Stormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive, despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”8k8 777 。

Hisense reiterated its dedication to its employees and customers, emphasizing that they remain focused on innovation, growth, and providing high-quality products and services. The company's strong values and commitment to its workforce are evident in its continued efforts to support and nurture its employees.

Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help get President-elect Donald Trump back in the White House, according to newly released campaign finance records. The billionaire tech mogul spent over $270 million of his own money through two super PACs that promoted Trump's candidacy and other Republicans, including one that appeared to refer to deceased liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, according to filings released Thursday night by the Federal Election Commission. Musk spent roughly $240 million on his pro-Trump super PAC America. The PAC was created after Musk endorsed Trump in July, which made Musk the single largest political spender in the shortest period of time. Half of the PAC's money came in the final weeks of the election and in the weeks following the election, and by Nov. 25, the PAC only had $2 million left in the account, according to the FEC. Much of the money was spent on direct mail, canvassing and phone calls, the PAC's filing showed. The filing also showed a total of nine $1 million payments given to nine individuals labeled as "spokesperson consultant," which appeared to be the swing state voters that won Musk's controversial daily $1 million prize. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sued the PAC in October contending Musk was running an illegal lottery in Pennsylvania. Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta denied an injunction request a few weeks later after an attorney for the PAC testified that the giveaway wasn't random, despite Musk's claims that they were. The PAC also reported roughly $433,000 in legal bills paid to THE GOBER GROUP PLLC, according to the FEC. A new filing showed that Musk was the sole funder of a pro-Trump super PAC named RBG PAC, giving $20 million to the group in the final weeks of the election. The PAC used the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and ran online ads featuring women who claimed Trump would endorse potential national abortion bans. Trump has long boasted about his role in ending Roe v. Wade by taking credit for nominating three of the six conservative justices who voted to overturn the case in 2022. Clara Spera, Ginsberg's granddaughter, chastised the PAC in a statement to the Washington Post stating it "has no connection to the Ginsburg family and is an affront to my late grandmother's legacy." Earlier in the election cycle, Musk had written big checks to groups supporting House and Senate GOP, including $12.3 million to two super PACs supporting Senate GOP candidates, and another $1.3 million supporting other down-ballot Republicans, according to FEC filings. In all, Musk spent at least $273 million in support of various Republicans up and down the ballot at the federal level. Musk has been tapped to co-lead, along with Republican businessman and failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, an outside advisory board called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to cut as much as $2 trillion from the federal budget of what they called waste. The pair met with Republican leaders on the Hill Thursday to discuss their proposals including removing remote work options for federal workers.Sidney Crosby scores 600th career NHL goal, but Penguins fall to Utah 6-1

Excited by the prospect of achieving her desired look, the woman went ahead with the procedure without conducting thorough research or verifying the credentials of the beauty salon. Little did she know that this decision would lead to a nightmare of complications and regret. Following the surgery, she began to experience severe pain, swelling, and infection in her legs, causing her distress and discomfort.India News | People Have Once Again Endorsed PM Modi's Leadership, Development Vision: Nadda

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks recalled top prospect Frank Nazar from the minor leagues on Friday. Chicago also placed defenseman Alec Martinez on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 7. Martinez, who signed a $4 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks in free agency, has a neck injury. The 20-year-old Nazar had 11 goals and 13 assists in 21 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League. He said he tried not to think about a possible promotion while he was playing with the IceHogs. “Just play my game, focus on myself and obviously help the team win, best I could do, and let the rest come,” he said. The move reunites Nazar with Anders Sorensen, who was coaching Rockford before he got the interim job with Chicago when Luke Richardson was fired on Dec 5. “It's definitely really nice just to have someone that I know and trust and have a good relationship with,” Nazar said. “I know that he's going to give good feedback and everything like that, and just help out in areas where I need it.” Nazar was selected by Chicago with the No. 13 pick in the 2022 draft. After starring for the University of Michigan, the forward agreed to a three-year contract with the Blackhawks in April. Nazar skated in three games with Chicago at the end of last season, scoring on his first shot on goal in his NHL debut on April 14 against Carolina. Story continues below video The Blackhawks were active in free agency, so they had Nazar begin the season with Rockford to continue with his development. But he made a strong case to rejoin the NHL team with his fast start in the minors. “Frank’s played very well,” general manager Kyle Davidson said last week when asked about Nazar being promoted. “He’s been a real bright spot for us and his performance has been really exciting.” Chicago (9-18-2) has dropped six of seven going into Saturday's game at New Jersey. It begins a three-game homestand on Sunday against the New York Islanders. Nazar is expected to skate on a line with Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi against the Devils. Sorensen said his advice for Nazar is to trust his instincts. “He's been playing real well down there,” Sorensen said. “He can drive a puck and just kind of play his game, right? And then as we go, after the game we'll talk more.” AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles, California–(Newsfile Corp. – December 13, 2024) – Metal Toad, a leading AWS Consulting Partner, is proud to announce its feature during the keynote speech of Dr. Ruba Borno at AWS re:Invent 2024 . The keynote highlighted Metal Toad’s critical role in the development of Laurel Canyon Live , a groundbreaking application designed to transform live entertainment experiences. “Metal Toad is the interface between Laurel Canyon Live and AWS. They are the engine room for getting this innovative solution into the cloud environment.” – John Ross, President and Founder of Laurel Canyon Live Laurel Canyon Live enables artists to capture and distribute their performances in real-time, with unparalleled quality and ease. The app is supported by Metal Toad’s AWS expertise, ensuring seamless scalability and delivery of high-fidelity content to homes, theaters, and mobile devices. Dr. Borno spotlighted how Laurel Canyon Live, which previously contributed to iconic productions such as Taylor Swift’s Eras movie and Beyoncé’s Renaissance Concert film, is now poised to revolutionize the way fans experience live performances. Through this collaboration with Metal Toad and AWS, the application ensures that artists regain control of their content while audiences gain unprecedented access to high-quality virtual concerts. “We’re honored to be recognized at AWS re:Invent for our role in supporting Laurel Canyon Live,” said Joaquin Lippincott, CEO of Metal Toad. “Our expertise in AWS technologies allows us to bring innovative solutions to life, enabling businesses to connect with audiences in powerful new ways.” The Laurel Canyon Live application features cutting-edge technology, including support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and leverages AWS’s cloud infrastructure for global content distribution. Metal Toad’s role as the interface between the application and AWS ensures smooth and efficient delivery, enabling the app to scale as demand grows. About Metal Toad Metal Toad is a cloud consulting and software development company, specializing in AWS solutions for media, entertainment, and beyond. As an AWS Advanced Tier Partner, Metal Toad empowers businesses to scale, innovate, and succeed in the digital age. For more information about Metal Toad, visit www.metaltoad.com . For more information about LCL, visit www.laurelcanyon-live.com . Press Inquiries Metal Toad https://www.metaltoad.com Natalie Meirelles hello@metaltoad.com (971) 203-2447 1925 Century Park E #1700, Los Angeles, CA 90067 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233282 #distro

Irish civil servants compiled a list of “major leaks” they claimed originated from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and Special Branch officers in the region, records show. The confidential briefing note is part of the tranche of documents made public in the annual release of State papers from the Irish National Archives. An Irish Department of Foreign Affairs official focusing on justice and security created the list in October 2002. The document starts by referencing a 1999 interview given by George Mitchell, the chairman of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, in which he claimed the British and Irish governments, as well as Northern Ireland’s political parties, had leaked information to manipulate public opinion. However, he further accused the NIO of attempting to sabotage the process by leaking information on British Government policy to the media. Mr Mitchell, a former US senator, is said to have expressed alarm and anger over the frequency of leaks from the NIO – saying they were uniquely “designed to undermine the policy of the British Government of which they were a part”. The Irish civil servant notes Mr Mitchell himself was subjected to an attempted “smear” when he first arrived in Northern Ireland, as newspaper articles falsely claimed his chief of staff Martha Pope had had a liaison with Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly with ulterior motives. The Irish civil servant goes on to list several “leaks”, starting with the publication of a proposed deal in a newspaper while “intense negotiations” for the Downing Street Declaration were under way. Next, the Department lists two “high-profile and damaging leaks issued from the NIO”. A so-called “gameplan” document was leaked in February 1998, showing papers had been prepared weeks before the Drumcree march on July 6, 1997. In the preceding years, there had been standoffs and clashes as nationalists opposed the procession of an Orange parade down Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The gameplan document showed then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam, who was publicly expressing a desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, advocated “finding the lowest common denominator for getting some Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road”. In 1997, a large number of security forces were deployed to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident sparked heightened tension and a wave of rioting. The document further describes the release of a document submitted by the NIO’s director of communications to the secretary of state as a “second major leak”. It claims a publicity strategy was released to the DUP in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and showed how the UK Government would support a yes vote in a referendum following any talks agreement. In addition, it is claimed unionists used leaked sections of the Patten report on policing to invalidate its findings ahead of its publication in 1999. The report recommended the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the changing of symbols, and a 50-50 recruitment policy for Catholics and Protestants. At the time, UUP leader David Trimble said the recommendations would lead to a corruption of policing in Northern Ireland. Chris Patten, chairman of the independent commission on policing, said some of the assertions were a “total fabrication” and designed to “muddy the waters” to create a difficult political atmosphere. Elsewhere, the author notes it was leaked to the media there was serious disagreement between the governments of the UK and Ireland on the composition of that commission – with not a single name submitted by the Irish side being accepted by the other. The author notes this incident, still under the heading “NIO leaks”, was believed by British officials to have emanated from the Irish side. The report turns to leaks of other origin, claiming “disgruntled Special Branch officers in Northern Ireland” were blamed by the British Government for a series of releases about the IRA which were designed to damage Sinn Fein in the 2001 general election in Northern Ireland. One senior Whitehall source was quoted in the Guardian as complaining that Special Branch was “leaking like a sieve” after details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of leading Tories – described at the time as a “hit list” – was passed to the BBC in April 2002. The briefing note adds: “This was followed days later by a leak to The Sunday Telegraph which alleged that senior IRA commanders bought Russian special forces rifles in Moscow last year. “The newspaper said it was passed details by military intelligence in London.” The briefing note adds that other Special Branch leaks were associated with the Castlereagh break-in. The final incident in the document notes the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Omagh bombing was also leaked to the press in December 2001. Then Northern Ireland secretary John Reid said at the time: “Leaks are never helpful and usually malicious – I will not be commenting on this report until I have seen the final version.” The reason for creating the list of leaks, which the Irish National Archives holds in a folder alongside briefing notes for ministers ahead of meetings with officials from the UK Government and NIO, is not outlined in the document itself. – This document is based on material in 2024/130/6.

Elevate your roast potatoes to show-stopping status with this chef's secret. When it comes to the art of the perfect Christmas Dinner or a sublime Sunday roast, the spotlight often falls on the roast potatoes , hailed as the pièce de résistance of the feast. Amidst a myriad of personal hacks and tips that many swear by for golden, crispy perfection – from anointing them with different fats to a bold Marmite glaze before their oven pilgrimage – one culinary expert claims to hold the key to transforming the humble spud into an "epic" taste sensation. The Great British Menu champion and proprietor of Benedicts Restaurant in Norwich, Richard Bainbridge, has divulged to The Mirror his game-changing ingredient that promises to infuse your roasties with unparalleled flavour. His festive ritual? A generous dusting of crushed Chicken OXO stock cube over the potatoes and turkey prior to roasting , a move he swears elevates the taste to "epic" proportions. And for those looking to jazz up their starters, Bainbridge suggests a novel twist: crush frozen raspberries and sprinkle them atop a classic prawn cocktail. The pro offered insider knowledge to get you ready for the kitchen, sharing essential tips for organisation and preparation, not just for Christmas but any time you're hosting a grand dinner. His golden rule is to prep as many side dishes ahead of time as possible and pop them in the freezer; this includes pastry, cranberry sauce, mincemeat, and brandy butter, reports the Mirror. He highlighted: "When it comes to any large party or when you are required to cook for large numbers preparation is essential, for example, two weeks before Christmas you should start writing your to-do list and making any items you can in advance so that the day before and the morning of, the bulk of your preparation is complete and you can be calm and relaxed with a glass of Sherry in hand as no one likes to see a stressed chef." Bainbridge elaborated: "In the lead-up to Christmas homemade pastry is a store cupboard must. Make it in advance and it can be kept for up to three months in the freezer, perfect for those emergency canapés." Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge also suggests making mincemeat ahead of time, as well as Christmas cake, pudding and brandy butter, which he claims can be preserved for ages due to the high booze content. He said: "Mincemeat is another great store cupboard essential which can be made at the end of the summer... if you're that organised, while Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, and brandy butter are some of the greatest things about Christmas and as they contain so much booze the flavour can be preserved for ages." He added: "The brandy butter can be whipped up in a large batch and used all year round - my mum will still be finding uses for it next July."In the football world, certain matchups have the power to captivate fans and ignite intense rivalries. One such clash is set to take place in the UEFA Champions League as Bayern Munich prepares to face off against Barcelona. This encounter promises to be a thrilling spectacle as Bayern, led by the determined Hansi Flick, will attempt to maintain their unbeaten streak of 13 games in the competition, while Barcelona aims to regain their dominance on the European stage.