lucky k

'Once in a lifetime experience': World Chess Championship in Singapore thrills local, foreign fans - CNAlucky k 。

Season’s greetings to all readers! Let me begin the second part of this article on the speakers of Sri Lanka with a reference to former Speaker Asoka Ranwala. A source who is usually well-informed about matters concerning the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National People’s Power (NPP) got in touch with me a few days ago. He said that ex-Speaker Ranwala had indeed acquired a doctoral degree from Japan. According to this JVP/NPP “partisan” source, Asoka Ranwala has indeed acquired a PhD from a Japanese institution of higher learning and is therefore entitled to the prefix “Dr”. Apparently Ranwala, a longstanding activist of the JVP, had “escaped” from Sri Lanka when the Ranasinghe Premadasa regime had cracked down hard on the JVP in the 1989-90 period. Ranwala had made his way to Japan and resided there for several years, stated this source. Ranwala had pursued further studies while being in Japan during those years and had obtained a doctoral degree, claimed this source. Due to some procedural difficulties, Ranwala had been unable to get accredited documentation to clearly establish his bona fides in this matter. The JVP hierarchy was convinced that Ranwala had a doctorate and was prepared to give him time to produce documentary proof of his PhD. But when the Opposition was preparing to present a no confidence motion in Parliament, the JVP leaders had felt it was better for Ranwala to resign from his post and then restore his tarnished image by procuring documentary proof of his qualifications. As such Asoka Ranwala is scheduled to go to Japan soon (he may have gone already) and take steps to get proof of his doctoral degree. “Asoka Ranwala will soon prove that he does indeed have a doctorate from Japan,” emphasised the source. I am inclined to treat this claim with more than a pinch of salt, but let us wait and see what happens. As stated in the first part of this article published last week, both Asoka Ranwala and yesteryear speaker Anandatissa de Alwis have one thing in common. Both were first-time entrants to Parliament who served as speakers. Anandatissa de Alwis had entered the National State Assembly as Parliament was called then for the first time in July 1977 as MP for Kotte when he was elected speaker. Being a former journalist himself, Anandatissa de Alwis was the darling of the media but it was during his period as Speaker that the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act was given new teeth. To demonstrate the power of the amended law, two senior editors of Lake House were summoned to the House over a mix up of a photo caption allegedly affecting then Foreign Minister A.C.S. Hameed. It was a trivial mix up of captions between pictures of an event concerning minister Hameed and a woman clad in a bikini. The two editors were grilled exhaustively and hauled over the coals by Government parliamentarians. An exasperated leader of the Opposition Appapillai Amirthalingam called for an end to the comic inquisition. The editors were let off with a fine. The talk among journalists then was that the captions had been deliberately mixed up to enable the staging of this parliamentary drama. Anandatissa de Alwis became a Cabinet minister in 1978. He was succeeded as Speaker by the deputy speaker Beruwela MP, Bakeer Markar in September 1978. It was during Bakeer Markar’s tenure that the no confidence motion against Opposition leader of the time, Appapillai Amirthalingam was moved by government MPs in 1981. Such a development was unheard of in parliamentary history. Government MPs don’t bring votes of no confidence against the leader of the Opposition. Not only did Bakeer allow the motion but also failed to restrain the “criminal” remarks made by MPs against an absent Amirthalingam during the one-sided debate. The lone communist party MP Sarath Muttetuwegama walked out of Parliament after criticising Bakeer Markar for letting Government backbenchers run Parliament instead of asserting order in the House as Speaker. Bakeer Markar also failed to check the vituperatively racist outpourings of Cyril Mathew in Parliament on more than one occasion. In spite of appeasing hawkish elements in Government ranks and disgracing the office of Speaker in the process, Bakeer Markar was unable to continue as Speaker for his full term. After the anti-Tamil pogrom of July 1983, sections of the Buddhist clergy exerted pressure on J.R. that a Sinhala Buddhist, E.L. Senanayake of Kandy should replace Bakeer Markar the Muslim Speaker. This was acceded to and the old trooper E.L. served as speaker from September 1983 to December 1988. Bakeer was inducted into the cabinet as a minister without portfolio. The 1989 to 1994 Parliament saw the veteran Muslim leader from Colombo, M. Haniffa Mohamed function as Speaker. M.H. Mohamed’s crisis hour came during the impeachment motion moves against president Ranasinghe Premadasa by the trio comprising Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake and G.M. Premachandra. After being initially favourable to the rebels, Mohamed changed track swiftly and switched loyalties in favour of President Premadasa. A fresh breeze blew in the musty corridors of power in 1994 when the 17-year-long UNP rule was terminated in 1994 by a People’s Alliance (PA) Government led by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. In 1994 it was the turn of Rajarata’s K.B. Ratnayake to be Speaker. The former Anuradhapura MP was an old student of Hartley College, Point Pedro and spoke Tamil well. K.B. was perhaps the first Sinhala speaker to speak all three languages fluently in the House. Most of the Muslim speakers too were trilingual. The new millennium in 2000 witnessed what was then the rare spectacle of both Government and Opposition electing a consensus candidate as Speaker. That singular honour went to Chandrika Kumaratunga’s brother and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s old school chum Anura Bandaranaike. The PA Government had won the elections with a slender majority. Though Anura was then in the UNP and therefore in the Opposition, Chandrika and Ranil agreed to make Anura the Speaker, much against the wishes of party stalwarts on both sides. A crisis arose when Kumaratunga prorogued Parliament after she lost her majority in parliament. Efforts were on to impeach the president and the then Chief Justice Sarath Silva. Sarath Silva tried to restrain the speaker from accepting the impeachment motion. Though initially hesitant, Anura Bandaranaike ruled later that Parliament was supreme. He said the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to issue interim orders restraining the Speaker in respect of the steps he is empowered to take under Standing Order 78 (a). As stated earlier, the ruling was prompted by the issue of a restraining order on Speaker Anura Bandaranaike by then Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva because there were moves for an impeachment motion against him (Silva) in Parliament. By then, no motion was placed on the Order Paper and only signatures were being collected. The restraining order was based on two fundamental rights petitions heard by a Supreme Court bench presided by then Chief Justice Silva himself. However, the motion did not materialise since the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga later dissolved Parliament. Summarising his decision, Speaker Anura Bandaranaike declared that: 1. The Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to issue the interim orders restraining the Speaker of Parliament in respect of the steps he is empowered to take under Standing Order 78(a). 2. The interim orders dated 6 June 2001 are not binding on the Speaker of Parliament. 3. There are no legal obligations to comply with the said orders. Later Anura crossed over to the PA after Parliament was dissolved. December 2001 elections saw the UNP-led UNF win. Ranil Wickremesinghe became premier while Chandrika Kumaratunga remained executive president. Gampaha District MP, Joseph Michael Perera was elected Speaker. During his term of office Joseph Michael Perera made a controversial ruling where he emphasised that the President could not unilaterally prorogue Parliament. The Speaker’s (Joseph Michael Perera) ruling reiterated the position that the executive power of the people is vested in the president and Article 70 of the Constitution confers on the president the power to summon, prorogue and dissolve parliament. However, Article 70 of the Constitution, Perera ruled cannot contravene Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution. Parliament has been elected by the people in whom the sovereign power is vested under Article 3 of the Constitution. Under Article 4, this sovereignty is divided and exercised by the executive president, parliament and the judiciary. In addition, under Article 4, parliament also exercises the judicial power of the people through the courts and tribunals established by the constitution or created and established by law. The Speaker J.M. Perera pointed out in his order that an examination of the scheme of the Constitution shows that Article 70 appears in Chapter XI titled, “The legislative procedure and power.” This makes it clear that this aspect of the president’s power is not an attributive of his executive power set out in article VII, but rather an administrative function vis-a-vis parliament. The exercise of the power to summon, dissolve and prorogue must therefore always be exercised in consultation with parliament and this function must be accepted at all times as being subordinate to the legislative power of the people conferred on parliament by Article 4 (a). Joseph Michael Perera therefore determined that were it not so, it would lead to a situation where one arm of government is able to completely suppress another equal, but separate arm. Interestingly Joseph Michael Perera’s ruling features prominently in the 2018 situation where President Sirisena arbitrarily prorogued Parliament without consulting the Speaker. Political cohabitation came to an end in 2004 and Parliament was dissolved by the then president Kumaratunga. Elections were held and the SLFP led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) came to power. The communist party’s D.E.W. Gunasekera’s name was proposed as Speaker by the UPFA. However, the Opposition nominated UNP’s Badulla District MP, W.J.M. Lokubandara instead of the incumbent Speaker Joseph Michael Perera. Though Perera could have been fielded as a speaker candidate, a change was necessitated due to political exigencies. Joseph Michael Perera was a Catholic. Given the rising tide of anti-Christian feeling among sections of the Buddhist clergy and laity prevailing at that time, a man like Lokubandara with impeccable Sinhala Buddhist credentials was seen as more suitable. The phenomenon of nine Buddhist monk MPs of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) holding the power balance in a hung parliament saw the need for an avowed Sinhala Buddhist nationalist like Lokubandara as opposition candidate for Speaker. It was hoped that Lokubandara could win Jathika Hela Urumaya support or at least ensure their neutrality. The election results indicated that the stratagem had succeeded to a great extent. W.J.M. Lokubandara became Speaker after a bitter and closely contested election. He won with one vote (110-109) in a tussle that went down as a shameful episode in the parliamentary history of this country. In a fracas occurring while Parliament was in session, a Buddhist monk MP was manhandled by a group of MP’s. The chief culprit in this instance was the infamous Mervyn Silva. The 2010 Parliament saw Hambantota District MP Chamal Rajapaksa become Speaker. It was a time when the Rajapaksas of Ruhunu were riding high with Chamal’s younger brothers Mahinda, Basil and Gotabaya being the President, Cabinet Minister and Defence Secretary respectively. It was during Chamal Rajapaksa’s tenure as that Parliament impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. Chamal Rajapaksa completed his full term as Speaker from April 2010 to June 2015. Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated by Maithripala Sirisena in the presidential poll of Jan 2015. Parliamentary polls in August 2015 saw the UNF forming the Government Karu Jayasuriya became speaker in August 2015 as the latest in a long line of illustrious Speakers who served the legislatures, people and country for many decades. Fate seems to have decreed that Karu Jayasuriya should don the mantle of speaker when parliamentary democracy was facing danger. In an unimaginable political twist, President Maithripala Sirisena conspired with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to oust the then Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and seize power. Sirisena arbitrarily replaced Wickremesinghe as Prime minister with Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was Wickremesinghe who had the majority of MPs on his side. The Mahinda-Maithripala duo was engaged in cobbling together a parliamentary majority by enticing MPs through incentives. Karu Jayasuriya in his capacity as Speaker provided courageous leadership to those resisting unconstitutional moves by the Maithripala-Mahinda duo to seize de facto control of Parliament followed by de-jure control. He even risked physical danger to himself in doing so. Karu refused to be cowed down by the “terror tactics” of pro-Mahinda MPs. For the first time in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, a group of MPs tried to attack the speaker physically. Jayasuriya was compelled to enter and exit the chamber with Police escort. Not all the waters of Diyawanna Oya are sufficient to wash off the black mark imposed on 16 November 2018. Karu Jayasuriya’s strength and courage to stand firm in this exercise in the face of violent hostility from the Maithripala-Mahinda forces was derived from his belief of being morally and legally correct. Karu Jayasuriya fought that political battle with the noble aim of safeguarding parliamentary democracy. His courageous defiance of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s MP’s in Parliament was a key element of that fight. It was the outrageously anti-democratic power grab – aided and abetted by Maithripala – of Mahinda Rajapaksa that impelled Karu to enter the fray and spearhead opposition to the illegal attempts. Karu Jayasuriya by his courageous defiance of Maithripala and Mahinda demonstrated that he was no pushover as envisaged by his political adversaries. Moreover, his brave conduct in those dark times resulted in posterity acknowledging Karu Jayasuriya as the most heroic Speaker in Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary history. Karu Jayasuriya as speaker also presided over the Constitutional Assembly tasked with the duty of formulating a new Constitution. The Constitutional assembly succeeded in bringing out a very worthwhile interim report that was approved unanimously by all party representatives. However several parties changed their stances thereafter resulting in the Constitutional exercise reaching a dead end. The 2020 elections saw Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna becoming speaker. He was the first SLPP MP to be elected as speaker. The Matara district MP who served two terms as Southern province chief minister had been first elected Hakmana MP on the UNP ticket. He was removed from office as MP by the then president J.R. Jayewardene for opposing the Indo-Lanka accord and violating party discipline. Abeywardena served as speaker when history of a peculiar variety was made in Sri Lanka. The “Aragalaya” protests resulted in the fall of the SLPP Government. The SLPP president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled from Sri Lanka and went abroad. President Rajapaksa was met in Singapore by the Sri Lankan envoy Sashikala Premawardhane. Gotabaya t signed his letter of resignation in the presence of High Commissioner Sashikala Premawardhane. She e-mailed it immediately to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene in Colombo. However, some doubts regarding the authenticity of the e-mailed resignation letter were raised in Colombo. Therefore, High Commissioner Premawardhane despatched the original letter through a High Commission staffer, who personally delivered it to the Speaker in Sri Lanka. The letter was read out to Parliament by the Parliament Secretary-General. Thereafter the Speaker Abeywardena officially announced the resignation of President Rajapaksa at a news conference on 15 July 2022. The name of speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was bandied about as a potential president in those crisis times. In fact some powerful western diplomats tacitly backed the speaker to take over the presidency. Abeywardena refused and Ranil Wickremesinghe became the eighth executive president of Sri Lanka. Presidential and Parliamentary elections in September and November 2024 saw Anura Kumara Dissanayake being elected as President and the National People’s Power (NPP) PP winning 159 seats in Parliament. The NPP Gampaha district MP Ranwala Arachchige Asoka Sapumal Ranwala served as Sri Lanka’s Speaker from 21 November to 13 December 2024 for 22 days. On 17 December 2024, Idampitiyegedara Wanigasuriya Mudiyanselage Jagath Wickramaratne was elected as Speaker. The election was unanimous. Dr. Jagath Wickramarathe who was elected on the NPP ticket from Polonnaruwa district is a medical doctor. This then is the story of the speakers of Sri Lanka from 1931 to 2024.

How Donald Trump's Mexico tariffs may hurt Elon Musk's TeslaStocks shook off a choppy start to finish higher Monday, as Wall Street kicked off a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 ended 0.7% higher after having been down 0.5% in the early going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also recovered from an early slide to eke out a 0.2% gain. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Gains in technology and communications stocks accounted for much of the gains, outweighing losses in consumer goods companies and elsewhere in the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 3.7%. Broadcom climbed 5.5% to also help support the broader market. Walmart fell 2% and PepsiCo slid 1%. Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. U.S.-listed shares in Honda jumped 12.7%, while Nissan ended flat. Eli Lilly rose 3.7% after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Department store Nordstrom fell 1.5% after it agreed to be taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. All told, the S&P 500 rose 43.22 points to 5,974.07. The Dow gained 66.69 points to 42,906.95. The Nasdaq rose 192.29 points to 19,764.89. Traders got a look at a new snapshot of U.S. consumer confidence Monday. The Conference Board said that consumer confidence slipped in December. Its consumer confidence index fell back to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Wall Street was expecting a reading of 113.8. The unexpectedly weak consumer confidence update follows several generally strong economic reports last week. One report showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The latest report on unemployment benefit applications showed that the job market remains solid. A report on Friday said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than economists expected. Worries about inflation edging higher again had been weighing on Wall Street and the Fed. The central bank just delivered its third cut to interest rates this year, but inflation has been hovering stubbornly above its target of 2%. It has signaled that it could deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier anticipated because of concerns over inflation. Expectations for more interest rate cuts have helped drive a roughly 25% gain for the S&P 500 in 2024. That drive included 57 all-time highs this year. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market's path ahead and shifting economic policies under an incoming President Donald Trump. "Put simply, much of the strong market performance prior to last week was driven by expectations that a best-case scenario was the base case for 2025," said Brent Schutte, chief investment officer at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59% from 4.53% late Friday. European markets closed mostly lower, while markets in Asia gained ground. Wall Street has several other economic reports to look forward to this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. will release its November report for sales of newly constructed homes. A weekly update on unemployment benefits is expected on Thursday. Markets in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and will remain closed on Wednesday for Christmas. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

NoneFollowing is a summary of current world news briefs. Israel pounds southern Lebanon and Beirut outskirts, killing five medics Israeli forces pounded southern Lebanon and the outskirts of the capital Beirut on Friday, killing at least five medics, and ground troops clashed with Hezbollah fighters in the south. Israel has pushed on with its intense military campaign against the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, tempering hopes that efforts by a U.S. envoy will lead to an imminent ceasefire. Ukraine steps up air defence development in response to Russian missile deployment, Zelenskiy says President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Ukraine was working on developing new types of air defence to counter "new risks" following Russia's deployment of a new medium-range missile in the 33-month war. Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, said testing a new weapon for purposes of terror in another country was an "international crime" and issued a new call for a world-wide "serious response" to keep Russia from expanding the war. Bolsonaro's coup indictment postponed by Brazil's top prosecutor, sources say Brazil's top public prosecutor is not likely to issue any indictments until next year for former President Jair Bolsonaro, members of his government and military officers who allegedly planned a coup after his 2022 election defeat, four sources told Reuters. That is because General Prosecutor Paulo Gonet is planning to merge three Federal Police investigations into Bolsonaro's actions against Brazil's democratic system and produce one single global indictment against him, they said. Russia says Kyiv returned 46 civilians taken to Ukraine after incursion Russia said on Friday that Ukraine had returned 46 Russian citizens who were taken there after Ukrainian forces seized a chunk of Russia's western Kursk region in August. "The painstaking and lengthy negotiations for the return of our fellow countrymen to their homeland have brought results," Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov wrote on his Telegram channel. "They are receiving all necessary assistance." Analysis-Calls for minister's firing could tip Israel into constitutional crisis A petition by a group of non-governmental organizations for the Supreme Court to order the dismissal of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has caused a rift in Benjamin Netanyahu's government and could plunge Israel into a constitutional crisis. In a letter to Netanyahu last week, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara asked the prime minister to consider firing the minister, citing evidence that he allegedly interfered directly in police operations and politicized promotions within the force, threatening its status outside politics. Analysis-Putin sends a missile message to the West: 'Back off' Vladimir Putin's hypersonic missile carried a simple message to the West over Ukraine: back off, and if you don't, Russia reserves the right to hit U.S. and British military facilities. Russia fired a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik", or Hazel Tree, at Ukraine on Thursday in what Putin said was a direct response to strikes on Russia by Ukrainian forces with U.S. and British missiles. Trump expected to pick Bessent to be US treasury secretary, sources say President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pick prominent investor Scott Bessent to take on the role of U.S. Treasury secretary, sources told Reuters on Friday, putting him at the helm of a cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs. One source briefed by the Trump transition team and a donor briefed on the plans told Reuters of Trump's intention to pick Bessent. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Putin says Russia will keep testing new missile in combat President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia would keep testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat and had a stock ready for use, while Ukraine said it was already at work to develop air systems to counter the weapon. Putin was speaking a day after Russia fired the new intermediate-range weapon into Ukraine for the first time, a step he said was prompted by Ukraine's use of U.S. ballistic missiles and British cruise missiles to hit Russia. Trump may seek dismissal of hush money case, sentencing delayed Donald Trump may seek dismissal of the criminal case in which he was convicted in May of 34 felony counts involving hush money paid to a porn star, a judge ruled on Friday, while also indefinitely delaying Trump's sentencing in light of his victory in the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. The sentencing had been scheduled to take place next Tuesday. Little hope in Gaza that arrest warrants will cool Israeli onslaught Gazans saw little hope on Friday that International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders would slow down the onslaught on the Palestinian territory, where medics said at least 24 people were killed in fresh Israeli military strikes. In Gaza City in the north, an Israeli strike on a house in Shejaia killed eight people, medics said. Three others were killed in a strike near a bakery and a fisherman was killed as he set out to sea. In the central and southern areas, 12 people were killed in three separate Israeli air strikes. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Nintendo Reveals 'Echoes of Wisdom's Place on the Zelda Timeline

Wheelchair-bound “Wicked” actress Mariss Bode has hit back after being subjected to nasty jokes about her disability following the release of the blockbuster movie. The 24-year-old, who has been confined to a wheelchair since her involvement in a car crash at the age of 11, plays protagonist Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, in the big-screen adaptation of the wildly popular musical. Nessarose, who also uses a wheelchair in the film, has been poorly received by viewers, who have accused her the character of being a “bad sister” to Elphaba. In a five-minute TikTok video , shared on Friday, Bode explained that it was fine for audiences to dislike the character, admitting that she is “complex.” However, she criticized fans for highlighting her disability and poking fun at it. “Aggressive comments and jokes about Nessa’s disability itself is deeply uncomfortable, because disability is not fictional,” Bode explained. “At the end of the day, me, Marissa, is the person that is still disabled and in a wheelchair. And so it is simply a low-hanging fruit that too many of you are comfortable taking.” Bode said sick cyberbullies had left comments making fun of the fact she can’t stand up. They included remarks such as “stand up for yourself” and “I guess you can’t stand him.” “These comments aren’t original, and when these jokes are being made by non-disabled strangers with a punchline of not being able to walk, it very much feels like laughing at rather than laughing with ,” she declared. She said she had attempted to delete all the nasty “jokes” from her social media pages. Bode encouraged “Wicked” viewers to heed the messages of the musical. “I want to say one of the major themes within ‘Wicked’ is having the ability to listen and understand one another, and I truly hope that is something a lot of you can practice more and take with you,” she implored. The viral TikTok comes after other “Wicked” fans were blasted for bad behavior in the movie theater. Rude viewers have ruined screenings by singing along the the movie’s songs, prompting some cinemas to ban crooning . “They don’t know how to be in public places,” one peeved ticket buyer told The Post .Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appears to have broken his silence and addressed comments made by Donald Trump encouraging Canada to become “our 51st state.” “Some information about Canada for Americans,” Trudeau wrote on X Thursday afternoon above a video ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver aired by the American news outlet NBC. The six-minute clip narrated by Tom Brokaw gives a broad overview of Canadian politics, landscapes and formative moments in the national memory. Some information about Canada for Americans: https://t.co/EnI8CrF4cB The terse six-word message is the first direct response the prime minister has made to a series of Trump posts about Canada joining the U.S. It follows a post on X by Mark Carney saying it was time to “stand up for Canada.” Trudeau has said little publicly since his finance minister quit on Dec. 16 and several of his MPs have called for him to resign. He is said to be considering his political future over the holidays . Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has increasingly taunted Trudeau, often referring to him as a governor, equivalent to a state-level American leader on his social media platform, Truth Social. “Their (Canada) Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote in his Christmas Day post. The incoming U.S. president has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff against Canada as soon as he takes office in January. Shortly before Trump’s Christmas Day message lambasting Trudeau, he posted a message recalling a conversation with Wayne Gretzky , encouraging him to run for high office. “Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada — You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign,” Trump recalls telling the Canadian hockey great. Trudeau’s comments came just hours after former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney publicly denounced Trump, saying the incoming American president’s remarks about “Governor Justin Trudeau” were “carrying the ‘joke’ too far.” “The casual disrespect, the poor tax math, and ignoring that workers on both sides of our border will be better off if we work together,” Carney wrote on X above a screenshot of Trump’s Christmas Day statement. “Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership.” This is carrying the ‘joke’ too far: the casual disrespect, the poor tax math, and ignoring that workers on both sides of our border will be better off if we work together. Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 🇲🇽 https://t.co/BO4zEMrk0B Carney, who was tapped by Trudeau to replace Chrystia Freeland as finance minister , is among the first to publicly condemn the repeated jabs by Trump. Negotiations to join the government between the economist and Trudeau broke down earlier this month, recently appointed Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc confirmed. Senior Liberals have sought to downplay the comments or frame them as well-intentioned jokes. Canada’s ambassador to America, Kirsten Hillman, characterized Trump’s social media posts as ribbing between two close countries. Likewise, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in early December that she had joked with Republican senators, offering them to join Canada as the eleventh province. Carleton University professor Aaron Ettinger said federal officials have rightly been dismissing the social media posts and maintained a “focus like a laser beam” on the real and “existential threat” of tariffs. “This strikes me as being profoundly unserious,” Ettinger said, who has studied Canada-U.S. relations during the first Trump presidency. “These are taunts; these are churlish provocations that are not mature, and do not reflect just how serious the coming trade war is.” Oh Canada! Donald Trump Truth Social 04:32 PM EST 12/02/24 @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/XyIx7eCVmE Ettinger said Trump is likely continually posting about Canada because it plays well to his supporters, without being seen as a real threat of annexation. “We know his moves. He makes fun of, he belittles, he mocks, because he can,” he said. But he said that a vacuum of leadership in Ottawa from an embattled prime minister is spurring “the freelancing of some of the provincial leaders” in response to Trump’s comments. Donald Trump’s son and close adviser, Eric, weighed in on the ongoing spat as well, sharing a picture on Monday of his father set to purchase Canada, Greenland and Panama Canal in his Amazon cart. “We are so back!!!” the executive vice president of the Trump Organization tweeted. We are so back!!! pic.twitter.com/PvybVULeAz Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state at a dinner meeting with Trudeau on Nov. 29 at Mar-A-Lago, his Flordia coastal estate. “It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!” Trump wrote following their meeting. — With files from The Canadian Press Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here .

( MENAFN - Caribbean News Global) More than six workers among 10 and 4 enterprises among five in the world operate in the informal economy. Contrary to the old forecasts, informality has not diminished over time and is even increasing in many countries. Informal economies are typically characterized by a high incidence of poverty and severe decent work deficits. Without formalization, decent work for all and equity in society will remain an illusion. In 2015, the ILO adopted the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation . The Recommendation is a powerful tool to advance towards the attainment of SDGs . During the last years, a growing number of countries worldwide have developed strategies and policies to facilitate transition to formality. Social partners are also developing their relations with workers and enterprises in the informal economy. Formalization of the economy is a complex and long term process that often requires to combine interventions on laws and regulations with those aiming to foster productivity and the ability to generate wealth. For part of the workforce, the reduction of decent work deficits is the first step toward a progressive formalization in the longer term. The significant reduction of informality in some countries illustrates that achieving results is largely possible. Formalization Asia-Pacific forum drives efforts to formalize informal economy, addresses climate impact on vulnerable workers – Regional stakeholders urge integrated strategies to promote decent work, emphasizing climate resilience and systemic change ahead of 2025 International Labour Conference discussions. Cooperative care models address global needs and improve social well-being – Panelists at the session on cooperatives and the care economy explored how cooperatives and SSE entities can improve care provision, empower women, and foster decent work. The post Transition to formal economy appeared first on Caribbean News Global . MENAFN26122024000232011072ID1109033653 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Judge rules Arkansas law allowing criminal charges against librarians is unconstitutional

What’s behind Mumbai’s haze?

BLOUNTVILLE— During last week’s voting meeting, the Sullivan County Commission passed a resolution allowing early retirement for police officers and correctional officers through a bridge program. The commission also passed a resolution that opposes the establishment of an overlay district on the South Fork of the Holston River. Bridge program Police officers, firefighters and correctional officers that are between ages 55 and 62 can retire early under the bridge program if they have put in at least 25 years of service. “The bridge program is something that all the federal programs have in law enforcement and traffic,” said Mark Ireson, commissioner and sponsor of the resolution.“I’m actually retired on the Bridge program. It’s a program that helps to cover living expenses and allows you to use your retirement funding the day you retire at age 55 and it goes to 62 until you’re eligible for Social Security.” Mark Ireson Ireson said EMS and EMA officials are currently not eligible for the program. He said he consulted with Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy and county financial staff before pursuing the resolution. “I asked the sheriff, ‘Is this something you guys are interested in?’ And he said, ‘Yes, absolutely,’” Ireson said. The program is expected to benefit 35 employees, with 29 of them retiring within six years. There are six people in the county who will not hit the 25 years of service mark and won’t be able to retire. “Of the six people, four of those were retirees from other departments or other jobs who came in to do extra work here at the sheriff’s office,” Ireson said. “There are two that will not be able to retire by age 60, and that’s gonna be an issue, but the sheriff said he he will work with them to figure something out.” Ireson said meetings are to be held with county employees and representatives from the program, so they are informed on how they may be affected. Sheriff Cassidy who spoke during the meeting, said the program will benefit a lot of his employees who are getting close to the age of retirement. “My heart is for these employees,” Cassidy said. “This job is very demanding, very stressful, away from your family a whole lot more than you need to be. This program is a life changer for those who are eligible.” Sergeant Phil White, one of the officers set to retire soon also spoke. “This program will be a big boost to me. I’ve been here for almost 29 years,” White said. “It’s a young man’s game. It’s not for me anymore, but I still do my job on a daily basis as best I can.” Ireson noted that reaction times decline around age 56, which is another reason the bridge program can make operations safer, especially in police departments. Opposition to river overlay district In another resolution, the commission expressed complete opposition to a proposed overlay district on the South Fork of the Holston River. Sponsored by Commissioner Joe Carr, the resolution voiced concerns about the potential impact on property rights, farming and the possibility of eminent domain use for zoning projects. “Many residents are deeply concerned about the prospect of a river overlay district being imposed on them, which would be a detriment to both landowners and our farmers,” the resolution stated. During public comment, multiple residents urged the commission to approve the resolution, citing flaws in a recent recreational study that could be used to justify an overlay district in the future. Melinda Morell pointed out discrepancies in survey data. “This study explains that the survey data was a critical component, yet the survey results in previous versions were wrong and only corrected after documented evidence was provided,” Morell said. Morell said the survey only had about 0.2% of Sullivan County represented and of those respondents, 9% did not live in the county. “The second survey that was provided, 55 pieces of information were sent out, but yet there’s 8,004 parcels. That’s less than 0.7% of impacted individuals,” Morell said. Morell said she and others asked the zoning and planning commission to include those statistics and numbers from the surveys in their reports to give context for future commissions. Jaquita Hickman asked the commission to consider how an overlay district could impact the property taxes of the land. “Most people on that river have private property farms,” Hickman said. “We have large farms, and what I am concerned about is the restrictions that will be given to our ancestors because I want my children and my grandchildren to be able to have our legacy so that they can have a future in Sullivan County as well.”

Innocent Armor Offering Year-End Deals on Premium Protective Gear 12-26-2024 08:16 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Content Hum Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/1735044534.jpg Innocent Armor is revolutionizing the way we think about personal protection by combining innovative ballistic technology with modern, stylish designs. To celebrate the close of the year, the company is offering a limited-time sale that allows customers to save 20% on select items through December 31. This event is the perfect opportunity for individuals to invest in safety gear that doesn't compromise aesthetics or comfort. The End-of-Year Sale features some of the most sought-after products in the market. Among the highlights is the Flight Bomber Jacket, which combines the iconic style of a bomber jacket with the life-saving capabilities of advanced ballistic protection. It is lightweight, sleek, and designed for individuals who prioritize safety without wanting to draw attention to it. Another standout is the versatile bulletproof vest that fits discreetly under clothing, offering effective protection while remaining virtually invisible. Innocent Armor's vests are a practical choice for anyone looking to blend safety seamlessly into their everyday life. In addition to wearable protection, the sale includes a bulletproof plate for a backpack [ https://innocentarmor.com/collections/ballistic-panels ]. These ballistic panels can be easily inserted into any standard backpack, transforming it into a shield that offers a discreet layer of security for commuters, students, and travelers. Whether you're heading to work, school, or on a trip, these panels provide peace of mind in an uncertain world. The collection also features a variety of stylish options like a bulletproof coat [ https://innocentarmor.com/products/flight-bomber-jacket ], soft shell jackets, indigo denim jackets, and performance T-shirts. Each item in the sale has been engineered to provide maximum protection while maintaining a fashionable appearance. Innocent Armor's commitment to craftsmanship ensures that every product exceeds ballistic safety standards, offering reliable protection against potential threats. "Our End-of-Year Sale is the perfect opportunity to combine personal safety with style at an unbeatable value," said a spokesperson for Innocent Armor. "With premium protection gear available at reduced prices, it's never been easier to prioritize security without breaking the bank. Whether you're upgrading your own safety gear or searching for a meaningful gift for a loved one, this sale offers an exceptional range of options to suit every need." The End-of-Year Sale is not only a chance to save money but also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of safety as we prepare to welcome a new year. Innocent Armor's products offer peace of mind and confidence, ensuring that you and your loved ones can face the future with greater security. With the 20% discount valid until December 31, this is the perfect moment to act. Looking for a bulletproof vest undershirt [ https://innocentarmor.com/collections/ballistic-vests]? Innocent Armor's dedication to quality and innovation continues to set it apart as a leader in personal protection. The company's products are designed for modern lifestyles, blending seamlessly with everyday attire while providing the reassurance of advanced ballistic technology. This sale underscores Innocent Armor's mission to make safety accessible, stylish, and practical for everyone. Media Contact Company Name: Innocent Armor Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=innocent-armor-offering-yearend-deals-on-premium-protective-gear ] Phone: 7149287676 Address:5119 Fountain Ave City: Los Angeles State: CA, 90029 Country: United States Website: https://innocentarmor.com This release was published on openPR.From guitar straps to wireless systems, I've scoured the Internet for the best guitar accessory deals this Black Friday so you don't have toCommerce Bancshares senior vice president sells $120,293 in stockIt's officially holiday-gift-buying season, and there's no better time to shop than . You'll get more gifts for your buck, and you won't have to wait in stores lines. But if you need some gift ideas, we've got you. Our editors spend hours every day scrolling for the best deals, testing new products and researching the best stuff. So when it comes to gift-giving, well, let's just say we'll bet you wish you were on our list this year. Seenlast Candle Warmer Lamp with Timer Ugg Euphoria Plush Faux Fur Reversible Throw Blanket Mulberry Silk Pillowcase, Standard Size Venustas Men's Polar Fleece Heated Jacket Lego Icons Tiny Plants Building Set Uproot Cleaner Pro Pet Hair Remover Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (2024) Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar Scented Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Carry-on Luggage Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (Newest Model) L'ange Hair Le Styliste Luxury Hair Dryer ESW Beauty Raw Juice Cleanse Mask Set Asakuki 5-in-1 Essential Oil Diffuser Madewell Women's Cotton Cuffed Beanie Tile by Life360 Sticker, 2-Pack Britannica's First Big Book of Why Lillusory Oversize Cardigan Majestic Pure Sweet Orange Body Scrub Polar Verity Sense Optical Heart Rate Monitor Armband Polar Pacer Ultra-Light GPS Fitness Tracker Smartwatch for Runners Renpho Eyeris 1 Eye Massager with Heat Warm Pals Microwavable Lavender-Scented Spidey The Spider So lean on us! We've compiled the best gifts — the ones we're absolutely obsessed with— that you can get on sale during the , up to 60% off. For the winter homebodies, might we suggest a or a ? On the other hand, if you're shopping for a frequent flyer, we love a and these . Seriously, we're filled with gift ideas! If you don't see something on this list that strikes your fancy, for , , , the and more. "As someone whose greatest fear is burning my house down, I'm a little obsessed with these pretty yet practical gadgets. Not only do they allow you to enjoy the scent of your favorite candles without any flame, they can also extend their lives as well. I plan on getting a few of these to gift to family and friends this year; at under $30, it's a small price to pay for some peace of mind." "Who doesn't want to curl up in a ridiculously soft blanket during the winter months? There is nothing I love more than hanging on my couch underneath a pile of blankets, so I plan on adding this faux fur one from Ugg into the mix. It's machine-washable and neutral enough to go with any home decor. While this throw is on sale, I plan on snagging it right away." "I'm a huge fan of my silk pillowcase — I feel like royalty while sleeping on the smooth surface, but it also keeps my hair from breaking and frizzing at night. This holiday season, I'm going to spread the wealth and gift these to friends and family. At just $10, it makes the perfect stocking stuffer. You can also choose from tons of different colors — everything from neutrals to bright pink and teal — so there's a style for everyone on your list." "Do you know how hard it is to get a tween boy to wear any sort of coat or jacket? Well, I've finally found a workaround: This battery-pack-powered fleece. It's light enough not to bug a coat-averse kid from the get-go, and they can toggle between three heat levels by pressing a button. If you're not part of the bus-stop crew, never fear — it would be a great gift for anyone who wants a little extra warmth without the bulk this winter." "Black thumb? No problem. These teeny-tiny plants are impossible to kill. This 758-piece set is one of the most popular Lego releases from the last year — and that's saying something since they recently earned the title of the most-searched toy brand on ." "This is a worthy stocking stuffer for any pet owner. It grabs hair from rugs, upholstery, pet beds — basically, any pet-loved place or perch — way more effectively than a vacuum, and you can use it over and over, so say goodbye to those annoying rollers of sticky tape. The only downside is that once you use it, you'll realize that your house has not actually been clean since you brought home Fido or Fluffy," "The best budget tablet just got a refresh, and while the updates are pretty modest, this is still an amazingly versatile device — especially at the Black Friday price of just $55. Amazon even managed to bake some new AI features into the Fire HD 8, like e-mail proofreading and natural-language web page summaries. Before you spend a small fortune on an iPad Mini, you owe it to yourself to catch Fire. Read my to learn more." — "I usually don’t wear earbuds since they tend to fall out of my ears, but a few months ago, Bose gifted me a pair of these Ultra Open Earbuds, and I can’t get enough of them! They fit like an ear cuff, so they actually stay put. Plus, they're not noise-cancelling, which I love because I can still hear the world around me. This makes me feel a lot safer while I’m out walking. And I’m definitely not alone in loving them — Oprah even featured them on her this year! Now that they're on sale, I’m thinking they’d make the perfect Christmas gift for my sister." "I use an artificial Christmas tree, so I love lighting up this Balsam and Cedar scent from to give my apartment that cozy holiday feel. This enchanting blend features aromatic balsam, cedarwood and juniper berry — it smells exactly like a real tree. It should last me through the holidays, though I might get a second just to be safe." "As someone who always travels with just a carry-on, no matter how long the trip, I have to say this Travelpro suitcase is a total dream! It rolls so effortlessly, and the contour grip handle feels super comfortable to hold. I love how both sections have zippered panels that help compress my belongings, plus there are multiple pockets for all my smaller items. The best part? It has an expansion zipper that gives me an extra two inches of space, which is a lifesaver when I get carried away with souvenir shopping!" "Even at full price, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max was the budget pick in our . At 50% off, it's a steal. Amazon's streamer may not have the easiest interface in the world, but it does have lightning-fast Wi-Fi, robust parental controls and some of the best gaming options anywhere — including support for Xbox Game Pass (basically console gaming without the console). All for a measly $30." "If you really want to treat someone this season, get them the L'ange Le Stylist hair dryer. It's super lightweight, dries hair fast and leaves hair silky smooth. My mom bought one over the summer and made me compare it to my Dyson, and I have to say, I like this one better! It's so much lighter. Unfortunately, she took hers on a trip abroad and it broke, but she loved it so much she bought another one. Now I feel like my beauty-loving teen goddaughter may need one for Christmas (and maybe me too)." "I love these ESW face masks. I often buy them to stick in birthday cards as a small treat or bring them on trips to share with friends. This 'juice cleanse' multipack comes with five fruit-forward masks for detoxing pores, brightening, moisturizing and soothing skin and providing anti-aging benefits. And just to note, I have sensitive skin that's prone to breakouts and they've always helped, never irritated my skin. They're great stocking stuffers, but I'll also give out a few to my girlfriends this holiday season." "More and more research shows that inhaling certain scents throughout the day (such as rosemary and peppermint) can lead to increased focus and mental clarity overall. This diffuser is wildly well reviewed and it will look cute in my (or my gift recipient's) office too." "When I tell my teenage daughter to put on a hat in the winter, she inevitably always grabs MY absolute favorite Madewell beanie. So this season, I'm gifting her one of her own. Normally, this cotton hat is $35 at Madewell, but right now Amazon has two colors on sale for less. I'm grabbing both!" — "I love my husband dearly, but he's never met a TV remote that he didn't near-immediately lose somewhere — in the couch cushions, under the coffee table, sometimes in different rooms from the television entirely. Tile Stickers have been a lifesaver for when we're struggling to locate the Roku clicker, soundbar remote, etc., and I have a feeling this two-pack will come in very handy for a variety of these kinds of items. They're perfect for gifting to any similarly-absent-minded loved ones too — stocking stuffer, anyone?" "My son just started asking 'why?' incessantly, so I'm leaning heavily into early learning resources. I love Britannica's educational books like this , and with 10 nieces (yes, all nieces) and my own two kids to nerd out with, I'll be sharing the love with titles like and ." "This oversize cardigan looks very similar to an expensive Jenni Kayne one that's $395, but obviously, this one is a fraction of the price. I got one last year and it's super soft, comfy and washes well — so I had to get two more. This year, I'm going to gift one to my mom. They're great for layering over a T-shirt with jeans or leggings and especially great for travel. I know my snowbird mother will take hers on the plane to Florida this year, and when she lands, it won't take up too much room in her tote bag." "This bright, invigorating all-natural scrub is made from some of the most skin-nourishing ingredients around, including sweet orange oil, dead sea salt, organic aloe vera juice and coconut oil. The scent is more tart than candy-sweet and it's amazingly effective for sloughing off dead skin cells. And the price can't be beat." "Not everyone likes wearing a watch or ring while exercising. For the fitness buff who wants to track their heart rate and intensity level without restricting wrist or hand movement, Polar's Verity Sense armband is the way to go — Polar is known for its top-notch heart rate products" "For anyone who runs, hikes or bikes and wants a GPS watch, this lightweight Polar Pacer is an excellent choice. It's also good for tracking general activity and fitness metrics and includes a built-in heart rate monitor." "If you're anything like me, then you stare at a computer for at least eight hours a day. And there's the time spent scrolling TikTok and Instagram after-hours. And, ya know, the hours spent bingeing the latest Netflix release. Well, this heated massager will nip the all-too-inevitable eye strain in the bud. Switch between five different modes until you find the right level of heat, vibration and compression. You can even play some music — either the stuff that comes pre-loaded or your own tunes via Bluetooth — to really zen out. It's a must for anyone looking to amp up their self-care routine in the year ahead, aka everyone you know." "Weighted blankets and toys can help kids calm down, and these lavender-scented, microwavable stuffed animals are on my list to buy for my own kids this year. This spider to match my son's Spiderman theme, and the for my daughter. Anything to make bedtime a little easier, right?" If you have , you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. . (And by the way, those without still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)