabama entered ranked 17th in scoring offense through the first two weeks of the season, averaging 87.3 points per game. Barker opened the scoring and contributed another layup before her 3-pointer made it 14-0. The Tide led 26-8 after one quarter. Alabama also had a 13-2 run in the second quarter and Weathers had a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lead 46-20 at halftime. Alabama plays the winner of UAB-Clemson on Tuesday and the Hornets face the loser. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
No. 21 Arizona State on the rise in Kenny Dillingham's second season as coach
NORAD's Santa Tracker 2024 is now live — Watch Santa's sleigh flyThreads tests the ability for users to choose their preferred default feed
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. It couldn't stop the run, couldn't keep teams out of the end zone, couldn't get off the field. Now the script has flipped. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's group is playing stouter, holding teams — even the high-scoring Detroit Lions — largely in check long enough to give Indy a chance to win, and it's the Colts offense that has struggled. “They are playing their tails off. You don’t want them on the field a bunch and as an offense you want to be able to play complementary football,” running back Jonathan Taylor said after Sunday's 24-6 loss. “I would say specifically on offense, it sucks when you can’t help your defense out when they are fighting their tails off all game.” Indy's defense held up its end of the bargain by limiting the Lions (10-1) to 14 first-half points and allowing just 24, matching Detroit's lowest output since Week 3. The problem: Even when the Colts (5-7) did get Detroit off the field, they couldn't sustain drives or score touchdowns. Again. Anthony Richardson provided the bulk of the ground game by rushing 10 times for 61 yards, mostly early. Taylor managed just 35 yards on 11 carries and a season-high 10 penalties constantly forced the Colts to dig out from deep deficits. Part of that was by design. “We knew Jonathan Taylor was going to be the guy we needed to shut down,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We did that. The quarterback runs. It got us on a couple but overall, we did what we needed to do, and we kept them out of that game." Part of it could be because of an injury-battered offensive line that has started three rookies each of the past two weeks and finished the previous game with the same three rookies. Whatever the fix, Indy needs a good solution. There is good news for Indy is that its schedule now gets substantially more manageable. After losing four of five, all to teams in playoff position and three to division leaders, Indy faces only one team with a winning record in its final five games. The most recent time the Colts played a team with a losing mark, Richardson rallied them past the New York Jets 28-27. But Colts coach Shane Steichen knows that's not the answer. The Colts must get this offense righted now. “We’ve got to get that figured out. We’ve got to get him going on the ground,” Steichen said when asked about Taylor, who has 92 yards on his past 35 carries. “We’ll look at the offensive line. We’ll look at everything." What’s working Pass rush. Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner's presence certainly has been felt since he returned from a sprained ankle Oct. 27. In those past five games, the Colts have had 14 sacks, including three of Jared Goff on Sunday. What needs work Penalties. The Colts have had one of the cleanest operations in the league most of this season. Sunday was an anomaly, but one that can't merely be written off. Stock up WR Michael Pittman Jr. The five-year veteran is one of the league's toughest guys, but playing through a back injury appeared to take its toll on Pittman's productivity. Since sitting out in Week 10, Pittman has 11 receptions for 142 yards including six for 96 yards, his second-highest total of the season, Sunday. Stock down Tight ends. Each week the Colts want their tight ends to make an impact. And each week, they seem to fail. It happened again Sunday when Drew Ogletree dropped a TD pass that would have given Indy a 10-7 lead. Instead, Indy settled for a field goal and a 7-6 deficit. Through 12 games, Indy's tight ends have a total of 26 catches, 299 yards and two TDs. That's just not good enough in a league where versatile, productive tight ends increasingly signal success. Injuries Pittman and WR Josh Downs both returned to the game after leaving briefly with shoulder injuries. WR Ashton Dulin did not return after hurting his foot in the second half. But the bigger questions come on the offensive line. LT Bernhard Raimann (knee) was inactive Sunday, and rookie center Tanor Bortolini entered the concussion protocol Monday. Bortolini was one of three rookie starters the past two weeks, replacing Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly who is on injured reserve. Key number 55.88 — Indy has scored touchdowns on 55.88% of its red zone trips this season. While it puts it near the middle of the NFL, it's cost the Colts multiple wins. Next steps Richardson needs to rebound from this latest 11 of 28 performance and show he can lead the Colts to victories week after week. He'll get plenty of chances over the season's final month, starting with next week's game at the New England Patriots. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Michael Marot, The Associated Press
NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Aaliyah Nye scored 15 points and No. 23 Alabama coasted to an 83-33 win over Alabama State on Monday at the Emerald Coast Classic. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Karly Weathers both added 12 points for the Crimson Tide (7-0). Zaay Green had 11. Barker, Weathers and Green combined to go 12 of 16 from the field as Alabama shot 51% and made 23 of 34 free throws. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Javan Buchanan's 28 points off of the bench led Boise State to an 83-82 victory against South Dakota State on Monday. Buchanan went 11 of 17 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range) for the Broncos (5-1). Alvaro Cardenas Torre added 16 points while going 6 of 13 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) while they also had seven assists. Julian Bowie went 4 of 4 from the field (3 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points. Oscar Cluff finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Jackrabbits (5-2). Joe Sayler added 19 points for South Dakota State. Kalen Garry had 13 points and five assists. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Vincenzo Italiano insists he saw improvement , but admits ‘you will be punished for errors’ at the level of the Champions League. The Rossoblu knew this was a must-win game, but they crumbled to their fourth consecutive defeat and are now practically out of the Champions League. It was the same old story this evening, with an early Thijs Dallinga effort disallowed for offside, then giving away cheap goals at the other end. Ngal’Ayel Mukau managed to score twice for LOSC at the Stadio Dall’Ara by making the most of poor defending, around the temporary equaliser from Jhon Lucumi on a Charalampos Lykogiannis free kick. “Compared to the other games, I thought the team was more present all over the pitch, we were more aggressive, but gave away two such cheap goals,” “We should’ve also continued with that furore after equalising, but we fell for the same error again and that second goal knocked the wind out of our sails.” The joy and enthusiasm of the equaliser lasted only for three minutes before LOSC restored their advantage and from then on, Bologna crumbled. “At least we managed to score a goal at last, but the victory is still not coming. We had a few opportunities to improve that today, but we were up against a quality opponent and I thought the overall performance was an improvement,” added Italiano. “We could’ve done more seeking Freuler behind their strikers, as he had a lot of space to build out from the back in a different way. We only did it in fits and starts, but there were overall some good moves down the flanks, it was just a shame we gifted those goals. It felt from the touchline like a game we could turn around, but we lost that intensity that we needed.” With one point from five rounds, Bologna are practically out of the running for a play-off spot and their Champions League campaign should come to an end in January. “We have been able to get out of a negative period in Serie A, aside from the last game where we were down to 10 men. We’ve improved a lot with three consecutive victories, so our objective is to keep improving in the league and climbing a few more positions,” insisted Italiano. “The trouble in the Champions League is that games are won and lost on details, so you risk defeat with the slightest issue, and that is what happened to us tonight. In all five matches, we played well, but then lost due to details either with our finishing or in defence. You cannot afford those errors at this level, you will be punished. “We will now go home and try to prepare for the game with Venezia. That is on Saturday, so we don’t have time to work on these details in training and the team is not accustomed to that sort of schedule. I do feel we can improve and whittle down a few of these defects that are costing us dearly,” concluded Italiano.
The political and social fabric of Mozambique is disintegrating, largely due to the reckless actions and incendiary rhetoric of the leader of the opposition party RENAMO. Following the controversial October 9, 2024 elections, which were contested over allegations of fraud, he has escalated the situation by encouraging violence and civil disobedience. His rhetoric is not merely political dissent — it is a direct and dangerous incitement to violence. At least 110 people have already lost their lives, most of them civilians, caught in the crossfire of protests and police action that he stoked. His role in this crisis must not go unchallenged. The international community, particularly the International Criminal Court (ICC), must intervene immediately to hold him accountable. If his actions are left unchecked, Mozambique could face a humanitarian catastrophe from which it may never recover. Following the disputed election, Mozambique has descended into chaos. The Council of State, an advisory body to the president, issued a call for electoral reform, urging greater transparency and the de-politicisation of the electoral process. This was a sign of the government’s willingness to address opposition grievances and pursue meaningful reform. Yet, despite this olive branch, the leader of the opposition responded by escalating calls for unrest, actively undermining any hope for peaceful dialogue. The situation on the ground is dire. Human rights observers report that at least 110 people have died in the violent protests that followed Mondlane’s call to reject the election results. Most of the casualties were civilians gunned down by police during confrontations that involved road blockades, attacks on security forces, and widespread destruction. He has not only failed to call for calm but has further incited violence. His inflammatory rhetoric encourages his supporters to persist in their protests, disregarding the inevitable consequences for innocent lives. As BBC News reported, he has vowed to bring down the government by force. He has transformed peaceful protests into violent confrontations, causing suffering on a massive scale. It is crucial to differentiate between political dissent and incitement to violence. Political opposition is a fundamental right in any democracy, but his actions extend far beyond mere disagreement with the government. His rhetoric is deliberately designed to create instability, division, and fear. When he declares that “we will bring the government to its knees” or insists that “the protests will not stop until the government listens,” he is not calling for peaceful protests. He is inciting insurrection and encouraging violent actions against the state. His repeated promises to extend these protests for months, as reported by AfricaNews, are an invitation for further lawlessness. His words have fueled looting, vandalism, and attacks on public institutions, creating an atmosphere of chaos and fear. Instead of seeking dialogue, he rallied his followers to escalate the violence, emboldening them to confront the state with no regard for the safety of the general population. This is not simply political opposition — it is a deliberate effort to destabilise the nation. The damage is already evident. The Club of Mozambique reported that his supporters have clashed violently with security forces, disrupting key sectors of the economy, including the operations of major corporations such as South32 Ltd. and the closure of vital border crossings, including the main one with South Africa. The international community must understand that these actions are not about defending the rights of the people; they are about creating an environment of chaos to achieve political goals. The humanitarian toll of this violence cannot be overstated, and the international community must take immediate action to hold those responsible for inciting it accountable. It is vital to remember that peaceful transitions of political power are possible, even during the most challenging times. Global examples of such transitions demonstrate that democracies can resolve political disputes without resorting to violence. In the UK, for example, Rishi Sunak left office peacefully as Prime Minister in 2024, following his defeat to Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in the general election. Sunak’s resignation led to a smooth transfer of power, with Starmer assuming leadership without conflict. Similarly, in the United States, President Joe Biden accepted the results of the 2024 election, reinforcing the idea that power can change hands peacefully through democratic means. Despite challenges and claims of fraud, Biden chose to focus on unity, advocating for progress instead of division. Also, in Zambia, President Edgar Lungu’s peaceful exit in 2021 after losing the election to Hakainde Hichilema showed that democratic institutions and respect for the will of the people can guide a country through contested elections. In Botswana, under President Mokgweetsi Masisi, political transitions have consistently been peaceful and handled with cooperation and legal order. In Brazil, President Lula da Silva’s return to power in 2023 was also marked by peaceful democratic processes, despite significant opposition. These examples stand in stark contrast to the current situation in Mozambique, where respect for democratic norms is under threat. Rather than following the examples of peaceful transitions seen in these countries, the opposition’s call for violent resistance is a dangerous regression. As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump seeks to reshape the global landscape with his renewed focus on securing U.S. markets and reinforcing a world order centred around American interests, he must take a closer look at Mozambique’s ongoing crisis. The unrest in Mozambique is not just a local issue confined to the African continent; it is a global concern that requires immediate attention from global powers, particularly the United States. Trump, who has consistently prioritised U.S. economic and geopolitical interests, must understand that the instability in Mozambique poses far-reaching risks to global peace and security. At the heart of this crisis are Mozambique’s critical mineral resources, including lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are essential to the manufacturing of technologies powering industries worldwide — from electric vehicles to renewable energy systems. These minerals have become a linchpin in the global transition to clean energy, and any disruption in their supply from Mozambique would send shockwaves through international markets, affecting economies across the globe. But the threat posed by the crisis extends beyond the disruption of supply chains. Mozambique’s instability threatens to destabilise not only its own borders but the entire southern African region. As the conflict deepens, it could spill over into neighbouring countries, creating a wider regional conflict that would strain already fragile political systems and security infrastructures. The ripple effects of such instability could undermine progress made on key global challenges, from combating climate change to addressing poverty and human rights abuses. A destabilised Mozambique could also provide fertile ground for extremist groups and transnational criminal networks, further exacerbating global security concerns. For the United States, which has significant economic and strategic interests in the region, inaction is not an option. Mozambique plays a key role in the broader geopolitical context of Africa, particularly in terms of its energy resources and strategic position in the Indian Ocean. As a major player in global trade and energy markets, the U.S. has a responsibility to lead efforts to address the crisis before it escalates further. The long-term stability of the African continent, and by extension global economic stability, depends on the resolution of this crisis. The United States cannot afford to stand on the sidelines while Mozambique teeters on the brink of civil war. It is not just in the interest of Mozambique but in the interest of global peace and prosperity that this crisis be addressed swiftly and decisively. The U.S., together with international partners, must use diplomatic leverage, humanitarian aid, and, where necessary, targeted sanctions, to bring all parties to the negotiating table. However, these actions must be coupled with a robust commitment to supporting the democratic processes and human rights in Mozambique. Trump’s foreign policy, which has focused on American interests and economic security, must now expand to consider the interconnectedness of global markets and security. Mozambique’s crisis is a reminder that geopolitical stability is not a zero-sum game. The instability of one nation can have profound consequences for many others. A peaceful, democratic Mozambique is in the best interests of not only its citizens but of the global community. The time for inaction is over. Global leadership — especially from the U.S. — is required to ensure that Mozambique’s crisis does not spiral further into chaos. This is not just a matter of regional importance; it is a matter of global urgency. One of the most concerning aspects of the ongoing political crisis in Mozambique is the potential role of foreign influence in exacerbating the violence. Both Russian and Chinese interests are believed to be playing a role in stoking unrest and supporting opposition groups. Moscow and Beijing have been increasing their political, military, and economic presence in Africa, and Mozambique, with its vast natural resources and strategic location, is no exception. Russia’s involvement in Africa is growing, particularly through the deployment of mercenaries and military advisors under the Wagner Group. Moscow has cultivated relationships with governments and opposition groups to gain access to vital resources and to expand its geopolitical footprint. Given Mozambique’s reserves of natural gas, lithium, and other critical minerals, it is not beyond reason to suspect that Russia might be playing a destabilising role in the country’s turmoil. Russian mercenaries have previously been involved in other African nations, contributing to the destabilisation of governments that were less favourable to Russian interests. China, meanwhile, has long been a dominant economic player in Mozambique, investing heavily in infrastructure and energy sectors. China’s growing influence in the country allows it to leverage considerable power over the political landscape. It is conceivable that China might prefer a more stable, yet strategically pliable, government, even if that means tolerating the continuation of government-backed violence. Both Russia and China have vested interests in ensuring that Mozambique remains a stable resource hub, but their methods often involve fostering instability. The increasing foreign meddling in Mozambique underscores that the crisis may not be entirely domestic — it could be part of a larger geopolitical struggle. The role of external actors should be thoroughly investigated, and any interference that exacerbates the violence and undermines Mozambique’s sovereignty must be condemned. Mozambique’s crisis is not only a political and humanitarian issue — it has far-reaching implications for global stability. The country is one of the largest producers of critical minerals, including cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements — vital for the global energy transition and technologies such as electric vehicles and smartphones. Moreover, Mozambique’s offshore natural gas reserves are crucial for the energy needs of Asia and Europe. If the political unrest continues to escalate, it could disrupt global supply chains for these essential resources, sending shockwaves throughout markets worldwide. In an age where competition for critical minerals is intensifying, instability in Mozambique could have disastrous effects, not only on African economies but also on industries across the globe. Furthermore, the chaos could derail efforts to fight climate change, as renewable energy sectors are heavily reliant on minerals sourced from Mozambique. The international community must recognise that Mozambique’s stability is intertwined with global economic and environmental interests. The country is a linchpin in the global supply of minerals critical for future technologies, and its destabilisation could have severe consequences for both developed and developing nations. As Mozambique’s political and social fabric continues to unravel, the international community cannot remain passive. The United Nations, the African Union, and other global institutions must take decisive action to prevent further escalation. Diplomacy should aim to de-escalate tensions and bring all parties to the negotiating table. But words alone will not suffice — the international community must hold accountable those leaders, both domestic and foreign, whose actions and rhetoric are fueling the violence. In this context, the ICC must play a pivotal role. The court should investigate the fellow who is inciting violence and threatening Mozambique’s fragile peace. Countries and institutions must pressure Mozambique to cooperate with the ICC and allow for a full investigation into these acts of incitement. Mozambique is at a critical crossroads. The government has shown a willingness to engage in electoral reform and peaceful dialogue, but these efforts are being undermined by violent rhetoric. The ICC must act swiftly to investigate his incitement to violence, and the international community must take decisive action to prevent a full-blown humanitarian disaster. The world must send a clear message: Incitement to violence will not be tolerated. Mozambique’s future hangs in the balance, and the time for action is now.
Colts defense picks up the pace as offense continues searching for answers to red zone woesIsraeli airstrikes hit strategic bridges in Syria’s Homs
Share Tweet Share Share Email Alastair Parr is a key member of the founding team behind Mitratech’s Prevalent TPRM solution . With a deep background in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), Alastair has extensive experience in addressing the challenges of modern risk management. His role focuses on ensuring that Mitratech’s solutions evolve innovatively to meet market demands, particularly within the Prevalent platform and the broader Mitratech GRC ecosystem. Prior to joining Mitratech, Alastair served as an operations director at InteliSecure and worked as an auditor, further honing his expertise in building and implementing effective risk management strategies. In this interview with TechBullion, Alastair shares some insights into Mitratech’s latest advancements in AI and ESG capabilities, the impact of these innovations on third-party risk management, and the company’s vision for the future of GRC and risk technology. Alastair Parr Please tell us more about yourself and what you do at Mitratech. My name is Alastair Parr and I was part of the founding team that started what became Mitratech ’s Prevalent TPRM solution. I am responsible for ensuring that the demands of the market space are considered and applied innovatively within the Prevalent solution and our Mitratech GRC platform overall. With a background in governance, risk, and compliance, I have extensive experience developing and implementing solutions to meet the challenges of the increasingly complex risk management space. Previously, I served as an operations director for the global managed service provider InteliSecure and worked as an auditor. Mitratech has recently introduced AI and ESG enhancements to its recently acquired third-party risk management platform, Prevalent. Could you elaborate on how these capabilities differentiate Mitratech’s platform from others in the market? It’s important to note that the latest enhancements are exactly that – enhancements to existing capabilities. We have taken a long-term perspective on the TPRM market so as the market evolves we evolve with it. We first introduced our ESG capabilities in 2020. Since then, we have added deeper scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions tracking, overall ESG score enrichment, and ESG controversy tracking to our library of ESG questionnaires so that organizations can keep pace with the ever-changing ESG regulatory landscape. As supply chains grow and become more complex, it’s essential that organizations centrally track all of their supply chain risks – from cyber disruptions to operational, ESG, and reputational challenges. Our view is that our solution should become the single source of truth for all third-party vendor and supplier risks, which feeds into the overall GRC solution to manage enterprise risks. With AI, we have steadily expanded our AI capabilities from ML-based reporting to more sophisticated automations such as automatic assessment completion, document/evidence scanning for suitability, and including an AI risk advisor to help interpret risks and provide guidance on suggested remediations. The goal with our AI capabilities is to simplify the user’s experience, add consistency to assessments and analytics, and improve the visibility into risk advice. AI-driven risk assessments are becoming more common. Can you explain how Mitratech’s AI-powered automatic questionnaire completion works and the impact this will have on organizations trying to streamline their third-party risk assessments? Our AI auto assessment completion capability enables users to take a previously completed spreadsheet questionnaire or supporting PDF documentation, upload those artifacts, and have our AI automatically extract answers and relevant details to populate a new third-party risk assessment. This capability benefits responders who have multiple documents, such as internal policies and audit reports, which could satisfy question requirements but have no way to efficiently extract that information without hours of manual documentation review. Using document details to populate new risk assessments radically reduces the time required to manage the third-party risk assessment process. As ESG compliance gains momentum among regulators and investors, how does Mitratech’s new ESG monitoring feature assist companies in maintaining sustainability standards across their supply chains? Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, such as measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, have surely emerged as a key priority among companies, investors, and government regulators. Measuring GHG emissions involves focusing on direct emissions and extending attention to indirect emissions throughout the supply chain, where scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions come into play. As more governments legislate ESG and sustainability regulations, companies must sift through mountains of ESG reporting data to meet supply chain compliance requirements. The Prevalent solution includes new capabilities that enhance ESG and sustainability monitoring and correlate with the results of questionnaire-based ESG risk assessments to standardize and simplify global ESG compliance reporting across your supply chain. The latest release includes: Globally sourced, standards-based data from a recognized leader in ESG and sustainability reporting. Advanced sustainability ratings and scores, including scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and equivalent value in cash (EVIC) intensity, for each supplier to compare over time and against industry averages. Analyst-curated emissions scores, negative news and controversies to deliver visibility into potential reputational concerns. A comprehensive library of global sustainability questionnaires with built-in remediation guidance to benchmark reporting. A centralized risk register of assessment results and sustainability data for investigation, triage, and task and event management. By comprehensively understanding and managing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, companies can mitigate supply chain and reputational risks, meet stakeholder expectations, improve operational efficiency, and gain a competitive edge. With the solution, procurement and supply chain teams can improve supply chain visibility and consistency and save time by providing one-stop access to thousands of ESG scores, intelligence, and controversies fully aligned with other enterprise risks. The introduction of Technology Tags is a notable addition to your platform. How does this new feature enhance visibility into software supply chain risks, and what kind of proactive measures can organizations take as a result? To assist in understanding which vendors have particular technologies deployed, the Prevalent TPRM solution now includes Technology tags, which provide access to publicly disclosed technologies that can be applied to all entities in the solution based on the technologies the entity uses. In the event of an incident, built-in ActiveRules automations can trigger actions based on Technology tags including: Reporting on impacted third parties. Informing internal users of the technology association by issuing email notifications. Triggering tasks. Distributing an incident response survey to a key contact to understand how they have been impacted, and what remediation efforts are taking place. Generating risk items for ongoing management. This enhancement is invaluable when news of a vulnerability or data breach impacts a specific technology and there is a need to quickly identify which organizations in a vendor ecosystem may be leveraging it. It improves proactivity through visibility and automation. With this capability, organizations can quickly identify and communicate with vendors potentially at risk of a software supply chain disruption, reducing risk and speeding up time to resolution. Given recent high-profile supply chain incidents like the July 2024 CrowdStrike outage, what lessons did Mitratech draw in developing these new risk management tools? The widespread July 2024 CrowdStrike outage was a wake-up call for organizations to better understand the technologies deployed in their vendor ecosystems. Knowing which third parties utilize a particular technology helps to speed up incident response in the case of a critical outage. And that starts with discovery – building a central inventory of the technologies that third parties utilize. The Prevalent solution already included the ability to track technologies, but the latest enhancement pre-loads options to add to the vendor profile to simplify tracking to speed up incident response. With AI transforming various industries, some organizations express concerns about its potential risks. How does Mitratech ensure that its AI-powered tools are transparent, ethical, and aligned with regulatory compliance? We have implemented several controls to mitigate the risks of bias, hallucination and to ensure security. The LLM that we have incorporated into our solution has been trained on events and leverages our 20 years of experience. There is human governance over the model to ensure that results are realistic and represent actual recommendations. We anonymized all data and only set the risk and/or event name – no other context. Sustainability and ESG have become critical metrics for evaluating vendor relationships. Can you share any insights into the specific ESG criteria that Mitratech’s platform uses to assess and score suppliers? The Prevalent solution provides insights into several ESG metrics. Globally sourced, standards-based data from a recognized leader in ESG and sustainability reporting. Advanced sustainability ratings and scores, including scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and equivalent value in cash (EVIC) intensity, for each supplier to compare over time and against industry averages. Analyst-curated emissions scores, negative news and controversies to deliver visibility into potential reputational concerns. Data is presented over time, and with it, users can compare suppliers against: Industry averages Their peers Other suppliers in the same region In light of these recent updates, how do you see the role of technology evolving in the context of third-party risk management, especially when it comes to adapting to emerging regulatory requirements? Technology and process automation should be at the center of third-party risk management. Two of the most significant challenges involved in assessing a third party are completing assessments and gathering external data to formulate a risk score which then informs how the third party should be treated going forward. TPRM solutions address both of those challenges directly by automating questionnaire management, completion, and scoring, and by centralizing external vendor insights across multiple risk domains. Technology then enables the correlation of the questionnaire responses to external data to validate answers, scoring, and automated remediation management and reporting. Without technology, organizations are left with manual, spreadsheet-driven processes or disjointed risk scoring that limits visibility. Looking ahead, what are the key areas of innovation that Mitratech is focusing on to continue leading in the GRC and third-party risk management space? Mitratech will continue to innovate in areas such as continuous monitoring enhancements, AI translation and automations, natural language reporting, as well as providing new insights into geographic and firmographic data and analytics. Related Items: AI , Alastair Parr , ESG , ESG Capabilities , Executive Director , featured , grc , GRC Solutions , interview , Mitratech , risk technology Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Financial Infrastructure & APIs: The Backbone of Modern Financial Systems Arcee AI and AWS: Accelerating Deployment of Specialized Language Models for Enterprises. What Is Voice AI? A Look at the Latest Tech Innovations Comments