2024’s top 10 climate disasters cost more than 200 billion dollars, charity saysDevelopers will have to show that their project either helps reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste going to landfill, or replaces an older, less efficient incinerator. The move forms part of the Government’s drive to increase recycling rates, which have held at about 45% of household waste since 2015. Environment minister Mary Creagh said: “For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer. “That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants – they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission, before they can get the backing needed to be built.” Developers will also have to ensure their incinerators are ready for carbon capture technology, and demonstrate how the heat they produce can be used to help cut heating bills for households. The Government expects that its “crackdown” on new incinerators will mean only a limited number are built, while still reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and enabling the country to process the waste it produces. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the country was almost at the point where it had enough waste facilities to handle non-recyclable rubbish, and so had limited need for new incinerators. But the proposals stop short of the plans included in the Conservatives’ 2024 manifesto, which committed to a complete ban on new incinerators due to their “impact on local communities” and declining demand as recycling increased.Lakers deal D'Angelo Russell to Nets, get Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton
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The Suns are shopping starting center Jusuf Nurkic , Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic reports. Phoenix’s front office is seeking another big man in return with the Wizards’ Jonas Valanciunas and Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic among the players mentioned in trade talks. There still are conversations about a deal with the Heat involving Jimmy Butler , Rankin adds, confirming a Marc Stein report. Bradley Beal would be a natural fit salary-wise in a Butler deal but he’d have to waive a no-trade clause. The Suns, with three star players in their lineup, are floundering at the .500 mark. Their desire to move Nurkic indicates that they’re looking for ways to shake things up, though second apron restrictions limit what they can do. Nurkic is averaging 9.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 24.5 minutes per game during his second season with the Suns. Nurkic played just 15 minutes against Denver on Monday. He averaged 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists last season. Phoenix acquired him in the three-team blockbuster in which Damian Lillard was dealt to Milwaukee and former Suns center Deandre Ayton was dealt to the Trail Blazers. Nurkis is signed through next season. He’s making $18.125M this season and will bring in $19.375M next season. This article first appeared on Hoops Rumors and was syndicated with permission.
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Liver and Cinnadust. Those were the two foods that thrilled Khadija Merriweather as she strolled the aisles of her new neighborhood grocery store, Double Apple . It’s the “little things,” like the meat that her mother always cooked, and like the name-brand cinnamon seasoning blend that she sprinkles onto her coffee, that prompted her to say, “This is gonna be my store.” “They have literally everything you can think of,” Merriweather said. The Double Apple on Bailey Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. “When you start building economic development in a community, other businesses follow automatically, and then housing follows, and you know, all these different things start to stack on top of each other,” says Common Council Member Zeneta Everhart. Merriweather, a longtime resident of the University District, said she was elated at Tuesday's grand opening of Double Apple, a new grocery store at 2565 Bailey Ave. Double Apple's neighborhood, Kenfield, is classified as a food desert, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food research atlas , which means that at least a third of its residents have low incomes and live more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store. With 15,000 square feet of fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, seasonings and snacks, Double Apple is bringing fresh food to an area that had few options. “The need in this neighborhood is food. That’s what they need the most,” said Double Apple owner Abdulla “Tony” Ahmed. “Especially fresh produce, meats [and] grocery products.” Fresh vegetables sit for sale Double Apple on Bailey Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Unlike Buffalo's ubiquitous corner stores , Double Apple does not sell alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets. Its aisles are stocked mostly with food and the choices are abundant, from several varieties of lettuce to five shelves of barbecue sauce. There are also household items such as toilet paper, soap, plastic wrap, charcoal, pet food and garbage bags. The store accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits. It’s the kind of small, high-quality grocery store that some local leaders would like to see in every low-income, low-access neighborhood to combat food insecurity, specifically within the historically underserved East Side. (For scale, it’s about half the size of Tops on Jefferson Avenue, and you could fit six Double Apples within the Amherst Street Wegmans.) Jay Taylor prepares to-go containers behind the meat counter at Double Apple on Bailey Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Though the push is still on to attract another major supermarket to the East Side, more small grocery stores have been popping up to feed people living in food deserts. Many of these stores have been opened by immigrants, who have introduced more culturally relevant and healthy groceries to the community. The grocery business isn’t easy, as Braymiller Market’s recent downtown Buffalo store closure illustrated. The profit margins are slim, Ahmed said, especially for a small, family-owned store like his, but the key to success is volume. He won’t make much money on each item, but his store will thrive if it becomes a bustling community amenity where people choose to do their grocery shopping. “We’re not going to compare to Tops or any of that. It’s much smaller,” Ahmed said. “But we’re going to try to provide what we can for our neighborhood, for our customers, for the prices that we can bring. We’re doing our best to keep everything within reach for everybody.” Mykiel Wilkie browses through spices at Double Apple on Bailey Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Mykiel Wilkie, who lives about a mile away from Double Apple, spotted the new store while driving down Bailey Avenue on Christmas Eve morning. It’s now the closest grocery store to his house, and he stopped in for some peppers, dip, cheese and seasonings. “This is going to be perfect for me,” Wilkie said. “Go down the street five minutes and be able to get everything that I possibly could need.” Ahmed used to own Imperial Market, a small grocery store on Bailey Avenue about a mile north of Double Apple. And before that, he owned Food Plus, a convenience store on East Amherst Street. He lived in the neighborhood near Double Apple for many years and now lives in South Buffalo. Owner Abdulla Ahmed, left, stands for a portrait with his father, Mohamed Alabadi, his brother, Mohamed Abdulkawi, and son, Mohamed Ahmed, before the ribbon cutting ceremony at Double Apple on Bailey Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Ahmed spent $2 million to open Double Apple. Most of the store’s 15 employees live in the immediate area. “We love this area,” Ahmed said. “We want to invest back in this area.” Double Apple replaced Family Dollar. Long before Family Dollar, the site was a Super Duper grocery store in the 1980s. Merriweather normally splits her food shopping between three stores to find the best deals, but she sees Double Apple as a “one-stop shop.” From the aesthetics – bright lighting, gray shelves and roomy aisles – to the large produce section, brand-name foods and weekly deals, she said is very impressed with the store. “I’m just so grateful,” Merriweather said with a big smile. “My cheeks hurt.” Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Food & drink reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Two Virginia legislators — one Democrat and one Republican — plan legislation to limit what debt collectors and creditors can seize. Del. Phil Hernandez, D-Norfolk, wants to make it easier to limit the amount a creditor or debt collector can take from a family bank account under a court order. Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, wants to rein in Virginia’s unique-in-the-nation law that allows liens to garnish 100% of an erring taxpayer’s wages. Hernandez Virginia House of Delegates Coyner Virginia House of Delegates Under current Virginia law, you can exempt $5,000 of bank accounts or household goods from creditors, but you must file a Homestead Deed and then go to court to claim your exemption. Hernandez wants to make that protection kick in automatically for bank accounts. People are also reading... For many Virginians, the Homestead Deed protection is out of reach, said Jay Speer, chief executive officer of the Virginia Poverty Law Center. “This is virtually impossible for someone without a lawyer. This bill will make it automatic, which we think makes a lot more sense and it makes things easier for a bank that receives a garnishment,” he said. Virginia consumer protection bills meet mixed results in assembly The poverty law center supports the measure. It notes that many Virginians now have their wages deposited directly to their bank accounts. The complicated process of protecting sums in those accounts means state law's limits on how much a creditor can have garnished from wages is rendered moot. And not being able to keep at least some money in a bank account has meant families can’t get at their money for essential bills, for rent, food or medical expenses. Some people have electricity, water or gas cut off because a creditor has effectively frozen their bank accounts, the poverty law center said. “Families shouldn’t have to make the impossible choice of feeding their children or paying off a debt,” Hernandez said. “This necessary bill will create new protections to safeguard funds that are needed for the necessities of life and prevent families from falling into a vicious cycle of poverty," he said. 26 states Twenty-six states have higher household good exemptions, and 11 of these have additional, separate exemptions for at least portions of a debtor’s bank account, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis of state exemption laws compiled by the National Consumer Law Center, a nonprofit that tracks consumer protection measures nationwide. Delaware bars garnishment of bank accounts but has no exemption for household goods. While Alaska's household goods exemption is less than Virginia's, its separate exemption for some funds in a a bank account exceeds Virginia's exemption. Coyner is focusing on the court orders that let creditors — as well as state and local tax collectors — take Virginians' wages when they owe money. While most creditors or debt collectors are limited to seizing 25% of a debtor's paycheck, tax collectors can seize the whole amount. “Garnishing 100% of someone’s wages is not just impractical — it’s inhumane,” Coyner said. “This bill allows Virginians to pay their debts while maintaining their dignity and basic livelihood.” Her bill would set the same limit on garnishments for back taxes as applies to any other debt: 25% of disposable earnings for a given week, or the amount by which a delinquent taxpayer’s disposable earnings for a week exceed 40 times the minimum. Fifteen states exempt more of a debtors’ wages from garnishment, including four states that exempt all wages: North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas. “I believe in paying your taxes,” Coyner said. “But people need a minimum to live on." Virginia lags other several other states when it comes to limiting how much property and wages debt collectors can seize, the National Consumer Law Center review shows. Virginia’s law also exempts $50,000 of a debtor’s home from seizure, while 32 states have higher exemptions. Payment plans A 2020 law aimed at helping debtors and creditors work out payment plans saw use of settlement services grow last year. The law required debt settlement agencies be licensed and capped the fees they charge. Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, introduced it and argued for it after hearing from the Office of the Attorney General’s consumer protection unit that it was getting a lot of consumer complaints about some debt settlement companies charging exorbitant fees for these services. Virginians entered into 10,559 new agreements during the year; there were 18,586 such agreements in force at the end of the year, a State Corporation Bureau of Financial Institutions report found. The agreements seek to repay or forgive $303 million of debt. Debtors and creditors have come to terms on $104 million, and since the law took effect have repaid $85 million. “We want people to have confidence in these firms,” Willett said. “There were a lot of good firms here, but we wanted to keep the bad actors out. ... A lot of the good ones were with us on this, he said. “It seems to be working," Joseph Face, commissioner at the State Corporation Commission Bureau of Financial Institutions, said he’s not hearing any complaints about debt settlement agencies anymore. Debts are mainly owed retailers and credit card companies he said. The high-interest rate payday, car title and open-end credit lenders that the General Assembly also cracked down on in 2020 do not seem to be involved, he said. The debt settlement bill says debt settlement firms must now be licensed by the Bureau of Financial Institutions. It sets a cap of 20% of a borrower’s debt as the fee a debt settlement firm can charge. A licensed firm must post a surety bond equal to the average amount it receives from Virginians under its debt management plans, up to a maximum of $350,000. RVA 100: 100 people, places, things that you should know about Richmond RVA 100: The Marlboro sign RVA 100: When did the murals start going up in Richmond? RVA 100: The Markel Building, one of the ugliest buildings in the world RVA 100: When did Maymont become a park? RVA 100: Maggie Walker, Richmond pioneer RVA 100: How Libby Hill Park got its name RVA 100: How the Richmond Kickers got started RVA 100: Justin Verlander's Goochland roots RVA 100: When The Jefferson Hotel had alligators in the lobby RVA 100: The James River, heart of the city RVA 100: Jackson Ward, ground zero for Richmond's complex history RVA 100: How did Hollywood Cemetery get its name? RVA 100: Chimborazo Park named after a volcano? RVA 100: How did Carytown get its name? RVA 100: How The Flying Squirrels got its start in Richmond RVA 100: When the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond moved at midnight RVA 100: Doug Wilder, 'a son of Virginia' RVA 100: How the CSX A-Line train bridge became a Richmond icon RVA 100: What was the last event held at the Richmond Coliseum? RVA 100: How City Stadium got its name RVA 100: Church Hill, a historic neighborhood in transition RVA 100: What does The Carillon stand for? RVA 100: Capital One RVA 100: Byrd Theatre RVA 100: Bill's Barbecue RVA 100: Belle Isle RVA 100: Arthur Ashe Jr. RVA 100: Agecroft Hall RVA 100: Why is the popular river spot called Pony Pasture? RVA 100: Pump House, the 'Castle on the James' RVA 100: Richmond Ballet has been spinning for decades RVA 100: How the Richmond Symphony became the region's biggest performing arts organization RVA 100: Russell Wilson started out as a Collegiate quarterback RVA 100: The story behind how the sailor sandwich started in Richmond RVA 100: Sally Bell’s Kitchen, a Richmond gem RVA 100: When did the last train leave Broad Street Station? RVA 100: How The Diamond replaced Parker Field RVA 100: What ancient building was the Virginia State Capitol designed after? RVA 100: In the 1800s, who owned Scott's Addition? RVA 100: What is Virginia Commonwealth University known for? RVA 100: How long is the Virginia Capital Trail? RVA 100: Willie Lanier of the Kansas City Chiefs RVA 100: Blues Armory awaits new chapter in Richmond history RVA 100: Bojangles statue honors more than dancing RVA 100: Pop open the history of canned beer in Richmond RVA 100: The history of Richmond's unusual Egyptian Building RVA 100: Edgar Allan Poe, record-breaking swimmer? RVA 100: Richmond's cobblestones were originally ballast in sailing ships RVA 100: Fannie Criss Payne made history as a Black designer RVA 100: What is the Triple Crossing? RVA 100: Tredegar Iron Works once stood as the South's largest iron supplier RVA 100: Richmond Dairy Co. Building is a flashback to days of milk deliveries RVA 100: Historic African American church grew from humble beginnings to a pillar in Jackson Ward RVA 100: Richmond's electric street railway, world’s first RVA 100: The 'godmother of rock 'n' roll' called Richmond her home for a decade RVA 100: Henry 'Box' Brown, shipped himself to freedom RVA 100: GWAR. Prepare to be conquered!! RVA 100: Meeting at Miller & Rhoads clock was local tradition RVA 100: Monument Ave was designed to showcase RVA's 'taste and wealth' RVA 100: Petersburg legend Moses Malone RVA 100: The Freedom Monument on Brown's Island RVA 100: Ebenezer Baptist Church, founded by free and enslaved Black people in 1800s RVA 100: The ghost at the governor's mansion RVA 100: A jolly Richmond legend since 1936 RVA 100: Former Richmonder Vince Gilligan working on a new series for Apple+ TV RVA 100: Pipeline Trail still closed RVA 100: Pat Benatar got her start in Richmond RVA 100: Ellen Glasgow influenced future Southern women writers RVA 100: Ray Dandridge, Richmond's baseball hall of famer RVA 100: Pocahontas' ties to Henrico RVA 100: Southern States silos may not be a Richmond icon much longer RVA 100: When the Richmond Raceway was the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds RVA 100: Richmond Times-Dispatch, 175 years of covering Virginia news RVA 100: Donnie 'Dirtwoman' Corker RVA 100: Museum District RVA 100: When the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond moved at midnight Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!Josh Allen, Bills crush Jets, secure No. 2 seed in AFCMumbai: The faculty of Khare-Dhere-Bhosale college in Guhagar, Ratnagiri district, is reeling under shock and outrage following an alleged brutal attack on four professors by the management of the college. On December 18, professors Govind Bhaskarrao Sanap, Anil Shashikant Hirgond, Santosh Vitthalrao Jadhav, and Neelkanth Sakharam Bhalerao were allegedly violently assaulted by Mahesh Bhosale, the chairman of Guhagar Education Society, and Sandeep Bhosale, its secretary, along with seven other individuals allegedly hired by them. The attack, allegedly carried out with iron rods and wooden sticks, reportedly took place near the college gate and within its premises. The victims were left with severe injuries. The assault is said to have been orchestrated because the professors refused to support alleged irregularities within the institution. “The management wanted the professors to carry out illegal tasks, like allowing admissions to students with fake certificates. When the professors refused and said they would instead resign rather than carry out such tasks, they were brutally beaten up,” GB Raje, president of Bombay University and College Teachers' Union (BUCTU), told the Free Press Journal. The incident has created an atmosphere of fear among faculty members, students, parents, and staff. Despite the gravity of the attack, initial delays in police action left many questioning the effectiveness of the investigation. However, recent developments have seen the arrest of five individuals, including secretary Sandeep Bhosale and two alleged goons, Rohan Bhosale and Patkar. The main accused, president Mahesh Bhosale, remains absconding, according to BUCTU. In response to the incident, BUCTU organised a protest march on December 21, from the college premises to the Guhagar Tehsildar's office. The march drew widespread support from various sections of society, including educators, students, parents, and social activists. Led by BUCTU president Raje and general secretary Chandrashekhar Kulkarni, the demonstrators demanded justice for the victims, punishment for the perpetrators, an end to corruption at the college, an investigation into the management's activities, and the appointment of an administrator to oversee the institution. The protest march featured participants from diverse backgrounds, including members of BUCTU’s executive committee, senate and academic council members, and representatives from the management council of Mumbai University. Teachers from across Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts joined the march in solidarity with their colleagues. Many current and former students of Khare-Dhere-Bhosale College also participated in the protest, expressing their support for their professors. Parents, too, joined the march, emphasising the community's shared sense of outrage. During the protest, a delegation led by Raje submitted a memorandum of demands to the Tehsildar of Guhagar, addressing it to the Governor, the Chief Minister, and the Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University. The delegation included victims’ family members, retired professors, and student representatives, who urged authorities to take swift action. The memorandum called for a thorough investigation into the attack, the dissolution of the college’s governing body, and the immediate appointment of an administrator to oversee the institution. Police officials, including Sub-Divisional Police Officer Rajmane and Inspector Sachin Sawant, were present during the submission of the memorandum, and the delegation sought an update on the progress of the investigation. The protest witnessed participation from nearly 400 individuals, including retired professors and activists. The presence of little girls holding placards — which read: "Our fathers must get justice, the goons must be punished” — drew significant attention and highlighted the human cost of the attack.
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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Every Black Friday, there’s a number of viral products that everyone has on their Christmas wish list, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. However, not all of these popular items are going to stay in stock, and we have some insight on the ones that won’t. Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. People are also reading... Margaret Atwood OSU event altered over threats Tree farm fiasco has Corvallis homelessness under microscope The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County Bomb cyclone, flood risk in Benton County this week Albany's Joel Dahl pleads guilty to sex crime involving minor Strike over: Benton County, union reach tentative deal What's available from Benton County services as strike nears Week 2 Sweet Home man sentenced for crash that injured his daughter In trying to flee, suspect accused of driving over Albany police officer American flag thrown by driver fleeing Benton County deputies Philomath woman suspected in Eugene Airport bomb scare OSU football: It's time to look ahead to next year OSU football: Beavers' season hits a new low in loss at Air Force Albany dog badly hurt, possibly shot, during brief escape Tensions rise, as Albany strike enters second week While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. Samsung 98-inch QLED TV The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. Apple Watch Series 9 Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. Apple AirPods (3rd gen) If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. Apple iPad (10th Gen) One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. Dyson Airwrap The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. Ugg Tasman slippers If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. Bissell Little Green The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. Furby Galaxy Edition We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same. Shoppers might see dynamic and surge pricing on Black Friday. Here's what that could look like Amanda Barroso, NerdWallet When is Black Friday? Here’s what you need to know before you shop Amanda Barroso, NerdWallet For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas – sign up now!
Dialogue between East and West is a crucial factor in forging the rapprochement of cultures and mutual understanding among disparate peoples. This dynamic reflects historical, cultural, and intellectual dimensions that have evolved over centuries, continuing to influence relationships between diverse cultures. The primary objective remains the bridging of divides between the parties engaged in dialogue, bolstering peaceful coexistence and a more profound understanding of one another. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Arab and French researchers and intellectuals affirmed that dialogue between the Arab world and the West has been persistent throughout history and undergone numerous stages but has recently declined due to various factors. They highlighted that the stature of Arab thought and the contributions it made to humanitarian civilisation throughout history have been abundantly clear to all actors and intellectuals worldwide, as this thought has been rich, diverse, and profound, albeit not entirely discovered in Europe and the world. Anthropologist and Assistant Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University in the US, Fadi Bardawil, stated that the dialogue between Arab and Western thought has been inveterate since the Renaissance in the 19th century, during which both written and oral exchanges existed between these intellectual traditions. He emphasised that translation has been a crucial mechanism in augmenting this dialogue, as it enables the transfer of ideas between these two disparate cultural realms. Professor of Development Studies and International Relations at the Department of Development Studies, SOAS, University of London, Professor Gilbert Achcar, highlighted that Arab cultural spaces exist but differ in their relationship with the West, as per variations in the colonial powers that dominated these spaces, underlining that intellectual relationships lay bare the structure of international hegemony, which is dubbed cultural imperialism — a cultural reflection of Western hegemony — thereby restricting the potential for building a real dialogue between both parties. President of the Arab World Institute in Paris, Jack Lang, stated that Arab thought is diverse with crucial historical contributions, though its presence is limited on the global stage, highlighting that dialogue between Arab and Western thought is deep-rooted throughout history and is not virtually improvised. He indicated that Arab thought is a fundamental component in the creation of epochal Arab thought. Thinker, anthropologist, professor at Mohammed VI University in Rabat, and visiting professor at various American, European, and Arab universities, Hassan Rachiq, said that dialogue between Arab and Western thought is forged through diverse intellectual frameworks, each one reflecting its culture and particularities. Rachiq added that this dialogue varies in certain fields, such as philosophy and anthropology, highlighting that his book Near and Distant: A Century of Anthropology in Morocco tackled colonial anthropology. He affirmed that, as an anthropologist, he might find himself in greater intellectual alignment with a Western thinker at times than with an Arab thinker, and vice versa. He believes that the differences and intersections between the two intellectual traditions shift depending on the context and the values being defended, emphasising that it is most crucial for Arab thought to be critical, multifaceted, and uphold the value of the individual. Researcher in cultural and social history and director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Beirut, Khaled Ziade, affirmed that Arab thought in the 19th century was widely open to Western thought and liberalism and was impacted by national currents that emerged in Europe, with European intellectual influence remarkably declining in the current time due to many factors. Arab thought today is in desperate need of laying out its questions with answers that best suit its particularities, instead of invoking ready Western answers, he noted, emphasising that each thought has its own particularities and unique dimensions reflecting its cultural and social reality. Yemeni writer and thinker, Habib Abdulrab Sarori, told QNA that the challenge of knowing the other enhances thinking, dialogue, and ensures the convergence of thoughts, thereby enabling Arab individuals to understand themselves very well in terms of culture and intellectuality. He highlighted that Arab societies suffer from cognitive and intellectual isolation, where Arab thinkers and intellectuals still revolve around themselves without delving deep into Western thought in its true sense. Emphasising his belief in the significance of profound dialogue between Arab and Western ideologies, he established a cultural society with the objective of introducing Arab grandiose intellectuals, particularly Abu Al-Ala Al-Ma’arri, who is a cultural reference both in Arab civilisation and human civilisation as a whole. Director of the Institute of Feminist Studies and consultant on women’s and gender issues for the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Dr Islah Jadd, said Western thought, which was overshadowing Arab thought, exposed its bankruptcy and the duality of its discourse. She emphasised that this is demonstrated in the way Western intellectuals engage in issues such as Palestine and Ukraine, along with the genocidal war in Gaza. Dialogue between Arab and Western thought is still constant but is in a state of flux with the emergence of new elites on the streets who stood by the Palestinian cause and Arab struggles against colonisation, occupation, and despotism, as well as other humanitarian issues, highlighted Jadd. Poet and Director-General of the Arab World Institute in Paris, Shawqi Abdulamir, noted the real absence of dialogue between Arab and Western thought, stressing that Western thought currently dominates Arab culture. He stated that when Arab people look for a philosophical reference for an epochal issue, they directly invoke the philosophies of Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and Heidegger, without considering Arab philosophers. The reason behind the current retrogression of Arab thought is neglecting the teachings of Arab philosophy among younger generations and disruption, thereby restricting their abilities to engage in conversation with Western thought, Abdulamir underlined. Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Paris, Dr Salam al-Kawakibi, stated that the significant challenge facing Arab thought today is to eliminate orientalism in its negative connotation, which is linked to the colonial past that carries the superiority over Arab intellectual traditions. He stressed that the formidable challenge facing contemporary Arab thought is to break this barrier, along with the Western disregard for this thought. Direct dialogue between Arab and Western intellectual traditions fosters the exchange and cross-pollination of ideas, contributing to the evolution of human thought and deepening mutual understanding, he underlined. Related Story Sony Middle East and Africa, Fnac Qatar host workshop series for content creators West Bay Central Bus Station to operate 27 buses an hour: MoTSOXX: 2024 Has Formed A Head And Shoulders Pattern (Technical Analysis)
Amazon Expands Partnership with AnthropicJimmy Carter, nation’s 39th president who became influential human rights advocate, diesA report from the charity on hurricanes, floods, typhoons and storms influenced by climate change warns that the top 10 disasters each cost more than 4 billion US dollars in damage (£3.2 billion). The figures are based mostly on insured losses, so the true costs are likely to be even higher, Christian Aid said, as it called for action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and finance for poor countries to cope with climate change. Politicians who “downplay the urgency of the climate crisis only serve to harm their own people and cause untold suffering around the world”, climate expert Joanna Haigh said. While developed countries feature heavily in the list of costliest weather extremes, as they have higher property values and can afford insurance, the charity also highlighted another 10 disasters which did not rack up such costs but were just as devastating, often hitting poorer countries. Most extreme weather events show “clear fingerprints” of climate change, which is driving more extreme weather events, making them more intense and frequent, experts said. The single most costly event in 2024 was Hurricane Milton, which scientists say was made windier, wetter and more destructive by global warming, and which caused 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion) of damage when it hit the US in October. That is closely followed by Hurricane Helene, which cost 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion) when it hit the US, Mexico and Cuba just two weeks before Milton in late September. The US was hit by so many costly storms throughout the year that even when hurricanes are removed, other storms cost more than 60 billion US dollars in damage, the report said. Three of the costliest 10 climate extremes hit Europe, including the floods from Storm Boris which devastated central European countries in September and deadly flooding in Valencia in October which killed 226 people. In other parts of the world, floods in June and July in China killed 315 people and racked up costs of 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion), while Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia in September, killed more than 800 people and cost 12.6 billion dollars (£10 billion). Events which were not among the most costly in financial terms but which have still been devastating include Cyclone Chido which hit Mayotte in December and may have killed more than 1,000 people, Christian Aid said. Meanwhile, heatwaves affected 33 million people in Bangladesh and worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, flooding affected 6.6 million people in West Africa and the worst drought in living memory affected more than 14 million in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe, the charity said. Christian Aid chief executive Patrick Watt said: “There is nothing natural about the growing severity and frequency of droughts, floods and storms. “Disasters are being supercharged by decisions to keep burning fossil fuels, and to allow emissions to rise. “And they’re being made worse by the consistent failure to deliver on financial commitments to the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries. “In 2025 we need to see governments leading, and taking action to accelerate the green transition, reduce emissions, and fund their promises.” Dr Mariam Zachariah, World Weather Attribution researcher who analyses extreme events in near-real time to discern the role of climate change, at Imperial College London, said: “This report is just a snapshot of climate devastation in 2024. “There are many more droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and floods not included that are becoming more frequent and intense. “Most of these disasters show clear fingerprints of climate change. “Extreme weather is clearly causing incredible suffering in all corners of the world. Behind the billion-dollar figures are lost lives and livelihoods.” And Prof Haigh, emeritus professor of atmospheric physics at Imperial College London, said: “The economic impact of these extreme weather events should be a wake-up call. “The good news is that ever-worsening crises doesn’t have to be our long-term future. “The technologies of a clean energy economy exist, but we need leaders to invest in them and roll them out at scale.” The 10 costliest climate disasters of 2024 were: – US storms, December to January, more than 60 billion US dollars; – Hurricane Milton in the US, October 9-13, 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion); – Hurricane Helene in the US, Mexico, Cuba, 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion); – China floods, June 9-July 14, 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion); – Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia from September 1 to 9, 12.6 billion US dollars (£10 billion); – Hurricane Beryl, in the US, Mexico and Caribbean islands from July 1-11, 6.7 billion US dollars (£5.3 billion); – Storm Boris in central Europe, September 12-16, 5.2 billion US dollars (£4.1 billion); – Rio Grande do Sul floods in Brazil, April 28-May 3, 5 billion US dollars (£4 billion); – Bavaria floods, Germany, June 1-7, 4.45 billion US dollars (£3.5 billion); – Valencia floods, Spain, on October 29, 4.22 billion US dollars (£3.4 billion).
The Government will introduce a public, private, people-centric entrepreneur concept to develop the industrial sector, Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development said after assuming duties at the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development. What existed all this time was a public-private entrepreneur concept. The Government has now focused on a new public, private and people-centric model. The new concept will come under State ownership and private sector management and the people could participate as investors. Although under the purview of the State, management and technology could be provided by the private sector with capital infusion from the public, Handunnetti said. The Minister reiterated that the Government plans to convert Sri Lanka into an attractive place for foreign investment by eradicating bribery, reducing approval time for projects and lowering taxes for investors. He also said heavy taxes, delayed approval time and soliciting bribes were the main reasons that prevent foreign investments from coming into the country. He said the bane of the country was the inordinate delay for a business to get off the ground. It takes about a year and approval from at least 20 entities had to be obtained. He said these delays are purposefully orchestrated to solicit bribes. Handunnetti said under their governance, technology would be used to streamline delays and other strategies put in place to stem bribery and corruption, The Minister also outlined plans to combine vocational training institutes, institutes under the Education and Higher Education Ministry and technological universities with his Ministry to create modern entrepreneurs. He said they will use the unique digital economy concept and the existing industrial zones, industrial cities and ‘industrial parks’ which is a new concept that will be introduced to achieve the target. Handunnetti said the Government plans to start new industries and convert nonprofit State institutions into profit-making entities in a short time. He said they understand the problems industrialists face in the country. Mainly from the time of the corona pandemic industrialists found it difficult to repay loans, as a result many industries faced closure followed by employees being made redundant and their assets being sold under the Parate law. The Minister said due to these issues, continuing business has become a huge problem and entrepreneurs have fallen into a deep crisis. The Government also plans to combine young locals as well as entrepreneurs living overseas to usher in a new era in the country’s industrial sector. He called upon the youth having multiple skills to remain in the country instead of trying to migrate overseas and join the Government to accomplish this task,