Making spiking a specific offence is about making sure the law is up to date to deal with it as a crime, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones has said. Labour plans to make spiking a specific offence and has laid out plans for venue staff to be trained in relation to spiking, with a pilot to begin within weeks before a wider rollout next year. Ms Davies-Jones, asked about why it was worthwhile to make spiking a new offence when it is already illegal, said: “Spiking is a crime already. “A lot of people don’t realise that it is a crime already, which is part of the problem.” She said there were around 6,000 reports of spiking last year but that because it is an underreported crime, it is not clear how big of a problem it is. 'Legislation won't fix this on its own...this is about a culture shift' @SophyRidgeSky challenges Minister for Victims @AlexDaviesJones on the govt plan to change the spiking law even though it is already a criminal offence. #PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii 📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/Zb65c6KnOM — Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (@SkyPoliticsHub) November 25, 2024 “Part of the problem we’ve got is around the data collection, so you don’t know if you’ve been spiked with a drink, a needle, a vape, for example,” she told Politics Hub on Sky News. Modernising the offence and giving police the tools to get accurate data allows a clearer picture of where, how and how often spiking is happening, she said. It is about “clarifying it, modernising it, making sure that people know exactly what this is...the law isn’t quite, it isn’t up to date. “It isn’t modern enough.” Sir Keir Starmer earlier said he hopes the change will give people “the confidence to come forward”, in a meeting of police bosses, transport figures and hospitality executives in Downing Street. Spiking will be made a criminal offence. My government was elected to take back our streets, central to this mission is making sure women and girls can feel safe at night. Perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 25, 2024 Ms Davies-Jones and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were among the attendees at the round-table discussion on Monday morning. Labour pledged in its manifesto to introduce a new offence for spiking, but there was no detail in the King’s Speech this year about a specific crime, though it promised to ensure an improved police response to cases. According to information published by the Metropolitan Police, spiking offences are currently covered by more than one law, but most come under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Sir Keir told the meeting: “There are a number of measures that we are setting out this morning – we want to talk it through with you. “The first is to make spiking a specific offence so that it counts, it’s reported.” He said that such a measure would mean that it “enables everybody to have the confidence to come forward” and also “it allows perpetrators to know that it’s a specific offence”. Detailing the training scheme, he went on: “We’re beginning the piloting of training for staff in venues.” He said the scheme would be “partly to spot what’s happening, but also to know what to do in the event that there is an incident in a venue”. “That will start in December with a pilot then it will be rolled out from March of next year,” Sir Keir added. He also said that the “final” point of discussion for the morning was “police indexing – (the) way that we count it across different police forces”. Sir Keir added: “At the moment it’s quite hard to get your arms around the pure numbers.” Plain clothes officers are being deployed in areas around bars and clubs to spot predatory behaviour. The text-to-report number, 61016, that allows women to contact British Transport Police to report harassment on the train, is due to be relaunched. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims. “That’s why today we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and to crack down on perpetrators, by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide. “People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. “These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever these appalling crimes take place.”
In conclusion, the shift towards balance and authenticity on Douyin's e-commerce platform marks a positive and necessary evolution in the world of online shopping. By prioritizing content quality, promoting mindful consumption, and embracing sustainability, Douyin is redefining the way e-commerce is conducted and challenging traditional notions of promotion and sales. As consumers increasingly value transparency, authenticity, and social responsibility, Douyin's focus on finding the balance point between commerce and community is not only a smart business strategy but also a reflection of a broader shift towards a more conscious and values-driven economy.
Their continued dominance at the top of the world rankings is a testament to the exceptional training and development program implemented by the Chinese Table Tennis Association. The country's investment in talent identification, coaching, and infrastructure has allowed its players to excel on the international stage consistently.The rental housing market has been an area of great interest and concern for both tenants and landlords alike. In recent times, there have been significant developments and policy changes in various regions that have had a positive impact on the overall dynamics of the market. These changes, along with other factors, have led to a slight rebound in the market, offering hope and opportunities for both renters and property owners.
D.R. Horton director Barbara Allen sells $921,515 in stockStats experts OPTA predict shock final league positions for Newcastle United, Man Utd and Chelsea
Wow! 2024 is almost over! Somewhere in the back of my brain, I’m wondering how that happened. This year has been a blur and now we are facing the last chance to do anything to save tax we will owe for 2024. Here are some basic thoughts for you to consider. Tax brackets and standard deductions are indexed for inflation. If you have the exact same taxable income as 2023, your tax will be less because of these two items. You can make total estate-related gifts of $18,000 in 2024 to any individual and NOT have to file a gift tax return. You have until April 15 to max out your IRA contributions – $7,000, $8,000 if you are 50 or over. 401(k) contributions can be $23,000, $30,500 if you’re 50 or older. For 401(k) contributions though, you must have made them by Dec. 31. (Your employer can do matching contributions as far as the filing deadline for the employer’s business tax return.) If you itemize, you still have time to make deductible charitable gifts. If you put the gift in the mail by Dec. 31, you can count the gift as 2024. Beware though. Your charity end of year giving statement may not include that last-minute gift, so keep good records to support the deduction. If you normally pay your property taxes (as opposed to the bank doing it through escrow), you could pay the upcoming 2025 taxes by December 2024 and get a deduction in 2024. Beware of the SALT $10,000 maximum tax deduction limitation. If you were thinking about purchasing a “clean vehicle” (electric vehicles, including certain hybrids) in the next several months, you could accelerate that to complete the purchase by Dec. 31 to get the potential $7,500 tax credit. (Of course there are modified adjusted gross income limitations – $300,000 for marrieds, $150,000 for singles.) The selling dealership should provide you with a statement of what potential credit is available on their cars. (There are all kinds of limits. Maximum sales price, gross vehicle weight, battery capacity, etc.) The credit is not refundable. Same goes for solar panel/battery backup systems for your home. It might not be possible with weather and time limitations, but you never know until you try. The potential credit is 30% of what you pay. The credit is not refundable. If you have some stocks you own that have lost value and you want to switch to other stocks as well as some stocks that may have hit their potential high mark, you could sell off both, mostly offset the losses against the gains, and buy some better stocks to go into the new year. Net tax impact could be zero if you and your broker work together on this. Have you heard? Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.” Kelly Bullis is a Certified Public Accountant in Carson City. Contact him at 775-882-4459. On the web at BullisAndCo.com. Also on Facebook.The company, which has not been named in reports, has been aggressively shedding assets throughout the year in order to refocus its business strategy and improve its financial stability. The decision to sell off the three subsidiary companies for just 1 yuan each is perhaps the most drastic move yet in this divestment strategy.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones' 21 points helped UC San Diego defeat James Madison 73-67 on Friday night. Tait-Jones also contributed six rebounds for the Tritons (4-2). Hayden Gray scored 16 points and added four steals. Nordin Kapic went 5 of 8 from the field (1 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with 12 points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level MediaJudge Yu Hua's ruling to uphold the death sentence drew mixed reactions from the public. Some praised the decision as a victory for justice and accountability, while others questioned the fairness of the legal process and expressed sympathy for Yang Niu Hua's plight. Despite the polarizing opinions surrounding the case, one thing remains clear: Yang Niu Hua's unwavering faith in her beliefs has inspired many to reflect on the nature of justice, mercy, and forgiveness.Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual
In conclusion, China's richest man's foray into the male HPV vaccine market represents a significant step forward in the fight against HPV-related cancers in men. By combining his resources, influence, and expertise, he has the potential to drive meaningful change in preventative healthcare and men's health outcomes, both in China and on a global scale. As the world watches this pioneering effort unfold, one thing is clear: the future of men's health is brighter with leaders like him leading the way.MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Brandon Nunez threw just two passes, each for a score, and New Mexico State beat Middle Tennessee 36-21 on Saturday to end a three-game losing streak. Nunez tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Seth McGowan to give the Aggies a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter. After Middle Tennessee pulled to 26-21 early in the fourth, Nunez tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Cooper Sheehan that made it 33-21 with 7:43 left. Parker Awad completed 12 of 16 passes for 221 yards for New Mexico State (3-8, 2-5 Conference USA). McGowan finished with 83 yards rushing. Mike Washington also had a touchdown run and Dylan Early a 30-yard pick-6 for the Aggies. Nicholas Vattiato was 30-of-45 passing for 277 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Middle Tennessee (3-8, 2-5), which has lost three of its last four. __ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
One of the most intriguing aspects of this news is the promise of a lineup of blockbuster games set to release in the coming year. Xbox has been steadily building up its arsenal of exclusive titles, with recent releases like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 receiving critical acclaim and strong sales. The journalist hinted that Xbox is poised to deliver even more high-quality, first-party titles that will showcase the full capabilities of the Xbox Series X and S consoles.With Liverpool's surge in the title odds, the pressure is on for Klopp's men to maintain their momentum and see out the season with a flourish. However, in a league as competitive as the Premier League, nothing is guaranteed, and twists and turns are bound to happen in the coming weeks.
"Black Myth: Wukong," an upcoming action-adventure game inspired by the Chinese mythological character Sun Wukong, has garnered attention for its stunning visuals and innovative gameplay. The collaboration with Pepsi-Cola adds another layer of excitement to the gaming experience, as fans can now enjoy their favorite drink while immersing themselves in the mythical world of Wukong.In goal, Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy earns his place in the Best XI for his exceptional shot-stopping abilities, commanding presence, and crucial saves that have helped his team to victory on multiple occasions. Mendy's performance between the posts has been stellar, earning him recognition as one of the top goalkeepers in the world.
Bitcoin Hits $99K As Donald Trump Replaces SEC Chair, Eyes Crypto Payments For Truth SocialGeorgian tennis sensation Mamadashvili has been dealt a major blow as he has sustained a serious injury to his right quadriceps muscle, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the matches scheduled for this year. The young athlete, who has been making waves in the tennis world with his exceptional skills and remarkable performances, will now have to focus on his recovery and rehabilitation to come back stronger in the next season.
The tech entrepreneur and close adviser to Donald Trump has taken a stunning new public step in his support for the far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD), publishing a supportive guest opinion piece for the country’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper that has prompted the commentary editor to resign in protest. The commentary piece in German was launched online on Saturday ahead of being published on Sunday in the flagship paper of the Axel Springer media group, which also owns the US politics news site Politico. Musk uses populist and personal language to try to deny AfD’s extremist bent and the piece expands on his post on the social media platform X that he owns, on which he last week claimed that “only the AfD can save Germany”. Translated, Musk’s piece said: “The portrayal of the AfD as rightwing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD at the national level as a suspected extremism case since 2021. Shortly after the piece was published online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, used the US tech mogul’s own platform on X that she had submitted her resignation. “I always enjoyed heading the opinion department at Welt and Wams. Today a text by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. Yesterday I submitted my resignation after printing,” she posted. She included a link to the Musk commentary article. The AfD has a strong anti-immigration stance and, like incoming president Donald Trump in relation to the US, is calling for mass deportations from Germany. Earlier in December, Musk not only posted in favor of AfD but the party’s hard line on immigration appeared to resonate with the incoming US vice-president, JD Vance, MSNBC . Senior Welt Group weighed in on Saturday. “Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising positions and classifying them journalistically,” the newspaper’s editor-in-chief designate, Jan Philipp Burgard, and Ulf Poschardt, who takes over as publisher on 1 January, told Reuters. They said discussion about Musk’s piece, which had about 340 comments several hours after it was published, was “very revealing”. Underneath Musk’s commentary, the newspaper published a response by Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false,” he wrote, referencing the AfD’s desire to leave the European Union and seek rapprochement with Russia as well as appease China. The AfD backing from Musk, who also defended his right to weigh in on German politics due to his “significant investments”, comes as Germans are set to vote on 23 February after a coalition government led by the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, late this fall. The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority, but Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have pledged to shun any support from the AfD at the national level.D.R. Horton director Barbara Allen sells $921,515 in stock
SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by assigning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. The transactions mean that the Sharks currently have 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Yaroslav Askarov. Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand. Warsofsky did not say who his starting goalie would be. Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings. Sturm, injured in the Sharks’ game earlier this month against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty-killing forwards. Thompson has been on the Sharks’ roster for almost the entire season and played in 13 of the team’s 23 games. His five points are third-most among all Sharks defensemen, as he’s averaged just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Sharks have had three goalies on their roster since Nov. 18, when they recalled Askarov from the Barracuda. At the time, Vanecek was considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Vanecek backed up Blackwood on Saturday in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov made his Sharks debut on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. It’s unclear how long the Sharks plan to keep three goalies on their active roster. Both Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. Kevin Weekes of ESPN and the NHL Network posted on the social media platform X on Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes “are exploring potential goalie options in the market.” Frederik Andersen is out eight to 12 weeks after knee surgery, and Pyotr Kochetkov left Saturday’s game at Columbus after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker. Kochetkov is now in concussion protocol.In celebration of the premiere, fans can now enjoy the entire collection of "Crime Hunter's Encyclopedia" Part 1 for free! That's right, all episodes from the first season are available for a limited time only, allowing viewers to catch up on the thrilling adventures of our favorite crime-fighting team before diving into the new season.