Minister Chris Bonett said he sympathises with those who were stuck in traffic on Tuesday evening but added that events of this kind will inevitably result in congestion

The police said that unlike other drug busts of this scale, the shipment was intended for the local market, and had a street value of €20 million. Four Maltese men have been arrested in connection with the bust

US President-elect Donald Trump selects Elon Musk to assist with government cost-cutting as part of his push to ‘dismantle’ bureaucracy upon his return to the White House next year

'L-Istorja, Int' (History, You), will be the theme for the 50th anniversary celebrations for Malta's Republic Day

CEBU CITY, Philippines —The Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Junior Wildcats mounted a dramatic second-half comeback to edge out the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 53-50. The game was part of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 High School Basketball Tournament, held on Wednesday, November 13, at the Cebu Coliseum. With the victory, the Junior Wildcats improved to a 6-4 record, securing the No. 6 spot in the standings, while USPF slipped to 4-5, dropping to No. 7. CIT-U forward Daniel Mapula was a key contributor throughout the game, dominating the paint with 10 […]...

Keep on reading: CESAFI: CIT-U Junior Wildcats claw back USPF in come-from-behind win

BingoPlus, the country’s comprehensive entertainment platform, announced its newest Bingo Mega Jackpot winner on November 13, 2024 with a grand total of 154,148,662 Pesos winning prize. The Bingo Mega Jackpot winner of 154 million Pesos is the highest prize ever won so far in the BingoPlus platform. With only 5 Pesos worth of cards, the BingoPlus user purchased 20 random green cards for only 100 Pesos, and amazingly, hit the biggest jackpot in BingoPlus history. BingoMega is among many games in BingoPlus that allows you to both enjoy and win prizes while playing. For just 5 Pesos, you can have […]...

Keep on reading: BingoPlus’ newest Mega Jackpot winner bags ₱154 million

New import Akil Mitchell knocked down the marginal free throw with six seconds left and Meralco completed its comeback to defeat South Korea’s Busan KCC Egis, 81-80, Wednesday in the East Asia Super League at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The reinforcement tapped for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup came through after being fouled in a looseball situation and the visiting Egis in penalty as the Bolts improved to 2-1 in Group B of the regional competition. Mitchell finished with 33 points and 22 rebounds, providing a glimpse of what to expect for the PBA’s midseason tournament slated to start later […]...

Keep on reading: EASL: Meralco rallies past KBL's Busan behind new import

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Keep on reading: Tuldok, November 14, 2024

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Keep on reading: Love Knots, November 14, 2024

The World Bank (WB) has approved a new $750-million development policy loan aimed at helping the Philippine government ramp up its digital transformation efforts, marking its second financial aid of this type to a country where the internet economy has seen rapid expansion. The multilateral lender said on Wednesday that its second digital transformation package […]...

Keep on reading: World Bank oks $750-M PH digital transformation program

Opponents of the bill claimed it would have targeted pro-Palestinian organizations that facilitate aid to Gaza.

Biden and Trump have sharply criticized each other for years, and their respective teams hold vastly different positions on policies from climate change to Russia to trade.

“We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere," The Guardian explained.

The bill would give the Justice Minister the authority to set the amount of the annual membership fee instead of IBA's national council.

The bill's goal is to enable the use of spyware to combat organized crime, according to the proposal's explanatory section.

Yitzhak Rabin spoke of the importance of manpower and mobilizing reservists following the Yom Kippur War, echoing modern sentiments.

KKL-JNF allocates NIS 4m. to upgrade, create memorial at Re'im Recreation Site in Be'eri Forest, where 384 people were murdered at Nova music festival on October 7.

In her Instagram post, Argamani shared her frustration that 101 hostages have not yet been rescued from Hamas.

"The lack of protective structures and the disparity between Arab and Jewish localities...forces Arab residents to live in a state of constant peril," said IDI's Lital Piller

The members of the House debated the role of lack of integration, antisemitism within the Muslim population, and failure of authority in a discussion about the attacks.

CIA official Asif W. Rahman held top-secret security clearance and had access to sensitive information, the New York Times reported.

The United States is now seeking an enforcement mechanism that would ensure that the only armed body in that area would be the Lebanese Army.

The navy has, numerous times in the past, acknowledged that it carries out surveillance of Israel’s enemies, sometimes at a great distance.

KARACHI: At a time when cities across Punjab are facing the worst air pollution in their history, two members of the ruling coalition on Tuesday made “insensitive” jibes over the issue in their posts on social media.

In his post on X, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari shared a chart of the air quality index readings of Pakistan’s major cities on November 10 at 9pm.

The chart showed Peshawar as the most polluted city with an AQI of 591, followed by Multan 573 and Lahore 479. Karachi was 7th with AQI of 78.

“Dear Pakistan, move to Karachi,” wrote Mr Bhutto-Zardari in his post.

Late at night, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said crop burning was unreasonably blamed for the smog when vehicles were the biggest polluters.

He shared a chart showing that total emissions from transport were 127 gigagrams, while that from stubble burning was 5.97gg.

The minister’s post did not mention the chart’s source or when the readings were taken.

He said the chart shows the “real culprits” contributing to the smog, but the people are being misled into believing that stubble burning, which has been going on “since the time of Mohenjo Daro”, was causing the pollution.

In another post, he referred to an order by Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Karim to close markets at 8pm, which was “yet to be implemented”.

According to the minister, the markets in Lahore remained open from 2pm to 2am and blamed the traders for being “intransigent” on this issue.

He also called out political leaders who are not ready to address this issue due to “political expediency”.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has again approached the federal government, seeking update on its earlier letter showing intent to buy the national flag carrier.

Earlier on Nov 1, KP had formally conveyed to the federal government that it was ready to offer a bid for Pakistan International Airlines, which would surpass the highest offer of Rs10 billion by the Blue World Consortium.

In a letter addressed to the federal minister for privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan, KP Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BOIT) vice-chairman Hassan Masood Kunwar stated that 10 days had now passed since the correspondence expressing the board’s intent to participate in the privatisation of PIA was made.

“Given the strategic importance of the process and the strong support for this initiative from the chief minister and the investment board, we kindly seek an update on the status of KP-BOIT proposal,” the letter said.

It said that BOIT was fully committed to preserving and revitalising PIA, ensuring its legacy as the national flag carrier. It said that in line with this commitment, the chief minister and the KP-BOIT team were dedicated to support PIA’s return to prominence and securing its future aligned with Pakistan’s national interest.

The letter also noted that KP leadership was prepared to offer substantial backing and resources to accomplish these objectives.

It said that KP-BOIT would appreciate any indication of when it might expect to discuss this matter further. “The province’s trade and investment body remains ready to engage at your earliest convenience, prepared to elaborate on our strategic vision and our readiness to present a competitive and compelling bid that reflects our commitment to Pakistan’s aviation sector and the fact that the KP is one of the stakeholders in PIA, being part of the federation,” the letter added.

Mr Masood Kunwar told Dawn that they had written this letter as the federal government did not respond to the earlier one. He said that the federal government did respond to the offer in a press conference, but the province had not received a written response so far.

He said that KP was not doing politics and was genuinely interested in buying the national carrier, therefore, it wanted to engage the federal government on this issue.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

• Govt objects to repeal of prison rules for PTI founder
• Imran booked in 54 cases across Punjab, LHC told

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday disposed of pre-arrest bail petitions of eight PTI activists in the case regarding an attack on the Lahore corps commander’s residence after police declared them innocent in the investigation.

ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill was hearing the bail petitions of 32 activists when a prosecutor stated that a joint investigation team (JIT), formed to probe the May 9 incidents, had exonerated eight of the petitioners for lack of evidence.

At this, the lawyer for the activists sought the court permission to withdraw their bail petitions.

The judge adjourned the bail petitions of other activists till Dec 11 and 13, asking them to join the JIT investigation.

The judge allowed the request and disposed of the petitions of Tanzila Imran, Ri­­zwana Ghazanfar, Makiya Saeed, Shah­baz Amir Ali, Farooq Ahmad, Usman Naveed, Zirk Khan and Mian Ahmad Rehman.

Sarwar Road police of Lahore had registered a case against PTI leaders and workers for attacking the Lahore corps commander house, also known as Jinnah House, on May 9 last year.

Separately, ATC-III Judge Arshad Javed adjourned the hearing of post-arrest bail petitions by the PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, in May 9 cases.

The judge directed the petitioners’ lawyers to conclude their arguments on the next hearing; otherwise, the petitions would be decided on the basis of police record.

The judge postponed the pleas of Rasheed till Nov 12, Dr Yasmin till Nov 13 & 16, and Qureshi till Nov 19.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, issued a notice to Advocate Sher Afzal Marwat on whose petition the section was set aside, seeking his response.

Prison rules

Meanwhile, a two-member division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took up the petition of the chief commissioner Islamabad against setting aside of Section 265 of the Punjab Prison Rules that prohibits political discussion during prisoner meetings with visitors.

The plea contested Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan’s verdict, which had struck down Section 265.

Advocate General Islamabad Ayaz Shaukat argued that the IHC lacked jurisdiction to intervene in Punjab’s laws and maintained that the single bench did not have the authority to nullify provisions in the Punjab Prison Rules.

Chief Justice Farooq asked, “So, you are saying that the Islamabad High Court cannot interfere in any provincial law?”

Justice Imtiaz noted that the Punjab Prison Rules are also applicable to prisoners in Isla­mabad, suggesting an overlap in jurisdiction.

The CJ inquired whether a formal notice under Section 27A was issued to the attorney general or the advocate general by the single bench, a requirement before declaring any law invalid.

While the advocate general said he had been summoned, he acknowledged that a formal notice was not issued.

Advocate General Shaukat requested the immediate suspension of the single bench’s decision, but Chief Justice Farooq scheduled a formal hearing for the next week.

Justice Farooq Haider was hearing a petition filed by Imran’s sister, Noreen Niazi, challenging the non-disclosure of the cases’ details against her brother.

Cases against Imran

Also on Tuesday, Punjab Police told the La­­­hore High Court that 54 criminal cases, in­­cluding those related to May 9, had been registered against PTI founding chairman Imran Khan in different cities of the province.

An additional advocate general presented a report on behalf of the inspector general of police, revealing that 21 cases were registered in Lahore, 19 in Rawalpindi, seven in Sheikhupura, five in Faisalabad and one each in Gujranwala and Mianwali.

The cases include attacks on the Jinnah House, Askari Tower at Liberty Roundabout, General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and office of an intelligence agency in Faisalabad. A law officer for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sought additional time to provide details of the cases, if any, against Imran Khan.

The judge allowed the request and adjourned further hearing till Nov 20.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Elon Musk to a role aimed at creating a more efficient government, handing even more influence to the world’s richest man who donated millions of dollars to helping Trump get elected.

Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will co-lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, an entity Trump indicated will operate outside the confines of government.

Trump said in a statement that Musk and Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies”.

Trump said the new department will realise long-held Republican dreams and “provide advice and guidance from outside of government,” signalling the Musk and Ramaswamy roles would be informal, without requiring Senate approval and allowing Musk to remain the head of electric car company Tesla, social media platform X and rocket company SpaceX.

The new department would work with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach” to government never seen before, Trump said.

The work would conclude by July 4, 2026 — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Musk, ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world, already stood to benefit from Trump’s victory, with the billionaire entrepreneur expected to wield extraordinary influence to help his companies and secure favorable government treatment.

With many links to Washington, Musk gave millions of dollars to support Trump’s presidential campaign and made public appearances with him.

Adding a government portfolio to Musk’s plate could benefit the market value of his companies and favoured businesses such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

“It’s clear that Musk will have a massive role in the Trump White House with his increasing reach clearly across many federal agencies,” equities analyst Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities said in a research note.

“We believe the major benefits for Musk and Tesla far outweigh any negatives as this continues to be a ‘poker move for the ages’ by Musk betting on Trump,” Ives said.

The move was criticised by Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights NGO that challenged several of Trump’s first-term policies.

“Musk not only knows nothing about government efficiency and regulation, his own businesses have regularly run afoul of the very rules he will be in position to attack in his new ‘czar’ position,” Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, said in a statement. “This is the ultimate corporate corruption.”

Maximum transparency promised

Trump likened the efficiency effort to the Manhattan Project, the US undertaking to build the atomic bomb that helped end World War Two, while Musk promised transparency.

“All actions of the Department of Government Efficiency will be posted online for maximum transparency,” Musk said on X, inviting the public to provide tips.

“We will also have a leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars. This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining,” Musk said.

Musk said at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in October that the federal budget could be reduced by “at least” $2 trillion. Discretionary spending, including defence spending, is estimated to total $1.9tr out of $6.75tr in total federal outlays for fiscal 2024, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

“Your money is being wasted and the Department of Government Efficiency is going to fix that. We’re going to get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook,” Musk said at the rally.

The acronym of the new department — Doge — also references the name of the cryptocurrency dogecoin that Musk promotes.

In August, Musk and Tesla won the dismissal of a federal lawsuit accusing them of defrauding investors by hyping dogecoin and conducting insider trading, causing billions of dollars of losses.

Dogecoin has more than doubled since Election Day, tracking a surge in cryptocurrency markets on expectations of a softer regulatory ride under a Trump administration.

Shares in Tesla fell on Wall Street ahead of the announcement but are up about 30 per cent since the election.

Ramaswamy is the founder of a pharmaceutical company who ran for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump and then threw his support behind the former president after dropping out.

In his 2021 bestseller Woke, Inc., Ramaswamy decried decisions by some big companies to base business strategy around social justice and climate change concerns.

Ramaswamy said the appointment means he is withdrawing from consideration for the pending US Senate appointment in Ohio, where Governor Mike DeWine will appoint a replacement for JD Vance, who will become Trump’s vice president when they are inaugurated on Jan. 20.

The Japanese government on Wednesday approved a grant worth $18.5 million for the construction of three embankments on the Indus River in Haripur district and rain metres at 45 sites along the river in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab for effective flood management.

In 2022, Pakistan witnessed the worst floods in its history, which claimed 1,700 lives, destroyed homes and livestock, washed away swathes of agricultural land, affected 33 million people, and incurred losses worth $30 billion, according to government estimates.

“The Government of Japan has approved a grant amounting to JPY 2.831 billion (US$ 18.5 million) for a Grant-in-Aid project titled ‘Flood Management Enhancement in the Indus Basin’ to the Government of Pakistan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),” a statement from the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Wednesday.

“The project aims to improve the accuracy of flood forecasts and flood control functions, accumulate basic data that contribute to disaster risk reduction measures, and reduce the risk of loss to humans and the economy, including infrastructure.”

The three embankments constructed under the project grant will protect local communities from potential human and economic losses including infrastructure. The data from the water and rain metres, managed by the Federal Flood Commission and Water and Power Development Authority, will be shared with various agencies to help predict and manage potential floods.

“The scope of the project is to develop a hydrological and hydraulic observation network besides rehabilitating the river structures damaged by the 2022 floods in the Indus River and its tributaries,” the statement added.

Economic Affairs Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz and Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Wada Mitsuhiro signed the agreement in Islamabad today.

Ambassador Wada, while speaking at the signing ceremony, expressed the hope that the project would provide reassurance to the people of Pakistan regarding possible future floods.

“Japan remains committed to providing assistance that will directly benefit vulnerable people of Pakistan,” the envoy said.

In Oct, Pakistan and Japan had finalised an agreement for the procurement and installation of 45 telemetry stations and five automatic weather stations for improved flood forecasting and weather monitoring systems.

The project was part of the larger Rs200bn worth of Flood Protection Programme being jointly financed by the federal and provincial governments with the support of international lenders.

Britain’s The Guardian newspaper announced Wednesday it would no longer post content from its official accounts on Elon Musk’s X, branding it a “toxic media platform” home to “often disturbing content”.

“We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives,” the left-leaning newspaper, which has nearly 11 million followers on X, said on its website. It added that its “resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere”.

“This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism,” the statement noted.

“The US presidential election campaign served only to underline what we have considered for a long time: that X is a toxic media platform and that its owner, Elon Musk, has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse.”

The paper’s main X handle was still accessible Wednesday but a message on it advised “this account has been archived” while redirecting visitors to its website.

The Guardian noted that X users would still be able to share its articles and that it would still “occasionally embed content from X” within its articles given “the nature of live news reporting”.

It also said its reporters would still be able to use the site and other social networks on which the paper does not have an account.

“Social media can be an important tool for news organisations and help us to reach new audiences but, at this point, X now plays a diminished role in promoting our work,” The Guardian added.

Musk purchased X, formerly known as Twitter, for $44 billion in 2022 and has consistently courted controversy with his use of the platform, particularly during the recent US presidential election.

Musk endorsed Donald Trump and used his personal account boasting nearly 205 million followers to sway voters in favour of the Republican, with a slew of incendiary, misleading posts criticised for cranking up the political temperature.

Trump on Tuesday announced that the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire would lead a so-called Department of Government Efficiency in his incoming administration, alongside the entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

PTI founder Imran Khan has issued a “final call” for a protest in Islamabad on November 24, denouncing what he described as the “stolen mandate”, the “unjust arrests” of people, and the government’s push to pass the 26th constitutional amendment bill last month, it emerged on Wednesday.

Since his arrest in August 2023 on several counts, Imran’s party has been holding protests across the country for his release, and against the alleged “rigging” of the 2024 elections on February 8.

Since the events of May 9, 2023, PTI leaders have faced arrests and detentions from time to time, mostly for leading protests in the country. A day ago, some top PTI leaders were taken into custody from outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for violating Section 144 but were released shortly afterwards after being issued a warning.

Last month, police arrested several PTI leaders and activists across multiple districts of Punjab for holding protests. In September, the party’s top leadership, along with 11 MNAs, were apprehended but released later.

Similarly, his sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, together with a dozen party workers, were arrested for allegedly leading a protest in Islamabad last month. Both were released after obtaining bail from a court.

Speaking to journalists after meeting Imran in Adiala Jail on Wednesday, Aleema said that the final call for protest was for everyone, including PTI ticket holders, members of parliament, and workers and supporters of the party.

“This is the moment when you will have to decide [whether] you want to live under martial law or live with freedom,” she quoted Imran as saying.

“You used your right [to vote] on February 8…. but the next day, the foundation you had laid for democracy was stolen,” she further quoted Imran as saying.

Aleema went on to say that Imran has addressed his call to four categories of people —farmers, lawyers, civil society and students— who should come out to protest for their rights.

Speaking on the 26th Amendment being enacted as law, she quoted Imran as saying, “All of your rights have been taken away; the Supreme Court has been occupied, and the current conditions are even worse than previous martial laws.”

This call for protest comes after a series of protests by PTI nationwide throughout October.

During the last protest called for Islamabad on October 4, hundreds of PTI activists, including senior leaders, gathered at multiple locations in the capital after defying heavy police blockades and road closures.

Authorities had dug trenches and placed iron nails on a stretch of the Islamabad-Peshawar motorway to prevent protesters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from reaching the capital. Despite these hurdles, PTI workers had managed to reach D-chowk amid heavy rain.

PTI had claimed KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who was part of the protest caravan, was arrested by Rangers from KP House before retracting their claims.

After a mysterious day-long disappearance, he resurfaced in Peshawar as he arrived at the KP Assembly in the evening to address the lawmakers there.

PTI called off its announced D-Chowk protest for October 15 on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit after assurances of a medical check-up for Imran.

On November 8, 14 people, inc­l­u­­ding eight cops, were injured when clashes erupted between the police and PTI supporters in Quetta.

The clashes occurred after the administration cancelled permission for the party to hold a rally at Railway Hockey Ground to demand the release of Imran, citing security threats.

‘Call for chaos and provocation’

Reacting to Imran’s call for protest, PPP Vice-President Senator Sherry Rehman condemned the move, terming it “a call for chaos and provocation” rather than a protest.

“We have also held peaceful protests but never told workers to kill or die,” Rehman said in a statement on Wednesday.

She asked for an explanation regarding the purpose behind the “so-called final and decisive protest.”

“Those who ordered workers to go out with a shroud on their heads should fear God,” she said, adding that despite PPP leaders being hanged and murdered, they never issued calls for violent protests.

Rehman concluded by saying that Imran wants chaos and is using workers as “political fuel for his release”.

‘PTI trying to start armed struggle’

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah accused Imran of planning to start an “armed struggle” against the government.

Speaking on a private news channel yesterday, Sanaullah said: “It can be ascertained from the statements of the PTI founder that run in the media and newspapers ….. that they are planning to start a struggle, an armed struggle against the government.”

When asked who were the people trying to start the “armed struggle”, Sanaullah said, “All of you are seeing the people who go and meet him every day and then come out and give statements on this.”

He also referred to KP CM Gandapur’s speech at the Swabi jalsa earlier this week, saying that the rhetoric used there “indicated that they are planning an armed struggle”.

Without doubt, Turkiye gave the strongest response to Israel’s atrocities in Palestine through such steps as halting trade, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Ankara suspended all trade with Israel in May, citing a worsening humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians since last October.

“As long as arms shipments continue, Israel will be more aggressive, as every day that Israel is not stopped, the situation in Palestine and Lebanon worsens,” Erdogan told reporters on his return flight from visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan.

One of the concrete steps that can be taken against Israel’s attacks is to work for recognition of the state of Palestine, he underscored, adding: “Without a two-state solution, peace and stability will not come to the region.”

“Trade restrictions and sanctions on Israel are another form of struggle. Active diplomacy to corner Israel in all areas and boost diplomatic pressure is also crucial. We’re in the middle of a great test of humanity,” the president said.

“Passing this test is only possible by being part of the humanitarian alliance. Otherwise, history will judge both those who stood by Israel and those who remained silent in the face of oppression.”

Erdogan also said Ankara’s initiative at the UN to prevent the shipment of weapons and ammunition to Israel has been supported by 52 countries and two international organizations.

“We recently sent a letter on this initiative to the president of the UN General Assembly, the president of the Security Council, and the UN secretary-general. At the (joint Arab-Muslim) summit in Riyadh, a decision was made to invite all organizations and Arab League members to sign our letter. Our country’s steps to halt the massacre and its humanitarian aid efforts were praised,” he added.

The Turkish president also highlighted that he had the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings during the summit, including with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, adding that they had a fruitful meeting.

Emphasizing that he also held bilateral meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan, during the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference, Erdogan said that these meetings included discussions of bilateral ties and regional developments.

‘Climate is one of the most critical issues facing world’

On Turkiye’s zero emissions target for 2053, Erdogan said: “The climate issue is one of the most critical issues facing the world. Just as we care about wars, conflicts, and migration, we approach this issue with the same seriousness.”

“Turkiye is persistently discussing what measures we can take with the relevant ministries. We have taken, are taking, and will continue to take measures to use the world’s limited resources most efficiently and to elevate the civilization we have developed over centuries to a much higher level.

“Turkiye cares about this issue and is making every effort to do our part. However, finding a fundamental and lasting solution to this issue is not possible with the efforts of just us or a few countries together.”

He called for collective action to shoulder the burden of climate-related efforts.

“If some countries fully engage in the fight against climate change while others, driven by greed, ignore necessary measures or even increase pollution, we cannot overcome this problem,” warned Erdogan.

President Erdogan added that the importance of the Zero Waste initiative, spearheaded by Turkiye, is gaining more recognition every day and that efforts are being made to spread it and turn it into a way of life.

The initiative, which started in 2017 under First Lady Emine Erdogan’s leadership, aims to raise awareness of the importance of waste elimination in addressing climate change.

Hope ties with US move to different track under Trump

On the US’ incoming administration, Erdogan voiced hope that Donald Trump’s taking office in January will start to put ties between Ankara and Washington on a different track.

“Undoubtedly, there are always opportunities between the two countries. Our basic expectation is to assess these opportunities and take steps that will benefit both countries,” he said.

“The Trump administration views the economy as one of its main priorities. Turkiye, with its strategic geographical location and young population, is a country that offers investment opportunities.

“We can create new opportunities to boost the trade volume and encourage investments between the two countries. Particularly in energy, infrastructure, and technology, we can develop new collaborations,” he underlined.

Erdogan also expressed hope that President-elect Trump would take different steps for the region.

Asked about potential future meetings with US billionaire Elon Musk, one of Trump’s biggest supporters, Erdogan said: “The technological strides Turkiye is making are drawing attention worldwide. Technology is not an area where you can advance alone; you need collaboration. If cooperation opportunities arise in this field, steps can be taken with Musk.”

Possible normalization between Turkiye, Syria

Speaking of a possible reconciliation with Syria, Erdogan said Turkiye has reached out for normalization, expressing its belief that it would open the door to peace and stability in Syrian territories.

Cross-border operations are always in the cards for the country’s security, he said, expressing readiness to launch them anytime the country feels threatened.

Turkiye has launched several cross-border operations in recent years, in both northern Syria and northern Iraq, targeting terrorists who hide out there and destabilize the border or plot attacks on Turkish soil.

Reiterating Turkiye’s commitment to fighting terrorism while respecting Syria’s territorial integrity, Erdogan said that the presence of terrorist groups in northern Syria, notably the PKK, the PYD and the YPG, also poses a threat to its territorial integrity, adding that the Syrian government, well aware of this, must take steps to create a new climate in the country.

Erdogan also said the “threat of Israel,” right next to Syria, is no fairy tale, warning that the fire in the surrounding areas can quickly spread in the unstable lands.

In its 40-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

In northern Syria, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations since 2016 to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

A US government employee has been indicted for leaking classified national defence information, according to federal court records unsealed on Wednesday.

The indictment, charging Asif William Rahman with two counts of willfully transmitting classified information, does not provide details about the nature of the leak.

However, it says the leak occurred on or about October 17.

That was around the time that a pro-Iranian Telegram account called “Middle East Spectator” published what appeared to be a pair of documents produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency which shared information about Israel’s preparations for an attack on Iran.

The intelligence in the documents was based on satellite imagery from Oct 15 to 16.

In a previous statement, the Middle East Spectator said it had received the documents through an anonymous source, and that it had no connection to the original leaker nor could it verify the authenticity of the documents.

The FBI in October confirmed it was investigating who had leaked the documents.

According to the indictment, which is dated November 7, investigators believe the leak took place in Cambodia.

Rahman was arrested in Cambodia on Nov 12, and is expected to make an initial court appearance in a federal court in Guam on Nov 14 before he is transferred to stand trial in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Security forces killed four terrorists, including a “high-value target”, during an exchange of fire in Balochistan’s Kech district, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the general Balgatar area of Kech District on the “reported presence of terrorists”.

“During [the] conduct of the operation, after an intense fire exchange between own troops and the terrorists, four terrorists including a high-value target, terrorist ring leader Sana [alias] Baru were killed,” the statement said.

It added that the killed terrorist was a focal recruitment agent, “especially suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade in District Kech and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.”

A sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.

Pakistan’s security forces “remain determined to thwart attempts of sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” the statement said.

The country has lately witnessed a sharp uptick in the number of attacks targeting security forces, other law enforcement agencies, and security checkpoints, particularly in Balochistan and KP.

Attacks escalated after the TTP broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022 and vowed to target security forces.

Last Sunday, security forces killed 10 terrorists and injured eight others during three different engagements in North Waziristan.

On Nov 7, security forces killed five terrorists during an exchange of fire in South Waziristan, while four soldiers were martyred in the operation.

In another incident on Nov 4, security forces killed seven terrorists in separate operations, with one terrorist killed in Balochistan and the other six killed during two operations in KP.

Likewise, on November 2, four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in KP’s South Waziristan region.

1. Actor John Krasinski Named 'Sexiest Man Alive' Of 2024 By People Magazine  NDTV
2. Celebs crowned Sexiest Man Alive in last ten years: John Krasinski, Patrick Dempsey, Paul Rudd, to Idris Elba  Hindustan Times
3. Is Jim from The Office really the sexiest man in the world?  The Guardian
4. John Krasinski Is PEOPLE's 2024 Sexiest Man Alive!  PEOPLE
5. John Krasinski chosen as Sexiest Man Alive but fans have declared these stars as Sexiest Musician and Sexi  The Economic Times

1. ₹50000 for 1 night in Ahmedabad? Fans claim Coldplay’s upcoming concert skyrocketed hotel prices  Hindustan Times
2. Coldplay announces 4th India show in Ahmedabad: Check out ticket sale details  Hindustan Times
3. Everything You Need to Know About The World's Largest Cricket Stadium In Ahmedabad, Which Will Hold Coldplay's Gujarat Concert  NDTV
4. Coldplay Announces New Concert in Ahmedabad: Know The Date and How To Book Tickets  News18
5. Coldplay announces fourth show in Ahmedabad after Mumbai due to unprecedented demand  Moneycontrol

1. Wedding Invitation Scams at rise: A single click may put you in grave danger  India TV News
2. Police warns: Wedding invites on WhatsApp are taking control of smartphones; stealing money, photos and m  The Times of India
3. All about the 'wedding invitation' scam on WhatsApp that can get your phone hacked  Moneycontrol
4. WhatsApp wedding invitations are the new cyber trap — here's how scammers are stealing your data  CNBCTV18
5. WhatsApp wedding invite scam: What to know about this and how to be alert  India Today

1. NTPC Green Energy's ₹10,000 crore IPO: Date, details, projects, things to know  Hindustan Times
2. NTPC Green Energy fixes dates, price band for ₹10,000 crore IPO — More details here  CNBCTV18
3. Aim for 60-40 ratio, where 40% is green, rest is fossil by 2032: NTPC CMD  Business Standard
4. NTPC Green Energy IPO: Here’s how to apply under the shareholders’ quota and increase chances of allotment  Upstox
5. NTPC Green Energy IPO GMP declines amid buzz of firm preparing to file RHP  Moneycontrol

1. 'Stand On Your Own Legs' : Supreme Court Asks NCP(Ajit Pawar) To Not Use Photos & Videos Of Sharad Pawar...  Live Law - Indian Legal News
2. "Find Your Own Identity": Team Ajit Pawar Can't Use Sharad Pawar Pics  NDTV
3. 'Stand up on your legs': SC snubs Ajit Pawar's NCP over use of Sharad Pawar's photos in poll campaign  The Times of India
4. Stand on your own legs; why use Sharad Pawar's name? Supreme Court to Ajit Pawar NCP faction  Bar & Bench - Indian Legal News
5. Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Supreme Court bars Ajit-led NCP from using photos, videos of Sharad Pawar for campaigning  Deccan Herald

1. Evening brief: BJP asks Delhi govt to close schools amid rising AQI; IMA condemns attack on doctor in Chennai; and more  Hindustan Times
2. Smog Blanket Over North India, Air Quality Drops To "Severe" Level  NDTV
3. BJP targets govt on pollution, AAP says don’t play politics  The Times of India
4. Delhi overtakes Lahore to become world's most polluted city  The Economic Times
5. City In Greyscale: Season’s First Fog, ‘Severe’ Air Day  The Times of India

Background

Lung cancer ranks as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There is evidence that second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer in never-smokers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide the most accurate quantification of the association between SHS exposure and lung cancer risk in never-smokers.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer speaking with Bloomberg confirmed Xbox is working on prototypes for a handheld Xbox, however, any device is at least a few years away from release.

Spencer wants the Xbox hardware team to analyze the handheld market, which includes the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck, and more. He wants the team to "develop its vision based on what it learns."

In the short term, Spencer wants Xbox to focus on making its app work better on current portable devices and to partner with hardware manufacturers to ensure Xbox products sync.

"Longer term, I love us building devices," he said. "And I think our team could do some real innovative work, but we want to be informed by learning and what’s happening now."

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463056/spencer-xbox-working-on-prototype-handhelds-any-device-is-a-few-years-out/

SUCCESS Corporation announced the twin-stick roguelite shooter, HEAVEN SEEKER: The Savior of This Cruel World, will launch for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on December 5.

Read details on the game below:

HEAVEN SEEKER: The Savior of This Cruel World is a twin-stick roguelite shooter where you take your own shot at the castle in the sky! A dungeon with a different structure each time you enter, a variety of magic bullets—and a formidable barrage of bullets—await you.

Story

In this world, Pentagaia, there were five countries that had been transferred from five different worlds.

Magi Province, the land of wizards, where magical technology flourished. A land of priestesses and samurai, a land of warriors and the four seasons. A land of elves, with the blessings of the World Tree. A land of mechanical ingenuity, where super-science rules the world. A land of wilderness and dust, ruled by demons.

The rulers of each nation sent explorers to the Castle of Heaven, where the secrets of Pentagaia were said to lie. They did so with the longing to return to the original world. These explorers were called Heaven Seekers.

Explore a Dungeon That Changes Each Time You Enter

In this title, you move with the left stick and aim with the right stick. This is a bullet hell shooting game where you freely control your character and explore random dungeons. When your HP reaches 0, you will lose all the items you have gained during this exploration. The player gains experience by exploring many times and learning the patterns of the rooms and the nature of the enemies.

Create Your Own Magic Shot!

The shot fired by the player character can be modified by freely combining over 20 customizable items to change its properties. Since items are randomly acquired during each quest, players will fight with a different personalized shot each time they dive into a dungeon.

Dot Art Style Game Visuals

All in-game elements in this title, including player characters, enemies, and dungeons, are rendered in high-quality dot art.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463057/heaven-seeker-the-savior-of-this-cruel-world-releases-december-5-for-ps5-ps4-and-switch/

Hundreds of employees at Bethesda have gone on strike, according to a report from Inverse.

Bethesda employees in Maryland and Texas have claimed the company has not addressed remote work concerns at the bargaining table and has been outsourcing quality assurance work without an agreement with the union.

"I'm excited. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I think it's going to be a fun event," said quality assurance test lead Rhyanna Eichner a day before the strike.

"I know that sounds weird, but we're all really looking forward to coming together and spending time together. Everybody understands that this needs to happen. This is what needs to be done to move on. We're all just kind of ready for it."

The union is looking to limit the percentage of quality assurance testers that Bethesda outsources when compares to the number of full-time employees.

The union is also looking for a more flexible remote work policy. Currently ZeniMax employees are required to go to the office twice a week and the union says many employees have been denied remote work requests.

"They have continually given us their first proposal again and again, and it’s become obvious that our different mobilization tactics have not worked," said Eichner.

Senior quality assurance tester at Rockville, Maryland Juniper Dowell added, "Striking isn’t fun or ideal, but there’s a satisfaction in having a concrete physical action we can do to fight for better work conditions. Hopefully, we can convince them to stop dragging their feet and meet us at the table."

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463058/hundreds-of-bethesda-employees-go-on-strike/

Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated ways to lure unsuspecting victims, and some are impersonating an email help desk or support team.

Study may lead to new treatment for sleep disorders like insomnia, researchers say

Iraqis who grew up under the rule of Saddam Hussein were all familiar with the battle in minute detail

Further excavations may reveal how ancient human populations likely interacted with each other, researchers say

A well-preserved section of the 2,000-year-old road, known as Watling Street, was unearthed under Old Kent Road in Southwark

The discovery could lead to a new treatment for millions of people with obesity and type 2 diabetes who do not respond well to current treatments.

1. World Diabetes Day 2024: Early and surprising signs of the silent killer  The Times of India
2. U.S. Diabetes Rates Rise to Nearly 1 in 6 Adults  Avery Journal Times
3. Healthwatch: Millions of Americans have diabetes and don't know it  CBS Chicago
4. CDC: 1 in 6 American adults have diabetes, costs rise  Business Insurance
5. 16% of Adults Have Diabetes; Compounded Semaglutide Deaths; Testosterone Tx Surge  Medpage Today