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Article content TORONTO — The federal government’s GST break will arrive this Saturday, just in time for the last stretch of holiday shopping. Recommended Videos Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll save on and how the relief works. What is the tax relief? In a bid to help Canadians deal with household costs amid the high cost of living, the federal government decided to waive the federal goods and services tax (GST), which is five per cent, on some products between Dec. 14 and Feb. 15. For provinces with harmonized provincial and federal sales tax (HST), the full HST will be waived. What products will see the GST waived? The tax break will apply to: _prepared foods, including vegetable trays, pre-made meals and salads and sandwiches _restaurant meals, whether dine-in, takeout or delivery _some snacks, including chips, candy and granola bars _beer, wine and cider, as well as pre-mixed alcoholic beverages below seven per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) _children’s clothing and footwear, car seats and diapers _some children’s toys, such as board games, dolls, puzzles and video game consoles. _some books and newspapers _Christmas trees and Hanukkah trees or bushes What items don’t count? Even product categories eligible for GST relief have plenty of exemptions. Beverages and food sold from vending machines, edible cannabis products or pot drinks and dietary supplements aren’t eligible for GST relief. Magazines, electronic publications, clothing for sports activities like wet suits, soccer cleats, skates and tap shoes, along with costumes, jewelry and adult clothing and footwear purchased for children aren’t eligible. Diapers purchased from a diaper service or for adults, collectibles that are not intended for play or learning, such as hockey cards or collectible dolls, and toys and model sets that are marketed for adults like some adult Lego or train sets also don’t make the cut. What if my province charges HST? Ontario and the Atlantic provinces have united the provincial and federal sales taxes together into a harmonized sales tax. In these provinces, the entire HST would be removed from qualifying items. How do I get the tax break on qualifying items? The tax break is designed to be automatically applied to totals at checkout by retailers when customers make qualifying purchases. What if I buy one of these items but it has to be delivered? The federal government says no GST/HST will be charged on a qualifying item, as long as it is paid for in full between Dec. 14 and Feb. 15 and delivered or made available to the buyer during the same period. The Retail Council of Canada says the Canada Revenue Agency will consider items “delivered” once they are handed over to a shipping, courier or postal service. What if the item is imported? GST/HST won’t be charged on imported goods as long as they meet the product categories and criteria that qualify for relief. What about food deliveries? When a prepared meal is ordered through a delivery platform, the food provided to the customer qualifies for GST/HST relief during the eligible period. However, the delivery service fee charged by the platform to the customer does not qualify for GST/HST relief. When a restaurant bills a customer directly for delivery of a prepared meal, the courier service qualifies for GST relief. Will I pay GST/HST on cocktails and mixed beverages? Mixed drinks that include only eligible ingredients such as beer, malt liquor, or wine qualify for GST/HST relief. For example, the government says a mimosa made of sparkling wine and orange juice, or a michelada made of beer and non-alcoholic ingredients would qualify. However, mixed drinks that include an alcoholic beverage like a spirit or liqueur which did not make the GST/HST relief list would not have the tax waived. This means a sangria that includes both wine and rum, or a mixed drink such as a vodka and soda, would not qualify. What about gift baskets? Gift baskets that contain food and other items are only exempt from the GST if 90 per cent or more of the total value of the basket corresponds to items that would have no GST/HST charged on them if they were supplied separately. Do I save the GST/HST on tips when I dine out? A mandatory tip or gratuity included as part of the bill qualifies for GST/HST relief. The exemption does not apply to a tip or gratuity that is given freely by a customer to an employee of an eating establishment, as such tips are normally not subject to GST or HST charges. What if I bought one of these items before the tax relief kicked in? Some retailers, like Toys “R” Us Canada, are advertising that they will return the tax paid to customers who bought items before the GST/HST relief period began. But retailers aren’t obliged to offer this gesture of goodwill. “A business can choose not to refund or credit the customer the GST/HST that was previously paid,” Canada Revenue Agency spokesperson Benoit Sabourin said in an email to The Canadian Press.Women leaders and activists, who actively participated in the July uprising, yesterday said despite their contributions at every level, they have been systematically sidelined in the post-movement period. They pointed out that equal representation of women was not ensured in the reform commissions or other state institutions. They added that the longstanding culture of denying women their rightful roles and excluding them from various sectors continues unabated. They made these remarks at a discussion titled "Dialogue on Women of the Mass Uprising: Where Did the Women Go?" held at the Jatiya Press Club, where injured participants and female activists shared their experiences. The event was jointly organised by two volunteer organisations, Loraku 24 and Empowering Our Fighters. Umama Fatema, spokesperson for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said it has become evident that there was a deliberate and successful attempt to sideline women in the aftermath of the uprising. "When male leaders were arrested, women stepped up to lead and continued until August 5. But after that, I was completely sidelined. Attempts were made to portray men as the heroes of the movement, and I began experiencing an identity crisis," she said. "Women leaders were harassed on social media, and those in power took no action. This further marginalised the women who participated in the movement," she added. Nazifa Jannat, a student of East West University and coordinator during the movement, said, "It is deeply unfortunate that we are now compelled to assert that we, too, were part of the movement." "People are asking, 'Where are the women now?' This question should be directed at the political parties that, despite their capacity, failed to include women," she said, calling on the media to raise such questions. She emphasised the importance of increasing women's representation in positions of power. "Women should not have to demand recognition for their roles; it is the state's responsibility to acknowledge them. We protested against discrimination in the past, and we did so to eradicate all forms of inequity," she said. Dr Worthy Jukhrif, who provided medical aid alongside Dr Hritisha Aktar Mitheen to over 100 injured persons during the uprising, said, "We believe women should be equally represented in every sector of the state, including the Reform Commission, to eliminate all forms of discrimination." Jannatul Ferdous Nitu, a second-year student at Barisal Government College, said, "No female students were included in the advisory council. Even though one woman was named spokesperson for the main committee, she has been noticeably absent in press releases and other activities," she said. Samia Akhter Jannat, a tenth-grade student who was injured multiple times during the movement, said not only are women's contributions unacknowledged, but they are also being deliberately excluded. Sabina Yasmin, a protester and female labourer from Ashulia, observed, "Many labelled the uprising as a student movement. In reality, labourers, including female workers, participated spontaneously. Many women were injured or killed, yet their sacrifices remain unrecognised." Sumaiya Nishu, a student from Noakhali, pointed out, "While women in Dhaka have some visibility in state affairs, women from outside Dhaka are completely overlooked." Sabrina Akhter, a student from Begum Rokeya University, said, "Despite our active participation, the media continues to focus primarily on men, perpetuating past inequalities against women." Shamima Sultana Lavu, a senior journalist from Channel 24 who was injured during the movement, explained, "During the movement, press secretaries monitored media houses, and we were even temporarily taken off-air. Yet, we persisted. The footage we couldn't air domestically, we shared with international media." She added that while a small number of media personnel were compromised, the entire journalist community often bears the brunt of public anger. The event was inaugurated by Ainun Nahar, the mother of Naima Sultana, a student killed during the uprising. Recalling her daughter's aspirations to become a doctor, Ainun said, "We moved to the city for her education, but her death shattered all our dreams. My daughter even argued with me when I discouraged her participation in the movement." She urged the inclusion of the uprising and its martyrs in textbooks and demanded punishment for those responsible for the killings. The event also featured speeches from women who played significant roles in rehabilitating injured and bereaved families from abroad.
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Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreamsThe Chicago Cubs ran baseball's seventh-highest payroll in 2024, according to Spotrac . They also missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. For now, the Cubs show no signs of moving up in either area. More news: Cubs Make Trade, Acquire Former First-Round Draft Pick From Angels ESPN's Jeff Passan, speaking on the Baseball Tonight podcast with colleague Buster Olney, reported Friday that the Cubs are not involved yet with the offseason's biggest free agents. "I've gotten no sign so far that the Chicago Cubs are going to be involved in any of the major free agents," Passan told Olney . "That may change. Let's remember last winter, when the price came down on Cody Bellinger, suddenly the Cubs are back in." Ironically, the only Bellinger news linked to the Cubs this winter was a recent report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Cubs want to trade Bellinger but "they also note the difficulty the team likely will face pulling off such a move." More news : Cubs' New Front Office Hire Reveals Big Shift in Pitching Philosophy Bellinger is owed $27.5 million next year and holds a $25 million player option in his contract for 2026. The Cubs acquired catcher Matt Thaiss from the Los Angeles Angels for cash on Wednesday. In a recent interview with Buster Olney , Cubs GM Carter Hawkins confirmed he was in the market for catching and starting pitching help. More news: Cubs Looking to Trade $27.5 Million Star: Report Passan suggests the Cubs aren't lining up to sign Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes, or any of the other top-of-the-rotation arms on this winter's free agent market — but that might change as the offseason drags along. "Every winter, one guy who's out there in free agency doesn't get what he's wanting and lasts for a while," Passan said. "Perhaps the Cubs jump in there, but I don't anticipate right now that they're going to be involved in any of the major players." More news: Cubs GM Identifies Top Two Offseason Targets With Bellinger opting into the next year of his contract, the Cubs have most of the key players returning from a team that went 83-79 for the second straight year. Hawkins and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer might not have that much work cut out for them to narrow the gap with the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. If their operating budget is slim, however, the Cubs' front office might have to get a bit more creative. More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.
After a tough year marked by policy uncertainty and lagging fundamentals, stocks are set to change course in 2025, Citi says. The firm points to better valuations for the sector, offering an attractive entry point after months of outsize valuations. "What a difference a year makes. This past year's relative underperformance and flattish absolute return has gradually alleviated our valuation concerns," the analysts said in a Monday note. The sector has lagged the overall market's rally this year, up just 1.1%, while the S&P 500 has surged 26.2% so far. The analysts also point to subpar underlying fundamentals, which they say could reach a bottom soon. "This has been our most persistent Underweight during 2024. However, valuations have right sized and fundamentals appear closer to an inflection," the analysts said. Overall, they see the healthcare sector generating 19% earnings growth in 2025, compared to an expected 4% this year. The analysts' call comes after a tough year for the industry amid significant policy uncertainty, particularly after president-elect Donald Trump's appointment of to head the Department of Health and Human Services. has been a vocal skeptic of vaccines. In the days after his nomination last month, vaccine makers like , , and tumbled. In the time since, though, some analysts have said the reaction is overblown, particularly for like Wegovy, and Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk and maker Eli Lilly. The selloffs "reflect more fear than real fundamental downside risk," BMO analysts argued in a note last month. They said Kennedy's role comes with limited ability to change policy impacting the pricing and availability of the drugs, meaning there's likely little risk to the shares of companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Citi's analysts seem to agree, forecasting returns of 64% for Eli Lilly, which carries the biggest weight in the sector at 12%. "Although policy controversy remains, we think this is largely priced in," the analysts wrote, adding that pharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks will likely lead the sector's outperformance in 2025. The analysts' call comes amid the firm's broader shift toward select defensive stocks. They say some cyclicals have rich valuations with little earnings growth seen in the near-future. "Some classic Defensive industry groups look intriguing. Certain Cyclicals may need to buy some time as valuations are rich while an earnings growth turn is not yet visible," the analysts wrote. Read the original article on
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Rachel Christian | (TNS) Bankrate.com Just because retirement planning involves some guesswork doesn’t mean it has to be a total mystery. Related Articles Business | The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward Business | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds Business | How to protect your communications through encryption Business | About 2.6 million Stanley cups recalled after malfunctions caused burns. Is your mug included? Business | Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases Whether you’ve been saving since your first job or you’re getting a late start, you can leverage expert-recommended strategies to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. And if you’re not quite on track, don’t sweat it — the experts we spoke to offered actionable tips to help you close the gap. You might have a general idea of how much money you need to save for retirement . A few quick calculations can give you an estimate, but to truly appreciate where you stand, you’ll need to dive into the numbers. Here’s how to get started. A good rule of thumb to estimate your retirement savings goal is the Rule of 25 . Simply multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25. The result is roughly how much you’ll need to save before hitting retirement. For example, if you plan to spend $50,000 a year, you’ll need about $1.25 million to make it a reality. The Rule of 25 is based on the idea that withdrawing 4% annually from your retirement savings should last you about 30 years. While it’s not an exact science by any means — health care costs and lifestyle changes can skew the numbers, for example — the Rule of 25 can be a good starting point to figure out how much you need to save. Fidelity Investments, a behemoth in the retirement planning space, offers savings guidelines to help you determine if you’re on track . —By age 30: Save 1x your annual salary —By age 40: Save 3x your annual salary —By age 50: Save 6x your annual salary —By age 60: Save 8x your annual salary —By age 67: Save 10x your annual salary For example, if you earn $60,000 annually, you should aim for $600,000 in savings by age 67. But like the Rule of 25, Fidelity’s guidelines offer a 10,000-foot look at retirement goals, and they’re not customized to your situation. Maybe you earned a low salary in your 20s, but you’re working hard in your 30s to make up for it. Use these estimates as a benchmark — but don’t get discouraged if you’re lagging behind. Now it’s time to zoom in a little. To get a clearer snapshot of your progress, use an online retirement calculator. These tools factor in your age, current savings, income and lifestyle goals to estimate whether you’re on track. You’ll get a more refined estimate without crunching the numbers yourself. Bankrate’s retirement calculator even lets you input different rates of return on your investments and accounts for estimated annual salary increases. Having a general savings goal is nice, but to avoid falling short in retirement, you’ll need more than a ballpark figure. Experts recommend creating a retirement budget to get an up-close-and-personal look at how much you’ll really need once you leave the workforce. First, estimate how much you’ll spend per month in retirement. While some costs will increase, like health care, others will likely decrease, like dining out and commuting. “Estimating expenses can be challenging for some people, so as a starting point, I often use your net take-home pay,” says Jeff DeLarme, a certified financial planner and president of DeLarme Wealth Management. For example, if you receive a direct deposit of $2,500 every two weeks from work, use $5,000 as your estimated monthly spending in retirement. “Assuming this was enough to pay the bills while working, we can use $5,000 a month as a starting budget to plan for,” says DeLarme. Next, map out your sources of income in retirement. Social Security is the largest income stream for most retirees, but don’t neglect other inflows, such as: —Workplace retirement accounts, like 401(k)s —Personal retirement accounts, like a traditional or Roth IRA —Pensions —Annuities —Selling your home or business —Rental income —Inheritance “If there’s a gap between your expected expenses and income, you’ll have a good idea of how much you need to save,” says Mike Hunsberger, a certified financial planner and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning. From there, you can adjust your savings and investment strategy accordingly. For something as important (and complex) as retirement planning, it pays to speak with a professional. Financial advisers can analyze your savings, investments and retirement goals to create a personalized plan. Advisers use special planning software that account for more variables than an online calculator, giving you a much more precise, granular look at your financial life in retirement. Many financial advisers can also help you optimize your tax strategy, which can potentially save you thousands of dollars over time. Make sure the adviser you hire is a fiduciary , meaning they’re legally obligated to prioritize your interests over their own. A fiduciary won’t push investments to earn a commission or recommend products that aren’t aligned with your needs. A certified financial planner is one of the most well-recognized designations for fiduciaries. You can use Bankrate’s adviser matching tool to find a certified financial planner in your area in minutes. Maybe you did the math and realized you’re not quite where you need to be. Don’t panic if you’re behind schedule. Here are five strategies experts recommend to help you catch up on your retirement savings . Cutting expenses now frees up more cash to invest in your retirement accounts. Evaluate your budget and identify areas where you can cut costs, like dining out, streaming subscriptions or shopping. Don’t rule out bigger lifestyle changes either, especially if retirement is rapidly approaching. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most people. Getting creative here can help amplify the amount you can sock away, says Joseph Boughan, a certified financial planner and managing member at Parkmount Financial Partners. It can also reduce your expenses in retirement, so you may not need to save as much as before. “Downsizing can be a great way to cut expenses,” says Boughan. “This can even free up cash if you don’t end up needing all that money for a new home.” Moving somewhere with lower property taxes or income taxes can also help bring your retirement plan back in line. And if you’re a renter, making tough short-term decisions, like taking on a roommate or moving to a lower cost-of-living area, can free up hundreds of dollars a month for your retirement. “Everyone’s plan is unique, so exploring all the options is important,” Boughan says. Joe Conroy, a certified financial planner and owner of Harford Retirement Planners, recommends taking a “retirement test drive” as you near your target date. “Start to live on what income you think you can afford in retirement and stash all the extra income into savings and investments,” says Conroy. “If you can make it through each month, you’re ready for retirement. If you run short, then adjust your plan accordingly.” Working a little longer can be a game-changer for your retirement nest egg. Not only does it give you more time to save, it also gives your investments room to grow. “Working longer or even just part time for a few years early in retirement is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of money you need to save,” says Hunsberger. Postponing retirement can also boost your Social Security benefits . “You can claim as early as 62, but your benefits will be reduced significantly,” says Hunsberger. Meanwhile, each year you delay claiming Social Security benefits beyond your full retirement age , your monthly check will increase by 8%, though this benefit maxes out at age 70. So waiting can really pay off. It may seem obvious, but if you’re behind on retirement savings, you’ll need to boost your contributions as much as possible. Here are a few ways to make saving for retirement easier: —Increase your contribution rate: Allocate a larger portion of your paycheck to a workplace retirement plan. Even bumping up your contributions by 1% or 2% can make a huge difference down the road. —Take advantage of your employer match: Don’t leave free money on the table. Many employers will chip in between 3 and 5% depending on your plan, so make sure you’re contributing enough to take advantage of the benefit. —Use “unexpected” money to catch up: If you get a raise or bonus at work, funnel part of it directly into your 401(k). And if you get a refund at tax time, siphon some of it off to beef up your IRA. If you’ve been investing in low-risk, low-return investments, you may not be keeping up with inflation, let alone growing your nest egg. Reallocating part of your portfolio to stocks or low-cost growth exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is one way to get your money working harder. Higher-risk investments like stocks carry more volatility but also offer higher potential returns. Work with a financial adviser or use a robo-adviser to strike the right balance between growth and your personal risk tolerance. Contribution limits for 401(k) plans and IRAs are higher for people over 50. For 2025, employees aged 50 and up who participate in most 401(k) plans or the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan can save up to $31,000 annually, including a $7,500 catch-up contribution . But thanks to SECURE 2.0 , a sweeping retirement law, a new higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 applies for employees ages 60 to 63. So, if you’re in this age group, you can squirrel away a whopping $34,750 a year during the final stretch of your career. Of course, you’ll need a big salary (think six figures) in order to take full advantage of such massive contribution limits. But if you can afford it, these catch-up allowances can put your plan back on track, especially if you struggled to save much early in your career. There’s no GPS to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. If you’ve veered off course or aren’t sure where to start, begin by getting a quick estimate of how much you’ll need before mapping out a retirement budget. And if you’re behind, don’t panic — adjusting your spending, boosting your contributions and speaking with a financial adviser can help you catch up. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.FG must scrutinise romance with France – Atiku’s aide
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American Airlines , the world's largest carrier, briefly grounded flights nationwide on Tuesday due to a technical issue just as the Christmas travel season kicks into high gear. American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after a national ground stop order was issued by federal regulators, AP reported. ET Year-end Special Reads Top 10 equity mutual funds of the year. Do you have any? How India flexed its global power muscles in 2024 2024 was the year India became the talk of America Just before 7 am (ET), the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the US at the airline's request. American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions travelling for the holiday. The ground stop, according to the time stamps on the FAA's orders, lasted exactly one hour. American has not expanded on what technical issue grounded the flights and the airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The groundings couldn't come at a worse time for the millions of travellers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. 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View Program Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. In December 2022, Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travellers, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Southwest was ordered to pay a USD 35 million fine as part of a USD 140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into the Christmas debacle of 2022. Excluding the settlement, the nation's fourth-biggest airline by revenue said the meltdown cost it more than USD 1.1 billion in refunds and reimbursements, extra costs and lost ticket sales over several months. FAQs Q1. Which is world's largest carrier? A1. The world's largest carrier is American Airlines. Q2. Why were American Airlines flights grounded? A2. American Airlines has not expanded on what technical issue grounded the flights and the airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Myanmar’s desperate military junta is ramping up attacks on villages that have fallen to opposition groups, carrying out beheadings, gang rapes and torture, with women, children and the elderly among the victims, the U.N. independent human rights investigator for Myanmar said in a new report. Thomas Andrews, a former U.S. congressman from Maine, said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly circulated Friday that the junta has responded to military defeats and the loss of territory by using sophisticated weapons against civilians and seeking to destroy towns that it cannot control. Calling Myanmar “an invisible crisis” because the world's attention is focused elsewhere, he said, “Escalating atrocities against the people of Myanmar are being enabled by governments that allow, or actively support, the transfer of weapons, weapons materials, and jet fuel to junta forces.” Andrews didn’t name the governments. But he praised Singapore for cracking down on weapons transfers that has led to a 90% reduction by Singapore-registered companies, and said sanctions imposed by the United States on junta-controlled, state-owned banks have disrupted military supply chains. The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar lamented, however, that their actions remain an exception. He called on all countries to address Myanmar’s “devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis” by stopping the flow of weapons to the junta, stepping up humanitarian aid to millions in need, and supporting efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for human rights violations. Myanmar is racked by violence that began when the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests. That triggered armed resistance and combat across the country, with the military increasingly using airstrikes to counter the opposition and secure territory. The army is on the defensive against ethnic militias in much of Myanmar as well as hundreds of armed guerrilla groups collectively called the People’s Defense Forces, formed to fight to restore democracy. The military has said in the past that it only attacks legitimate targets of war and has accused the resistance forces of being terrorists. Andrews called the military junta’s plan to hold an election in late 2025 “a farcical parody” and “thinly veiled attempt to create an impression of legitimacy and relieve international pressure.” He warned, “Not only is this fraudulent attempt outrageous, it is dangerous, as it could lead to even greater levels of instability and violence.” He ticked off grim statistics: Over 3.1 million people are displaced by conflict and the junta’s human rights violations, and 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 13.3 million facing emergency levels of food insecurity. He said the junta's military forces have killed more than 5,800 civilians, destroyed over 100,000 homes and other civilian structures, and have kept more than 21,000 political prisoners languishing behind bars. “Junta troops have killed civilians in ground assaults, including the mass killing of individuals already in the custody of junta forces,” Andrews said. “Victims have been tortured, raped and beheaded, and their bodies burned." Andrews, a human rights fellow at Yale Law School who was appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, said the situation was most “desperate and dangerous” in Rakhine state in western Myanmar. Last November, the Arakan Army, which is seeking autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, began an offensive against the military in Rakhine and has gained control of more than half of its townships . The Arakan Army, which is the well-armed wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, is also a member of the armed ethnic group alliance trying to topple the military. In the report, Andrews said: “The Arakan Army has been implicated in grave human rights abuses, including indiscriminate attacks, killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrests.” He also said the military has responded to the Arakan Army's steady losses in Rakhine by attacking civilians and raising tensions between the ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has long considered the Rohingya Muslim minority to be “Bengalis” from Bangladesh even though their families have lived in the country for generations. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982. In August 2017, attacks by a Rohingya insurgent group on Myanmar security personnel triggered a brutal campaign by the military, which drove at least 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh. The military is accused of mass rape, killings and burning thousands of homes. Meanwhile, the military junta has conscripted thousands of Rohingya men and deployed them to the front lines to fight the Arakan Army, he said. And Rohingya militant groups have “cynically aligned with the junta” and committed human rights abuses against the ethnic Rakhine population. “Hundreds of thousands of people in Rakhine State are completely cut off from humanitarian assistance and threatened by exposure, starvation and disease,” Andrews warned. “Failure to act immediately to provide emergency humanitarian aid will be a death sentence for untold numbers of innocent men, women and children.” A month ago, he said, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh where 1 million Rohingya refugees live, called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a conference with all key players in the Rohingya crisis. Yunus has pressed for their repatriation to Myanmar. Andrews urged Guterres to call a conference that could help “seize the attention of a distracted world and mobilize the resources and action necessary to save the many lives that hang in the balance.”
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London - The third season of HBO’s hit TV series “The White Lotus” will premiere in February, followed months later by the second instalment of “The Last of Us”, Warner Bros. Discovery said Thursday. Unveiling its upcoming global programming slate, HBO and Max streaming service CEO Casey Bloys also confirmed the much-anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is set for release later next year. Beyond that, the first “Harry Potter” television series -- announced last year and currently in casting -- is scheduled to start filming in mid-2025 at Warner Bros.’s Leavesden studios in the UK, Bloys said. With the mega-selling books author JK Rowling among its executive producers, it is envisaged as “a decade-long series” featuring a new cast from the films. “Succession” director and executive producer Mark Mylod revealed at the London announcement event that the casting team were currently reviewing 32,000 submissions for kids’ roles. “We will watch every one,” Mylod said, adding the team were currently reviewing between 500 and 1,000 tapes daily. They then hope to “workshop with some of our shortlisted candidates” in January. He noted they took following the “extraordinary actors” from the films “incredibly seriously”. “But we do follow the ethos of the films in searching out the cream of British acting talent, not necessarily the biggest stars,” he added. Artists abandon Abidjan for Ivory Coast beachside haven Rowling has faced accusations of transphobia in recent years for putting an emphasis on biological sex over gender identity in comments about trans women. She denies the accusation. Asked if he was worried her involvement in the production could prove problematic, Bloys said he was “not concerned”. Tags: white lotus seasonEast Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a potential first-round pick, declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday. Revel, who sustained a torn left ACL in practice in September, had one season of eligibility remaining. "After an incredible journey at East Carolina, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft," the senior posted on social media. "... Pirates nation, thank you for your unwavering energy and support every game. Representing ECU is an honor, and I look forward to continuing to do so on Sundays!" Revel recorded two interceptions in three games this season, returning one 50 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 14 against Appalachian State. Over three seasons with the Pirates, Revel had three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and 70 tackles in 24 games. He was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Revel as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 23 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class. --Field Level Media