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The United States called Monday for de-escalation in Syria, where an Islamist-led rebel alliance has wrested swathes of territory from the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government in a lightning offensive. The European Union also called on "all sides to de-escalate", while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "alarmed" by the violence and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Syria has been at war since Assad cracked down on democracy protests in 2011. The conflict has since drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 people dead. The conflict had been mostly dormant with Assad back in control of much of the country, until last week when the Islamist-led rebel alliance began its offensive. The attack has seen swathes of Syria fall to rebel control, including second city Aleppo for the first time since the start of the civil war. "We want to see all countries use their influence -- use their leverage -- to push for de-escalation, protection of civilians and ultimately, a political process forward," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. In a statement issued by EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, the European Union also called for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, while also condemning Assad backer Russia for conducting air strikes in his support. Russia first intervened directly in Syria's war in 2015 with strikes on rebel-held areas. Its help, along with that of Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, were instrumental in propping up Assad's rule. On Monday President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian both pledged "unconditional support" for their ally, according to the Kremlin. Aleppo is home to two million people and saw fierce fighting earlier in the war. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies took the city at the weekend, except for neighbourhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They also seized Aleppo International Airport. HTS, led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, has faced accusations of human rights abuses including torturing detainees. Abu Sufyan, a rebel commander, told AFP: "God willing, we will continue, go into Damascus and liberate the rest of Syria." One Aleppo resident spoke of panic. "There were terrible traffic jams -- it took people 13 to 15 hours to reach Homs" in central Syria, which is under government control. Normally, he said, it would take a couple of hours. AFPTV footage showed rebels patrolling the streets, some burning a Syrian flag and others holding the flag of the revolution. On Monday, Assad branded the rebel offensive led by HTS an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests. His comments came in a call with Iran's Pezeshkian, who in turn pledged continued support and said Iran hoped "Syria will pass through this stage with success and victory". On Monday, Syrian and Russian air raids on several areas of Idlib province in the northwest killed 11 civilians including five children, the Observatory said. "The strikes targeted... families living on the edge of a displacement camp," said Hussein Ahmed Khudur, a 45-year-old teacher who sought refuge at the camp from fighting in Aleppo province. Other strikes in Aleppo killed four civilians, two of them children, the Observatory said, adding that air raids also targeted a Christian-majority neighbourhood. AFPTV footage showed rebels pushing into Hama province in central Syria. Syria's defence ministry said troops were clashing with "terrorist organisations" in the northern Hama countryside. Islamist-led rebels killed six civilians on Monday in a rocket attack on the government-held city of Hama, the Observatory said. Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said a major question hangs over possible Turkish involvement. "I have a hard time imagining that Turkey-backed groups could launch a major rebel offensive out of Turkey-held areas without Turkey being very significantly involved," he said. "But I also don't think Turkey necessarily wanted the rebels to get this far." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to the "instability" in Syria and an agreement to stop the civil war. On a visit to Ankara, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it was crucial "to protect the achievements" of the so-called Astana process to end Syria's civil war, which involves Turkey, Russia and Iran. Several hours later, he said the respective foreign ministers would meet on the matter next weekend in Qatar. "We will try to activate this process again," he said. While the current fighting is rooted in a war that began more than a decade ago, much has changed since then. Millions of Syrians have been displaced, with about 5.5 million now in neighbouring countries. Most of those involved in the initial anti-Assad protests are either dead, in jail or in exile. Russia is at war in Ukraine, and Iran's militant allies Hezbollah and Hamas have been massively weakened by more than a year of conflict with Israel. Lebanon's Hezbollah played a key role in backing government forces particularly around Aleppo, but it withdrew from several positions to focus on fighting Israel. HTS and its allies launched their offensive on Wednesday, the day a Lebanon ceasefire began. The violence in Syria has killed 514 people, mostly combatants but also including 92 civilians, according to the Observatory. burs-srm-ser/smw
By KENYA HUNTER, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington . As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race , held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets , he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris , many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution , which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people . Related Articles Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,”’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating. “We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.” Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women. “It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. ... My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.” Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump. “This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.” AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Employees work at an excavator assembly line of a Develon subsidiary in Yantai, east China’s Shandong Province on Dec 26, 2023. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (Nov 23): A little-known road called Kaixuan in Jining, east China’s Shandong Province, has become an undeniable presence on the world’s leading cross-border B2B e-commerce platform, Alibaba. It not only witnesses the transformation of Jining from a traditional coal resource hub to a manufacturing powerhouse but also how cross-border e-commerce has changed the fate of factories along this road. Stretching approximately 2.5km from southwest to northeast, the road, whose name means triumph in Chinese, can be walked in about half an hour. However, a dozen machinery manufacturing companies gathered on both sides of the road, actively seeking to go global through Alibaba. For Han Guangfei, general manager of Jining SAAO Machinery Company Ltd, a “resident” of Kaixuan Road that specialises in small and medium-sized road construction machinery, the recently concluded annual “Double 11” online shopping spree was more of a reminder that his business is not limited to just one day. While others are busy stocking up on discounted daily necessities, he is focused on quality control and preparing the inventory of road rollers, setting his sights on overseas markets. “Either go global or be left behind,” said Han. “Most of the machinery factories you can see along the Kaixuan Road are doing business on Alibaba.” SAAO mainly produces various types of road rollers and graders. It earned its reputation in the industry by sponsoring all the lighting machinery equipment in the 2023 Chinese sci-fi blockbuster “The Wandering Earth II.” Han believes traditional manufacturing equipment must explore overseas markets to achieve sustainable development. In 2018, SAAO’s foreign trade orders accounted for only 20 per cent of its business. Han’s decision to go global online has become a game changer for the company, while SAAO’s store on Alibaba.com, the cross-border B2B platform owned by China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba, was in full operation in 2019. “Since then, the foreign orders have flocked in, but we have seen a surge in overseas orders through Alibaba since 2021 when foreign countries strove to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with an infrastructure-building wave,” said Han. “In the first half of this year, our order transaction volume on Alibaba increased by 50 per cent year on year, while foreign trade amounts to 60 per cent of its overall business, and the figure is expected to rise to 70 per cent by the end of this year,” he added. SAAO’s overseas expansion is reflected in the official economic data released by the Chinese authorities. According to the China Construction Machinery Industry Association, in the first half of 2024, China’s construction machinery import and export trade exceeded US$27.13 billion, up 3.13 per cent year on year. Among them, exports amounted to nearly US$25.84 billion, up 3.38 per cent year on year. People visit the booth of Alibaba.com during the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province on Oct 15, 2024. – Xinhua photo Alibaba also sees more machinery manufacturers like SAAO rapidly expanding their presence in the overseas market. Its data shows that among the top 10 industries with the highest growth of online transactions on Alibaba.com in the first half of 2024, half are related to machinery equipment and construction materials, with star products in the construction machinery industry, such as excavators, loaders, and drilling rigs, having seen transaction growth rates exceeding 50 per cent. Many enterprises from Jining, one of China’s six major construction machinery industry bases with over 900 such enterprises, are also flocking to Alibaba. Since April this year, the number of new merchants from Jining joining Alibaba has increased by 76.2 per cent year on year. “Jining has already been a brand itself on Alibaba. Foreign buyers searching for road-building machinery know well what they can get from the enterprises tagged with Jining,” said Guo Zhengkui, the regional head of Alibaba.com in Jining. Guo said that the rapid growth of online machinery exports began in 2023 when markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East embarked on a wave of infrastructure construction. This created a huge demand for China’s construction machinery, which has a competitive advantage in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness. “Chinese companies going global is not easy. First of all, you have to face the most cutthroat competition domestically, which is why once you survive that round and become a winner here, you are pretty much the most competitive product internationally,” he said. Guo noted that the strong performance of Jining’s mainstream product – small excavators – has been transformative to Chinese construction machinery enterprises for its multifaceted role in farming. Previously, Chinese machinery was traditionally used for infrastructure building in the European and American markets. But now, the convenience of online procurement has prompted many foreign farms and gardens to purchase small excavators through Alibaba, said Guo, bringing breakthroughs to Chinese machinery enterprises with a richer product line. Guo’s view is shared by Liu Mingtao, general manager of Hengwang Group, a major excavator and bulldozer producer based in Jining. “The overseas demand is overwhelming now. If new customers come to place orders, they may not necessarily be able to get them,” said Liu. In 2013, Hengwang officially opened its store on Alibaba.com and the annual sales growth on the platform has already exceeded 80 per cent this year. So far, it accounts for about 70 per cent of the company’s overall foreign trade turnover. “Twelve years ago, 99.9 per cent of my business mates didn’t know what I was doing; five years ago, 10 per cent of them started coming to me for advice; now, 90 per cent want to know how to do cross-border e-commerce,” said Liu. “This year, we see fresh blood has joined us, and many of them are second-generation entrepreneurs in the industry,” he said. Expansion of overseas warehouse Besides growing overseas demand, another driving force behind the booming machinery business is the large number of overseas warehouses sprouting across the globe, which makes Chinese cross-border e-commerce much easier. According to official data, China has over 1,000 cross-border e-commerce industrial parks and over 2,500 overseas warehouses covering over 30 million square metres. However, they are not merely warehouses for goods storage. By integrating storage, logistics, and after-sales support with digital and intelligent technologies, they are helping the country’s over 120,000 cross-border e-commerce entities bring their products to all corners of the world. This warehousing and logistics method has greatly improved logistics efficiency and customer experience. It also helps businesses respond actively to order peaks and reduce logistics costs. To promote cross-border e-commerce, the Chinese government released a guideline in June on advancing the construction of overseas warehouses. The guideline specified measures in financial support, infrastructure construction, and services. Cross-border e-commerce, in collaboration with new foreign trade infrastructure like overseas warehouses, helps build new advantages in international economic cooperation and has become a dynamic force in China’s foreign trade development, it noted. People watch an excavator stunt show at the 2023 East Asia Marine Expo in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province on June 28, 2023. – Xinhua photo Hengwang has built 13 warehouses in major export destinations such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Liu said that such warehouses not only store complete machines but also spare parts for timely after-sales service and technical support. “Overseas warehouses do not always operate at full capacity but adjust inventory dynamically according to customer demand.” SAAO has also taken action. Han plans to deploy overseas warehouses in Central Asian countries after setting up warehouses in Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, as his business is expanding from Europe and America to the region. Staff members of Kilimall work at a warehouse in Mlolongo, Kenya on Nov 10, 2023. – Xinhua photo Exploration never stops Liu calls himself a “road warrior” after spending more than 200 days abroad last year, shuttling between Europe, America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. He discovered more business opportunities as Hengwang transformed from a small and medium-sized machinery equipment producer to a large equipment maker. “Being early is crucial. We are developing new products, such as 125-tonne large excavators that can compete with famous brand Caterpillar of the United States and Japan’s Komatsu,” Liu said. SAAO also invested more in the overseas market. It purchased more machines including a second laser cutting machine worth 1.5 million yuan and supplemented its workforce in various links of the entire foreign trade business chain, from technicians, assemblers, salespeople, and procurement personnel. In addition, SAAO has developed green machinery that uses new energy and does not have engine noise pollution. “Currently, the demand for environmentally friendly machinery is increasing year by year, and its shipment volume has accounted for nearly 10 per cent of our overall volume,” said Han. “Only those who never stop exploring and innovating can thrive on the Road of Triumph,” he said. – Xinhua
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(The Center Square) – The Biden administration on Monday instituted a new round of restrictions targeting the export of advanced semiconductor chips and manufacturing equipment to China. This move by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security builds on previous measures aimed at curbing China's ability to develop cutting-edge technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and military applications. The new export controls place 140 manufacturers and investment companies on the Entity List, a U.S. compilation of "foreign individuals, companies, and organizations deemed a national security concern." "The United States has taken significant steps to protect our technology from being used by our adversaries in ways that threaten our national security," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement . The new controls will also block the sale of high-bandwidth memory, which is necessary for artificial intelligence. Semiconductors can be a strategic asset for AI systems, supercomputing, and other technologies for both civilian and military use. Sullivan continued, "As technology evolves, and our adversaries seek new ways to evade restrictions, we will continue to work with our allies and partners to proactively and aggressively safeguard our world-leading technologies and know-how so they aren't used to undermine our national security." According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, semiconductors, also known as computer chips, are typically smaller than a postage stamp and are composed of billions of components that can store, move and process data. Advanced semiconductors can be used for artificial intelligence, including in medical diagnosis and for military purposes, such as modeling nuclear explosions. The U.S. has been tightening down on the export controls on semiconductors to China since concerns over U.S. capacity to produce advanced semiconductors domestically when shortages began during the pandemic. This concern resulted in Congress enacting the CHIPS Act of 2022. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded. "This type of behavior seriously violates the laws of market economy and the principle of fair competition, disrupts international economic and trade order, destabilizes global industrial and supply chains, and will eventually harm the interests of all countries," Jian said. Beijing intends to take firm, resolute measures to defend the interests of Chinese companies, he added. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration Thea D. Rozman Kendler said, "The PRC's Military-Civil Fusion strategy presents a significant risk that advanced node semiconductors will be used in military applications that threaten the security of the United States, as well as the security of our allies and partners."A proper gaming headset makes all the difference, whether you're gaming or working from home. To be worth splurging, a high-quality headset has to meet some important criteria, like having a long battery life, high quality sound and comfort. This HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset checks all the boxes, plus it's now $76 off on Amazon for Cyber Monday . The Cloud Alpha Wireless headset uses dual-chamber audio technology, meaning it separates bass from mids and highs for smoother, clearer audio. With an advertised 300-hour battery life -- and extrapolating from our testing, over 180 hours, which is still terrific -- you probably won't have to worry about forgetting to charge them. You can read CNET editor Lori Grunin's experience testing out the battery life and quality of the headset here . Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money . Why this deal matters This HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset is marked down at the lowest price we've ever seen at $124. If you've been looking to make an upgrade to your own gaming set-up or you know someone who could use a pair, now is the time to snatch this headset up. Read more: Best Christmas Gifts and Ideas for Every Price Range
M&S to reset prices overseas as international sales dipTikToker teaching science hopes short-form video will become part of curriculum
Emanuel Wallace, 27, from east London, is better known as Big Manny by his 1.9 million followers on TikTok, where he shares videos explaining various science experiments from his back garden while using Jamaican Patois phrases and London slang. In early December, Mr Wallace won the Education Creator of the Year award at the TikTok Awards ceremony, which he said is a “symbol that anything that you put your mind to you can achieve”. The content creator began making videos during the coronavirus pandemic when schools turned to online learning but has since expanded his teaching from videos to paper after releasing his debut book Science Is Lit in August. He believes his “unconventional” teaching methods help to make his content relatable for younger audiences by using slang deriving from his Jamaican and British heritage. “The language that I use, it’s a combination between Jamaican Patois and London slang because I have Jamaican heritage,” the TikToker, who holds a bachelors and masters degree in biomedical science, told the PA news agency. “That’s why in my videos sometimes I might say things like ‘Wagwan’ or ‘you dun know’. I just want to connect with the young people more, so I speak in the same way that they speak. “The words that I use, the way that I deliver the lesson as well, I would say that my method of teaching is quite unconventional. I speak in a way that is quite conversational.” Examples of his videos include lithium batteries catching fire after being sandwiched inside a raw chicken breast, as well as mixing gold with gallium to create blue gold, earning millions of views. Mr Wallace hopes his content will help make the science industry more diverse, saying “the scientists that I was taught about, none of them look like me”. “Now me being a scientist is showing young people that they can become one as well, regardless of the background that they come from, the upbringing that they’ve had,” he said. “I just want to make it seem more attainable and possible for them because if I can do it, and I come from the same place as you, there’s no reason why you can’t do it as well.” The TikToker has seen a shift in more young people turning to the app as a learning resource and feels short-form videos will soon become a part of the national curriculum in schools. “I’m seeing (young people) using that a lot more – social media as a resource for education – and I feel like in the future, it’s going to become more and more popular as well,” he said. “I get a lot of comments from students saying that my teacher showed my video in the classroom as a resource, so I feel like these short form videos are going to be integrated within the national curriculum at some point in the near future.” He also uses his platform to raise awareness of different social issues, which he said is “extremely important”. One of his videos highlighted an anti-knife campaign backed by actor Idris Elba, which earned more than 39 million views, while his clip about the banning of disposable vapes was viewed more than 4.6 million times. He said there is some pressure being a teacher with a large following online but hopes he can be a role model for young people. “I’m aware that I am in the public eye and there’s a lot of young people watching me,” he said. “Young people can be impressionable, so I make sure that I conduct myself appropriately, so that I can be a role model. “I always have the same message for young people, specifically. I tell them to stay curious. Always ask questions and look a little bit deeper into things.” His plans for 2025 include publishing a second Science Is Lit book and expanding his teaching to television where he soon hopes to create his own science show.Pacifica Man, Pedro Jesus Bernabe-Vazquez Arrested for Alleged DUI After Colliding with Parked Vehicle
Adele says it is time to ‘move on’ after completing her Las Vegas residencyMangaluru: Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath accused the Congress govt of not allocating funds for the development of backward classes. He told reporters on Thursday that various govts established separate development corporations for the welfare and empowerment of socially, economically, and politically backward communities. Several corporations are functioning under the backward classes welfare department. "The previous BJP govt released over Rs 1,000 crore for the development of backward classes to various corporations. However, after Congress came to power in the state, not only did it fail to allocate new funds, but it also issued orders to cancel the funds released during the BJP govt's tenure. This seems to be a conspiracy to keep the backward classes from progressing and remaining backward. The Congress govt under chief minister Siddaramaiah, who claims to be a leader of AHINDA, is doing injustice to the communities," Kamath said. "During the previous BJP govt's tenure, thousands of crores of rupees were sanctioned for 1,093 projects for backward classes across the state, including community halls, organizations, and student hostels. The current state govt has unilaterally cancelled these approvals. This includes projects in Dakshina Kannada district, neglecting the upliftment of all backward communities such as Devadiga, Kudubi, Mogaveera, Billava, Shettigar, etc. All the money is being used for the implementation of guarantee schemes. The Congress govt is reducing the number of beneficiaries, thereby doing injustice to the community," the MLA said. "The Congress govt announced a budget of Rs 1,600 crore only in name. However, so far, only small grants have been given, and no funds have been released to any corporations for the economic, industrial, agricultural, and educational development of backward communities. Those who previously marched from Mangaluru to Vidhana Soudha demanding the establishment of the Sri Narayana Guru Development Corporation have not yet appointed a president or allocated funds for the Corporation. The situation of the Bunts' Development Corporation is also the same, with no positive developments, he alleged. The MLA urged the state Congress govt to immediately rectify this injustice and release more funds, including those provided by the BJP govt, to assist in the development of the backward community. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
The United States called Monday for de-escalation in Syria, where an Islamist-led rebel alliance has wrested swathes of territory from the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government in a lightning offensive. The European Union also called on "all sides to de-escalate", while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "alarmed" by the violence and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Syria has been at war since Assad cracked down on democracy protests in 2011. The conflict has since drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 people dead. The conflict had been mostly dormant with Assad back in control of much of the country, until last week when the Islamist-led rebel alliance began its offensive. The attack has seen swathes of Syria fall to rebel control, including second city Aleppo for the first time since the start of the civil war. "We want to see all countries use their influence -- use their leverage -- to push for de-escalation, protection of civilians and ultimately, a political process forward," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. In a statement issued by EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, the European Union also called for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, while also condemning Assad backer Russia for conducting air strikes in his support. Russia first intervened directly in Syria's war in 2015 with strikes on rebel-held areas. Its help, along with that of Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, were instrumental in propping up Assad's rule. On Monday President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian both pledged "unconditional support" for their ally, according to the Kremlin. Aleppo is home to two million people and saw fierce fighting earlier in the war. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies took the city at the weekend, except for neighbourhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They also seized Aleppo International Airport. HTS, led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, has faced accusations of human rights abuses including torturing detainees. Abu Sufyan, a rebel commander, told AFP: "God willing, we will continue, go into Damascus and liberate the rest of Syria." One Aleppo resident spoke of panic. "There were terrible traffic jams -- it took people 13 to 15 hours to reach Homs" in central Syria, which is under government control. Normally, he said, it would take a couple of hours. AFPTV footage showed rebels patrolling the streets, some burning a Syrian flag and others holding the flag of the revolution. On Monday, Assad branded the rebel offensive led by HTS an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests. His comments came in a call with Iran's Pezeshkian, who in turn pledged continued support and said Iran hoped "Syria will pass through this stage with success and victory". On Monday, Syrian and Russian air raids on several areas of Idlib province in the northwest killed 11 civilians including five children, the Observatory said. "The strikes targeted... families living on the edge of a displacement camp," said Hussein Ahmed Khudur, a 45-year-old teacher who sought refuge at the camp from fighting in Aleppo province. Other strikes in Aleppo killed four civilians, two of them children, the Observatory said, adding that air raids also targeted a Christian-majority neighbourhood. AFPTV footage showed rebels pushing into Hama province in central Syria. Syria's defence ministry said troops were clashing with "terrorist organisations" in the northern Hama countryside. Islamist-led rebels killed six civilians on Monday in a rocket attack on the government-held city of Hama, the Observatory said. Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said a major question hangs over possible Turkish involvement. "I have a hard time imagining that Turkey-backed groups could launch a major rebel offensive out of Turkey-held areas without Turkey being very significantly involved," he said. "But I also don't think Turkey necessarily wanted the rebels to get this far." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to the "instability" in Syria and an agreement to stop the civil war. On a visit to Ankara, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it was crucial "to protect the achievements" of the so-called Astana process to end Syria's civil war, which involves Turkey, Russia and Iran. Several hours later, he said the respective foreign ministers would meet on the matter next weekend in Qatar. "We will try to activate this process again," he said. While the current fighting is rooted in a war that began more than a decade ago, much has changed since then. Millions of Syrians have been displaced, with about 5.5 million now in neighbouring countries. Most of those involved in the initial anti-Assad protests are either dead, in jail or in exile. Russia is at war in Ukraine, and Iran's militant allies Hezbollah and Hamas have been massively weakened by more than a year of conflict with Israel. Lebanon's Hezbollah played a key role in backing government forces particularly around Aleppo, but it withdrew from several positions to focus on fighting Israel. HTS and its allies launched their offensive on Wednesday, the day a Lebanon ceasefire began. The violence in Syria has killed 514 people, mostly combatants but also including 92 civilians, according to the Observatory. burs-srm-ser/smw
By KENYA HUNTER, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington . As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race , held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets , he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris , many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution , which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people . Related Articles Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,”’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating. “We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.” Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women. “It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. ... My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.” Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump. “This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.” AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Employees work at an excavator assembly line of a Develon subsidiary in Yantai, east China’s Shandong Province on Dec 26, 2023. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (Nov 23): A little-known road called Kaixuan in Jining, east China’s Shandong Province, has become an undeniable presence on the world’s leading cross-border B2B e-commerce platform, Alibaba. It not only witnesses the transformation of Jining from a traditional coal resource hub to a manufacturing powerhouse but also how cross-border e-commerce has changed the fate of factories along this road. Stretching approximately 2.5km from southwest to northeast, the road, whose name means triumph in Chinese, can be walked in about half an hour. However, a dozen machinery manufacturing companies gathered on both sides of the road, actively seeking to go global through Alibaba. For Han Guangfei, general manager of Jining SAAO Machinery Company Ltd, a “resident” of Kaixuan Road that specialises in small and medium-sized road construction machinery, the recently concluded annual “Double 11” online shopping spree was more of a reminder that his business is not limited to just one day. While others are busy stocking up on discounted daily necessities, he is focused on quality control and preparing the inventory of road rollers, setting his sights on overseas markets. “Either go global or be left behind,” said Han. “Most of the machinery factories you can see along the Kaixuan Road are doing business on Alibaba.” SAAO mainly produces various types of road rollers and graders. It earned its reputation in the industry by sponsoring all the lighting machinery equipment in the 2023 Chinese sci-fi blockbuster “The Wandering Earth II.” Han believes traditional manufacturing equipment must explore overseas markets to achieve sustainable development. In 2018, SAAO’s foreign trade orders accounted for only 20 per cent of its business. Han’s decision to go global online has become a game changer for the company, while SAAO’s store on Alibaba.com, the cross-border B2B platform owned by China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba, was in full operation in 2019. “Since then, the foreign orders have flocked in, but we have seen a surge in overseas orders through Alibaba since 2021 when foreign countries strove to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with an infrastructure-building wave,” said Han. “In the first half of this year, our order transaction volume on Alibaba increased by 50 per cent year on year, while foreign trade amounts to 60 per cent of its overall business, and the figure is expected to rise to 70 per cent by the end of this year,” he added. SAAO’s overseas expansion is reflected in the official economic data released by the Chinese authorities. According to the China Construction Machinery Industry Association, in the first half of 2024, China’s construction machinery import and export trade exceeded US$27.13 billion, up 3.13 per cent year on year. Among them, exports amounted to nearly US$25.84 billion, up 3.38 per cent year on year. People visit the booth of Alibaba.com during the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province on Oct 15, 2024. – Xinhua photo Alibaba also sees more machinery manufacturers like SAAO rapidly expanding their presence in the overseas market. Its data shows that among the top 10 industries with the highest growth of online transactions on Alibaba.com in the first half of 2024, half are related to machinery equipment and construction materials, with star products in the construction machinery industry, such as excavators, loaders, and drilling rigs, having seen transaction growth rates exceeding 50 per cent. Many enterprises from Jining, one of China’s six major construction machinery industry bases with over 900 such enterprises, are also flocking to Alibaba. Since April this year, the number of new merchants from Jining joining Alibaba has increased by 76.2 per cent year on year. “Jining has already been a brand itself on Alibaba. Foreign buyers searching for road-building machinery know well what they can get from the enterprises tagged with Jining,” said Guo Zhengkui, the regional head of Alibaba.com in Jining. Guo said that the rapid growth of online machinery exports began in 2023 when markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East embarked on a wave of infrastructure construction. This created a huge demand for China’s construction machinery, which has a competitive advantage in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness. “Chinese companies going global is not easy. First of all, you have to face the most cutthroat competition domestically, which is why once you survive that round and become a winner here, you are pretty much the most competitive product internationally,” he said. Guo noted that the strong performance of Jining’s mainstream product – small excavators – has been transformative to Chinese construction machinery enterprises for its multifaceted role in farming. Previously, Chinese machinery was traditionally used for infrastructure building in the European and American markets. But now, the convenience of online procurement has prompted many foreign farms and gardens to purchase small excavators through Alibaba, said Guo, bringing breakthroughs to Chinese machinery enterprises with a richer product line. Guo’s view is shared by Liu Mingtao, general manager of Hengwang Group, a major excavator and bulldozer producer based in Jining. “The overseas demand is overwhelming now. If new customers come to place orders, they may not necessarily be able to get them,” said Liu. In 2013, Hengwang officially opened its store on Alibaba.com and the annual sales growth on the platform has already exceeded 80 per cent this year. So far, it accounts for about 70 per cent of the company’s overall foreign trade turnover. “Twelve years ago, 99.9 per cent of my business mates didn’t know what I was doing; five years ago, 10 per cent of them started coming to me for advice; now, 90 per cent want to know how to do cross-border e-commerce,” said Liu. “This year, we see fresh blood has joined us, and many of them are second-generation entrepreneurs in the industry,” he said. Expansion of overseas warehouse Besides growing overseas demand, another driving force behind the booming machinery business is the large number of overseas warehouses sprouting across the globe, which makes Chinese cross-border e-commerce much easier. According to official data, China has over 1,000 cross-border e-commerce industrial parks and over 2,500 overseas warehouses covering over 30 million square metres. However, they are not merely warehouses for goods storage. By integrating storage, logistics, and after-sales support with digital and intelligent technologies, they are helping the country’s over 120,000 cross-border e-commerce entities bring their products to all corners of the world. This warehousing and logistics method has greatly improved logistics efficiency and customer experience. It also helps businesses respond actively to order peaks and reduce logistics costs. To promote cross-border e-commerce, the Chinese government released a guideline in June on advancing the construction of overseas warehouses. The guideline specified measures in financial support, infrastructure construction, and services. Cross-border e-commerce, in collaboration with new foreign trade infrastructure like overseas warehouses, helps build new advantages in international economic cooperation and has become a dynamic force in China’s foreign trade development, it noted. People watch an excavator stunt show at the 2023 East Asia Marine Expo in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province on June 28, 2023. – Xinhua photo Hengwang has built 13 warehouses in major export destinations such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Liu said that such warehouses not only store complete machines but also spare parts for timely after-sales service and technical support. “Overseas warehouses do not always operate at full capacity but adjust inventory dynamically according to customer demand.” SAAO has also taken action. Han plans to deploy overseas warehouses in Central Asian countries after setting up warehouses in Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, as his business is expanding from Europe and America to the region. Staff members of Kilimall work at a warehouse in Mlolongo, Kenya on Nov 10, 2023. – Xinhua photo Exploration never stops Liu calls himself a “road warrior” after spending more than 200 days abroad last year, shuttling between Europe, America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. He discovered more business opportunities as Hengwang transformed from a small and medium-sized machinery equipment producer to a large equipment maker. “Being early is crucial. We are developing new products, such as 125-tonne large excavators that can compete with famous brand Caterpillar of the United States and Japan’s Komatsu,” Liu said. SAAO also invested more in the overseas market. It purchased more machines including a second laser cutting machine worth 1.5 million yuan and supplemented its workforce in various links of the entire foreign trade business chain, from technicians, assemblers, salespeople, and procurement personnel. In addition, SAAO has developed green machinery that uses new energy and does not have engine noise pollution. “Currently, the demand for environmentally friendly machinery is increasing year by year, and its shipment volume has accounted for nearly 10 per cent of our overall volume,” said Han. “Only those who never stop exploring and innovating can thrive on the Road of Triumph,” he said. – Xinhua
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(The Center Square) – The Biden administration on Monday instituted a new round of restrictions targeting the export of advanced semiconductor chips and manufacturing equipment to China. This move by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security builds on previous measures aimed at curbing China's ability to develop cutting-edge technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and military applications. The new export controls place 140 manufacturers and investment companies on the Entity List, a U.S. compilation of "foreign individuals, companies, and organizations deemed a national security concern." "The United States has taken significant steps to protect our technology from being used by our adversaries in ways that threaten our national security," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement . The new controls will also block the sale of high-bandwidth memory, which is necessary for artificial intelligence. Semiconductors can be a strategic asset for AI systems, supercomputing, and other technologies for both civilian and military use. Sullivan continued, "As technology evolves, and our adversaries seek new ways to evade restrictions, we will continue to work with our allies and partners to proactively and aggressively safeguard our world-leading technologies and know-how so they aren't used to undermine our national security." According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, semiconductors, also known as computer chips, are typically smaller than a postage stamp and are composed of billions of components that can store, move and process data. Advanced semiconductors can be used for artificial intelligence, including in medical diagnosis and for military purposes, such as modeling nuclear explosions. The U.S. has been tightening down on the export controls on semiconductors to China since concerns over U.S. capacity to produce advanced semiconductors domestically when shortages began during the pandemic. This concern resulted in Congress enacting the CHIPS Act of 2022. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded. "This type of behavior seriously violates the laws of market economy and the principle of fair competition, disrupts international economic and trade order, destabilizes global industrial and supply chains, and will eventually harm the interests of all countries," Jian said. Beijing intends to take firm, resolute measures to defend the interests of Chinese companies, he added. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration Thea D. Rozman Kendler said, "The PRC's Military-Civil Fusion strategy presents a significant risk that advanced node semiconductors will be used in military applications that threaten the security of the United States, as well as the security of our allies and partners."A proper gaming headset makes all the difference, whether you're gaming or working from home. To be worth splurging, a high-quality headset has to meet some important criteria, like having a long battery life, high quality sound and comfort. This HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset checks all the boxes, plus it's now $76 off on Amazon for Cyber Monday . The Cloud Alpha Wireless headset uses dual-chamber audio technology, meaning it separates bass from mids and highs for smoother, clearer audio. With an advertised 300-hour battery life -- and extrapolating from our testing, over 180 hours, which is still terrific -- you probably won't have to worry about forgetting to charge them. You can read CNET editor Lori Grunin's experience testing out the battery life and quality of the headset here . Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money . Why this deal matters This HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset is marked down at the lowest price we've ever seen at $124. If you've been looking to make an upgrade to your own gaming set-up or you know someone who could use a pair, now is the time to snatch this headset up. Read more: Best Christmas Gifts and Ideas for Every Price Range
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Emanuel Wallace, 27, from east London, is better known as Big Manny by his 1.9 million followers on TikTok, where he shares videos explaining various science experiments from his back garden while using Jamaican Patois phrases and London slang. In early December, Mr Wallace won the Education Creator of the Year award at the TikTok Awards ceremony, which he said is a “symbol that anything that you put your mind to you can achieve”. The content creator began making videos during the coronavirus pandemic when schools turned to online learning but has since expanded his teaching from videos to paper after releasing his debut book Science Is Lit in August. He believes his “unconventional” teaching methods help to make his content relatable for younger audiences by using slang deriving from his Jamaican and British heritage. “The language that I use, it’s a combination between Jamaican Patois and London slang because I have Jamaican heritage,” the TikToker, who holds a bachelors and masters degree in biomedical science, told the PA news agency. “That’s why in my videos sometimes I might say things like ‘Wagwan’ or ‘you dun know’. I just want to connect with the young people more, so I speak in the same way that they speak. “The words that I use, the way that I deliver the lesson as well, I would say that my method of teaching is quite unconventional. I speak in a way that is quite conversational.” Examples of his videos include lithium batteries catching fire after being sandwiched inside a raw chicken breast, as well as mixing gold with gallium to create blue gold, earning millions of views. Mr Wallace hopes his content will help make the science industry more diverse, saying “the scientists that I was taught about, none of them look like me”. “Now me being a scientist is showing young people that they can become one as well, regardless of the background that they come from, the upbringing that they’ve had,” he said. “I just want to make it seem more attainable and possible for them because if I can do it, and I come from the same place as you, there’s no reason why you can’t do it as well.” The TikToker has seen a shift in more young people turning to the app as a learning resource and feels short-form videos will soon become a part of the national curriculum in schools. “I’m seeing (young people) using that a lot more – social media as a resource for education – and I feel like in the future, it’s going to become more and more popular as well,” he said. “I get a lot of comments from students saying that my teacher showed my video in the classroom as a resource, so I feel like these short form videos are going to be integrated within the national curriculum at some point in the near future.” He also uses his platform to raise awareness of different social issues, which he said is “extremely important”. One of his videos highlighted an anti-knife campaign backed by actor Idris Elba, which earned more than 39 million views, while his clip about the banning of disposable vapes was viewed more than 4.6 million times. He said there is some pressure being a teacher with a large following online but hopes he can be a role model for young people. “I’m aware that I am in the public eye and there’s a lot of young people watching me,” he said. “Young people can be impressionable, so I make sure that I conduct myself appropriately, so that I can be a role model. “I always have the same message for young people, specifically. I tell them to stay curious. Always ask questions and look a little bit deeper into things.” His plans for 2025 include publishing a second Science Is Lit book and expanding his teaching to television where he soon hopes to create his own science show.Pacifica Man, Pedro Jesus Bernabe-Vazquez Arrested for Alleged DUI After Colliding with Parked Vehicle
Adele says it is time to ‘move on’ after completing her Las Vegas residencyMangaluru: Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath accused the Congress govt of not allocating funds for the development of backward classes. He told reporters on Thursday that various govts established separate development corporations for the welfare and empowerment of socially, economically, and politically backward communities. Several corporations are functioning under the backward classes welfare department. "The previous BJP govt released over Rs 1,000 crore for the development of backward classes to various corporations. However, after Congress came to power in the state, not only did it fail to allocate new funds, but it also issued orders to cancel the funds released during the BJP govt's tenure. This seems to be a conspiracy to keep the backward classes from progressing and remaining backward. The Congress govt under chief minister Siddaramaiah, who claims to be a leader of AHINDA, is doing injustice to the communities," Kamath said. "During the previous BJP govt's tenure, thousands of crores of rupees were sanctioned for 1,093 projects for backward classes across the state, including community halls, organizations, and student hostels. The current state govt has unilaterally cancelled these approvals. This includes projects in Dakshina Kannada district, neglecting the upliftment of all backward communities such as Devadiga, Kudubi, Mogaveera, Billava, Shettigar, etc. All the money is being used for the implementation of guarantee schemes. The Congress govt is reducing the number of beneficiaries, thereby doing injustice to the community," the MLA said. "The Congress govt announced a budget of Rs 1,600 crore only in name. However, so far, only small grants have been given, and no funds have been released to any corporations for the economic, industrial, agricultural, and educational development of backward communities. Those who previously marched from Mangaluru to Vidhana Soudha demanding the establishment of the Sri Narayana Guru Development Corporation have not yet appointed a president or allocated funds for the Corporation. The situation of the Bunts' Development Corporation is also the same, with no positive developments, he alleged. The MLA urged the state Congress govt to immediately rectify this injustice and release more funds, including those provided by the BJP govt, to assist in the development of the backward community. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
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