ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 28th Dec, 2024) The United Emirates has welcomed the diplomatic efforts of the brotherly Republic of Türkiye to resolve the ongoing crisis in , which also represents a priority for the . The emphasised that these efforts reflect Türkiye’s steadfast commitment to promoting regional peace and stability, and contributing to the strengthening of international relations. The is fully prepared to cooperate and coordinate with the Turkish efforts and diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict in and find a comprehensive solution to the crisis. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) reaffirmed the ’s steadfast position in relation to the crisis, stressing that the focus remains on reaching an immediate ceasefire and an urgent cessation of hostilities in the internal fighting in between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, while also addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis through the provision of urgent relief aid to the brotherly Sudanese people. The Ministry emphasised that the is working with relevant parties, regional partners, and the international community to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, in an effort to stop the escalation, achieve a ceasefire, and begin an intra-Sudanese dialogue that involves political factions and the warring parties to fulfill the aspirations of the Sudanese people for development, security, and prosperity. Moreover, the stresses the importance of the warring parties’ respecting their commitments under the Declaration, and the mechanisms proposed by the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in (ALPS) Group. The Ministry highlighted that the absence of the Sudanese Armed Forces the latest peace talks – which the participated in, alongside several countries and regional and international organisations, as part of the ALPS Group in – demonstrates a blatant disregard for the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people, and reflects their strong unwillingness to cooperate and engage in peace talks aimed at resolving the crisis and achieving lasting peace. Furthermore, the underscored the importance of dialogue and negotiations as the only path to resolve the conflict and secure a political process and national consensus towards a civilian-led . The continues to call on the concerned parties to return to negotiations and actively engage in efforts to achieve peace in .Top German newspaper editor quits over Musk op-ed

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Blinded by Headlights' Glare? You're Not AloneLARAMIE – University of Wyoming trustees narrowly voted Friday morning against allowing concealed carry permit holders to take firearms into campus facilities. Before a 6-5 vote following tense discussions all week, Trustee Macey Moore said that the entire process felt like a “giant disruption” to the university’s mission. Moore said the trustees worked hard to create a policy that might satisfy lawmakers’ concerns — especially those who support a repeal of Wyoming’s gun free zones — while also excluding places such as the residence halls, Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center, and Early Childhood Education Center, places in which members of the university community clearly said they do not want firearms allowed. Concealed carry permit holders are currently allowed to carry firearms on university open spaces such as Prexy’s Pasture, but not inside facilities, classrooms and faculty offices. Trustees voting against the rule change were Vice Chair Michelle Sullivan, Treasurer Laura Schmid-Pizzato, Secretary Brad Bonner, David Fall, Carol Linton and Moore. Those voting for the changes were Chair Kermit Brown, Brad LaCroix, Jim Mathis, John McKinley and Dave True. The draft rule on the table Friday morning for the final day of a three-day trustees meeting excluded residence halls, Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center and the Early Care and Education Center. It also deleted an earlier provision that would have created reciprocity for permit holders from other states, so only Wyoming concealed carry permit holders would have been allowed to carry firearms into other facilities on campus, including classrooms. “(Those exclusions) make it feel slightly safer, but that is just the problem for me,” Moore said. “Why are we changing our regulation, and carving out additional items to make us feel slightly safer? This seems like a giant disruption to our mission, and I feel like we are being pushed into this to appease something that might be coming, and might be even worse. I just can’t do that.” Schmid-Pizzato, who said she is a gun owner herself, said she could not support the rule change as, in her estimation, nearly 95% of all public comment, survey responses and communication were against allowing concealed carry into UW facilities. Fall explained his “no” vote by saying that he has a “fundamental belief ... that guns do not belong in schools.” Sullivan said she was “moved” by a discussion with a group of Trustee Scholars Thursday night. “To a student, there was concern about the change of this rule,” Sullivan said. “And we had overwhelming response from our community that they are opposed to this, and they felt that it would make this community less safe." Sullivan said she appreciated the work of the trustees’ legislative committee, which worked hard to thread a needle between what lawmakers and the university community wanted, but that she could not support the change. “Based on what I have heard from this community, and my own knowledge of human development and adolescent development, I cannot support the change of this rule,” she said. Before the vote, Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, who sits as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the board, said she supported expanding concealed carry into UW facilities. “I think this is a really important step forward for Second Amendment protections for people in Wyoming,” Degenfelder said. Ben Moritz, executive director of the Wyoming Community College Commission, said that a similar discussion is happening on community college campuses across the state, and that staff, students and faculty have expressed similar concerns over firearms at sporting events and places where mental health treatment is offered. He suggested working with the trustees to bring a unified message to lawmakers in January as they discuss a statewide repeal of gun-free zones. Trustees who did vote for the rule change urged their colleagues who did not to approach the 68th Wyoming Legislature, which will convene on Jan. 14, with their concerns. “Looking around, only one trustee actually went over to the Legislature last year and dealt with the gun bill,” said McKinley, chairman of the board’s legislative committee. “I am going to gently encourage all the trustees to physically go to the Legislature, and you have to express your concerns and provide solutions so our current regulation, as I heard expressed is the preference, remains.” Board Chairman Brown, a former state lawmaker, said McKinley's message was "stark and clear." "You've got to appear over there, and if you don't, I think we are going to have a result that you like a lot less than this rule," Brown said. "I don't want to front-run the Legislature, either, but the handwriting is on the wall." Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is looking to bring in tougher penalties for people who are convicted of impaired driving offences that cause injury or death. A bill introduced in the legislature Thursday would impose a lifetime licence suspension on a driver convicted of two such offences within a 10-year period. That's an increase from the current 10-year suspension. The bill would also prohibit people convicted of these offences from driving with any alcohol in their blood for seven years for a first offence. "The consequences of driving impaired are tragic — for the victims for the families and the survivors," Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Thursday. "Ten per cent of collisions in Manitoba have impaired driving as a contributing factor, and enough is enough." The bill was introduced on the last day of the fall legislature sitting and is expected to be debated after politicians reconvene March 5. The bill was welcomed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, known as MADD. "We recognize that there is no one single piece of legislation that will solve impaired driving, and we welcome the government taking steps to deal with those offenders who cause the most serious harm," said Tanya Hansen Pratt, president of MADD Canada. Pratt's mother was killed by an impaired driver. The bill was introduced on the last day of a three-week session that frequently saw tensions rise between the governing New Democrats and Opposition Progressive Conservatives. Tom Lindsey, the legislature Speaker, scolded both sides of the house Thursday for over-the-top heckling and other behaviour. On Thursday, just after proceedings recessed for lunch, New Democrat cabinet minister Tracy Schmidt crossed the floor and confronted the Tories. The Tories accused her of aggressively accosting one member, standing over him and pointing her finger down at him while telling him he should not be in the chamber. "The language that was used, from a minister of the Crown, I've never seen anything like it. It was awful," said Grant Jackson, the Tory education critic. He did not provide details or identify which of his colleagues was confronted by Schmidt. Schmidt, the environment minister who is also temporarily filling in as acting education minister, told reporters she went over to the Tory side because she had heard what she considered a racist comment toward the end of the morning debate. "I walked over to the member ... and said to the member that I felt that his comments were racist and I encouraged him sincerely to apologize," Schmidt told reporters. Schmidt did not say what the comments were or identify the Tory she confronted. "I was immediately surrounded by several male members of their caucus who started shouting at me and telling me to get out of there, and so I got out of there." Mark Wasyliw, an independent legislature member who was kicked out of the NDP caucus earlier this year, posted on social media that an NDP cabinet minister "lost control" and had a "face-to-face rage-filled direct confrontation" with a Tory. There have been other signs in recent weeks that the Tories and NDP are not getting along. The Tories did not support an attempt by the NDP to quickly set up an all-party committee to examine public support for journalism, saying that the NDP idea has many unanswered questions. The New Democrats have not supported a Tory call for an all-party committee on the issue of trade with the United States and tariff threats by president-elect Donald Trump. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press

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3 Market-Beating Tech Stocks to Supercharge Your Portfolio in 2025 and BeyondCHANGSHA, China , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern China's rural revitalization strategy is crafting a remarkable narrative of transformation across the countryside, while progressive opening-up policies encourage foreign visitors to delve deeper into the nation's heartland. On December 26th , VOC.com.cn premiered the second season of its acclaimed series, I Am in Rural China. The show follows Teona Kvartskhava, an international guest, as she explores the villages of Hunan Province , offering viewers a firsthand look at the dynamic implementation of comprehensive rural revitalization. This captivating series invites a global audience to witness the dawn of a new era in China's rural landscapes, showcasing the country's evolving countryside to viewers worldwide. Rice field came as the first surprise. Hunan is the largest rice grower and producer in China . Hunan provides the high-quality and tasty rice. Teona Kvartskhava, a foreigner hardly feeding on rice, was tempted to have plenty of it. In Qunle Village, Lixian County, Changde, she also experienced "Double Rush", which is a time-honored agricultural event in China . An event that used to call for the joint efforts of all family members, has now become much easier thanks to technology. Departing from Lixian County for the moment, Teona Kvartskhava embarked on an exciting trip of tastes in Rucheng, Chenzhou , Southern Hunan . Hunan people are keen and expert on peppery food and spicy taste dominates the Hunan cuisine. Hunan is also rich in varieties of peppers. Jingpo town, a well-known town where spicy food prevails. It is a producer of red cluster pepper, officially one of the hottest peppers in China . From the crowded market, to the red and yellow pepper planting base, and then to the modern processing pepper workshop, the small cluster pepper strung up all corners of the town, so that the original ordinary mountain town has become extraordinarily lively and affluent. Of course, the "star" of the countryside here is not only agriculture, but also culture, which has also blossomed in this ancient land. As the birthplace of papermaking, China has preserved a unique handmade papermaking technique, which is used to make some "special" papers. In Shanghong Village, Liuyang, Teona Kvartskhava was lucky to meet two Chinese masters, who showed her hands-on experiences of "Gushan Tribute Paper" and "Floral Paper". As the process progresses, the paper took shape in her hands, as if history and culture were meeting in front of her eyes, and became the "first paper" in Teona Kvartskhava's life. So,What's rural China like? It's about hospitable peasants, about various agricultural produce, about profound history and culture, about colorful intangible cultural heritage. It's like a book telling numerous absorbing stories. Hopefully Teona Kvartskhava'll be luckier to visit more villages for their unique interest and charm. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/my-date-with-rural-chinavoccomcn-unveils-season-two-of-i-am-in-rural-china-302339884.html SOURCE voc.com.cn

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Ethiopia is developing a new Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy to build on the successes of its 2025 predecessor, which has already made significant progress in expanding internet access and aligning with national reforms, according to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology. Partial privatization of Ethio Telecom and the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy have significantly expanded internet access in Ethiopia, increasing users from 17 million to over 42.5 million and improving electricity access. Furthermore, the government has launched over 800 online government services, implemented an e-commerce strategy, and is finalizing additional digital government initiatives . The "5 Million Ethiopian Coders" governmental program also aims to build a digitally skilled workforce.

For all its speed and centrifugal force, all its peril and push-the-envelope ingenuity, stock-car racing for decades subsisted on its array of characters. Guys named Fonty and Fireball, the Intimidator and the King, Foyt and France. They were an ensemble of ruffians and renegades, booze runners and barrier crashers, united by a critical common denominator. All were mavericks. Now, their audacity and achievements have been recounted in a sleek, photo-filled coffee-table book. “NASCAR Mavericks: The Rebels and Racers Who Revolutionized Stock Car Racing,” was been released. Published by Motorbooks (an imprint of the Quarto Publishing Group), it’s available at various online sites including Amazon and store.nascar.com . H.A. “Herb” Branham and Holly Cain, both former Tampa Tribune motorsports writers, spent 10 months on the project, interviewing roughly 100 sources. “What does it mean to be a maverick?” three-time NASCAR champ Tony Stewart asks rhetorically in his foreword. “Speaking from personal experience, it’s doing what you think is right, even when others say you’re wrong. And it’s being told you can’t, so you go even harder just to prove them wrong.” What ensues over the next 192 pages is an illustrated digest of sorts; character sketches in simple, unapologetic prose of those who embodied the maverick approach. “We talked to just about anybody that was relevant to the stories that were still alive, including obviously the people themselves,” Branham said. The mavericks include visionaries who helped propel the sport from red-clay tracks to major speedways (i.e. Bill France Sr.), crew chiefs who bent the rules to nearly their breaking point (i.e. Smokey Yunick), and drivers who had developed their automotive chops by running from the law in the South’s nether regions (i.e. Curtis Turner). The group also features those who sped full-throttle into what was once deemed a Southern-male sport. Among them: Wendell Scott, the first Black racer to win a NASCAR Cup Series race; and Sara Christian, the first female driver in the Strictly Stock Division (forerunner to the NASCAR Cup Series). Of course, the stars of NASCAR’s heyday — such as Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty — get their due, as do modern-day mavericks such as Stewart, Kurt and Kyle Busch, and Hall of Fame crew chief Chad Knaus. Even maverick-style developments (a tobacco company becoming a corporate sponsor, the network TV takeover, the creation of a street race in Chicago) are chronicled. “It was a little bit of Wild West-style,” said Branham, who worked in NASCAR’s communications department nearly two decades. “It’s really not a corporate book at all. NASCAR, I think, is consciously just trying to ungloss what we did during my time there, where we just put lacquers over all of the history, at times which was deemed maybe not the type of stuff that mainstream America would like. And I think NASCAR now is trying to put it in reverse a little bit, and they’re really trying to recapture that great history.” Complementing that history are hundreds of photos — some iconic — that help bring the characters and cars to life. Noticeably absent is Michael Jordan’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR — a maverick move in itself — but Branham said the book had been completed long before that litigation arose. “We would’ve dealt with it,” he said. “We would’ve mentioned it, because there’s really not a whole lot of punches pulled in this book, which kind of makes it a little bit different.” Kind of a hardcover maverick. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Daniel Clancy, CEO of Twitch, has addressed growing concerns from streamers about declining ad revenue on their channels, shedding light on the platform's approach to advertisers and content. Clancy responded during the December 4 Patch Notes broadcast to a viewer’s query about reduced ad revenue on channels they moderate, particularly during the holiday season. His explanation highlighted recent updates to Twitch’s advertising policies. In November, Twitch implemented new labels for political content and streams addressing sensitive social issues, a topic Clancy elaborated on in his remarks. “There’s been a lot of confusion around this recently... a big thing that we need to do with advertisements is make sure we’re running ads against content that the advertisers want their content run against.” He explained that some advertisers had expressed concerns about being associated with sensitive or political content, which led to adjustments in how ads were placed. “For a period of time, there were a number [of advertisers] that were expressing concerns around being shown up near sensitive subjects in politics, and so we had reduced the ads there.” “Some people that were doing stuff around politics and sensitive social issues may have seen a reduction, because some advertisers weren’t running ads there.”

Former PBOC boss blames big savers for market glutIn close vote, University of Wyoming trustees reject proposed firearms changesThe Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) has been awarded a grant of almost $1 million from a state program that helps community colleges expand career technical education and workforce training to prepare students for high-wage employment in industries that meet regional labor market needs. MetroED’s Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) received $989,645 through the K12 Strong Workforce Program. This funding will support SVCTE’s efforts to meet the increasing demand for green technology, providing students with skills needed for sustainable industries. These industries include electric vehicle technology, eco-friendly HVAC systems, fire science with environmental solutions and clean diesel technologies. MetroED provides career technical education for high school and adult students in Santa Clara County. It is overseen by a joint powers agreement that includes the Campbell Union High School District. Its educational partners include Evergreen Community College, Mission College, San Jose City College and West Valley College. The Valley Water Board of Directors on Dec. 10 elected Tony Estremera as the board chair for 2025. Richard P. Santos was elected as vice chair. Estremera has been a member of the Valley Water Board since 1996 and is serving his fifth term as chair. He represents District 6, which encompasses areas of Central and East San Jose, including the Mayfair neighborhood. Santos is beginning his fifth term as vice chair. He represents District 3, which includes Alviso, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Milpitas and the Berryessa/Alum Rock area of San Jose.