SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. The Liberal-Democratic Party, which was part of the left-led coalition that ruled the country from 2016 to earlier in 2024, issued a press statement Saturday strongly condemning “the irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok 'challenge' known as ‘Superman,’ which has injured six children across (the country) in the past 24 hours.” “The lack of adequate control over the content of social media allows such ‘games’ to reach the most vulnerable users,” the party statement said. It demanded the “immediate introduction of measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behavior, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends.” North Macedonia’s education minister Vesna Janevska said students should focus on education, not TikTok challenges. “The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will be available to children in their homes, neighborhoods and other environments,” she said. Psychologists have warned that the desire to be “in” with the trends on social networks, combined with excessive use of mobile phones, is the main reason for the rise in risky behaviors among children. They urged parents and schools to talk with students.
INSIDE WINNIPEG POLITICS: Ballooning debt may lead to economic disasterBRISK BUSINESS Fireworks stores in Bocaue, the country’s fireworks capital, are enjoying brisk business despite the increase in prices as demand rises days before the revelry to greet the New Year. —Carmela Reyes-Estrope BOCAUE, BULACAN, Philippines — The prices of fireworks have begun to soar in this fireworks capital with just a few days left until the New Year celebrations as demand for pyrotechnics surged dramatically. Close to 100 firecracker and pyrotechnic stalls have already been operating 24 hours in three designated pyrozone areas, primarily in Barangays Turo and Binang 1st. This round-the-clock sales started on Thursday, the day after Christmas, according to Iya Bedro, a sales attendant at Majik Fireworks in Turo. READ: Remulla to LGUs: Enforce regulations on firecrackers In an interview, Bedro said they experienced significant price hikes on the most popular items, especially the local “kuwitis” (sky rockets) and “sawa,” which remained the favorites for welcoming the New Year. “Prices have gone up from P8 to P9 per piece for kuwitis, and a bundle of 100 pieces now costs around P900, while the special branded ones can reach P1,200,” Bedro said. Sawa, available in various quantities ranging from 500 to 10,000 rounds, is also experiencing price increases, now ranging from P500 to P10,000. “These two types of fireworks are seeing an additional P50-100 increase,” she added, even as stocks quickly disappeared. The demand is not limited to firecrackers, as the prices of aerial pyrotechnics have also increased in anticipation of more customers. Items previously priced at P1,800 for 20 shots have increased to P2,000, with larger packages experiencing similar price jumps. For instance, a 36-shot package has surged from P3,500 to P4,500, and a 100-shot display, originally P9,500, is now pegged at P10,500. A grand showcase of 268 shots that once cost P38,000 now carries a hefty price tag of P45,000 to P48,000. Even smaller items like fountains have felt the price jumps, from P100 to P1,200 depending on the size. However, “luces” remain unchanged at P70 to P80 for a set of 10. Due to the influx of buyers, traffic congestion has returned in areas along Turo roads leading toward Sta. Maria town and MacArthur Highway, where stalls stand in a long line. Bulacan’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, led by Chief Manuel Lukban Jr., has stationed fire trucks and ambulances in Turo, complemented by roving patrols and assistance areas to ensure public safety. At the provincial police headquarters in Camp Alejo Santos, Bulacan police director Col. Satur Ediong announced the disposal of confiscated illegal fireworks. Items such as “plapla” and “Goodbye Philippines” firecrackers were being buried to eliminate potential hazards. Police Brig. Gen. Rederico Maranan, Central Luzon police director, has earlier called for a simultaneous disposal of illegally held firecrackers in provincial police offices in the region. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . But in Aurora, Police Col. Reginald Francisco, the province’s police director, reported minimal fireworks sales as residents continued to recover from the devastation caused by Typhoon “Pepito” (international name: Man-yi) which struck the area in October.
Labour is putting Britain’s historic “special relationship” with the United States at risk, shadow defence minister Mark Francois has warned as concern mounts about the UK’s capability to fight a major war. He accused Sir Keir Starmer of undermining the “cornerstone of our defence policy” and attacked “Labour’s persistent uncertainty on defence spending”. Chancellor Rachel Reeves made headlines this weekend by saying there is “no magic pot for any area of government spending” when asked if defence will get special treatment because of the present global instability. This came days after defence minister Alistair Carns warned the regular army could be wiped out in as little as six months if Britain was forced to fight a Ukraine -intensity war. Mr Francois fears the “much-needed modernisation of our naval fleet, upgrades to armoured vehicles, and expansion of missile defence systems will continue to be deferred”. A Government timetable for how the UK will hit its target of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence is expected to be set out in a spending review that will not be completed until June. In February, President-elect Donald Trump caused concern when he said he would not “protect” countries from Moscow that did not meet their NATO spending obligations. Mr Francois also called on the UK to abandon the deal to hand the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands – home to the Diego Garcia UK-US military base – to Mauritius, saying: “Continuing down this path risks undermining our security while offering no tangible benefits in return.” He cautioned that while the US is Britain’s closest ally, “alliances are built on trust and mutual reliability”. His warning came as MI5 director-general Ken McCallum said he has been forced to make “uncomfortable choices” about where to concentrate efforts. He said the intelligence service has had to “pare back” its focus on counter-terrorism to deal with the danger posed by Russia and other aggressive states.
Lindsey Vonn takes another step in comeback at age 40, competes in a pair of downhills
Supporters bid adieu to ‘Doctor Sahab’
State Route 36 project near Ward Creek to start in 2025Yoenis Cespedes is pining for a Mets reunion. The former big league outfielder expressed his desire to play in Queens once again during a live stream from the Instagram account NYM_news on Wednesday. “I’m ready to play but just for the Mets,” Cespedes wrote from his official Instagram account. The Cuba native has been out of the majors since opting out of the 2020 season — after he played eight games — with the Mets due to COVID-19 concerns. At the time, sources told The Post that Cespedes partly stepped away from the team out of frustration with a lack of playing time that prevented him from reaching lucrative performance bonuses. In 2021, Cespedes attempted a comeback , holding a showcase in Fort Pierce, Fla. that 11 teams attended, and briefly spoke with the Mets about a potential reunion, although talks fell apart when the outfielder reportedly claimed he was unwilling to play in the minors. Cespedes, 39, has been out of professional baseball entirely since 2022-23 when he played for Águilas Cibaeñas in the Dominican Winter League. The Mets traded for Cespedes at the 2015 MLB trade deadline in exchange for pitchers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa. Before the 2017 season, Cespedes signed a four-year, $110 million deal with the Mets. Injuries, including separate surgeries to remove calcifications from both heels, which hampered him over the latter years with the Mets, playing in just 127 games from 2017-20. During five total seasons in the orange and blue, Cespedes hit .279/.344/.539 with 76 home runs and 205 RBIs, including making the National League All-Star team and finishing 8th in NL MVP voting in 2016. Cespedes played eight total seasons in the majors in stints with the A’s, Red Sox and Tigers, in addition to the Mets, after defecting from Cuba in 2011.
Two Arsenal stars fail auditions in pedestrian performance despite important Ipswich winGreg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. Related video above: Remembering those we've lost in 2024 “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.
The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’"By CLAIRE RUSH President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska’s Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Related Articles National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl Former President Barack Obama changed the official name to Denali in 2015 to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives as well as the preference of many Alaska residents. The federal government in recent years has endeavored to change place-names considered disrespectful to Native people. “Denali” is an Athabascan word meaning “the high one” or “the great one.” A prospector in 1896 dubbed the peak “Mount McKinley” after President William McKinley, who had never been to Alaska. That name was formally recognized by the U.S. government until Obama changed it over opposition from lawmakers in McKinley’s home state of Ohio. Trump suggested in 2016 that he might undo Obama’s action, but he dropped that notion after Alaska’s senators objected. He raised it again during a rally in Phoenix on Sunday. “McKinley was a very good, maybe a great president,” Trump said Sunday. “They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people.” Once again, Trump’s suggestion drew quick opposition within Alaska. “Uh. Nope. It’s Denali,” Democratic state Sen. Scott Kawasaki posted on the social platform X Sunday night. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski , who for years pushed for legislation to change the name to Denali, conveyed a similar sentiment in a post of her own. “There is only one name worthy of North America’s tallest mountain: Denali — the Great One,” Murkowski wrote on X. Various tribes of Athabascan people have lived in the shadow of the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain for thousands of years. McKinley, a Republican native of Ohio who served as the 25th president, was assassinated early in his second term in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. Alaska and Ohio have been at odds over the name since at least the 1970s. Alaska had a standing request to change the name since 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond appealed to the federal government. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it. Rush reported from Portland, Oregon.U.S. District Court Awards 10x Genomics Permanent Injunction in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bruker Corporation's GeoMx Products
Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New YorkKathy's #Mailbag, Dec. 27, 2024
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