News from October 29, 2025

Technology

'I can't believe I've missed this beautiful market town before - never again'

Having passed through the charming market town of Llandovery countless times en route to family holidays in Pembrokeshire , reporter Zoe Chamberlain had never really taken the time to see beyond the town's tourist attractions. Nestled on the banks of the River Tywi and flanked by the Brecon Beacons and Cambrian Mountains, it was a r egular pit stop for herself and her family . She said: "We usually park up and hike up the hill to explore the 13th-century castle ruins and pay homage to the statue of Welsh resistance hero Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan . It's become a tradition for my children, a chance to stretch their legs during our journey. "But I must admit, until recently, I'd never actually ventured into the heart of the town. That changed when I needed to post a letter as recorded delivery." For the first time, Zoe crossed the main road and headed away from the castle ruins. And what she discovered was a hidden gem that her family had overlooking on all their previous visits. She reported to BirminghamLive: "It felt like we'd stumbled upon a Royal jubilee or an old-fashioned street fair. It was like stepping back in time, yet there was a freshness and energy that was utterly captivating." Taking it all in, Zoe was eager to delve into every quaint gift shop, charity store, hidden alleyway and retro vintage boutique, and pop into each pub for a pint. However, time was against them as they had plans to meet the extended family. But when she got back home, Zoe delved deeper into what makes Llandovery so unique. King Charles selected the Llwynywermod Estate, near Llandovery, as his personal residence in Wales during his tenure as Prince of Wales, and it's easy to see why. The estate remains under the ownership of the Duchy today. Known as "the beating heart of drover country" (referring to those who drove livestock to market), weekly livestock sales are a significant part of Llandovery's economy. Zoe said: "We've seen this firsthand in the car park adjacent to the castle, and there's an annual sheep festival too. You can visit the tourist information centre, the Llandovery Museum, and the Penygawse Tea Rooms, reputed to serve the best coffee in Wales." Even the post office is brimming with gifts and the staff are incredibly friendly. For more information, check out the Discover Carmarthenshire website which offers plenty of ideas and tips for local walking routes. Having discovered the quaint little town, Zoe now admits: "When I return for a day trip, these independent shops in Llandovery are on my to-do list: Books at the Dragon's Garden, an award-winning indie bookshop; Llandovery Antiques Centre, offering 2,500 square feet of antiques and collectables; and La Patisserie, a bakery and deli boasting mouth-watering pastries and bubble teas." There is also the Myddfai Trading Company, a social enterprise that creates its own natural toiletries and fragrances, Bumblebees of Llandovery haberdashery, Lorwyn Gifts with a variety of gifts, children's clothes and toys, and Davies and Co, filled with "lovely things for you and your home", which are all part of the charm of Llandovery.

Dan Taylor,Zoe Chamberlain 3 days ago

Technology

Wisconsin Professor Critiques Campus Climate, Highlights Challenges for Conservative Voices

This article is part of Fox News Digital’s investigative series, Campus Radicals. Explore the full series here. In Wisconsin, a university professor recently found himself at the center of a viral social media moment after a Facebook post in response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The post highlighted what he described as an “isolating environment” for those with conservative beliefs on college campuses. Trevor Tomesh, an assistant professor specializing in computer, information, and data science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, shared insights into the political climate within academia. While he feels there is room for political discourse among faculty at his institution, he acknowledges that this is not the norm across all American universities. “At the University of Wisconsin—River Falls, there seems to be some space for open dialogue among faculty with differing political views,” Tomesh remarked in an interview with Fox News Digital. However, he pointed out a larger trend: “I know many professors are hesitant to express opinions that deviate from prevailing narratives.” Tomesh emphasized that his perspectives are his own and do not reflect the official stance of the university or the University of Wisconsin system. Days after Kirk’s assassination on the campus of Utah Valley University, Tomesh took to Facebook to slam academia for its response to the murder. The post took off, not only on Facebook, but on platforms like X, where screenshots were shared far and wide by conservative influencers. “The fact that Charlie was killed on a college campus for expressing his opinions and ideas — the one place in society that’s sole purpose is to express opinions and ideas — should be a watershed moment for all universities,” he wrote. “Every single member of every single university community — faculty, administrators, staff and students — should be lamenting this as it spells the death of the university.” Instead, Tomesh wrote, Kirk’s death was met with deafening silence. “To date, there has been no statement from my university or the University of Wisconsin system,” he said. “Not a single one of my students heard from any of their professors about this. How do I know? I asked them.” He also expressed disgust for professors and students who celebrated Kirk’s assassination, and contrasted the reaction to Kirk’s killing with the reaction to a popular Christian, conservative speaker named Sister Cindy Smock holding an event on campus. The school, he said, offered trauma counselors to students, and “assembled a task force to determine how to handle people like Cindy and the trauma she inflicts on students.” Despite his many efforts to get the University of Wisconsin system to address Kirk’s death, it did not. “Once I came out as a conservative and I made my views known on Facebook, and that my post went viral on Facebook, I had a lot of faculty and staff from all over the world, but from my university as well, message me and say basically, hey, ‘I wish that I had the bravery to speak up like you do,’” Tomesh told Fox News Digital. “And so it’s kind of an environment, it’s a cold environment. It’s an isolating environment when you’re conservative on especially a very liberal campus, which I’m not on a particularly liberal campus, but when you’re on a very liberal campus, it can be very isolating.” Tomesh has experience in that realm from a past university position in Canada, where he said he was told by a university department head to believe whatever he wanted, but was also warned that there would be “consequences” for doing so. “So yeah, I use the word ‘coming out’ because it is something that when you do say, ‘I’m a conservative on a college campus,’ there is a certain expectation that you may wind up encountering friction,” he said. “Either friction from your colleagues or friction from administration, or even you know, backlash from students.” He described an ugly scene on campus after Kirk’s assassination, when a chalk memorial to the slain conservative leader was “defaced with some very disturbing things, including one of the things that were written on the bullet casing that took Charlie’s life…” “And it can be very hostile, a very hostile environment,” Tomesh said. “I’ve had lots of parents and lots of students email me saying that they’re afraid to either go to college or to send their children to college because they’re afraid that their students are not going to have a fair shake at it because of their orthodoxy.” Tomesh denounced popularized rhetoric used in the political discourse that likens conservatives to “Nazis” and “fascists,” which he said is meant to dehumanize people. He stressed two critical points to address. The first is that Americans, and especially students on college campuses, need to unlearn the idea that speech itself is violence. Secondly, he said Americans need to separate their political ideas from their identities, pointing out that when a political ideology becomes someone’s entire identity, any attack on that ideology becomes an attack on the person. “And that’s one huge problem, I think, especially with the ideological progressives, is that they have taken an assumed identity, assumed ideas into part of their core identity,” he said. “And that is a very big mistake, because then any attack on an idea inevitably is interpreted as an attack on your personal identity and on you as a person.” Finally, Tomesh offered a stark warning about the direction of the United States if people cannot learn to tolerate dissenting opinions. “And if we can’t do those two things, we’re done. We’re toast,” he said. “Western culture is over. And it’s—I’m serious about that. It’s going to be a civil war if we cannot learn those two things.” The school explained its decision not to make a statement on Kirk’s death in an email to Fox News Digital on Monday. “UW-River Falls is committed to freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and respectful dialogue. We believe strongly in fostering a climate where all students and faculty feel supported and safe in expressing their perspective in a marketplace of ideas. These values are central to our mission and essential to the health of our democracy,” the school told Fox News Digital. “Political violence has no place in our society, and the murder of Charlie Kirk was horrific. Following this tragedy, our student affairs team reached out to student organizations to offer support,” the school continued. “We understand that questions have been raised about not issuing a formal public response. UW–River Falls adheres to the recently enacted Institutional Statements Policy of the Universities of Wisconsin that took effect last June. This policy is rooted in the principle of institutional neutrality wherein such statements should be limited to matters ‘that directly affect the operations and core mission of the university and should maintain viewpoint neutrality in any reference to any matter.’”

Internewscast 3 days ago

Technology

Who were Chrishell Stause's parents and what happened to them?

Warning: Contains spoilers for Season 9 of Selling Sunset* Selling Sunset's Nicole Young left her co-stars stunned when she brought up Chrishell Stause's late parents during a heated argument. The hit show returned for its ninth season today (October 29) and featured a brutal spat when the stars gathered around for dinner, in episode two. Nicole, 39, and Chrishell, 44, began arguing about the former spreading rumours that Emma Hernan had an affair with a married man. As tensions rose, Chrishell defended her previous allegations of Nicole's alleged drug use. To which the 39-year-old fired back: "Honey, you're confusing me with your parents, okay?" "You seem to be obsessed with drugs." The statement shocked the whole table, as they pointed out that Chrishell's parents are dead. Later in the show, Nicole was dismissed from the office for her "below the belt" comment. Long-term viewers will know that Chrishell has been open about her parents' deaths and, as Nicole pointed out, their previous drug use. Reflecting on the brutal argument, Chrishell explained: "The way she brought [up] that my parents had done drugs before, made it sound like they died from drugs. "First of all, yes, my parents have done drugs they grew up in the f****** seventies okay?" Chrishell's dad Jeff tragically died in April 2019 after battling lung cancer and her mother, Ranae, passed away from the same disease in July 2020. Neither died due to drug use. However, the actress has previously shared that they struggled with addiction. The reality star opened up about losing both parents on Instagram . Writing of her father's passing, she said: "I grew up in an unconventional family and my dad was a drummer - the heartbeat of the music. "Today we lost the heartbeat of our family but I am happy knowing he took his music to heaven. It just got a lot more rock and roll up there. We love you so much." Chrishell was adopted at birth and has been open about growing up in an "unconventional" household. The tragedy she felt in 2019 returned in February 2020, when her mum was also diagnosed with lung cancer and had just a few months left to live. The former Days of Our Lives star could not visit her mum at the time due to the COVID quarantine, but revealed their relationship grew stronger in her final days because they spoke on the phone every day. Just over a year after losing her dad, Chrishell penned a tribute for her mother. "Absolutely heart-breaking watching you take your last laboured breath, but there is a peace knowing you two are together again, free from the pain that plagued your time here," she said. Selling Sunset season 9 is streaming now on Netflix

Kimberly Nhundu 3 days ago

Technology

Dad thought back pain was 'sign of getting old' but died just three weeks later

A doting dad who dismissed his back discomfort as simply a sign of getting older died just three weeks later. Geoff Follin, a former school teacher-turned music tutor, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May last year. The 58-year-old had been experiencing back pain and indigestion since February 2024, but attributed these symptoms to his age. His sudden death came as a shock to his family, less than a month after his diagnosis. His wife Nicola Follin, from Upholland village in Skelmersdale, shared the heartbreaking moment they received the devastating news. Nicola, 49, said: "As soon as they said pancreas, we both just looked at each other and thought the game's over pretty much. You're just in shock really. Palliative, that was what was mentioned, and they got the palliative team in straight away, who were amazing. "He was in hospital for a couple more days and then discharged to home, with care being led by the hospice. We thought there were months left at that time, and I think the doctors thought there was going to be a few months as well." The couple have three children Sam, 21, Isobel, 19, and Daisy, 17, who was sitting her GCSE exams at the time, reports the Liverpool Echo . Tragically, Geoff's health deteriorated rapidly and he died just days after their 21st wedding anniversary. According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, the vague symptoms of pancreatic cancer mean that in up to 80% of cases, the disease goes undetected until after it has spread to other parts of the body. It is the "deadliest" common cancer, with more than half of people dying within just three months of their diagnosis. Nicola has shared her husband's story to support the launch of a national clinical trial into a breath test, which has been revealed today. The breath test is being developed by Imperial College London. For the initial two-year study, scientists analysed over 700 breath samples from people with and without pancreatic cancer, as well as from those with other conditions affecting the pancreas. Now Pancreatic Cancer UK is investing a further £1,141,128.35 to progress the test to a multi-centre validation study, typically the final step before applying for regulatory approval, and then seeking adoption by the NHS . Patients will be recruited from the NHS Urgent Suspected Cancer Pathway – under which patients should receive an appointment within two weeks of a GP referral. The trial, involving over 6,000 patients with an unknown diagnosis, will see around 40 trial sites set up at hospitals across England , Scotland and Wales. At present, there are no screening or early detection tests for pancreatic cancer to assist doctors. Geoff underwent an ultrasound and a CT scan. However, while waiting for the results, he and Nicola were informed during a visit to A&E that he had terminal cancer. Nicola said: "Before Geoff was diagnosed, we weren't really aware of pancreatic cancer. Only in so much as it's a death sentence really, because often by the time they find it, it was too late. The breath test might have saved his life, mightn't it? Or he could at least have had another year or so with us. We could have just been together more - the five of us were always very close. We just loved being together." Pancreatic Cancer UK believes the test, which collects a one-off breath sample from a patient, has the potential to revolutionise the early detection of pancreatic cancer and save thousands of lives every year. Around 10,800 people are diagnosed with the disease annually across the UK. In the future, simply breathing into a bag at a GP appointment could be the vital first step towards giving many more people with the disease the chance to have surgery, currently the only potentially curative treatment. The test detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the breath. Thousands of these compounds circulate in the bloodstream, are filtered out when the blood reaches the lungs, and then exhaled.

Megan Banner,Sam Elliott-Gibbs 3 days ago

Technology

Chirag Paswan Campaigns in Begusarai #Gallery

International South Cinema Social News XYZ Reviews Movie Schedules Movies News Live Events Motorsports Other Sports Science/Tech Business Wire India Environment Home » Gallery » Other » Chirag Paswan Campaigns in Begusarai #Gallery Chirag Paswan Campaigns in Begusarai #Gallery Posted By: Social News XYZ October 29, 2025 Begusarai: Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) National President and Union Minister Chirag Paswan addresses an election rally in support of NDA-backed LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate Sanjay Paswan, in Bakhri, Begusarai, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. (Photo: IANS/X/@LJP4India) Facebook Comments About SocialNewsXYZ An Indo-American News website.It covers Gossips, Politics, Movies, Technolgy, and Sports News and Photo Galleries and Live Coverage of Events via Youtube. The website is established in 2015 and is owned by AGK FIRE INC. Like Loading... Previous post Purnia: LJP(R) intensifies door to door outreach #Gallery Tej Pratap Yadav Campaigns in Buxar #Gallery INDIA bloc campaigns in Muzaffarpur #Gallery New Delhi: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Meets Nirmala Sitharaman #Gallery AIMIM Rally in Kishanganj #Gallery Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad #Gallery INDIA bloc campaigns in Muzaffarpur #Gallery Amritsar: Valmiki Community Protest #Gallery Vice President visits temples in Tiruppur #Gallery Kolkata: Cyclone ‘Montha’ Brings Cloudy Skies #Gallery Top Stories President Murmu poses with Rafale pilot Pakistan claimed to have captured during ‘Operation Sindoor’ Sensex, Nifty end higher on India-US trade deal hopes and positive global cues PM Modi, Japanese PM discuss deepening India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership Intel alert: Plot to rewind Northeast’s post-2014 development, stoke anti-India unrest India’s economic growth linked to energy, maritime sectors: Hardeep Puri 21 more Maoists lay down arms in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar India Maritime Week: Participants hail exponential sector growth ahead of PM Modi’s address ISI, DGFI set up Joint Intelligence Mechanism as Pakistan-Bangladesh ties deepen Frontier tech can help manufacturing contribute 25 pc to GDP, create 100 million jobs: NITI Aayog SC defers hearing till November 24 on plea challenging Sonam Wangchuk’s detention Archives Archives Copyright 2025 | AGK FIRE INC| Terms of Service / Privacy Policy | Contact Us

Social News XYZ 3 days ago

Technology

Police have investigated over 1 000 avoidable baby deaths in NHS England, none in Edinburgh and none in Scotland where ‘maternity failings’ pay-outs are tellingly less than half, per head, those in England

of the UK’s busiest maternity units, claiming staff shortages and a culture of mistrust led to patients being harmed. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland is headlining today: Damning report finds ‘culture of mistrust’ at maternity unit – Staffing shortages and a “culture of mistrust” led to delays and patients being harmed at one of the busiest maternity units in the UK, a review has found. Healthcare Improvement Scotland‘s report based on a one/two day visit to the maternity unit in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh does say the same things but among more positive statements and nowhere does it quantify it’s essentially anecdotal evidence. We do not hear, within a 41 page report, what percentage of how many staff, reported these concerns and crucially, we do not see any actual figures on patient harm as useful context for these unquantified complaints. We do not even hear how many patients were complimentary and how many were not so. We need at least some indication of the scale of any problem. For example, where is the reference, even to contest, the facts in my headline, based on published sources? There is one very telling piece of evidence we do have but it’s never reported in Scotland: NHS England has to pay out more than twice as much as NHS Scotland for ‘maternity failings’ £1.3 billion was paid out in Scotland in 2024/205 compared to £27 BILLION in England. Per head, that £1.3 billion becomes £13 billion, less than half the NHS England pay-outs of £27 billion. https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1983476698260623709

johnrobertson834,Professor John Robertson 3 days ago

Technology

Trump scores golden gifts but no investment dollars during South Korea visit

GYEONGJU, South Korea -- President Donald Trump wanted South Korea to invest $350 billion in the American economy. So far, he's settling for a gold medal and a crown. Both were gifts from the country's president, Lee Jae Myung, who dialed up the flattery while Washington and Seoul struggled to finalize details on financial promises during the last stop of Trump's Asia trip. There was a special lunch menu featuring U.S.-raised beef and a gold-adorned brownie. A band played Trump's campaign anthem of "Y.M.C.A." when he stepped off Air Force One. Lee told him that "you are indeed making America great again." Trump can be mercurial and demanding, but he has a soft spot for pomp and circumstance. He was particularly impressed by a choreographed display of colorful flags as he walked along the red carpet. "That was some spectacle, and some beautiful scene," Trump told Lee during their meeting. "It was so perfect, so flawlessly done." Earlier in the day, Trump even softened his rhetoric on international trade, which he normally describes in predatory terms where someone is always trying to rip off the United States. "The best deals are deals that work for everybody," he said during a business forum. Washington and Seoul are working on a trade deal Trump was visiting while South Korea is hosting the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the historical city of Gyeongju. He previously stopped in Japan, where he bonded with the new prime minister, and Malaysia, where he attended a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Republican president has been trying to tie up trade deals along the way, eager to show that his confrontational approach of tariffs is paying dividends for Americans who are uneasy about the job market and watching a federal government shutdown extend into its fifth week. However, South Korea has been tough to crack, with the sticking point being Trump's demand for $350 billion of direct investment in the U.S. Korean officials say putting up cash could destabilize their own economy, and they'd rather offer loans and loan guarantees instead. The country would also need a swap line to manage the flow of its currency into the U.S. Trump, after meeting with Lee, said "we made our deal pretty much finalized." He did not provide any details, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Oh Hyunjoo, a deputy national security director for South Korea, told reporters earlier in the week that the negotiations have been proceeding "a little bit more slowly" than expected. "We haven't yet been able to reach an agreement on matters such as the structure of investments, their formats and how the profits will be distributed," she said Monday. It's a contrast from Trump's experience in Japan, where the government has worked to deliver the $550 billion in investments it promised as part of an earlier trade agreement. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced up to $490 billion in specific commitments during a dinner with business leaders in Tokyo. For now, South Korea is stuck with a 25% tariff on automobiles, putting automakers such as Hyundai and Kia at a disadvantage against Japanese and European competitors, which face 15%. Lee, speaking at the business forum before Trump arrived, warned against trade barriers. "At a time when protectionism and nationalism are on the rise and nations focus on their immediate survival, words like 'cooperation,' 'coexistence' and 'inclusive growth' may sound hollow," he said. "Yet, paradoxically, it is in times of crisis like this that APEC's role as a platform for solidarity shines brighter." Trump and Lee swap praise despite disagreements Lee took office in June and had a warm meeting with Trump at the White House in August, when he praised Oval Office renovations and suggested building a Trump Tower in North Korea. He took a similar approach when Trump visited on Wednesday. The gold medal presented to Trump represents the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the country's highest honor, and Trump is the first U.S. president to receive it. Trump said "it's as beautiful as it can possibly be" and "I'd like to wear it right now." Next was a replica of a royal crown from the Silla Kingdom, which existed from 57 B.C. to 935 A.D. The original crown was found in a tomb in Gyeongju, the kingdom's capital. Besides trade disagreements, there have been other points of tension between Washington and Seoul this year. More than 300 South Koreans were detained during a U.S. immigration raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia in September, sparking a sense of outrage and betrayal. Lee said at the time companies would likely hesitate to make future investments unless the visa system was improved. "If that's not possible, then establishing a local factory in the United States will either come with severe disadvantages or become very difficult for our companies," he said. Asked Monday about the immigration raid, Trump said, "I was opposed to getting them out," and he said an improved visa system would make it easier for companies to bring in skilled workers. Trump-Xi meeting is expected Thursday While in South Korea, Trump is also expected to hold a closely watched meeting on Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Washington and Beijing have clashed over trade, but both sides have indicated that they're willing to dial down tensions. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday that he expects to lower tariffs targeting China over the flow of fentanyl ingredients. "They'll be doing what they can do," he said. Trump added that "China is going to be working with me." Trump sounded resigned to the idea that he wouldn't get to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on this trip. The president previously floated the possibility of extending his stay in South Korea, but on Wednesday said "the schedule was very tight." North Korea has so far dismissed overtures from Washington and Seoul, saying it won't resume diplomacy with the United States unless Washington drops its demand for the North's denuclearization. North Korea said Wednesday it fired sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters, in the latest display of its growing military capabilities as Trump visits South Korea. Trump brushed off the weapons test, saying "he's been launching missiles for decades, right?" The two leaders met during Trump's first term, although their conversations did not produce any agreements about North Korea's nuclear program.

Chris Megerian 3 days ago

What’s with the sponcon slop in Nobody Wants This? Netflix, nobody wants this | Alaina Demopoulos

Season two of the Adam Brody and Kristen Bell-starring show feels like a long infomercial thanks to endless product placement

Alaina Demopoulos 3 days ago

Am I a type A personality - and should I care? | Arwa Mahdawi

Videos about personality science are going viral on social media, but beware of giving them credence, writes Arwa Mahdawi

Arwa Mahdawi 3 days ago

Relay review – Riz Ahmed turns potential whistleblowers in smart and twisty surveillance thriller

With a great script from Justin Piasecki this David Mackenzie-directed movie is pleasingly old fashioned, complete with Hitchcockian set piece

Peter Bradshaw 3 days ago

Technology

Agribank takes presidential advisor to court over unpaid debt

Staff Reporter THE Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank) has taken presidential advisor Christine //Hoebes to court after she allegedly failed to repay two loans granted to her over a 10-year period, with the debt standing at over N$230,000. In the particulars of claim, Agribank said that it on or about 3 March entered into a written loan agreement with //Hoebes, adding that it made available to her the sum of N$193,000 for the purchase of 26 cows and a bull. The said loan amount was granted for a period of 10 years. In addition to this, it added that it also advanced a second loan amount of N$7,000 for the purchase of one goat ram and one sheep ram. The bank claimed that //Hoebes, however, fell into arrears, as a result of which the total balance of the first and second loans is now outstanding. “In breach of the agreements, the defendant failed to effect the agreed repayments in respect of the amounts lent and advanced to her in terms of the first and second loan agreements,” the bank said, demanding a total of over N$230,000. PAY UP: Presidential advisor Christine //Hoebes.

Staff Reporter 3 days ago

Technology

Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina warns of mass voter boycott as Awami League party barred from election

Millions of supporters of Bangladesh’s Awami League will boycott next year’s national election, after the party was barred from contesting the polls, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told Reuters on Wednesday (October 29, 2025) from her exile in New Delhi. Ms. Hasina, 78, said she would not return to Bangladesh under any government formed after elections that exclude her party, and plans to remain in India, where she fled in August 2024 following a deadly student-led uprising. An interim government headed by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has governed Bangladesh since Ms. Hasina’s ouster and has pledged to hold elections next February. “The ban on the Awami League is not only unjust, it is self-defeating,” Ms. Hasina said in emailed responses to Reuters — her first media engagement since her dramatic fall from power after 15 straight years at the helm of Bangladeshi politics. “The next government must have electoral legitimacy. Millions of people support the Awami League, so as things stand, they will not vote. You cannot disenfranchise millions of people if you want a political system that works.” EX-LEADER HOPES AWAMI LEAGUE WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTEST Bangladesh has over 126 million registered voters. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have long dominated the country’s politics, and the BNP is widely expected to win the upcoming vote. The Election Commission suspended the Awami League’s registration in May. Earlier, the Yunus-led government banned all party activities, citing national security threats and war crimes investigations into senior Awami League leaders. “We are not asking Awami League voters to support other parties,” Ms. Hasina said. “We still hope common sense will prevail and we will be allowed to contest the election ourselves.” She did not say if she or anyone else on her behalf was holding any back-channel talks with Bangladeshi authorities to let the Awami League participate in the polls. Opinion:Bangladesh, a year after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster Spokespeople for Mr. Yunus did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ms. Hasina, credited with transforming Bangladesh’s economy but accused of human rights abuses and suppressing dissent, won a fourth consecutive term in 2024. That election was boycotted by the main opposition, whose top leaders were either jailed or in exile. The International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh’s domestic war crimes court, has concluded proceedings against Ms. Hasina, who faces charges of crimes against humanity over the violent crackdown on student protests in mid-2024. According to a United Nations report, up to 1,400 people may have been killed during the protests between July 15 and August 5, 2024, with thousands more injured — most from gunfire by security forces — in what was the worst violence in Bangladesh since its 1971 war of independence. Prosecutors also allege she oversaw enforced disappearances and torture of opposition activists through clandestine detention centres run by security agencies. A verdict is expected on November 13. Ms. Hasina denied the charges, saying she was not personally involved in the use of lethal force or other alleged crimes. “These proceedings are a politically motivated charade,” she said. “They’ve been brought by kangaroo courts, with guilty verdicts a foregone conclusion. I was mostly denied prior notice or any meaningful opportunity to defend myself.” NO PLANS TO RETURN HOME YET Despite the political turmoil, Ms. Hasina said the Awami League would eventually return to play a role in Bangladesh’s future — whether in government or opposition — and that her family need not lead it. Her son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed, who lives in Washington, told Reuters last year he might consider leading the party if asked. “It’s really not about me or my family,” Ms. Hasina said. “For Bangladesh to achieve the future we all want, there must be a return to constitutional rule and political stability. No single person or family defines our country’s future.” Ms. Hasina, whose father and three brothers were killed in a 1975 military coup while she and her sister were abroad, said she lives freely in Delhi but remains cautious given her family’s violent history. A few months ago, a Reuters reporter saw Ms. Hasina taking a quiet stroll through Delhi’s historic Lodhi Garden, accompanied by two individuals who appeared to be her personal security detail. She acknowledged passersby with a nod as some recognised her. “I would of course love to go home, so long as the government there was legitimate, the constitution was being upheld, and law and order genuinely prevailed,” she said. Ms. Hasina’s departure triggered targeted violence against Awami League workers, though the streets have since remained largely calm. However, clashes erupted earlier this month during the signing of a charter for state reform.

Unknown 3 days ago

Technology

Rupee records slight uptick against US dollar

Rupee's Performance Against US Dollar Since 04 March 2025 The Pakistani rupee registered a marginal improvement against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Wednesday. At close, the currency settled at 280.96, a gain of Re0.01 against the greenback. On Tuesday, the local unit had closed at 280.97, the highest in nearly six months. Globally, the US dollar hovered close to a one-week low versus major peers on Wednesday ahead of a widely expected interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve later in the day. The greenback lost additional ground against the Japanese yen after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled the new Japanese government is open to Bank of Japan rate hikes, ahead of a policy decision on Thursday. Australia’s dollar reversed an earlier small decline to rise 0.3% to $0.6604 after hotter-than-expected consumer price data raised doubts about a rate reduction from the central bank next week. Currency traders are also keeping a close eye on a scheduled meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea to decide on a framework that could pause tougher US tariffs and China’s rare-earth export curbs. The US dollar index, which measures the currency against six rivals, was steady at 98.681 after slipping 0.1% on Tuesday for a second straight day of declines. Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, edged lower on Wednesday, extending a three-day slide, as doubts about the effectiveness of Russia sanctions and a potential OPEC+ output increase put pressure on the market. Brent crude futures were down 7 cents, or 0.11%, to $64.33 a barrel at 0411 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 7 cents, or 0.12%, to $60.08.

Recorder Report 3 days ago

‘A colony of the US’: Argentinians contemplate future after Trump-backed Milei coasts to victory

Big win leaves many wondering if result reflects genuine support for president or corrosive US influence

Tiago Rogero in Buenos Aires 3 days ago

Technology

Oil steadies as US-China meeting comes into focus

LONDON: Oil prices steadied on Wednesday as investors weighed optimism over a meeting between the leaders of top consumers the U.S. and China against an expected increase in production quotas from the next OPEC+ meeting. Brent crude futures were up 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $64.51 a barrel at 1020 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 6 cents, or 0.1%, to $60.21. China’s foreign ministry said Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday in the South Korean city of Busan. It said the meeting would “inject new momentum into the development of U.S.-China relations”, adding that Beijing was ready to work together for “positive outcomes”. China also said that it was open to continuing cooperation with the U.S. on fentanyl after Trump said he expected to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for Beijing’s commitment to curb exports of precursor chemicals. Also supporting prices was an expected fall in U.S. crude and fuel inventories last week. Crude stocks fell by 4.02 million barrels for the week ended October 24, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Gasoline inventories dropped by 6.35 million barrels, while distillate inventories fell by 4.36 million barrels from a week earlier, the sources said. “The API report showing large draws for crude and refined products last week in the U.S. is giving some modest support to prices,” UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. Brent and WTI last week registered their biggest weekly gains since June after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia for the first time in his second term, targeting major oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft. Still, doubts that sanctions would offset oversupply and talk of an OPEC+ output increase pressured prices; both benchmarks fell 1.9%, or more than $1, in the previous session. OPEC+, the world’s largest group of oil-producing nations, is leaning towards a modest output boost in December, four sources familiar with the talks said, with two sources citing an additional 137,000 barrels per day. On Tuesday, the CEO of Saudi state oil giant Aramco said crude oil demand was strong even before sanctions were imposed on Russian oil majors and Chinese demand was still healthy.

Reuters 3 days ago

Technology

Watch: Gorman ‘really concerned’ about nitrates derogation

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman has told Agriland he is "really concerned" about Ireland's nitrates derogation. Francie Gorman addressed the Kerry IFA county executive meeting at the Rose Hotel in Tralee last evening (Tuesday, October 28) where he spoke on a wide range of issues, including the retention of the derogation. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Kerry TD, Michael Healy-Rae. The nitrates derogation allows farmers to exceed the standard limit of 170kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare (kg N/ha) up to a maximum of 220kg or 250kg N/ha, while adhering to stricter rules to protect water quality. The current derogation is due to expire at year-end and securing an extension is a key government priority. Nitrates derogation The IFA will hold a national meeting on the retention of the nitrates derogation in Corrin Mart, Fermoy, Co. Cork next Monday (November 3) at 7:30p.m. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon is due to address the meeting. "We want everybody, young and old, the next generation of farmers who are coming home to farm, to come to that meeting and outline to the minister for agriculture, who will be our guest speaker on the night, why the derogation is so important to them. "It really is becoming crunch time now and decisions are going to be taken in Brussels," Gorman said. The IFA president believes the decision to be taken on the derogation will be the most important taken on dairy since the abolition of milk quotas. He will urge Minister Heydon and his department to engage with the stakeholders' group, including farm organisations and industry groups, and "come forward with a plan that's going to be workable at farm level". "It was a key ask in the Programme for Government that we would have a water quality committee chaired by the Taoiseach," Gorman added. "To be fair, I have spoken with him [Taoiseach Micheál Martin] on a number of occassions during the summer and he has put his name behind our campaign to hold onto it. "He's been in touch with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and that has fed through into DG ENVI beyond in Brussels. "We have put an amount of effort in at farm level in trying to improve water quality. I think if you look at the longer picture, the trend is positive. That needs to be taken into account. "It's not just about that, it's also about the economic survivability of farms here in this country," he said. The IFA president believes the visit of European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswell to Ireland on Friday, November 7 is "a positive development". Minister Martin Heydon previously said that the purpose of the visit would be to "view first-hand the collaborative work being done" by the agri-food sector on improving water quality.

Aisling O,Aisling O'Brien 3 days ago

Technology

Despite high-calibre healthcare, medical tourism lags behind in Tiruchi

While hospitals in Tiruchi are emerging as a preferred destination for medical tourism among Indian diaspora in the West and patients from neighbouring countries, more can be done to improve the current scenario, experts say. There has been a general decline in medical tourism across India in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of adequate infrastructure such as hotels and ancillary services has kept potential patients away from healthcare hubs such as Tiruchi. Patient queries from West Asia, Southeast Asia and SAARC countries have decreased in the past five years, Shibu Varkey, regional medical director, MaxiVision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals, told The Hindu. “States like Kerala have developed medical tourism in a big way, which could be a reason. The absence of high-end accommodation and flights to Tiruchi, could also have led to the downturn. Besides affordability, patients look for local ambience when they plan their medical visits abroad. Tiruchi can evolve into a major healthcare hub if the travel, hospitality and healthcare sectors collaborate,” said Dr. Varkey. “Medical tourism can be successful only if one can offer service that cannot be replicated elsewhere. For this, doctors need to keep working on the niche specialisations that are in demand throughout the world,” said T.N. Janakiraman, skull base surgeon, and managing director, Royal Pearl Hospital, Tiruchi. Dr. Janakiraman, who is known for his work in endoscopic management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, is a specialist in diabetic skull base osteomyeletis. “We have queries from patients in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, in the domestic sector. We also have patients from African countries like Senegal and other parts of the world seeking us out for treatment in Tiruchi. In addition to this, we reach out to international patients through online consultations,” he said. Though many corporate hospitals are equipped with staff and facilities of a high calibre in the city, they are brought up short by lack of infrastructure. “We are ready to welcome patients from abroad seeking treatment for a range of ailments, but the city does not have enough facilities for long-stay visitors,” said D. Senguttavan, paediatrician and executive director, Kauvery Hospitals. “The medical sector could rope in the hospitality sector and create infrastructure that caters to medical tourists. Travel companies could look at packages that help patients in the post-operative period, such as short-term accommodation and holiday outings in local areas,” said senior physician M.S. Ashraf. The government authorities can certify hospitals and healthcare facilities that follow ethical practices, in order to avoid commercialisation, he added. Industry sources say Indian hospitals are known to be popular among foreigners for cardiology, neurology, orthopaedic joint replacement and oncology treatments. Strict norms about kidney transplantation in India have reduced medical tourism in this sector.

Unknown 3 days ago

Technology

NCBS and ICTS announce establishment of centre to integrate AI in biological research and education

The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), both centres of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), have signed an agreement to jointly establish a Centre for Artificial Learning and Intelligence for Biological Research and Education (CALIBRE). CALIBRE will be an interdisciplinary centre dedicated to advancing the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in biological research, education and innovation. Harnessing AI to transform biology research The objectives of the centre include establishing state-of-the-art infrastructure to harness the power of AI to transform biology research, developing advanced AI tools for basic, applied, and translational biology research, employing neuromorphic, brain-inspired computing approaches to advance AI technology, providing education and training to young Indian researchers to apply AI tools in biological research and creating named Chair Professorships and Research Travel Fellowships to support biology research. “While several AI platforms exist internationally, India requires its own context-specific AI tools and infrastructure to address challenges unique to Indian biodiversity, climate, health landscape, and fundamental research landscape. CALIBRE will serve as the national hub where biological insight meets AI innovation,” said a communique from NCBS. Convergence of frontiers CALIBRE will be set up through a ₹25 crore contribution from Vishal Gupta, founder of Reed India Consulting LLP, and Ms. Deepshikha Gupta. “Biology for AI and AI for Biology — two frontiers converging, powered by India’s brightest minds at CALIBRE”, said Mr. Gupta L.S. Shashidhara, Director, NCBS., noted that the work of NCBS researchers who work across scales of biology will help test and evaluate the power and limits of various AI tools. Rajesh Gopakumar, Director, ICTS, noted that ICTS’ deep strengths in the mathematical and theoretical sciences will help in the development of new AI techniques and tools with applications in biology as well as related areas of epidemiology and public health. “Finally, the most exciting frontier is to use insights from the functioning and architecture of the brain itself to improve the current AI frameworks,” he added.

The Hindu Bureau 3 days ago

Sports

Al Pacino's Fast-Paced Football Movie Is A Classic That Sports Fans Can't Miss

Stone ultimately argues that there are good people in the money-choked game of professional football. But the tragedy is that the world is too aggressive for anyone to notice, and players' values have altered to fit what the world provides. And nothing will be undone by the end, making "Any Given Sunday" feel like a small glimpse — a "Sunday in the life of" drama that peers — into a world that will continue to evolve out of control. It's poetic. One can also see Stone's well-documented interest in combat all over "Any Given Sunday." There is a lot of war-like language used on football fields, and many parallels drawn between soldiers and players. There are several shots throughout the film of players miming throwing hand grenades, being blown up in explosions, or being mowed down by automatic weapons fire. The players are miming combat for fun, but Stone, in his inimitable style, also adds explosion and gunshot sound effects, blending them with the cheers of the crowds. Football is the pop version of war — it's secular combat. It's not lost on Stone that football is an outlet for humanity's warlike tendencies. And because "Any Given Sunday" is so widely ambivalent about modern football, one can argue as to whether or not war-like outlets are healthy. The film was released during awards season, but it didn't snag any Oscar nominations. Indeed, many critics bristled at how over-wrought, melodramatic, and long "Any Given Sunday" was. Many felt that the film was reduced to abstract platitudes about individualism without ever cohering into anything meaningful or emotional. Eventually, Stone recut the movie, removing 12 minutes, but adding six others, producing a slightly tighter 156-minute version. It's not dramatically different, but it is better.

Witney Seibold 3 days ago

Shark feeding frenzy spotted near shore at popular Australian surf beach

‘Wonderful’ for people to see the predators so close and feasting on bait fish at the Gold Coast’s Rainbow Bay, near Snapper Rocks, expert says

Donna Lu 3 days ago