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Old Lady 2 Old Men 0. Manchester City plan a significant overhaul of their ageing squad next summer, after some emergency action in January, but the question is, where will they be by then? They are already facing the unthinkable after this messy defeat by Juventus and that is having to head into a Champions League play-off in February and two more demanding fixtures in what is already a hugely congested schedule. But if they are not careful they might even miss out altogether, and go out of Europe completely, as they sit just a point above that zone in the new expanded 36-team table. They are 22nd and need to finish no lower than 24th. They face Paris St-Germain away – the French giants also desperately need points – and Club Brugge at home. The Belgians are currently above City in the table. Finishing in the top eight, something of a given before this campaign started, is beyond them. But then so much of what is happening at City right now is uncharted territory under Pep Guardiola. It is one win in 10. And they have lost seven of them. That is unheard of for the Catalan. As for City, this is their worst run of results since Stuart Pearce was the manager 18 years ago. The wheels have come off and are bouncing down the track. City have conceded 23 goals in their past 10 games. In their treble-winning season they only let in 43 goals across the entire campaign. Next up? The Manchester derby at home on Sunday, which will be like two wounded beasts fighting it out. What will infuriate Guardiola is the rinse-and-repeat nature of City’s performances, as they once again dominated and gave away cheap goals. Both were well-taken, but were due to careless mistakes and Josko Gvardiol – who has endured a difficult few weeks – was to blame. For all the older players City rely on, it was two of the younger ones who had the poorest evenings. Gvardiol is 22 and Erling Haaland is 24, and for all his brilliance, he missed the best opening for City when the game was goalless. Haaland has taken just four of his 12 big chances in the Champions League this season. Instead he was eclipsed by Dusan Vlahovic. The Juventus striker was outstanding, delivering an all-round centre-forward’s performance and capped it with the opening goal. Juventus double their lead over Man City 😳 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) It was not as if City played badly and Guardiola argued that case. They just have this strange vulnerability. This curious lack of belief. They are trying to do the same things that brought them such stunning success. Kevin De Bruyne did enough, but it is not quite calibrated. The ball is being overhit, under-hit and some of those legs are not moving the way they used to. Change is coming, but can they get by until then? The theory was that surely they would improve once players started to come back but they are back – with a few key exceptions – and it is not getting better. This was not a hugely understrength City side. Obviously add in Rodri and another centre-half. But the rest of the team is the same. Juventus are in the middle of their rebuild under their new head coach Thiago Motta, and this was a result and a display that was their best since he took over. At the end, the players celebrated in front of the Curva Nord, where the Juventus ultras congregate, and where they were relentless in their chanting amid the rhythmic banging of a drum. As he strode off the pitch, Guardiola glanced over. He is used to being at the heart of such occasions, not on the outside. The first half was cagey. City made the running, as ever, and dominated possession, but Juventus were happy with that, forcing them wide and were only undone once. At last there was that moment of brilliance, that connection of old, that combination that has been so deadly for City when De Bruyne spun on the edge of the penalty area and slid a precise pass for Haaland to run around Pierre Kalulu for a sight on goal. As he lifted his shot he was thwarted by a superb save from goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, but Haaland should have scored. Guardiola held his hands on his face. It showed the tension he felt. Maybe he sensed what was coming. After Ilkay Gundogan failed to capitalise on De Bruyne’s smart pass, with his shot lacking conviction and easily charged down, Juventus struck. Ederson beat out Federico Gatti’s acrobatic volley but there was a woefully loose pass from Gvardiol across the face of the penalty area intended for Kyle Walker, but which ran to Kenan Yildiz. Gvardiol should have just cleared. Why did he make such a foolish error? And so Yildiz’s cross was met by Vlahovic, easily beating Gvardiol, another mistake from the defender, and Ederson could not stop the header from going over the line. City went close when De Bruyne steered a low shot narrowly wide and closer when Di Gregorio palmed away Gundogan’s curling effort. But it was Juventus who scored again as they broke and two substitutes combined, with Weston McKennie brilliantly volleying home Timothy Weah’s cross. Once again Gvardiol was at fault, leaving McKennie unmarked as he ran towards Weah when two team-mates were already there. Once again City were beaten. Once again they had helped beat themselves. Yet again they remain in crisis. 11:00 PM GMT The remaining fixtures for the British teams Lille (H), PSV Eindhoven (A) Dinamo Zagreb (H), Girona (A) Monaco (A), Celtic (H) Young Boys (H), Aston Villa (A) Paris St-Germain (A), Club Brugge (H) 10:37 PM GMT City languishing in 22nd Man City drop to 22nd in the final Champions League table of 2024 📉 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 10:24 PM GMT More from Gundogan on what City are missing I feel like we know exactly what’s going wrong. If you look at the most part of games even today we actually didn’t play bad, created chances, just missed to score, in these kind of games if you give away once chance it’s not easy to bounce back. We know what’s going wrong it’s just finding the switch to turn things around because even though we are not getting results, it doesn’t feel like we are far off. As long as we don’t find that click it’s going to be tough, the only thing right now we can do, every single player needs to question themselves, to do better, how the player can individually sacrifice more to contribute to the team so we can get collectively back on our way. 10:23 PM GMT Guardiola speaking after the game We miss the last pass, the last action and concede few. I’m so proud of these players, they gave everything and they tried. We play really good. We did not lose many balls and we arrived in positions. You know against Italian teams they defend so deep and are so compact, they are the masters of these situations. We have two games, we need one win. The Feyenoord game and Inter caused us a problem, it will help us appreciate what we have done and are going to do in the future. 10:18 PM GMT Telegraph Sport columnist Jamie Carragher speaking about Guardiola on CBS You can’t believe what you’re seeing. This is a massive crisis. The greatest manager, possibly of all time, has no answers at this moment in time. 10:09 PM GMT A good night for Vlahovic 22 - Dusan Vlahovic is the Serie A player who has scored the most goals in all competitions since the start of 2024 calendar year: 22. Abundance. — OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) 10:08 PM GMT Gundogan says City have a mental problem It feels like every attack we concede, it’s so dangerous. We are a bit careless in the duels and we overcomplicate things instead of playing simple and missing the right timing. We give them counter-attacks and then have to run 50 or 60 metres back and we are not built for that, we are built for possession. Confidence is a big part of it, it’s a mental issue as well. In one action we lose the ball or miss a pass we drop easily. They do not even have to do much to disrupt our rhythm. We have to do the simple things as well as possible, clean and fluidly, that is how we get the confidence back. At the crucial moment it feels like we are doing the wrong thing. 09:52 PM GMT FT: Juventus 2 Man City 0 Thiago Motta’s football is a long way from the archetypal Italian style, but Juventus wound the clock back with an obdurate display of penalty-box defending and decisive counter-attacking. City had heaps of control for long periods, but Haaland missed their best chance of the first half. Juventus put bodies on the line in the second, and City ran out of ideas and were picked off on the break. PSG (A) and Club Brugge (H) City’s final two games, but it is just one win in 10 across all competitions. 09:49 PM GMT 92 minutes: Juventus 2 Man City 0 Just the two minutes of added time to play, City’s race is surely run. Top eight looks out of the question now, the maximum points haul City can reach is 14. 09:48 PM GMT 90 minutes: Juventus 2 Man City 0 Manchester City’s players are insistent that they should have a penalty for handball against Gatti, but his arm was by his side and Rico Lewis’ shot took a deflection. Lewis does not deserve to be on the losing team. 09:46 PM GMT 89 minutes: Juventus 2 Man City 0 One last hurrah for City, pinning Juventus back and keeping the ball around the box, but once again the cross was hopeful and inaccurate. To give Haaland some leeway, some of the delivery he has been offered has been neck high. 09:45 PM GMT 86 minutes: Juventus 2 Man City 0 Now Bernardo is shown a yellow card for pushing Gatti out of petulance. Juventus’ defenders have smothered Haaland brilliantly all night. City struggling for answers at the moment. 09:43 PM GMT 83 minutes: Juventus 2 Man City 0 The free-kick comes to nothing and Grealish is shown a yellow card for a trip in midfield. Vlahovic is withdrawn by Motta to a healthy ovation from the home fans. As things stand, City are just three places above the elimination cutline. The team below? PSG, who City play away next. The good news is the game is in five weeks. 09:39 PM GMT 81 minutes: Juventus 2 Man City 0 City have not played badly in general play here, but this game rather sums up their season: an underlying defensive vulnerability while they are not scoring enough at the other end outside of Haaland. They do have a free-kick now, around 35 yards from the Juventus goal. 09:37 PM GMT 79 minutes: Juventus 2 Man City 0 Now City are rolling the dice with a change: Savinho on for Doku. Guardiola’s team unable to cope defending a counter attack once again this season. 09:34 PM GMT GOOOAAALL! City sucker-punched on the break Juventus have barely been in City’s half for 20 minutes but they have their second goal. Motta’ substitutes combining to great effect on the counter-attack. McKennie switching the ball to Weah, he needed a second attempt to cross from the right but he stood up a lovely cross for McKennie to hammer home on the volley. A gut punch for City. Juventus double their lead over Man City 😳 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 09:30 PM GMT 71 minutes: Juventus 1 Man City 0 De Bruyne with a needless shot from range over the bar, unlike him to make the wrong decision. Juventus are sinking deeper and deeper now though as they look to hang on to this narrow lead. 09:27 PM GMT 68 minutes: Juventus 1 Man City 0 Di Gregorio with a flying save to keep Gundogan’s shot from the distance out of the top corner! The Gundogan plays a give-and-go at the edge of the box, but Gatti produces yet another block to halt him. Juventus are bringing on a pair of USA internationals: McKennie and Timothy Weah, son of George. 09:24 PM GMT 65 minutes: Juventus 1 Man City 0 Another pair of mammoth defensive blocks from Juventus in their own penalty area. City continue to be frustrated. Still no changes from Guardiola despite Phil Foden warming up vigorously. 09:22 PM GMT 63 minutes: Juventus 1 Man City 0 Doku with another teasing ball across the box from the left. It feels like City are starting to turn the screw, but there was a scare at the other end with Ederson needing two attempts to gather Yildiz’s fizzed cross. 09:17 PM GMT 59 minutes: Juventus 1 Man City 0 Another excellent piece of City play in response to the goal, with Grealish bobbing and weaving through the middle. He spread play to Bernardo on the right after the Juventus defence had shifted over, but once again the shot was blocked. 09:16 PM GMT 58 minutes: Juventus 1 Man City 0 Koopmeiners produces a magnificent block in his own penalty area to deny Lewis after Doku saw his own effort charged down. Better from City though and the game is starting to open up now. 09:14 PM GMT 54 minutes: Juventus 1 Man City 0 City had been comfortable for most of the night, but now they need to start attacking with more pace and purpose. It was a soft goal to concede, fairly agricultural play from Juventus rather a stroke of genius. Guardiola might look to his bench soon. 09:12 PM GMT GOOOAALL! Vlahovic strikes for Juventus The forward who has been much-maligned since his big money from from Fiorentina has given Juventus the lead out of more or less nothing. He rose highest between Dias and Lewis to meet a cross swung in from the left, and Ederson bundled the ball over the line. The header was straight at him, City’s goalkeeper could surely have done better. Juventus take the lead over Man City 🫣 How will Pep Guardiola's men respond...? 🤔 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 09:10 PM GMT 52 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 So much of Juventus’ possession in thi s game has been deep in their own half. They finally progress into City territory, but City slow down Conceicao before Gatti draws a save from Ederson. 09:08 PM GMT 49 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 De Bruyne has show flashes of his best tonight, another smooth piece of play down the right to set up Gundogan in the box but his shot was blocked. The ball just will not drop for City in the penalty area so far despite them working the ball into good positions. 09:06 PM GMT 47 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 A corner early in the second half for the home team after a foray down the right for Conceicao. He started the first half brightly but City’s stranglehold on the game left him frozen out as the first 45 minutes progressed. The delivery from Juventus was poor and City clear. 09:03 PM GMT The second half is under way! As things stand, Juventus and City are four points off the top eight and an automatic spot in the last 16. 08:57 PM GMT Jason’s HT verdict: Two teams lacking confidence and rhythm For all the incessant drumming from the home fans massed in the Curva Nord it is a game so far that lacks rhythm and is desperately in need of a beat. It is still strange to see Manchester City lacking so much in confidence and fluency. The one moment of class felt like a throwback to happier times for them with Kevin De Bruyne superbly picking out Erling Haaland. But Juventus goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio saved well. It is on a knife-edge for City and maybe the determination not to lose another game is more important to them than having to win. As things stand they be heading to the Champions League play-offs which would mean two more games in an already hugely congested season. 08:48 PM GMT HT: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City have been the dominant team, and after some chastening away games over the last few months Guardiola will be pleased with the control they have established. A little toothless at the sharp end though, aside from Haaland’s chance, created by De Bruyne but saved by Di Gregorio. Juventus had a couple of nice passages built from the back early, but nothing more. Vlahovic getting no change from Dias. 08:46 PM GMT 45 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Just the one minute of added time to play. Juventus happy to let the seconds tick down. 08:45 PM GMT 43 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City have a corner which De Bruyne is going to swing in from the left. Flicked on at the near post but cleared, before Rico Lewis fluffs a volley from the edge of the box. City remain frustrated. 08:41 PM GMT 40 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City produce their first moment of magic: De Bruyne with a delightful through ball into the box for Haaland but the Juventus goalkeeper Di Gregorio read his dinked finish and stuck out his left mitt to deny to City the opening goal. 08:39 PM GMT 39 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Man City continue to monopolise possession but much of it is in front of Juventus. They are holding the English champions, but the home crowd do not exactly sound to enthused with what they are watching. 08:37 PM GMT 35 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Grealish wins a foul in midfield for City. Juventus are dropping into a flat back five which is covering the width of the pitch against City’s front-line, and offering numerical security against Haaland. Lewis is playing superbly in the middle of the park for City, but the forwards are not proving decisive. Haaland tries to swivel on one after a poor clearance but his volley is blocked. 08:33 PM GMT 32 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City’s defence at full stretch for the first time in the game as Yildiz runs at them again, but they are spared by the offside flag. Moments earlier, Kyle Walker had burst forward to the byline but once again the Juventus defenders ensured there was no path to Haaland. 08:31 PM GMT 29 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Better from Juventus with Yildiz getting on the half-turn in midfield, and threading pass through to Vlahovic but the ball ran away from the striker with the angle narrowing. City get their foot on the ball again and work their combinations around the box, but Bernardo’s cross towards Haaland is meat and drink for the Juventus centre-backs. 08:28 PM GMT 27 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City yet to muster a shot on target, though Guardiola will be pleased that they have looked entirely untroubled defensively. Already this game has the feel of a contest in which one might be enough. Two teams cancelling each other out tactically. 08:24 PM GMT 23 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Grealish with space to drive through midfield with the ball at his feet, but City slow the ball down. Gundogan with a clever dart beyond the Juventus defence, before Doku’s low cross is cleared. A little more cut and thrust to the game in the last few minutes. Then De Bruyne gets in behind down the left and almost picks out Haaland. 08:22 PM GMT 20 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Yildiz with the first real shot in anger of the game, shooting across Ederson from 25 yards out and just wide of the far post. The chance came after the Juventus goalkeeper Di Gregorio bypassed the City press with a diagonal to the right wing. 08:18 PM GMT 17 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City clip a free-kick into the box from a central position but it will not fall for a mauve shirt in the area. Quick feet from Bernardo to skip into the box and win City a corner after he was found by De Bruyne. The Belgian takes the corner with an outswinger but City cannot win the first contact. Juventus launch it towards Vlahovic but he is outnumbered. 08:15 PM GMT 14 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 De Bruyne took the free-kick short and Juventus cleared the cross. Neither goalkeeper has had a save to make yet. Juventus are happy keeping things tight, and City are happy slowing the game down with possession. More pressing there from Juventus, forcing Dias to kick long. 08:13 PM GMT 12 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Koopmeiners’ corner was far too floaty and deep. City the enjoy another sustained spell of possession in the Juventus half with Lewis and Bernardo instrumental, and Doku wins a free-kick in a crossing position wide left. 08:10 PM GMT 9 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Locatelli with a cute pass through midfield to Conceicao, Juventus starting to show more composure after an awkward first few minutes. They also have a corner, after Lewis let a long ball bounce and the lively Conceicao put him under pressure. City will have to defend a set-piece for the first time in the game. 08:07 PM GMT 6 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City pressing high in numbers as Juventus try to pass out of their penalty area, and on this occasion they manage it. Conceicao with a fine switch of play from right to left, but the flag then went up for offside against Vlahovic. The home team’s brightest moment so far. 08:05 PM GMT 4 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 Nice from Rico Lewis to receive the ball in a pocket of midfield space. Juventus’ goalkeeper Di Gregorio gets the ball down in his six-yard box and tries to get the home team building from the back, but City are soon back on it. This has been a serene start from Guardiola’s team, exactly what you would want on a big European away night. They are keeping the ball and dulling the atmopshere. 08:02 PM GMT 2 minutes: Juventus 0 Man City 0 City play for some territory from kick off, and straight away settle into a lengthy spell of possession. De Bruyne drifting towards the right flank, and as our man in Turin Jason Burt suggested Grealish is operating in a more central position. Doku holding the width wide left. 08:00 PM GMT KICK OFF! Man City, playing in their mauve away kit, get the game started. 07:59 PM GMT The players are out at the Allianz Stadium Two teams struggling to live up to their history, distant and recent, in the formbook. A chance for both Juventus and City to kickstart their Champions League campaign. 07:52 PM GMT Grealish playing as a No 8? It will be interesting to see where Jack Grealish plays for Manchester City. In the warm-up Bernardo Silva was crossing in balls from the right which suggests it might be Grealish back in the middle alongside Ilkay Gundogan. The experiment of playing him deeper worked well in the win over Nottingham Forest - City’s only victory in their last nine games - which made it all the stranger that he did not start against Crystal Palace at the weekend. Is this the future for Grealish or will be revert to being a winger again when all the City midfielders are fit? There have, it seems, always been question marks over Grealish but Pep Guardiola still has faith in him and sees him as an important player in the future. 07:45 PM GMT Guardiola on facing Motta He did really well in Bologna qualifying for the Champions League and playing really good and he is trying to do it here. The same reason I decided for Stefan [on recalling Ederson]. Everyone involved and trying to change the dynamics. There are other types of players maybe we would play away in the Champions League but they all played well vs Forest. 07:41 PM GMT Doku speaking before the game When you play for team like Man City then there is pressure on every game. Every game is like a final. It’s just another game that we will try and win. 07:31 PM GMT Guardiola goes back to his No 1 goalkeeper As ever the PA system at Juventus’s stadium is in overdrive as the teams warm up although no one should complain if you get to run out to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck as the home players have just done, complete with light show... For Manchester City, the big news is the return of Ederson in goal. The Brazilian has not had the best of seasons but it always felt slightly odd that he was dropped in favour of Stefan Ortega who is certainly not at his level. Ederson is one of three changes from the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace with Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku also starting. It suddenly looks like a stronger City line-up. 07:21 PM GMT A milestone night for Bernardo 74 - Bernardo Silva is now Manchester City's all-time appearance holder in the UEFA Champions League, with tonight being his 74th game for the club in the competition. Legend. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 07:08 PM GMT Mathues Nunes’ personalised shinpads 07:01 PM GMT Guardiola wants City to slow down What will save us is the way we play. And now we are a moment that we attack so quick, and we do a lot of things not in the right tempo that we lose the ball. We have to be so simple and basic to what we are as a team, and that confidence going back to the simple things, just have the ball and pass the ball, in the right foot, in the right tempo, the simple things do it better. And after that, you will get the confidence, because you cannot imagine how you regain the confidence when you make an extra thousand, million passes, and you are involved in the game, you are involved together. That helps us to be who we are. 06:54 PM GMT Juventus team and subs 🚨 Mr Motta's men for 📝 — JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) 06:53 PM GMT City’s central midfield a concern A blue-chip Champions League away game and Man City will kick off without a specialist deep-lying midfielder. I suspect Rico Lewis will tuck in from left-back - leaving Walker, Dias and Gvardiol as a back three - next to Ilkay Gundogan. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva will play ahead of them in a midfield box or diamond. Perhaps Gundogan and Bernardo will rotate between high and low. Once again, no natural ball-winner in there. City do have more threat in the forward line though with Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku back on the wings either side of Erling Haaland. 06:47 PM GMT Man City team and subs: Doku and Grealish restored to team Your City side in the 🩵 XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Doku, Grealish, Haaland SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Hudson, Kovacic, Savinho, Nunes, Foden, Wright, Simpson-Pusey, O'Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand — Manchester City (@ManCity) 06:41 PM GMT Thiago Motta on facing City We have prepared to give it our all in the game, carefully studying what we must do and what we must not do against such a huge opponent. I cannot pass judgement on their current situation, but this is a team that has proven their immense value over the years. I have enormous respect for them and for their coach Pep Guardiola, for whom facts simply speak for themselves, as he has managed to win everything and consistently. We know that Manchester City want to attack and keep the ball. We will have to defend well and show great quality when we have possession. 06:33 PM GMT Best betting sites Betting on the football today? Take a look at for free bets and betting offers. 06:32 PM GMT Sign up to our Telegraph Football newsletter 06:31 PM GMT Man City’s flaky defence meets a blunt Juventus attack Who said the new Champions League format would extinguish all jeopardy? Owing partly to their own failings, the final three matches of Manchester City’s league phase have much riding on them. City are currently 20th in the table on eight points from five games, with tonight’s trip to Juventus and an away match at Paris St-Germain their next two fixtures. Finishing outside the top eight places which secure a spot in the last 16 is a real possibility for City, with two extra games in February looming if they do miss out. Were they to lose against Juventus and PSG - two of the four clubs below them above the cutline in 24th - City might well require three points from their final game against Club Brugge just to stay in the tournament. City’s away results domestically do not bode well. Pep Guardiola’s team are without a win on their travels since a scratchy 2-1 victory at Wolves on October 20, and have shipped 14 goals in their last six away games across all competitions. Given City’s defensive instability, and the continued absence of Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake through injury, Juventus’ struggles in front of goal are a source of comfort. Thiago Motta replaced Max Allegri as head coach in the summer with the promise of more modern, enterprising and structured attacking football, but things have been rocky after a bright beginning to the campaign. Juventus’ results are a funny old read, losing just one match in all competitions but drawing seven of their last nine. They have not created two expected goals or more in a single match since a 2-2 draw at Parma at the end of October. Motta has not been helped by a lengthy injury list, with just four outfield players on his bench during the drab goalless draw at Villa Park last time out in the Champions League. Full team news on the way shortly.Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stock indexes are rising in afternoon trading on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 29 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8%. Japanese automakers Honda Motor and Nissan Motor said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse? Researchers and watchdog groups say the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce detailed and novel online reviews has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory. Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. But AI-infused text generation tools enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice is illegal in the U.S. and becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season, when many people rely on reviews to buy gifts. A tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews says AI-generated reviews have multiplied. Romanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalition during period of political turmoil BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian lawmakers have voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move on Monday could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in the 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, the center-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government on Monday night. Government regulators close investigation into Ford Focus recalls Government safety regulators are closing an investigation into two previous recalls of the Ford Focus after determining that Ford Motor Co. has satisfied its concerns. Ford recalled around 1.5 million Ford Focus sedans from the 2012-2018 model years in 2018 because they could lose power. The issue was a malfunctioning canister purge valve and software that didn’t adequately detect when it was stuck open. Ford fixed the software in two separate recalls, but after cars continued to stall, the government opened an inquiry last year. Earlier this fall, Ford offered to replace the canister purge valve on all of the vehicles, satisfying regulators' concerns. AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlife PUERTO JIMÉNEZ, Costa Rica (AP) — A biologist hid 350 audio monitors across Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests to spy on endangered spider monkeys in order to help protect them. But she had to go back to collect the data and feed those sounds into artificial intelligence systems that can recognize monkey calls. Now tech giant Microsoft's philanthropic arm is hoping to supercharge AI-assisted wildlife research with new solar-powered devices that can capture sounds, images and other wilderness data for a year or more without human intervention. Researchers say more AI wildlife surveillance is urgently needed to monitor the health of species at risk of extinction.

Seventh MC gen house to have more of young leadersInside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useU.S. President-elect Donald Trump on November 27 tapped Keith Kellogg, a retired army lieutenant general who has long served as a top adviser to Trump on defense issues, as his nominee to be special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. "Keith has led a distinguished Military and Business career, including serving in highly sensitive National Security roles in my first Administration," Trump said on social media. Kellogg "was with me right from the beginning," Trump said on Truth Social. "Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!" Kellogg's nomination comes after Trump during his presidential campaign criticized the billions of dollars that the United States has poured into Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump also said he could end the war within 24 hours of retaking the White House, a statement that has been interpreted as meaning that Ukraine would have to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. Kellogg has already put forth a plan for ending the war that involves freezing the battle lines where they are and forcing Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table, Reuters reported in June. According to Reuters, Kellogg has advocated telling the Ukrainians that if they don't come to the negotiating table, U.S. support would dry up, while telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that if he doesn't come to the table, the United States would give the Ukrainians "everything they need to kill you in the field." NATO membership for Ukraine would be off the table as part of the incentive for Russia to come along, while putting it back on would be punishment for holding back. Kellogg, 80, earlier this year wrote that "bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties." He made the statements in a research paper written for the America First Policy Institute, a think tank formed after Trump left office in 2021. "The United States would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia will make no further advances and will not attack again after a cease-fire or peace agreement," the document said. "Future American military aid, however, will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia." Kellogg served in several positions during Trump's first term, including as chief of staff on Trump's national security council and national-security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been warmly received in Kazakhstan, where he and Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev discussed boosting energy and industry ties. Putin arrived in Astana on a state visit on November 27 and was greeted by Toqaev with a handshake, according to images released on social media. Toqaev said he had "carefully read" Putin’s commentary published in state newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda ahead of the visit and said he had published his own commentary on the state of the relationship between Moscow and Astana in the Russian media. "I think that we have very thoroughly, as if in unison, outlined our approaches to the development of cooperation aimed at the future," Toqaev said. He emphasized in his article that Kazakhstan "remains a reliable strategic partner and ally of Russia in this very difficult time," Toqaev's press service quoted Toqaev as saying. Putin thanked Toqaev "for his careful attitude toward the Russian language," a reference to the lower house of parliament's ratification of an agreement to create the International Organization for the Russian Language a few days before Putin's arrival. Kazakhstan has tried to distance itself from Moscow's war in Ukraine but remains highly dependent on Russia for exporting oil to Western markets and for imports of food, electricity, and other products. Underscoring that more than 80 percent of Kazakhstan's oil is exported to foreign markets via Russia, Putin said he and Toqaev always focus on "a specific result" in their talks. "Our countries are...constructively cooperating in the oil and gas sector," Putin wrote in his article, which was also featured in the Kremlin's website. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists on November 26 that Putin and Toqaev would sign a protocol on extending an agreement on oil supplies to Kazakhstan. He did not give details. The two leaders said after their meeting that they had discussed plans to increase the transit through Kazakhstan of Russian natural gas to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, part of Moscow's pivot away from European energy markets. They also said they talked about joint projects in hydroelectric power, car tires, and fertilizers and other areas. Putin said in his article that Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom was "ready for new large-scale projects." The company already is involved in some projects in Kazakhstan, which in October voted in favor of constructing its first nuclear power plant. Neither leader mentioned the nuclear project after their talks. Toqaev said he had raised the issue of agricultural trade following a Russian ban on imports of grain, fruit, and other farm products from Kazakhstan in October. Moscow imposed the ban after Kazakhstan barred Russian wheat imports in August to protect its producers. "Our countries should not compete on the Eurasian Economic Union market or foreign markets," Toqaev said, referring to agricultural exports within and outside a Moscow-led post-Soviet trade bloc. Nordic-Baltic countries and Poland have pledged to step up support for Ukraine, including making more ammunition available to strengthen deterrence and defense against hybrid attacks . The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, and Sweden, who met near Stockholm on November 27, also said they were ready to step up sanctions against Russia and backers of its Ukraine invasion and discussed an investigation into the severing of undersea communication cables earlier this month in the Baltic Sea. "Together with our allies, we are committed to strengthening our deterrence, and defense, including resilience, against conventional as well as hybrid attacks, and to expanding sanctions against Russia as well as against those who enable Russia's aggression," the leaders said a statement. The leaders met for talks covering transatlantic relations, regional security cooperation, and a common policy on the war in Ukraine. The meeting was the first of the Nordic-Baltic heads of government since 2017. Poland attended for the first time. Ahead of the meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk proposed joint monitoring of the Baltic Sea by the navies of the Baltic states following damage to two undersea communication cables that is being investigated as a hybrid attack. "Baltic air policing already exists for the airspace over the Baltic Sea," Tusk said. "I will convince our partners of the necessity to immediately create an analogous formula for the control and security of the Baltic Sea waters, a naval surveillance," he added. The underwater cables -- one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania -- were damaged on November 17-18, prompting suspicions of sabotage. Sweden, Germany, and Lithuania have all launched investigations, but the cause of the damage is still unknown. Finnish police have said they believe the incident was caused by a Chinese ship dragging its anchor, and Swedish investigators have focused on the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3, which is thought to have passed both locations at the times of the cable breaks. The ship now sits idle in international waters but inside Denmark's exclusive economic zone. Sweden has asked the vessel to return to Swedish waters to help facilitate the investigation, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on November 26, but he stressed he was not making any accusations. Kristersson told a press conference he was hopeful China would respond positively to the request to move the ship to Swedish waters. "From the Swedish side we have had contact with the ship and contact with China and said that we want the ship to move towards Swedish waters," Kristersson said. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said communications with Sweden and other relevant parties had been "unobstructed." Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing on November 27 that China has shown "consistent support" in working with other countries to maintain the security of international undersea cables and other infrastructure. Yi Peng 3 left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15. Russia last week said suggestions it had anything to do with the breaches were "absurd." The Wall Street Journal reported on November 27 that the ship has been surrounded by European warships in international waters for a week. Investigators suspect the crew of the Yi Peng 3, which is loaded with Russian fertilizer, deliberately severed the cables by dragging its anchor for more than 160 kilometers, the newspaper reported. The probe centers on whether the captain of the ship was induced by Russian intelligence to carry out the sabotage, the report said. Georgia's billionaire political power broker Bidzina Ivanishvili has introduced a Euroskeptic former soccer player as his ruling party's nominee for a disputed presidential vote next month, despite mounting constitutional disagreements and a post-parliamentary election boycott in the Caucasus nation. The nomination of Mikheil Kavelashvili came hours into a new legislative session dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party -- which Ivanishvili founded -- that the current president, Salome Zurabishvili, contends is unconstitutional because of alleged flaws in last month's parliamentary vote. The fractured opposition disputes the results and sought to nullify the seating of legislators in order to spark a constitutional impasse. The Georgian Dream claimed victory with 88 seats in the 150-seat parliament after voting on October 26, suggesting it will try to steamroll opposition to put the fiery 53-year-old former international footballer and right-wing populist lawmaker Kavelashvili in the presidency. Kavelashvili is one of the founders of a 2-year-old, anti-Western offshoot of the Georgian Dream party called People's Power. His party introduced a draft law on "foreign agents" in 2023 that sparked massive protests before it was withdrawn and replaced earlier this year with a slightly reworded bill to curb "foreign influence" at nongovernment groups. Amid this year's protests against the polarizing so-called Russian law, Kavelashvili invoked Georgia's "civil war started in the '90s" to accuse its opponents -- including current Georgian international soccer great Khvicha Kvaratskhelia -- of stoking violence. The law was eventually enacted when lawmakers overrode Zurabishvili's veto. The looming presidential vote is the country's first under a 2017 change from a direct to an indirect vote by an electoral college for the head of state, a largely ceremonial post that Zurabishvili has used to oppose what Georgian critics decry as a "Russian law." Zurabishvili has called the legislature that emerged from the October elections "unconstitutional" and appealed to the Constitutional Court for their annulment over alleged Russian influence and fraud. The European Union has stalled Tbilisi's bid to join the bloc, while the United States has vowed to "revise" its relations with Georgia over the law and other recent moves by the Georgian Dream-led government. Zurabishvili has accused the ruling party of "capturing" Georgia and diverting it from its pro-EU path, a goal that is enshrined in the constitution and supported by an overwhelming majority of around 80 percent of Georgians, and toward Russia instead. Georgian Dream lawmakers voted on November 26 to hold the presidential election on December 14, a move some experts say is illegal until the courts rule on Zurabishvili's and other postelection challenges. Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia and is the influential honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, called Kavelashvili "the best embodiment of a Georgian man" when he introduced him as the party's presidential choice the same day. In a pointed shot at Zurabishvili, who has fallen out dramatically with Georgian Dream since that party nominated her to the presidency in 2018, Ivanishvili said Kavelashvili would "fully restore the dignity temporarily taken from the institution of the presidency." In accepting the disputed nomination, Kavelashvili accused Zurabishvili of having "insulted and neglected" the Georgian Constitution and that she "continues to violate it today." Detractors have pointed out Kavelashvili's apparent lack of a university degree, or at least the absence of any information about it in his official parliamentary profile. In 2015, Kavelashvili filed a lawsuit seeking to cancel a provision of the national soccer federation's guidelines requiring presidents of that body to have a university degree. A new criminal trial against imprisoned former Moscow municipal deputy Aleksei Gorinov, known for his outspoken criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine, began at a Russian military court on November 27. Before the hearing started, Gorinov displayed a hand-drawn message on piece of paper that said: "Stop killing. Let's stop the war." When court bailiffs attempted to confiscate the makeshift poster, Gorinov refused to hand it over, saying that he was not breaking any regulations and insisting the bailiffs must document the seizure formally. Asked about his health before the session, Gorinov revealed ongoing struggles with illness. "There's no treatment available," he said, adding that he relied on psychotherapy. "I don’t understand why they’re targeting an ordinary person like me." His lawyer, Alyona Savelyeva, said that Gorinov was suffering from bronchitis, which makes his transportation to court and time spent in cold rooms particularly difficult. Gorinov, 63, was sentenced in July 2022 to seven years in prison for spreading "fake news" about the Russian military because of his public opposition to Russia's full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine. In October 2023, the authorities opened a new case against him, accusing him of "justifying terrorism" based on alleged conversations with fellow inmates about Ukraine's Azov Regiment. During the hearing, Gorinov firmly denied any ties to terrorism. "I am far from any ideology of terrorism," he said. "I am a committed internationalist and an opponent of war and violence, as I have consistently stated publicly throughout my life." Gorinov's initial conviction stemmed from an anti-war speech he delivered at a city council meeting in Moscow's Krasnoselsky district. He was the first person sentenced under Russia's new law criminalizing "fake news" about the military, introduced after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier this year, Gorinov was transferred from a detention center in Moscow to a prison in the Vladimir region. He complained of harsh conditions, including solitary confinement in a cold cell without a mattress, blanket, or access to hot water. Dmitry Muratov, editor in chief of the Novaya gazeta newspaper and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross for an urgent inspection of the conditions Gorinov was being held in. Following this, local officials and prosecutors inspected the facility, resulting in Gorinov's relocation to a slightly improved cell with a window that opens and closes, a functioning toilet, and reportedly no mice. Gorinov has been repeatedly subjected to punitive measures, including spending extended periods in solitary confinement. In spring 2023, he spent 48 consecutive days in a punishment cell, a treatment often reported by other political prisoners in Russia. The Russian state-run Channel One television company in Germany said the government has ordered two of its journalists to leave the country, prompting Moscow to revoke the accreditations of two correspondents from German media group ARD. The affected Channel One journalists, correspondent Ivan Blagoi and cameraman Dmitry Volkov, said they were informed that they must depart Germany by mid-December. The media outlet confirmed the expulsions on social media on November 27. Blagoi said the decision was justified by the German authorities as being "in the interest of the security of the Federal Republic of Germany." Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news conference on November 27 that Moscow had revoked the accreditations of two ARD correspondents, saying, "we have to take tit-for-tat measures." She gave no further details. The expulsions mark the latest in a series of escalating tensions between Russia and Western countries over the role of Russian state media. Since Moscow launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian broadcasters have faced bans, restrictions on access to social media platforms, and accusations of disseminating propaganda. Channel One, a Russian-language broadcaster popular among older audiences in Russia and some other former Soviet republics, has come under scrutiny for its coverage. ARD is an association of German public broadcasters. German authorities reportedly accused the outlet of spreading propaganda and disinformation among the Russian-speaking diaspora in Germany, which numbers in the hundreds of thousands. The accusations include claims the channel justifies the Russian invasion of Ukraine and portrays Ukraine's defenders as "Nazis." The expulsions follows a report aired by Blagoi on November 24 regarding Nikolaj Gajduk, a German citizen detained by Russia's Federal Security Service in October. The report alleged that Western intelligence agencies, including the CIA, were involved in Gajduk's alleged actions ordered by Ukrainian special services. The timing of the decision to expel the journalists, shortly after this broadcast, raises questions about the broader geopolitical dimensions of the incident. Russia has consistently retaliated against measures targeting its state media. Following Germany's 2022 ban on RT, a Kremlin-backed broadcaster, Moscow shut down the Deutsche Welle bureau in Russia and revoked accreditations for German journalists. Similar restrictions have been imposed on other foreign correspondents, reflecting a tit-for-tat approach. The German government has not publicly detailed the reasons behind its decision, but the move underscores the increasing focus on disinformation as a national security threat. Channel One claimed its journalists had complied with German laws and accused the authorities of using vague accusations to stifle alternative narratives. Germany has a large number of residents who have emigrated from the former Soviet Union, who are mostly ethnic Germans from Kazakhstan and Russia. A Russian drone strike on Kyiv early on November 27 wounded two people and damaged a nonresidential building, the mayor of Ukraine's capital, Vitali Klitschko, said on his Telegram channel. Ukraine's air force, meanwhile, said that Russia launched 89 drones at eight regions -- Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskiy, and Mykolayiv. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 36 of the attacking drones, while 48 were lost due to the jamming of their navigation systems by electronic means, the air force said on Telegram. Five other drones left the territory of Ukraine in the direction of Belarus and back to Russia, it said. Russia's Defense Ministry said separately that its air defenses shot down 10 Ukrainian drones over the Rostov region and two off the Black Sea port of Sevastopol. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here . Police arrested nearly 1,000 supporters of Imran Khan as security forces cracked down on a massive protest in Islamabad demanding the release of the jailed former Pakistani prime minister, police said on November 27. Islamabad police chief Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi told a news conference that 19 Afghan citizens were among the 954 protesters arrested by Pakistani security forces over the past three days. The protesters, who had marched for days toward Islamabad from Khan's stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in the northwest, were dispersed and the capital cleared during a sweeping midnight raid by Pakistani security forces. Rizvi said police used only nonlethal means during the overnight raid. Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party issued a statement on X on November 27 saying the protest, during which at least six people -- four members of the security forces and two protesters -- had been killed, was being suspended "for the time being" and accused the government of brutality. PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed the suspension of the protest. Party officials said Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, a key Khan ally, had returned "safely" to the province from Islamabad following the security forces' crackdown. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told journalists in Islamabad at the late-night briefing that the protesters, some of whom were armed with sticks and slingshots, had been successfully dispersed after the Pakistani military deployed to the capital earlier on November 26. He announced that schools would reopen on November 27 and all roads would be cleared. The minister also said that details regarding the involvement of Afghan nationals in the protest would be shared with the media on November 27, adding that "an important decision has been taken about Afghan nationals," which would be announced in the next few days. PTI claimed on X that the police in Islamabad fired directly at protesters. The capital had been locked down since late on November 23 and mobile Internet services were sporadically cut. The Islamabad city administration last week announced a two-month ban on public gatherings, but convoys of Khan supporters traveled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on November 25 determined to enter the city. PTI's chief demand is the release of Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The 72-year-old former cricket superstar-turned-politician has been in jail for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, although he enjoys huge popularity among Pakistanis. PTI has said the cases are politically motivated. PTI has defied a government crackdown since Khan was barred from running in elections in February with regular demonstrations aiming to seize public spaces in Islamabad and other large cities. Before the raids, security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Khan supporters after thousands defied roadblocks to march some 150 kilometers from the northwest toward Islamabad despite a lockdown and a ban on public gatherings. The party is also protesting alleged tampering in the February polls and a recent government-backed constitutional amendment giving it more power over the courts, where Khan is tangled in dozens of cases. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government has come under increasing criticism for deploying heavy-handed measures to quash PTI's protests, which have largely cut off Islamabad from the rest of the country, with travel to other parts of Pakistan almost at a standstill. A cease-fire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has come into effect in southern Lebanon after almost 14 months of fighting that triggered concerns of a wider conflict in the region. After the cease-fire kicked off at 4 a.m. local time, the Israeli military warned civilians not to return to their homes in south Lebanon yet and not to approach Israeli positions. However, convoys of civilians crossed into southern Lebanon, defying the both the Israeli warning and appeal by the Lebanese Army, which is set to deploy to the area to replace the Israeli forces. Hezbollah is designated a terrorist organization by the United States and its military wing is blacklisted by the European Union. The cease-fire was overwhelmingly approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, Netanyahu’s office said on November 26, marking a major development toward peace between Israel and Hezbollah militants. The move was immediately welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said it represents a fresh start for Lebanon and shows that peace is possible after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting that forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee and killed thousands of Lebanese. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the cease-fire agreement as he recommended his security cabinet adopt the plan, vowing to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the deal. In the hours leading up to the meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings, while Hezbollah said it launched drones toward Israel amid cross-border fire. In a televised address, Netanyahu did not say how long the truce would last but noted that the length of the cease-fire "depends on what happens in Lebanon." He added: "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and attempts to rearm, we will strike. If they try to renew terror activities near the border, we will strike. If they launch a rocket, dig a tunnel, or bring in a truck with missiles, we will strike." The cease-fire marks the first major step toward ending the violence triggered by the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. However, the truce will not apply directly to Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Shortly after the cease-fire took effect, Hamas said it was also "ready" for a truce. Earlier, Netanyahu said on November 26 that Israel would now focus its efforts on Hamas and releasing the hostages seized by the militants on October 7. "From Day 2 of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own," he said. "We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages." Biden said that Israel reserved the right to resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce. "This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," Biden said at the White House shortly after Netanyahu announced the security cabinet approval of the truce. If any party breaks the terms of the deal, "Israel retains the right to self-defense." He said that over the next 60 days civilians on both sides will be able to safely return to their own communities. The deal requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon's army to deploy some 5,000 troops in the region, while Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the cease-fire and said it was a "fundamental step towards establishing calm and stability in Lebanon." The war has killed at least 3,799 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, the hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say. The war in Lebanon escalated after nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah. Separately, Syria's Defense Ministry said six people were killed in Israeli strikes on border crossings with Lebanon just after midnight on November 27, hours before the cease-fire took effect. Protests against the rise of pro-Russian politician Calin Georgescu spread beyond Bucharest to other Romanian cities on November 26 after his surprise victory in the first round of a presidential election over the weekend. Protests opposing Georgescu took place on the evening of November 26 in Bucharest, Timisoara, Iasi, Brasov, and Sibiu. Georgescu faces a runoff against pro-Western center-right candidate Elena Lasconi on December 8 after winning 22.94 percent of the vote in the first round of balloting on November 24 in the EU and NATO member state. About 1,000 people turned out in Bucharest for the second night of protests against Georgescu in the Romanian capital's University Square. Most of those who took to the streets were young people who expressed their concern about Georgescu's radical attitudes and the future of their country. "I came here because at the moment our democracy is in a precarious situation and I strongly believe that we, the young generation, can prevent a future disaster, which could take place in the second round," said a student from Bucharest who declined to be identified by name. Another protester said she was demoralized that people chose not to inform themselves about Georgescu before the election. "I cannot accept that I or my future children...would be led by a fascist," said the protester, who also declined to provide her name. She said that Romanians must go down the path of democracy and there is still a chance for that in parliamentary elections scheduled to take place on December 1 and in the December 8 runoff in the presidential race. "We can go back 35 years and see what our parents and grandparents went through...the mass misinformation they went through when [communist Romanian dictator Nicola] Ceausescu was elected,” she said. “Let's inform ourselves before choosing. We have to go massively to the vote. We young people have a voice and we have to use it.” In Timisoara, young people chanted "Today in Timisoara, tomorrow throughout the country," a reference to the December 1989 revolution, which began in Timisoara. The protesters also displayed posters saying, "Down with the legionaries," a reference to statements made by Georgescu in television appearances in which he affirmed his sympathy for the legionary or religious fascist Iron Guard movement in Romania and its leaders. Similar protests were held on November 26 in Iasi and Brasov, where several dozen young people gathered. The protesters in Iasi said they did not want to be led by a dictator or a sympathizer of anti-Semitic and fascist leaders from Romania in the 1930s and 1940s. Georgescu, 62, has denied that he is an extremist or a fascist and referred to himself as "a Romanian who loves his country." He had been polling in single digits before a viral TikTok campaign calling for an end to aid for Ukraine. The independent candidate insisted "there is no East or West" and stressed that neutrality was "absolutely necessary." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet has overwhelmingly approved a cease-fire deal with Hezbollah, Netanyahu’s office said on November 26, marking a major development toward peace between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants. The move was immediately welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said it represents a fresh start for Lebanon and shows that peace is possible after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting that forced tens of thousand of Israelis to flee and killed thousands of Lebanese. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the cease-fire agreement as he recommended his security cabinet adopt the plan, vowing to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. In the hours leading up to the meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. In a televised address, Netanyahu did not say how long the truce would last but noted that the length of the cease-fire “depends on what happens in Lebanon." He added: "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and attempts to rearm, we will strike. If they try to renew terror activities near the border, we will strike. If they launch a rocket, dig a tunnel, or bring in a truck with missiles, we will strike." A cease-fire would mark the first major step toward ending the violence triggered by the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. Biden said that, under the deal reached between Israel and Hezbollah, the cease-fire will take effect at 4 a.m. local time on November 27. He stressed that Israel reserved the right to resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce. “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” Biden said at the White House shortly after Netanyahu announced the security cabinet approval of the truce. If any party breaks the terms of the deal, “Israel retains the right to self-defense.” He said that over the next 60 days civilians on both sides will be able to safely return to their own communities. The deal requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon's army to deploy in the region, while Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the cease-fire and said it was a "fundamental step towards establishing calm and stability in Lebanon." The cease-fire does not address the war in Gaza, but Biden said it deserves a cease-fire deal as well. Netanyahu said Israel would now focus its efforts on Hamas militants and his top security concern, Iran. "From day two of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own," he said. "We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier that a cease-fire would save lives and livelihoods in Lebanon and in Israel. “It will make a big difference in creating the conditions that will allow people to return to their homes safely in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon,” Blinken said at a briefing at the conclusion of a Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting in Fiuggi, Italy. He said he also believed that de-escalating tension could help end the conflict in Gaza by letting Hamas know that it can’t count on other fronts opening up in the war. “In terms of Gaza itself, I also think this can have a significant impact.... Because one of the things that Hamas has sought from day one is to get others in on the fight, to create multiple fronts, to make sure that Israel was having to fight in a whole series of different places,” Blinken said. The war has killed at least 3,799 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, the hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say. The war in Lebanon escalated after nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah. The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas after its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries expressed their support for Ukraine on November 26 in the final statement following their summit in Italy. They also condemned what they described as Russia's "irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric." The G7 ministers’ statement also warned that North Korean support for Russia marked a dangerous expansion of the war, condemning the development and saying Russia’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles and munitions was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. “We stand firm against Russia’s war of aggression. We vehemently condemn the brutal attacks against Ukraine’s cities and critical civilian infrastructure and its unacceptable toll on the civilian population,” the minister said in a joint statement at the conclusion of their two-day meeting. The foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States noted Russia’s use of an intermediate range ballistic missile on November 21, saying it is “further evidence of its reckless and escalatory behavior.” They also said their support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence “will remain unwavering.” The ministers, who were joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and the EU’s foreign policy chief at their meeting in Fiuggi, a spa town southeast of Rome, added that they hoped to start distributing a $50 billion loan package stemming from frozen Russian assets by the end of the year. They also pledged to act against groups helping Russia to evade sanctions and called on China, a long-standing ally of North Korea, to act against the deployment of North Korean troops to the battlefield. The ministers also tried to raise the pressure on Israel to accept a cease-fire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying "now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement." They called on the Israeli government to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. "We express our strongest condemnation for the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace," the statement added. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has written an autobiography in which she reaffirms her decision to push back against offering Ukraine future membership in NATO at a summit in 2008 despite criticism that such a move may have prevented Russia from invading Ukraine. In the book, Merkel reflects on how that decision and others during her 16 years in office have fared over time and recalls her relationships with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021 was launched in Berlin on November 26 nearly three years to the day after she left office and ahead of a promotional tour of major European cities and the United States. The 70-year-old Merkel, known for her calm and unflappable leadership style, in the book rejects blame for any of the current strain in the West's relations with Russia in a rare commentary on her time in office. Concerning the 2008 Bucharest NATO summit, Merkel noted a pledge that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually join the western military alliance was a "battle cry" to the Russian leader, adding that he later told her: "You won't be Chancellor forever. And then they'll become a member of NATO. And I want to prevent that." Six years later Putin launched the Russian occupation and annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and followed that with the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which the Russian president has justified in part by citing Kyiv's NATO membership desires. Russia Is 'An Indispensable Geopolitical Factor' Putin was always on guard not to be treated badly and engaged in power games, according to the book. Merkel wrote about his inclination to make others wait and recalls how, despite her fear of dogs, he allowed his black Labrador to be in the room during a meeting in 2007 in Sochi. “You could find all this childish, reprehensible, you could shake your head at it,” she writes. “But that didn’t make Russia disappear from the map. Russia with its nuclear arsenal exists and remains “an indispensable geopolitical factor.” Merkel also details her experience with Trump during his first term as president, saying he “judged everything from the perspective of the real estate developer he had been before entering politics.” She writes that they “talked on two different levels,” in their March 2017 meeting at the White House. “Trump on an emotional level, me on a factual one.” Trump 'Captivated' By 'Dictatorial Tendencies' She added that Trump, who won a second non-consecutive term on November 5, did not share her conviction that cooperation could benefit all but instead believed that all countries were in competition with each other. “He did not believe that prosperity of all could be increased through cooperation,” she writes of the U.S. president, who "was captivated by politicians with autocratic and dictatorial tendencies." Merkel also writes about the difficulties of being the first female candidate for chancellor and her decision to welcome large numbers of migrants and displaced people in 2015 in the 700-plus page memoir, which is being simultaneously published as an audiobook and translated into more than two dozen languages, including French and English. She will make a special presentation in Washington on her book tour to to present it in the United States on December 2 alongside former U.S. President Barack Obama. The book is being published as Germans rethink her legacy, including her policy on migration, which many in Germany believe led to a surge in the far right. The former leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) uses the book to justify the decisions she made regarding Russia, which launched its invasion of Ukraine just five months after Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats (SPD) was elected to succeed Merkel, who had decided not to seek reelection. Under Scholz the German economy has stagnated. The war in Ukraine prompted Berlin to wean itself off cheap Russia gas. At the same time the country has had to deal with a reduction in exports to China. Scholz now faces a challenging campaign for reelection after the collapse of his coalition government. The flight recorders of a cargo plane belonging to global courier DHL that crashed near Vilnius on November 25 have been found as investigators continue to search for the cause of the deadly accident. The Boeing 737-476 aircraft crashed as it attempted to land at Vilnius International Airport, killing the jet's Spanish pilot and injuring another Spanish crew member, a German, and a Lithuanian. The crash came amid concerns among Western security officials that Russian intelligence is preparing acts of sabotage targeting Western cargo aircraft, though officials have said so far they have no evidence of a link. The plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, the so-called black boxes, "were found and removed from the wreckage," Lithuania's Justice Ministry said in a statement , adding that investigators are analyzing the data on the two devices. "The goal of a safety investigation is to prevent future accidents," the statement said, adding the probe "does not seek to determine who is at fault or responsible." Lithuanian Chief Prosecutor Arturas Urbelis separately said at least 19 witnesses were interviewed in connection with the incident but so far no indication has been found of "more serious actions." The plane that departed Leipzig, Germany, about 90 minutes before the crash hit several buildings as it skidded hundreds of meters, according to the police and DHL. One of the buildings hit by the plane was a house whose occupants survived, authorities said. Firefighters were not able to determine whether the plane began burning or breaking up while still in the air, and authorities have appealed to the public to hand over possible video recordings of the crash. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the crash could have been a "hybrid incident" with outside involvement. "We must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or whether it was another hybrid incident," Baerbock told reporters at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy. "We have recently seen multiple hybrid attacks in Europe, often targeting individuals and infrastructure, whether underwater or hard infrastructure," she said, alluding to the recent severing of telecom cables in the Baltic Sea that officials have said could have been sabotage. German authorities are working very closely with the Lithuanian authorities to get to the bottom of the crash, she added. Lithuanian authorities have so far stopped short of making the same link. "We cannot reject the possibility of terrorism...but at the moment we can't make attributions or point fingers because we don't have such information," Lithuanian counterintelligence chief Darius Jauniskis told reporters. Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe, which they have said are aimed at destabilizing allies of Ukraine as it relies on Western governments in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. Lithuanian Commissioner-General of Police Arunas Paulauskas said surviving crew members told investigators there was no smoke, fire, or other emergency situation in the cabin prior to the crash. He also said the probability of an external force impact was very low. The crash came after a series of fires at DHL depots in Britain and Germany during the summer. Western security officials were quoted in a news report earlier this month linking the fires to a test run of an alleged Russian operation aimed at igniting fires on cargo or passenger aircraft bound for North America. The Wall Street Journal quoted security officials as saying devices that ignited in July in DHL depots in Leipzig and the British city of Birmingham were part of the test run. Last month, Polish officials said four people had been detained as a result of the investigation into parcels that caught fire while en route to United States and Canada. The activities of the four people "consisted of sabotage and diversion related to sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to European Union countries and Great Britain, which spontaneously ignited or detonated during land and air transport," Polish prosecutors said in a statement on October 25. "The group's goal was also to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada," the statement said, adding that foreign intelligence services were to blame. The statement did not directly accuse Russia of involvement. Canada in early November expressed concern to Russian officials after he arrests were announced. Russia responded by summoning a Canadian diplomat on November 8 to rebut allegations that Russia's secret services had orchestrated the campaign to mail explosive packages. Russia has expelled Edward Prior Wilks, a second secretary in the Political Department of the British Embassy in Moscow, accusing him of espionage under diplomatic cover. The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the decision on November 26, claiming Wilks was part of an "undeclared intelligence presence" in Russia, deepening tensions between Moscow and London. According to the FSB, Wilks entered Russia with false information and engaged in "intelligence and subversive activities" that posed a threat to national security. The diplomat, reportedly linked to the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Directorate for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has had his accreditation revoked. Russian authorities have given him two weeks to leave the country. The expulsion follows the removal of six British intelligence officers in August amid strained relations between the two nations over issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to alleged interference in domestic affairs. The move comes on the same day Russia’s Foreign Ministry expanded its sanctions list, barring 30 prominent U.K. officials, military personnel, and journalists from entering the country. The list includes Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and high-profile figures in the defense and technology sectors. In a statement, Moscow accused Britain of pursuing an "aggressive, Russophobic policy," including support for Ukraine, disinformation about Russia, and direct involvement in the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin warned London to abandon its "futile course" and engage in constructive dialogue. The announcements mark a further escalation in the strained relations, reflecting the deepening crisis in relations between the Kremlin and the West over Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s actions highlight a deliberate strategy to challenge what it perceives as Western interference. By targeting both diplomatic channels and influential figures, Moscow is signaling that it will not tolerate perceived provocations. At the same time, these moves are part of a broader pattern of Russia asserting its geopolitical stance against the West amid ongoing tensions over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The diplomatic expulsion, coupled with expanded sanctions, reflects the Kremlin’s view of the United Kingdom as a central player in the Western coalition supporting Ukraine, escalating an already hostile dynamic. The so-called Supreme Court in Ukraine's Russian-occupied Donetsk region has sentenced Mamuka Mamulashvili, leader of the Georgian Legion, to 23 years in prison in absentia. The court, operating under Russia’s authority in the illegally annexed region, accused Mamulashvili of recruiting and training foreign mercenaries to fight against Russian forces in Ukraine. According to the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, the 46-year-old Mamulashvili, who says he has been the focus of several poisoning attempts, was found guilty under several articles of the Russian Criminal Code. While the ruling will likely have no practical impact on Mamulashvili or the Georgian Legion’s operations, it provides valuable propaganda for the Kremlin as it continues its campaign to suppress dissent and isolate Ukraine diplomatically. For Ukraine and its allies, the verdict underscores the ongoing challenges in countering Russia’s narrative both on and off the battlefield. The charges allege that from 2014 to 2024 Mamulashvili recruited ex-military personnel from Georgia and other nations not directly involved in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Prosecutors claimed Mamulashvili provided training, weapons, and logistical support to these recruits, enabling their participation in military operations. The court further stated Mamulashvili received compensation equivalent to over 23 million rubles ($221.500) for his activities. Russian authorities also highlighted an April 2022 interview Mamulashvili gave to the Khodorkovsky-LIVE YouTube channel where he voiced staunchly anti-Russian sentiments and criticized Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In addition to Mamulashvili, three other Georgian fighters -- Giorgi Rusitashvili, Nodar Petriashvili, and Vano Nadiradze -- were sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison each. They were convicted of participating as mercenaries in an armed conflict. The Russian prosecutor’s office stated that all four individuals would serve their sentences in a strict-regime penal colony if captured. The Georgian Legion, founded in 2014, is a volunteer military unit supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Composed primarily of Georgian ex-soldiers, the group has been actively involved in key battles across eastern Ukraine. Russia has labeled the Georgian Legion a terrorist organization, aligning with its broader narrative of framing foreign support for Ukraine as illegitimate and criminal. The in absentia sentencing of Mamulashvili and other Georgian fighters appears to serve several purposes beyond legal action. It reinforces Moscow’s portrayal of foreign volunteers aiding Ukraine as mercenaries and terrorists, undermining their legitimacy. By focusing on Mamulashvili’s recruitment efforts and financial rewards, Russian authorities aim to discredit the broader network of international support for Ukraine’s resistance. The verdict also underscores Russia’s effort to project authority over Donetsk, a region it annexed in violation of international law. Issuing high-profile verdicts from a “Supreme Court” in the occupied territory serves to normalize its judicial and political structures in the eyes of its domestic audience, despite their lack of international recognition. Russia's Investigative Committee announced on November 26 that it had opened a criminal case against James Scott Rhys Anderson, a British citizen accused of committing terrorism and mercenary activities. Anderson, who is alleged to have fought for Ukraine's International Legion, was detained in Russia's Kursk region after crossing the border in mid-November. His case underscores the growing complexities of international involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war and the heightened risks faced by foreign volunteers. According to the Investigative Committee , Anderson, alongside other members of Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries, illegally entered Kursk with weapons, military equipment, and drones armed with explosive devices. Russian authorities claim the group carried out actions intended to intimidate the local population, cause "significant" property damage, and destabilize government operations. A statement from the Investigative Committee said Anderson and his associates were armed with automatic firearms, missile systems, and drones, underscoring the technological capabilities of Ukraine's forces and their international allies. The authorities allege these actions constitute terrorism under Russian law. A video circulated on pro-Russian Telegram channels and by the state news agency TASS over the weekend showed a man identifying himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson, a 22-year-old former British Army signalman who joined Ukraine's International Legion after leaving military service in 2023. Speaking with a clear British accent, Anderson confirmed his identity and discussed his role in the ongoing war. However, the footage has not been independently verified, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding its recording. Anderson's situation highlights the dangers faced by foreign volunteers in Ukraine's resistance, as well as the propaganda value such incidents hold for Russia. The Kremlin has consistently sought to portray foreign fighters as illegitimate actors, using their presence to bolster its narrative that Ukraine's defense is dependent on mercenaries and extremists. Since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's 2022 call for international recruits, thousands of foreign volunteers have joined Ukraine’s International Legion. The elite unit, integrated into Ukraine’s military, has attracted fighters from across the globe, including Western nations. For many, the war represents a fight against Russian aggression and a defense of democratic values, but their participation also exposes them to legal and physical risks. Anderson's case is not the first instance of a foreign fighter being captured or accused by Russia. Moscow has consistently sought to criminalize foreign involvement, labeling such fighters as mercenaries -- a status not protected under international law -- and often accusing them of terrorism. This tactic not only targets individual fighters but also aims to deter further international participation in Ukraine's defense. The announcement of Anderson's detainment comes amid shifting dynamics in the border regions, including Kursk. Ukraine's recent cross-border operations signal an escalation in tactics, challenging Russian defenses within its own territory. These incursions, while symbolic of Ukraine's bold resistance, also amplify Moscow's narrative of external aggression threatening its sovereignty. At the same time, reports of Russia employing North Korean soldiers and pushing to reclaim territory lost during Ukraine's August counteroffensive suggest a deepening of the conflict. Russia's efforts to portray foreign fighters like Anderson as central to these operations serve as both a legal and propaganda tool, distracting from its own controversial use of international personnel and tactics. A court in the Siberian city of Chita has sentenced journalist Nika Novak, a former RFE/RL contributor, to four years in prison. Sources close to the investigation told RFE/RL on November 26 that Novak was found guilty of "collaboration with a foreign organization on a confidential basis." Novak was arrested in Moscow last year and transferred to Siberia. Her case was marked as classified, and the details were not publicized. Novak had worked for ChitaMedia and was editor in chief of the Zab.ru website. She contributed to programs by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities in 2022. RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus condemned Novak's conviction, saying the charges against her were politically motivated and "intended to silence individual reporters and cause a chilling effect." He also called for her immediate release. The law criminalizing collaboration with foreign organizations on a confidential basis allows prosecution for sharing nonclassified information with foreign organizations. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities, click here . Russia overnight launched 188 drones and four cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine -- a record number of projectiles in a single attack, Kyiv's air force said, as NATO and Ukrainian envoys prepared to gather in Brussels to assess Moscow's launching last week of an experimental missile at a Ukrainian city. Ukrainian air-defense systems "tracked 192 air targets -- four Iskander ballistic missiles and 188 enemy drones," the air force said in a message on Telegram. It added that 76 Russian drones were shot down over 17 Ukrainian regions, while another 95 drones "were lost in location" after their navigation systems had been jammed by Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. Five more drones changed course and flew toward Belarus, it said. No casualties were immediately reported in any of the 17 regions targeted, but critical infrastructure facilities such as the country's power grid and high-rise apartment buildings were damaged in several regions, officials said. During the attack, the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil was temporarily left without electricity. For the past several months, Russia has been battering Ukrainian cities with increasingly heavy drone, missile, and glide bomb strikes, causing casualties and damaging energy infrastructure as the cold season settles in. In Brussels, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) is to discuss on November 26 Russia's launching of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile at Ukraine last week. The NUC was established at a NATO summit in Vilnius last year to step up the alliance's collaboration with Kyiv and support Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership. The NUC meeting of envoys from Ukraine and the 32 member states of the alliance was called by Kyiv after Russia on November 21 struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with what President Vladimir Putin said was a new missile called Oreshnik. Putin said the move was part of Moscow's response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Putin said the Oreshnik is new and not an upgrade of previous Soviet-designed weaponry. The United States said the new missile is "experimental" and based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Ukraine initially accused Russia of having used an ICBM in the Dnipro attack. An ICBM has never been used in a war. Pakistani police and security forces launched a massive crackdown on thousands of supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on November 26 after they refused to call off a protest march demanding his release. The protesters were dispersed and the capital cleared after security forces conducted a sweeping late-night raid, said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at a briefing. A security official told RFE/RL that around 500 people had been arrested. It was unclear whether the leaders of the march were among those arrested or whether they managed to escape to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party holds power. The Pakistani military deployed troops earlier on November 26 following the deaths of at least three army rangers. Dozens of security forces were wounded in clashes between them and the protesters, some seriously. Naqvi told journalists in Islamabad at the late night briefing that the protesters had been successfully dispersed. He announced that schools would reopen on November 27 and all roads would be cleared. The minister also said that details regarding the involvement of Afghan nationals in the protest would be shared with the media on November 27, adding that "an important decision has been taken about Afghan nationals," which would be announced in the next few days. The Interior Ministry issued a statement during the day strongly condemning the killing of security forces by supporters of PTI. The ministry said on X that a policeman and four rangers were killed in the violence, but according to an RFE/RL correspondent at the scene, the number of rangers killed was three and their deaths were the result of an accident. Before the raids security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Khan supporters after thousands defied roadblocks to march some 150 kilometers from the northwest toward Islamabad despite a lockdown and a ban on public gatherings. PTI claimed on X that the police in Islamabad fired directly at protestors and published a video in which a top Karachi official said that in the history of Pakistan there has not been an injustice equal to what he says is going on in Islamabad. The city has been locked down since late on November 23 and mobile Internet services have been sporadically cut. The Islamabad city administration last week announced a two-month ban on public gatherings, but convoys of Khan supporters traveled from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on November 25 determined to enter the city. The leadership of PTI went ahead with their plans to travel to the capital even as Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka arrived for a three-day visit. He was received at an airport near the capital by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late on November 25. PTI's chief demand is the release of Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The 72-year-old former cricket superstar turned politician, has been in jail for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, although he enjoys huge popularity among Pakistanis. PTI has said the cases are politically motivated. PTI has defied a government crackdown since Khan was barred from running in elections in February with regular demonstrations aiming to seize public spaces in Islamabad and other large cities. The party is also protesting alleged tampering in the February polls and a recent government-backed constitutional amendment giving it more power over the courts, where Khan is tangled in dozens of cases. Sharif's government has come under increasing criticism for deploying heavy-handed measures to quash PTI's protests, which have largely cut off Islamabad from the rest of the country, with travel to other parts of Pakistan almost at a standstill. The key Grand Trunk Road highway in Punjab Province has been blocked by authorities with shipping containers, prompting protesters to use heavy machinery to remove the containers. The ongoing clashes also have affected Afghan refugees living in Islamabad or nearby cities who say they cannot leave their homes and are afraid of getting arrested. One of them, Fazel Saber, who lives in a guesthouse in Islamabad, told RFE/RL by phone on November 26 that the security situation has disrupted his life. “We have been banned from going out for three or four days, not even to the park near the guesthouse. Children and women also cannot go out," Saber said. "This is a deprivation of freedom, even though we are not illegal immigrants.” Thousands of protesters calling for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan defied roadblocks and tear gas on November 25 to march toward Islamabad despite a lockdown and a ban on public gatherings. Protesters clashed early on November 26 with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at Khan supporters to stop them from entering the capital. The government said one police officer had been killed and dozens were critically wounded in clashes with demonstrators as they closed in on Islamabad. Islamabad has been locked down since late on November 23 and mobile Internet services have been sporadically cut. The Islamabad city administration last week announced a two-month ban on public gatherings, but convoys of Khan supporters traveled from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province determined to enter the city. Security officials say they expected between 9,000 and 11,000 demonstrators, while Khan's party, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), said the number would be much higher. Video on social media showed Khan supporters donning gas masks and protective goggles. The leadership of Khan's party went ahead with their plans to travel to the capital even as Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka arrived for a three-day visit. He was received at an airport near the capital by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late on November 25. Meanwhile, the government was in talks with Khan's party to avoid any further violence, officials said. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the government was willing to allow Khan supporters to rally on the outskirts of Islamabad, but he threatened extreme measures if they entered the city to protest. Khan, who has been in jail for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases, remains popular. PTI has said the cases are politically motivated. PTI has defied a government crackdown since Khan was barred from running in elections in February with regular demonstrations aiming to seize public spaces in Islamabad and other large cities. PTI's chief demand is the release of Khan, the charismatic, 72-year-old former cricket star who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The party is also protesting alleged tampering in the February polls and a recent government-backed constitutional amendment giving it more power over the courts, where Khan is tangled in dozens of cases. Sharif's government has come under increasing criticism for deploying heavy-handed measures to quash PTI's protests. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the deadly crash of a cargo plane in Lithuania on November 25 could have been a " hybrid incident " with outside involvement. "We must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or whether it was another hybrid incident," Baerbock told reporters at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy. "We have recently seen multiple hybrid attacks in Europe, often targeting individuals and infrastructure, whether underwater or hard infrastructure," she said, alluding to the recent severing of telecom cables in the Baltic Sea that officials have said could have been sabotage. German authorities are working very closely with the Lithuanian authorities to get to the bottom of the crash, she added. Lithuanian authorities have so far stopped short of making the same link. "We cannot reject the possibility of terrorism.... But at the moment we can't make attributions or point fingers because we don't have such information," Lithuanian counterintelligence chief Darius Jauniskis told reporters. Marius Baranauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, said the communications between the pilots and the control tower indicated nothing extraordinary, adding that investigators need to examine the black-box recordings to know what was happening in the aircraft. Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe, which they have said are aimed at destabilizing allies of Ukraine as it relies on Western governments in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. The cargo plane, which belonged to global courier DHL, crashed as it attempted to land at Vilnius airport, killing the jet's Spanish pilot and injuring another Spanish crew member, a German, and a Lithuanian, according to airport and police officials cited by Reuters. At least one of the injured was in critical condition. The plane, a Boeing 737-400 jet that had departed Leipzig, Germany, about 90 minutes before the crash, hit several buildings as it skidded hundreds meters, according to the police and DHL. A spokesperson for the governmental National Crisis Management Center said one of the buildings hit was a house whose occupants survived. Firefighters were not able to determine whether the plane began burning or breaking up while still in the air, and authorities were still looking for the black boxes that record flight data. A DHL statement said the plane "made a forced landing" about 1 kilometer from the Vilnius airport and the cause of the crash was still unknown. Lithuanian Commissioner-General of Police Arunas Paulauskas said surviving crew members told investigators there was no smoke, fire, or other emergency situation in the cabin prior to the crash. He also said the probability of an external force impact was very low. The crash came after a series of fires at DHL depots in Britain and Germany during the summer. Western security officials were quoted in a news report earlier this month linking the fires to a test run of an alleged Russian operation aimed at igniting fires on cargo or passenger aircraft bound for North America. The Wall Street Journal quoted security officials as saying that devices that ignited in July in DHL depots in Leipzig and the British city of Birmingham were part of the test run. Last month, Polish officials said four people had been detained as a result of the investigation into parcels that caught fire while en route to United States and Canada. The activities of the four people "consisted of sabotage and diversion related to sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to European Union countries and Great Britain, which spontaneously ignited or detonated during land and air transport," Polish prosecutors said in a statement on October 25. "The group's goal was also to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada," the statement said, adding that foreign intelligence services were to blame. The statement did not directly accuse Russia of involvement. Canada in early November expressed concern to Russian officials after he arrests were announced. Russia responded by summoning a Canadian diplomat on November 8 to rebut allegations that Russia's secret services had orchestrated the campaign to mail explosive packages . Serbian lawmakers scuffled in parliament on November 25 after opposition members accused the ruling coalition of failing to address the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at the railway station in Serbia's second-largest city earlier this month. A scuffle broke out after Radomir Lazovic, a member of the opposition Green-Left Front party, placed a poster showing a red hand imprint with the words "You have blood on your hands" on the speaker's platform. After Health Minister Zatibor Loncar approached Lazovic and started arguing, other deputies rushed in shouting, pulling, and hitting one another. Lazovic told N1 television that he was "attacked" by Loncar, and after a fight with him, there was a "general fight" in the assembly hall. Lazovic said several deputies were injured. The audio of the parliament's internal broadcast was turned off, so it was not possible to hear what the deputies were saying to each other. They were separated by security guards. While the government accused the opposition of trying to "seize power by force," opposition members said they were also attacked by government representatives in the hall of the parliament building and accused them of starting the fight. The collapse of the concrete canopy on November 1 at the station in Novi Sad has turned into a political headache for President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling party. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad announced on November 21 that 11 people had been arrested. The huge canopy collapsed on November 1, killing 15 people and seriously injuring another two. The accident occurred after the railway station, built in 1964, had been renovated twice in recent years by the consortium China Railway International and China Communications Construction Company. The most recent renovation was included in a project involving several companies that were in charge of the expert supervision of the reconstruction of the railway line from Novi Sad to the border with Hungary. The main contractor for the project was the company Project Biro Utiber of Novi Sad. The opposition has called on Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who was mayor of Novi Sad when construction started, to resign. The ruling coalition denies the allegations and accuses the opposition of triggering clashes with police in protests at the station. The parliament was due to debate the 2025 budget on November 25, but the opposition demanded a debate on the collapse of the canopy. They also filed a no-confidence motion against the government, but speaker Ana Brnabic said it would not be on the agenda. The session was interrupted for almost two hours before resuming, but opposition deputies continued disrupting the session as Brnabic spoke surrounded by security guards who prevented opposition legislators from approaching her. "This is what freedom of speech looks like in their interpretation," Brnabic said as opposition deputies blew whistles in the hall. Brnabic accused the opposition of an "attempt to seize power by force." She told reporters at a news conference that opposition deputies damaged a microphone and a monitor in the hall after the session was adjourned. The session began with a minute of silence for those killed in at the railway station and with Brnabic asking that the session be dignified. "Unfortunately, this is anything but a dignified tribute to the deceased and their families," Brnabic said at the news conference. Nikita Zhuravel, a Russian political prisoner who was beaten by the teenage son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov while in pretrial detention, has been sentenced to 13 1/2 years in prison for high treason. The Volgograd regional court sentenced the 20-year-old Zhuravel on November 25 after finding him guilty of sending a video to a representative of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) that allegedly contained footage of military equipment being transported by train, images of military aircraft, and details of a service vehicle's movements. Zhuravel is already serving a 3 1/2-year prison sentence handed down by a court in Chechnya in February after being convicted of hooliganism for publicly burning a Koran in his hometown of Volgograd. He was also sentenced to 300 hours of community service for insulting religious believers. It was not immediately clear whether the sentences would be served concurrently or consecutively. During the trial, Zhuravel apologized to the Muslim community, acknowledging his actions but claiming he had no intention of offending anyone. The case drew widespread attention when it was revealed that while Zhuravel was in custody in Chechnya, he was attacked by Adam Kadyrov, the then-15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov. A video of the assault in a jail was shared on social media by the elder Kadyrov, sparking public outrage. Despite this, law enforcement in Chechnya declined to pursue a criminal investigation, citing a lack of evidence. Kadyrov defended his son's actions, publicly stating that it would have been better if his son had killed Zhuravel. Adam Kadyrov was later awarded the title of "Hero of the Republic of Chechnya," the highest honor in the region, and received further accolades from several Russian regions. The human rights group Memorial has recognized Zhuravel as a political prisoner, raising doubts about the Koran-burning accusations and criticizing his transfer from Volgograd to mostly Muslim-populated Chechnya for investigation and trial. The organization has also condemned the violence Zhuravel endured in detention as a serious legal violation. RFE/RL journalist Andrey Kuznechyk marked his third year in prison on November 25 on charges , he, his employer, and human rights organizations call politically motivated. Kuznechyk, a father of two, was arrested on November 25, 2021, and initially sentenced to 10 days in jail on hooliganism charges that he rejected. After serving that penalty, Kuznechyk was not released but charged with creating an extremist group, a move that officials didn't reveal to Kuznechyk's relatives and colleagues for months. On June 8, 2022, the Mahilyou regional court in the country's east found Kuznechyk guilty and sentenced him to six years in prison. The trial lasted just one day. Human rights groups in Belarus have recognized Kuznechyk, who works for RFE/RL's Belarus Service , known locally as Radio Svaboda, as a political prisoner. Kuznechyk, who has maintained his innocence, and some 150 other Belarusian political prisoners, including another RFE/RL journalist, Ihar Losik, and former would-be presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, are serving sentences at the same prison in the northern city of Navapolatsk. The facility is known as one of the most restrictive penitentiaries in the country. Initially, the site was occupied by a number of temporary houses built for workers at a then-newly built oil refinery in 1958. The territory was later turned into a prison where mostly members of organized criminal groups, noted crime kingpins, and so-called thieves-in-law served their terms. Belarusian authorities started sending political prisoners there in 2010. Since a disputed August 2020 presidential election sparked mass protests over authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's victory, tens of thousands of Belarusians have been arrested for voicing any dissent against the regime. The crackdown has pushed most opposition politicians, who say the vote was rigged, to leave the country fearing for their safety and freedom. Many Western governments have refused to recognize the results of the election and do not consider Lukashenka to be the country's legitimate leader. Many countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions against his regime in response to the suppression of dissent in the country. Kuznechyk is one of three RFE/RL journalists -- Losik and Vladyslav Yesypenko are the other two -- currently imprisoned on charges related to their work. Rights groups and RFE/RL have called repeatedly for the release of all three, saying they have been wrongly detained. Losik is a blogger and contributor for RFE/RL’s Belarus Service who was convicted in December 2021 on several charges including the "organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order" and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Yesypenko, a dual Ukrainian-Russian citizen who contributed to Crimea.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, was sentenced in February 2022 to six years in prison by a Russian judge in occupied Crimea after a closed-door trial. He was convicted of “possession and transport of explosives,” a charge he steadfastly denies.

Behavioral Biometrics Market Predicted to Reach $7.4 Billion by 2031 | BioCatch Ltd., Nuance Communications, Inc., LexisNexis Risk Solutions 11-27-2024 07:41 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: DataM Intelligence 4 Market Research LLP Behavioral Biometrics Market The Behavioral Biometrics Market study by DataM Intelligence offer an in-depth analysis of the market, presenting insightful observations, statistics, historical data, and industry-validated market insights. The report delves into the competitive positioning of key companies, examining factors such as product offerings, pricing strategies, financial health, product portfolios, growth initiatives, and geographical reach. Download a Free sample PDF (Use Corporate email ID to Get Higher Priority) at: - https://datamintelligence.com/download-sample/behavioral-biometrics-market What is the projected growth rate (CAGR) of the Global Behavioral Biometrics market from 2024 to 2031, and what is the market value expected to change by 2031? The Global Behavioral Biometrics Market reached US$ 1.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 7.4 billion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 20.5% during the forecast period 2024-2031. Behavioral biometrics is a security technology that identifies individuals based on unique patterns in their behavior rather than physical traits. It analyzes actions such as typing rhythm, mouse movements, touchscreen interactions, gait, or voice patterns to verify identity. Unlike traditional biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition, behavioral biometrics continuously monitor user behavior, making it harder for unauthorized users to mimic. This technology is commonly used in fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and authentication systems, enhancing security without disrupting the user experience. Key Developments: ❁ In April 2023, Onbe, a leading financial technology company specializing in disbursements, introduced OnbeGuard, an enhancement to its suite of fraud prevention tools. OnbeGuard now incorporates behavioral biometrics from BioCatch Ltd., a renowned fraud detection leader and this advanced solution combines historical spending patterns, BioCatch Ltd.'s behavioral biometrics and channel data to predict and combat payment fraud while reducing false positives at checkout, account login and ATMs. List of the Key Players in the Behavioral Biometrics Market: BioCatch Ltd., Nuance Communications, Inc., LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Ping Identity, Zighra Inc., IKS TN S.r.l., Fair Isaac Corporation, Mastercard International Incorporated, ThreatMark and Plurilock Security Inc.Research Process: Both primary and secondary data sources have been used in the global Behavioral Biometrics Market research report. During the research process, a wide range of industry-affecting factors are examined, including governmental regulations, market conditions, competitive levels, historical data, market situation, technological advancements, upcoming developments, in related businesses, as well as market volatility, prospects, potential barriers, and challenges. Segment Covered in the Behavioral Biometrics Market: By Type: Signature Analysis, Keystroke Dynamics, Voice Recognition, Gait Analysis By Deployment: On-Premise, Cloud By Application: Identity Proofing, Continuous Authentication, Risk and Compliance, Fraud Detection and Prevention By End-User: BFSI, Retail and Commerce, Healthcare, Government and Public Sector, Others Regional Breakout: The global Behavioral Biometrics Market report focuses on six major regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Get Discounts on Premium Report:- https://www.datamintelligence.com/buy-now-page?report=behavioral-biometrics-market Regional Analysis: The global Behavioral Biometrics Market report focuses on six major regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The report offers detailed insight into new product launches, new technology evolutions, innovative services, and ongoing R&D. The report discusses a qualitative and quantitative market analysis, including PEST analysis, SWOT analysis, and Porter's five force analysis. The Behavioral Biometrics Market report also provides fundamental details such as raw material sources, distribution networks, methodologies, production capacities, industry supply chain, and product specifications. **The full version of the report includes an in-depth analysis of emerging players and startups, which will provide valuable insights into the evolving market landscape and key strategies being adopted** Chapter Outline: ⏩ Market Overview: It contains chapter wise data, as well as information about the research scope, major manufacturers covered, market segments, Behavioral Biometrics market segments, study objectives, and years considered. ⏩ Market Landscape: The competition in the Global Behavioral Biometrics Market is evaluated here in terms of value, turnover, revenues, and market share by organization, as well as market rate, competitive landscape, and recent developments, transaction, growth, sale, and market shares of top companies. ⏩ Companies Profiles: The global Behavioral Biometrics market's leading players are studied based on sales, main products, gross profit margin, revenue, price, and growth production. ⏩ Market Outlook by Region: The report goes through gross margin, sales, income, supply, market share, CAGR, and market size by region in this segment. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America are among the regions and countries studied in depth in this study. ⏩ Market Segments: It contains the deep research study which interprets how different end-user/application/type segments contribute to the Behavioral Biometrics Market. ⏩ Market Forecast: Production Side: In this part of the report, the authors have focused on production and production value forecast, key producers forecast, and production and production value forecast by type. ⏩ Research Findings: This section of the report showcases the findings and analysis of the report. ⏩ Conclusion: This portion of the report is the last section of the report where the conclusion of the research study is provided. Get Customization in the report as per your requirements:- https://datamintelligence.com/customize/behavioral-biometrics-market Frequently Asked Questions ✹ What is the expected growth rate of the global market for the forecast period? ✹ What are the key driving factors that are responsible to shape the fate of the Behavioral Biometrics market during the forecast period? ✹ What will be the overall size of the market during the analysis period? ✹ What are the prominent market trends which influence the development of the Behavioral Biometrics market across various regions? ✹ Who are the key market players and the market strategies that have helped them to secure the leading position in the global market? ✹ What are the challenges and threats that are likely to act as a barrier to the growth of the Behavioral Biometrics market? ✹ What are the major opportunities that the companies can get to attain success in the world? Contact Us - Company Name: DataM Intelligence Contact Person: Sai Kiran Email: Sai.k@datamintelligence.com Phone: +1 877 441 4866 Website: https://www.datamintelligence.com About Us - DataM Intelligence is a Market Research and Consulting firm that provides end-to-end business solutions to organizations from Research to Consulting. We, at DataM Intelligence, leverage our top trademark trends, insights and developments to emancipate swift and astute solutions to clients like you. We encompass a multitude of syndicate reports and customized reports with a robust methodology. Our research database features countless statistics and in-depth analyses across a wide range of 6300+ reports in 40+ domains creating business solutions for more than 200+ companies across 50+ countries; catering to the key business research needs that influence the growth trajectory of our vast clientele. This release was published on openPR.

Andrew Callahan: It’s time to forget about Jerod Mayo getting fired

This is not the first time that Yang Shize has used his skills as an actor to deftly navigate tricky situations in the public eye. Known for his charming personality and quick wit, the young star has a knack for turning potential controversies into moments of connection and amusement with his fans.Eoin O Broin urged voters to end the two Civil War parties’ “stranglehold” on housing policy and called for a greater focus on social and affordable home delivery. “The reason homelessness is rising is because Simon Harris is Taoiseach, Micheal Martin is Tanaiste and Darragh O’Brien is minister for housing,” Mr O Broin said at an event at the Teachers Club in Dublin on Saturday. “If we want to end homelessness, we’ve got to end their stranglehold on housing policy.” The housing spokesperson said that the proportion of young people who own their home has collapsed compared to the 1990s, from 60% to 30%, and that this was forcing young people to either emigrate or stay at home with their parents. He also said the rise in house prices since the government formed in 2020 had been “astronomical”, and claimed that average house prices in Dublin had increased by 125,000 euro. Sinn Fein’s Housing for All plan pledges to deliver 31,500 affordable homes through local government housing bodies at prices of 250,000 euro “or slightly above that”, he said. Sinn Fein is also vowing to phase out schemes for first-time buyers – the Help to Buy and the First Home schemes – arguing that they are adding to house prices. The government parties have said the schemes are vital for helping first-time buyers afford to buy a home amid inflated prices – with the latest figures showing prices are increasing by 10% a year. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have also questioned Sinn Fein’s housing plan, which includes a proposal to build affordable homes through the state retaining ownership of the land on which the houses are built. The two main coalition parties have questioned the practicality of this and whether removing the first-time buyers’ grants would “pull the rug” from under young people. Mr O Broin said that projections by the Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Mr Harris and the Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin on when house prices would fall “shows the extent to which neither Micheal Martin nor Simon Harris understand anything about housing”. Mr Harris said on Friday that house prices would become more affordable or fall when “50,000-60,000 homes a year” are being built, while Mr Martin has said house prices would begin to moderate when 45,000-50,000 homes a year are being built, estimating this would be around 2027 or 2028. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said he did not disagree with the assessment of Mr Martin, his party leader, but was wary of making predictions. Mr O Broin said of the predictions: “If you go back to the Celtic Tiger, 2006, 90,000 homes were built that year, highest number of homes in the history of the state – house prices kept rising. “This idea that housing delivery, in and of itself, will bring down prices is simply not the case. “In fact, the vast majority of housing economists and housing policy experts around the world tell us that what you have to do is not only increase the number of homes but it’s the type of homes and the price of the homes that is key.” “My view is if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are left in government for the next five years, house prices will rise throughout that period, as they have done not just throughout the last five years but since 2011.” He added: “One of the reasons why homelessness has continued to rise over the last two to three years is because exits from emergency accommodation into the private rental sector have collapsed, and the government’s delivery of new social homes hasn’t been sufficient. “Fine Gael is proposing to keep the target at about 10,000 a year out to 2030, maybe have about 12,000 then. Fianna Fail is suggesting maybe an average of 12,000. “At an absolute minimum, we need to get an average of 15,000 – that would mean by 2027, 2028, you’re hitting 16,000, 17,000, 18,000 new-build social homes a year.” Asked about how fast a change in housing there would be if Sinn Fein were in the next government, Mr O Broin said “things can be done at pace”. “We will be delivering affordable homes for working people to purchase at a price of 250,000, 260,000, 270,000 in year one, as well as two, three and four, ramping up to that 32,000 (affordable homes) over the six years.” “We’ve set out very clearly how you could end homelessness for the over-55s in one year, and year on year dramatically reduce the number of families with children in emergency accommodation. “So things may not be done overnight, but things can be done at pace and at that speed, but only if you have the political will,” he said.

Brian Mast: Pro-Israel hawk set to lead US House foreign policy panelChen Xiao's appearance at Hangzhou Airport has reignited rumors of trouble in paradise, as fans and media outlets alike speculate about the reason for his solo trip. Some observers have pointed out that the actor seemed unusually somber and preoccupied during his time at the airport, leading to speculation that there may be trouble brewing in his personal life. Others have suggested that his solo travel could simply be work-related, as the entertainment industry often requires its stars to travel frequently for filming and promotional events.Pere Guardiola, the younger brother of Pep Guardiola, has carved out his own niche in the footballing world as a football agent and sports director. While he may not have garnered the same level of fame and recognition as his older brother, Pere Guardiola has proven himself to be a shrewd operator and a key player in the football industry.

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Industrial Automation Solutions: Why Omchele Stands Out Among the Best

The US Supreme Court sidestepped on Friday a decision on whether to allow shareholders to proceed with a securities fraud lawsuit accusing Meta's Facebook of misleading investors about the misuse of the social media platform's user data. The justices, who heard arguments in the case on Nov. 6, dismissed Facebook's appeal of a lower court's ruling that allowed a 2018 class action led by Amalgamated Bank to proceed. The Supreme Court opted not to resolve the underlying legal dispute, determining that the case should not have been taken up. Its action leaves the lower court's decision in place. The court's dismissal came in a one-line order that provided no explanation. The Facebook dispute was one of two cases to come before the Supreme Court this month involving the right of private litigants to hold companies to account for alleged securities fraud. The other one, involving the artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia, was argued on Nov. 13. The Supreme Court has not ruled yet in the Nvidia case. The complainants in the Facebook case claimed the company unlawfully withheld information from investors about a 2015 data breach involving British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica that affected more than 30 million Facebook users. They accused Facebook of misleading investors in violation of the Securities Exchange Act, a 1934 federal law that requires publicly traded companies to disclose their business risks. Facebook's stock fell following 2018 media reports that Cambridge Analytica had used improperly harvested Facebook user data in connection with Donald Trump's successful US presidential campaign in 2016. The investors have sought unspecified monetary damages in part to recoup the lost value of the Facebook stock they held. At issue was whether Facebook broke the law when it failed to detail the prior data breach in subsequent business-risk disclosures, and instead portrayed the risk of such incidents as purely hypothetical. Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone expressed disappointment "in the Supreme Court's decision not to clarify this part of the law." "The plaintiff's claims are baseless and we will continue to defend ourselves as this case is considered by the district court," Stone said. Facebook argued that it was not required to reveal that its warned-of risk had already materialized because "a reasonable investor" would understand risk disclosures to be forward-looking statements. President Joe Biden's administration supported the shareholders in the case. US District Judge Edward Davila dismissed the lawsuit but the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals revived it, prompting Facebook's appeal to the Supreme Court. George Washington University law professor Alan Morrison said that following the Supreme Court's dismissal of Facebook's appeal, the complainants would be expected to seek discovery, a process that involves the exchange of information among parties in a case. Morrison added that Facebook "might renew their motion to dismiss under a somewhat different standard - partially for purposes of delay." The Cambridge Analytica data breach prompted US government investigations into Facebook's privacy practices, various lawsuits and a US congressional hearing. The US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019 brought an enforcement action against Facebook over the matter, which the company settled for $100 million. Facebook paid a separate $5 billion penalty to the US Federal Trade Commission over the issue. The Supreme Court in prior rulings has limited the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal agency that polices securities fraud. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world