The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) The ILWU held its annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The event gives holiday dinner fixings for 1,500 families with volunteers helping folks load items in their cars. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer) For more than two decades, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have provided Thanksgiving groceries to hundreds of families — and they did so again this year. ILWU members gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 26, to box the goods and pass them out, some delivering the dinner fixingd — including turkeys — to recipients’ cars outside the ILWU Memorial Hall in Wilmington. ILWU Locals 13, 63 and 94, along with the ILWU Southern California Pensioners and ILWU Federated Auxiliary No. 8, typically participate in the volunteer effort. Related Articles Provisions include a turkey, cornbread, fresh fruit, vegetables and other holiday dinner items. Volunteers were on hand to help the approximately 1,500 families — who go through a pre-registration process — load the groceries into their cars. The “Feed the Community” event has been sponsored by the union for 27 years .

‘Living in a home that damages health the norm for far too many older people’

The Centre for Ageing Better said data analysed on its behalf suggested more than a fifth of people in this age group are living in a poor-quality home that could be making their existing health condition worse. It said people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, those living in London and those who have a serious health condition or disability are more likely to be affected. Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing covering 2022/23 was analysed by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the charity. It found an estimated 4.5 million people aged 50 or older in England with a health condition aggravated by the cold are living in a home with one or more serious problems. Some 2.8 million were aged between 50 and 70, while 1.7 million were aged 70 and older. Health conditions included respiratory diseases, congestive heart failure, heart disease and lung conditions, including asthma. Housing problems identified in the research included damp, water leaks, bad condensation, electrical or plumbing problems, rot and decay. While some 2.2 million people over 50 with health and housing problems owned their home outright, the biggest proportion of people (51%) with such issues lived in rented accommodation. The charity said older renters with a health condition were up to three times more likely to have five or more issues with their home than someone in the same age group who owns their home. Those with a health condition that can be affected by poor housing who had a significant issue in their homes were most likely to live in London (52%) followed by the North East (35%) and the North West (35%), the West Midlands and the East of England (both on 28%), and the South West (27%). Almost half (46%) of people aged 50 and above from black and minority ethnic backgrounds with one of the health conditions had at least one problem with their home, which the charity said amounted to almost 500,000 people. Among white people in this age group it was just under one in three (32%). The research also suggested people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds living with a health condition were also more than twice as likely to have five or more issues with their housing compared with their white counterparts – 15% compared with 6%. Dr Carole Easton, the charity’s chief executive, said not only does the research show the difficulties faced by those living in poor housing, but it is also “very bad news” for both the economy and the NHS. She said: “Our latest research shows that our poor-quality housing crisis is putting people with health conditions in their 50s, 60s and beyond, in harm’s way. “This is obviously terrible for those individuals who live in homes that carry a very real risk of making them sick, particularly when winter comes around. “But it is also very bad news for the country. Older workers living in homes that are making their health conditions worse are going to be less likely to be able to work and help grow the economy. “Older people whose serious health conditions are made worse by their homes will require treatment, putting additional winter pressures on our health system. “All could be averted if we tackled poor-quality housing with the urgency and priority it demands.” Holly Holder, deputy director for homes at the charity, said the Government must “fix this hidden housing crisis by delivering a national strategy to tackle poor quality housing across all tenures and committing to halving the number of non-decent homes over the next decade”. She added: “No-one should have to live in a home that damages their health, yet it is the norm for far too many people in England today. “By failing to address poor-quality homes we are limiting the lives of some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people. “Our new analysis shows that the combination of health and house problems are most likely to impact groups of people who are already disadvantaged by multiple health and wealth inequalities.” A Government spokesperson said: “Despite the challenging inheritance faced by this Government, through our Plan for Change we’re taking action to improve housing conditions across all tenures and ensure homes are decent, safe and warm – especially for the most vulnerable. “We’re consulting on reforms to the Decent Homes Standard next year to improve the quality of social and privately rented housing, and introducing Awaab’s Law to both sectors to tackle damp, dangerous and cold conditions for all renters in England. “Our warm homes plan will also help people find ways to save money on energy bills and deliver cleaner heating, with up to 300,000 households to benefit from upgrades next year.”

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President Joe Biden’s announcement on Tuesday of a couldn’t have come soon enough for Lebanon, a country in the midst of a yearslong economic crisis and intense political paralysis. The war, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, as a series of hostile exchanges across the Israel-Lebanon border and escalated into a heavy Israeli air and ground campaign in Southern Lebanon, and turned some of Beirut’s districts into a war zone. Hours before the U.S.-brokered deal was announced, Israel in what was no doubt a message to the Lebanese militia: Israel can sustain the conflict for as long as it sees fit. In the end, Israel and Hezbollah concluded that they could gain more through negotiations than they could on the battlefield. The agreement is a recitation of , which ended a previous monthlong war between the two adversaries more than 17 years ago but was viewed by all the parties involved, Israel in particular, as a lackluster initiative that wasn’t enforced. The current deal seeks to strengthen UNSCR 1701 by adding stronger monitoring. During a 60-day ceasefire, Israeli troops will withdraw from Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah will do the same, and the Lebanese army will re-deploy to the area. Meanwhile, the approximately 60,000 Israelis who have been displaced in northern Israel will get to return home. In effect, the deal allows both Israel and Hezbollah to claim victory; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can boast that Hezbollah’s military capacity has been significantly diminished; Hezbollah can claim that its resistance drove Israeli forces out of Lebanon. Over the long term, the pause in fighting is designed to give Israel and Lebanon the time and space to officially demarcate their shared border. Yet, at the risk of sounding like a pessimist, just getting to that point would be an achievement. A lot can go wrong between now and then. After all, signing an agreement means nothing if it isn’t implemented. There are any number of ways the agreement can go sideways. First and foremost, the question of whether Hezbollah will actually withdraw north of the Litani River, approximately 20 miles from the Israeli-Lebanese border, is very much in question. Southern Lebanon is Hezbollah’s support base; the militia is a core part of the social fabric in the region, its fighters have homes and families there, and the small towns and villages dotting the area have often been given the short end of the stick from the Lebanese government, which has proven incapable of delivering social services or even basic administration. Hezbollah may be willing to move their weapons caches further north, but the idea that tens of thousands of Hezbollah fighters will uproot their lives is difficult to believe. In this case, Israel will then be forced with a choice: renew military operations and risk the resumption of war, or loosen enforcement and risk Hezbollah maintaining its power base. Second, is the Lebanese army capable of patrolling Southern Lebanon to Israel’s satisfaction? While the Lebanese army is a well-respected institution inside the country and crosses the usual sectarian divisions that have defined Lebanese political life for decades, it’s also arguably the weakest military in the Middle East. , the Lebanese army is smaller than Hezbollah. The since 2006 has barely kept the Lebanese army afloat. The defense systems you would expect a modern military to possess — air defenses, fighter and bomber aircraft, patrol vessels, various air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions — . Due in large part to Lebanon’s financial crisis, some of Lebanon’s soldiers to support themselves and their families. Israel understands all this but is nevertheless unlikely to be very patient. If the Lebanese army is unable or unwilling to do the job of clearing Hezbollah forces out and confronting the remnants that remain, the Israeli army will do it for them as Netanyahu during his remarks upon announcing the ceasefire. This, in effect, would negate the ceasefire and risk plunging the country into war again. Assuming the ceasefire in Lebanon sticks, Israeli and U.S. officials are hopeful it will change Hamas’ calculations about continuing its war with Israel in Gaza. “What Hamas wanted was support from Hezbollah and others,” an Israeli official the Times of Israel. “Once you cut the connection, you have the ability to reach a deal. It’s a strategic achievement. Hamas is alone.” But this sounds more like wishful thinking than reality. Hamas has experienced the most destructive war with Israel in its 37-year history, with tens of thousands of its fighters killed, its upper echelon wiped out and its control in Gaza at its weakest since it kicked the Palestinian Authority out of the coastal territory in 2007. Even so, it’s bottom-line negotiating position remains unchanged: If Israel wants to retrieve the rest of its hostages, it must withdraw entirely from Gaza and end the war permanently. Hamas’ strategy doesn’t depend on Hezbollah, so the notion it will adopt Hezbollah’s position now that it is out of the fight is fanciful at best. If all goes according to plan, Lebanon will now have a chance to rebuild. But how long the peace will stick is another matter entirely.

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With only weeks to go until the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 kicks off, Al Ahly legend Wael Gomaa sees his former club’s participation in the competition as an important milestone for the Egyptian club. “Taking part in a tournament of this calibre is a source of great pride for Al Ahly. It is another achievement in the club’s illustrious history. I hope the team does well and gets a chance to play against European giants Real Madrid,” said Gomaa, speaking from Stadium 974 in Qatar, which will host two of three matches scheduled to take place between 11 - 18 December. The FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 is a club competition that brings together continental club champions from around the world for a riveting showdown to crown the best club in the world. “It is very important for the growth of football in the Arab world. High profile competitions such as this provide clubs in the region with the incentive to compete at the highest level in front of a home crowd,” added Gomaa. Al Ahly legend Wael Gomaa is regarded as one of Africa’s best all-time defenders. His accolades with the Egyptian giants include six CAF Champions League and seven domestic league titles. His tenacious style earned him the nickname, “The Rock.” Gomaa is regarded as one of the greatest talents of his generation. “Al Ahly is more than a club. It’s a social phenomenon that encapsulates so many cultural dynamics for millions of fans in Egypt and across the Arab world. It’s the people’s club and it is everything beautiful in my life,” said Gomaa. Al Ahly first qualified to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 after claiming its 12th CAF Champions League title. The Egyptian side then beat Al Ain of the UAE to lay claim to the African-Asian-Pacific Cup, one of four trophies up for grabs at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup competition. Three trophies remain in the mix when four clubs compete in Qatar. They are the FIFA Derby of the Americas, FIFA Challenger Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The final match will feature Spanish giants and current UEFA Champions League champions, Real Madrid, and will be held on 18 December in Lusail Stadium, two years to the day since the 89,000-seater hosted a historic FIFA World Cup final. “Qatar has cemented itself as a world class-sports destination after hosting a World Cup tournament that will be seared in the memory of football fans forever,” said Gomaa. Al Ahly will play for the FIFA Challenger Cup on Saturday 14 December at Stadium 974 in Qatar. The African champions will play the winner of the Derby of the Americas, between Mexican side CF Pachuca and the yet to be determined winner of the Copa Libertadores, taking place three days earlier on 11 December at the same venue. “Al Ahly has a massive fan base in Qatar and our fans are ready to support our club with everything they have. Our support base will be the fuel that powers the team on the pitch and will be a differentiating factor in the tournament overall,” added Gomaa who currently lives in Qatar and works as a popular sports pundit. Tickets for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup are available online at fic24.qa. They include several accessible options for disabled fans. @FICQatar on X and Instagram may be followed and fic24.qa may be visited for all tournament related information. Related Story Qatar joins Global Coalition for Digital Safety 61 countries to compete in 8th Katara Award for Reciting Holy Qur’an

West Brom's interim boss Chris Brunt expressed contentment with his team's performance in the 1-1 stalemate at Sheffield United but admitted that with a bit of luck, they could have snatched all three points. The deadlock was broken by Andre Brooks and Karlan Grant's earlier efforts which led to an equal split of spoils. Reflecting on the match, Brunt said: "On another day, we could be coming away with all three points, similar to the home game [2-2 draw on December 8]. We were doing well but conceded at a bad time, but our response was great." He continued to highlight the positive elements of the game, saying: "It’s a positive performance. The Derby game was a bit of a hangover after Carlos (Corberan) leaving, and having played Sheffield United so recently the lads knew they could come here and more than match them." Addressing the number of games drawn by the team, Brunt stated: "It’s been well documented that we have drawn too many games; it was disappointing that we got nothing against Derby, and it was important that we got something out of today." When questioned about the ongoing hunt for a new manager for West Brom, Brunt kept his cards close to his chest, merely commenting: "As far as I am aware, we will be preparing for the game against Preston and hopefully go one better and get a win." Meanwhile, Sheffield United's gaffer Chris Wilder was "delighted" post-match, praising the crowd's role in cheering the team during the intense final 20 minutes. Wilder reflected on the importance of the result and what he'd learned from his team: "We have to win but today what I learnt about my team was so pleasing." Discussing the balance between immediate results and long-term progression Wilder said: "Everyone is so short-term; if we win, then we are going up, and if we lose, then we aren’t." Lastly, he acknowledged the swift assembly of his squad and their current standing: "It’s a young group that has been put together in about three and a half weeks, but we find ourselves on 51 points." Wilder was quick to put the day's performance in perspective, emphasising the club's achievements: "The performance today was bigger than the result." He went on to highlight the Blades' recent track record: "We have had two promotions and three years out of six in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi-final. So, it has not been a bad period for the club; we have to take stock after today and acknowledge that we are all right." Wilder also commented on the team's approach: "We were effective; if we have an opportunity to put a cross in, then we will put a cross in." He expressed some disappointment with the first-half outcome: "It was disappointing to come in at half-time at one each. I thought we dominated the first half." He didn't shy away from comparing his club to their opponents: "They were in the Premier League for 15 years. They are a big club, but they are still behind us." Wilder praised his team's resilience: "The team’s character was tested at half-time; they had five minutes at the start of the second half, which we rode out and then came roaring back." He concluded by acknowledging the players' commitment: "We had players out on their feet, desperate to win a football match for this football club. That speaks volumes about what we are trying to achieve and how we are going about it."

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Manitoba plans to stiffen U.S. border control, says KinewLOS ANGELES (AP) — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell says it was a really easy decision to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the presence of three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani played a part, too. Snell was introduced Tuesday at Dodger Stadium accompanied by his agent Scott Boras. The left-hander finalized a $182 million, five-year contract last Saturday. “It was really easy just cause me and Haeley wanted to live here, it’s something we’ve been talking about for a while,” Snell said, referring to his girlfriend. “Then you look at the team. You look at what they’ve built, what they’re doing. It’s just something you want to be a part of.” Last month, Snell opted out of his deal with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second consecutive offseason after he was slowed by injuries during his lone year with the San Francisco Giants. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus, payable on Jan. 25, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13.2 million each year will be deferred . Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. RELATED COVERAGE Right-hander Connor Gillispie to get $820,000 salary while in majors as part of Braves contract Dodgers’ deferred payment obligations top $1 billion to 7 players with Snell and Edman contracts A no-no and big homer among the moments new Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka already had in Texas “It just played out the way that people around me felt comfortable with, I felt comfortable with, they felt comfortable with,” Snell said. “We talked and found something that could work for both of us. You want your worth, you want your respect, and you want enough time to where you can really make a name for yourself. I’ve made a name for myself outside of LA, but I’m going to be invested.” Two-way star Ohtani, who signed a record $700 million, 10-year deal a year ago, had a historic first season with the Dodgers. He helped them win the franchise’s eighth World Series while playing only as designated hitter and became MVP in the National League for the first time after twice winning the award while in the American League. “It helps with him in the lineup for sure. That’s big motivation,” Snell said. “You want to be around players like that when you’re trying to be one of the best in the game. Yeah, it played a big part.” Snell joins Ohtani and fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation. All-Star Tyler Glasnow will be back after having his first season in LA derailed by a sprained elbow. Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but is expected back on the mound in 2025. The rest of the rotation includes Tony Gonsolin, Landon Knack, Dustin May, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan. “I pitched on six-man, five-man, four-man rotations,” Snell said. “I’m good with it all as long as we have a plan, we’ll execute it.” Snell, who turns 32 on Wednesday, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. He has known Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, since he was 18. In the aftermath of winning the World Series and discussing how the Dodgers could repeat next year, Friedman said, “All conversations kept coming back to Blake.” “Usually in major league free agency, you’re buying the backside of a guy’s career, the accomplishments that they have had,” he said. “With Blake, one thing that’s really exciting for us is, as much success as he’s had, we feel like there’s more in there.” Snell was 2-2 against the Dodgers in his career. “We couldn’t beat him, so we’re going to have him join us,” Friedman said. .___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

The Omniverse Africa, a leading platform for innovation, digitalization and technology in Africa, is excited to announce its continued partnership with GIZ/Digital Transformation Center Nigeria (DTC Nigeria), which is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, for the 2025 Omniverse Summit. The Commission Manager, GIZ, Digital Transformation Center Nigeria, Dr. Thuweba Diwani, in a statement made available to journalists at the weekend, said that the renewed collaboration solidifies the commitment of both organizations to empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs, particularly MSMEs, through digital transformation and innovation. Diwani said that “GIZ/DTC Nigeria is committed to driving digital innovation and nurturing entrepreneurial spirit across Africa. “By joining forces with the Omniverse Africa, GIZ/DTC Nigeria aims to significantly accelerate the digital transformation journey of Nigerian MSMEs. “This strategic partnership will provide Nigerian MSMEs with the essential tools, resources, and expertise needed to thrive in the global market.” Dwani said that through the partnership, “MSMEs will gain access to cutting-edge digital solutions, mentorship programmes, and networking opportunities that will enable them to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities. “By fostering a vibrant digital ecosystem, GIZ/DTC Nigeria and Omniverse Africa are working together to create a sustainable future for Nigerian MSMEs, contributing to the overall economic growth and development of the country.'” The Omniverse Summit 2025, scheduled for February 25th to 28th at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, promises to be a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and innovation. Over the course of four days, attendees will engage with industry experts, investors, and fellow innovators to explore emerging trends and opportunities across various sectors. This partnership continues to advance the mission of supporting MSMEs in leveraging digital technology to achieve sustainable growth and success.Pachpadra refinery nears completion