News from November 17, 2025

Politics

Spain pledges €15,000 aid for young people who buy or renovate rural housing

The Spanish government is to boost grants for young people who buy or renovate housing in rural areas of Spain, offering up to €15,000. The Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez, announced on Saturday that the increase in public aid for young people who buy or reform homes in inland and low-population municipalities will receive €15,000 instead of the current €10,800. The increased aid for young people aims to help two long-term converging problems in Spanish society: firstly, making housing more accessible to young people; and secondly, the problem of 'empty Spain' (España Vaciada) and depopulation in rural parts of the country. READ ALSO: The overlooked factors causing Spain's housing crisis Rodríguez was speaking in Palencia at the closing of the “Dare, housing is the future" hosted by the Castilla y León Socialist (PSOE) party. In her speech, the Minister also explained that the housing aid for young people will be extended for the first time to towns of up to 20,000 inhabitants, with the aim of reaching more beneficiaries, rather than 10,000. The announcement comes amid a new State Housing Plan 2026-2030, which the government will approve “very soon”, the Minister said, and which will triple state investment to €7 billion. Rodríguez also emphasised that state investment and aid in the property sector must be targeted: "To do this we need to know how many people are demanding housing and where they are demanding it and what types of families they are," the Minister said. She outlined the government's three main housing priorities for the coming years: more public housing supply, more regulation, and more direct aid to the groups and ares that need it most, such as the increased grants for young people. In her speech, the Minister also made reference to 'stressed rental areas' in the big cities, referencing cities in Castilla y León where the price of rent has risen and making a political point, remembering that the region is run by the centre-right People's Party (PP). "The Junta could stop the price of renting in the stressed areas, but the PP does not want to’, the Minister said. The declaration of stressed rental areas to cap soaring rents has been implemented in areas of Catalonia and the cities of A Coruña, San Sebastián, and Pamplona, along with 20 other municipalities in Navarre have been officially declared ‘stressed’ rental zones recently, bringing the total number across all regions to 301. The housing market more broadly, however, has been viewed as the major failure of the Sánchez government. READ ALSO: What happens when a city in Spain is declared a ‘stressed’ rental zone?

Conor Faulkner 16 hours ago

Politics

Brad Battin faces spill after group of Victorian Liberal MPs say they have lost confidence in his leadership

Sources say shadow treasurer Jess Wilson has received enough support to test leadership of the party a year out from state poll

Henry Belot 16 hours ago

Entertainment

New artist Kavi captures LDR emotions with debut single 'Ulan' | ABS-CBN Entertainment

When asked of the song's message, Kavi shared: "Na maniwala lang po sa pagmamahal. Kahit LDR 'yan ipakita mo na mahal na mahal mo ang tao. Walang masamang magmahal." "Na mahalin lang nila 'yung taong mahal nila palagi. At saka walang masama kapag palagi mong hinahanap ang mahal mo sa buhay. Walang masama na longing ka palagi sa partner mo o mahal mo sa buhay." Born Kareem Adrian Araneta Viray, Kavi started singing at the age of nine. His passion for singing started with his family who also loves music. After he got busy with his business, Kavi decided to return to music and started releasing covers last year. "I really thought of going back to music because I feel that it's something that I truly want to do. So I started doing covers. Before I was also doing covers but I did not upload it. Now I finally have the courage to upload the covers," Kavi said.

Reyma Deveza 16 hours ago

Sports

Metta World Peace Wants To Be Mavericks' Next GM After Nico Harrison Firing

Hey Mavs, TMZ Sports just found your next general manager -- METTA WORLD PEACE!!! We spoke with the former NBA star this week ... days after the Dallas Mavericks fired Nico Harrison, who was responsible for one of the worst trades in NBA history -- Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. We started the conversation by asking for Metta's reaction to the firing ... but he caught us off-guard when he said he wanted to take Harrison's job!! "The reason I say that is because I got so much experience," Metta said. "Running a basketball business would be fairly easy; running a sports business is fairly easy at the highest level, whether it's president or general manager. I'm running all operations." Metta has done all of that. After spending 17 seasons in the NBA, Metta became a South Bay Lakers player development coach ... and was the assistant head coach for the Cal State LA women's basketball team. He also founded the Artest Management Group ... and recently signed to co-manage up-and-coming boxing star Chordale Booker. If the interim guys Michael Finley and Matthew Ricciardi don't pan out, General Manager World Peace does have a ring to it. What do you say, Mavs?!

Unknown 16 hours ago

Technology

Airport, Ellenbrook and Midland train lines shut and another disrupted after passenger carriage derailment

Three train lines across Perth have been shut down after a carriage carrying passengers derailed on Monday afternoon. The Airport, Ellenbrook and Midland lines have all been cancelled between Perth and Redcliffe, Perth to Morley, and Perth to Bassendean. The lines were shut down after a train carriage derailed and got stuck between two rail tracks near the Bayswater station on the Airport line about 3.30pm. “There has been a service disruption as two bogies (wheel undercarriage) from a railcar have partially come off the tracks while departing Bayswater Station at low speed this afternoon,” a Public Transport Authority spokeswoman said. “The train has come to a stop with all passengers safely evacuated.” The incident is also causing delays on the Fremantle line and is expected to affect the train lines well into the evening. Replacement buses are being organised at the affected train lines. Transperth urged travellers to allow extra time and be aware that replacement buses may not connect with timetabled bus and train services. Alternatively, a timetabled service may be put on to help travellers. Commuters can check a list of alternative bus routes or use the JourneyPlanner to plan their journey. The Public Transport Authority is investigating the cause of the incident. Airport line Train replacement bus Route 902 is operating while trains are cancelled. Route 902 will depart from Stand 3, Wellington St. Trains are continuing to operate between Redcliffe and High Wycombe. Ellenbrook line Train replacement bus Route 903 is operating while trains are cancelled. Route 903 will depart from Stand 4, Wellington St. Trains are continuing to operate between Morley and Ellenbrook. Midland Line Train replacement bus Route 901 is operating while trains are cancelled. Route 901 will depart from Stand 2, Wellington St. Trains are continuing to operate between Bassendean and Midland. Call the Transperth InfoLine on 13 62 13 if you require help regarding service disruptions or planning a journey. Hearing or speech impaired? Call via NRS 133 677 and ask for 13 62 13. More to come.

Claire Sadlerthe West 16 hours ago

Politics

‘Golden toilet’ scandal: Zelensky faces deepest crisis yet as allies accused in $100M wartime scheme

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is battling the deepest crisis of his presidency after a money-laundering probe named members of his inner circle, including an associate accused of living in “golden toilet” luxury, a former government official has claimed. Their comments came as the president faces scrutiny over the investigation that agencies said Monday involves associates allegedly linked to a plot to siphon around $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector during the war with Russia. “Ukrainians don’t have any motivation to fight now because of enormous human rights violations and also because of this corruption now exposed,” the former official told Fox News Digital, under condition of anonymity. “People inside the country are already seeing this corruption and this is just part of the corrupt swamp. Zelensky is part of the problem,” they claimed. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s financial system has come under scrutiny and now some Ukrainians are accused of taking kickbacks from projects meant to protect energy plants during wartime, prompting public outrage and undermining faith in government. “This money laundering appeared to have been going on since 2022 and there were a lot of people who tried to stop this,” the former official said. “Some say Zelensky was aware of these schemes and that he had approved them,” they claimed. “There was also suspicion that money ended up in accounts abroad that benefited Zelensky and his inner circle,” they said. Over 15 months, a sweeping investigation dubbed “Operation Midas” by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) uncovered the schemes. In one major Energoatom probe targeting Ukraine’s state nuclear power company and its energy contracts, businessman Tymur Mindich was named. Mindich co-owned the entertainment company Kvartal 95 with the president and, according to The Kyiv Independent, Mindich was alleged to be the ringleader of that network. The Financial Times also reported that investigators found bags of cash and a gold-plated toilet in one of the bathrooms of his apartment. “They were introduced many years ago and were running the business of 95 Kvartal, which includes film production and many other entertainment genres,” the former official claimed. “Tymur had an apartment with golden toilets that was in the same building as Zelensky’s, and in 2021 Zelenskyy celebrated his birthday in Tymur’s apartment,” they said. Another figure under investigation, Oleksiy Chernyshov, is a former deputy prime minister. “He was also very close to the family, and he used to hold positions in the Zelensky government since 2019, and he has been accused of abuse of office,” the former official alleged. “Chernyshov started building big, three or four huge houses in their most luxury place in Kyiv.” So far, in his nightly address on Nov. 10, Zelensky said: “Everyone who put together a corrupt scheme must receive a clear legal response. There must be criminal verdicts.” He stressed the importance of accountability in the energy sector and said that keeping Energoatom clean from graft is a priority. Zelensky also praised the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s efforts, saying, “Any effective actions against corruption are very needed. The inevitability of punishment is necessary.” “Zelenskyy is using his extraordinary PR talent and will not step down in this probe,” the former official claimed. “Zelensky is not the kind of person who feels shame even if there’s a corruption probe… Zelensky has got everything from this war. He had a vertical of power, an unbreakable image, all the attention of the media. To some, he really depends on this and money,” they added. “Many Ukrainians believe in Donald Trump now, because he’s the only person who actually changed the narrative and changed the way this war is going,” the official said. “If not [for] Donald Trump we would not be talking about peace today at all, and every day of war is destroying Ukraine.” Fox News Digital reached out to Zelensky’s office for comment.

Fox News 16 hours ago

Sports

Napolcom, PNP, IBP team up to strengthen police legal education | ABS-CBN News

“Reducing operational risks means fewer procedural lapses, suppressed evidence, and administrative or civil liabilities… The law becomes our shield, not our hurdle—protecting both the public and the officers that serve them,” he said. Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan underscored the importance of ensuring that police officers possess mastery of the law—not only for public safety but for their own protection while performing their duties “Education is a very powerful tool… We need to make sure that our law enforcers are all street-ready. Kailangan may mastery sila ng batas—alam nila paano mang-aresto at walang kaduda-duda, alam nila ang karapatang pantao,” Calinisan said. He then continued, “Para sa kanilang kaligtasan at sa kaligtasan din ng general public, we need to educate them. And who is the best educator? No less than a lawyer, no less than the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.” PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management chief P/Brig. Gen. Matthew Bacay said the program would be rolled out across all 19 Police Regional Offices (PROs) nationwide.

Bianca Dava 16 hours ago

Politics

Govt ensures safety to private sector: Finance Minister

KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 17Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal stated that the government was fully committed to ensuring safety and support to private sector.Speaking at a programme organised by the Inland Revenue Department to mark the National Tax Day 2082 today, the Minister said the government is serious about maintaining high levels of confidence among private-sector actors.Khanal, who assumed office following the Gen Z movement, said, "The protest was not merely against the government or political parties. It was an eruption of frustration against deep-rooted anomalies in society. The lack of inclusion in development efforts and the growing unemployment had created immense pressure among young people, which ultimately surfaced through the movement."He stressed that ensuring the security of the private sector is fundamentally the government's responsibility. "We will guarantee security for the private sector. Establishing good governance, curbing corruption, and creating an environment where citizens can live with dignity are the forms of security."According to him, preliminary assessments showed the recent protests caused physical infrastructure damage worth approximately Rs 78 billion. Official data showed that around 2,900 buildings across 55 districts were damaged. He added that the government had allocated Rs 120 billion from the current fiscal year's budget for reconstruction efforts.The Minister further stated that honest businesspeople will no longer be subjected to unnecessary burdens such as full audits. He emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms in the tax system. A thriving business climate, Khanal said, is essential if the nation expects to see growth in revenue collection.Finance Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay stressed that boosting employment-oriented investment is the need of the hour. He highlighted the importance of adopting a faceless audit system and further strengthening revenue administration. "The Ministry remains fully committed to listening to the concerns and issues raised by taxpayers," he added.Revenue Secretary Bhupal Baral added that to achieve revenue targets, it is crucial to control leakage, enhance administrative capacity, coordinate effectively with taxpayers, and utilize information technology and artificial intelligence. He, however, complained that frequent transfers of officials hindered performance-based work.Also speaking at the event, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that although the Gen Z movement raised important issues such as good governance, transparency, and corruption control, the attacks on private and commercial properties of entrepreneurs and businesspeople were unexpected and unacceptable. He added that despite ample liquidity in the market, delays in completing large-scale projects and the suspension of IPOs for many companies have discouraged the private sector.According to the Inland Revenue Department, this year's Tax Day is themed "The essence of the tax system, the foundation of investment".

Rastriya Samachar Samiti 17 hours ago

Politics

At least 98 Palestinians have died in custody since October 2023, Israeli data shows

Exclusive: Real toll likely substantially higher as hundreds of detainees from Gaza are missing, says NGO Physicians for Human Rights - Israel

Emma Graham-Harrison and Yuval Abraham in Jerusalem 17 hours ago

Sports

Railway Stakes: eastern states raiders put under the microscope

The field for Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Railway Stakes (1600m) has been confirmed with Grant and Alana Williams preparing $4 co-favourites Western Empire and Watch Me Rock at opposite ends of the weight scale as they brace for an interstate assault. Western Empire, reunited with successful Gold Rush partner Billy Egan, is the 58kg topweight, while William Pike’s choice, Watch Me Rock, is only one kilo off the minimum with 54kg. But three eastern states raiders have been thrown into the mix of this year’s Railway, with Iowna Merc ($17), Osipenko ($8) and Depth Of Character ($11) arriving by air on Monday night. So, who exactly are they? Bjorn Baker is no stranger to Ascot glory and he will bring Overpass back for a tilt at his third Winterbottom Stakes, however, he also presents Iowa Merc this week. The NSW galloper, who will carry 56.5kg, has only been tested over the mile journey once in his 29-start career, settling near last in this year’s Doncaster and failing to make any material inroads behind Stefi Magnetica. Prior to that run, he had sat second and grit out a narrow victory over Willaidow in the Ajax Stakes (1500m), his only other appearance beyond 1350m. Last start, he battled in the Russell Balding behind proven Group 1 performer Jimmysstar, weakening to be an 18-length last. Generally, he gets back to centre field or worse in his races, meaning a good barrier could be important for his prospects. Conversely, Osipenko is sure to get the trip, having won the January Cup (2000m) at Rosehill earlier this year before being extended out to as much as 2200m over the winter. Chris Waller’s gelding, who has received 55kg for the race, lugged 62kg a fortnight ago when scoring in the Little Dance (1600m) at Randwick. Travelling just worse than midfield, Osipenko raced three wide with cover before being produced down the home straight and getting up to beat Hollywood Hero and Anythink Goes. Although he has sparingly raced forward, all of the six-year-old’s form over the last year has been ridden cold and much nearer last than first. Annabel and Rob Archibald will follow the same recipe that proved so lucrative last year with Port Lockroy when they instead bring Depth Of Character for the 2025 edition. The four-year-old’s form reads similarly to Port Lockroy, who was beaten two lengths in both the Silver and Golden Eagle before his Railway win. Depth Of Character, who has a similar racing pattern to his invading contemporaries, was last on straightening and badly held up when a four-length eighth behind Linebacker in the Silver Eagle (1300m) before plugging home gamely when two lengths from unbeaten superstar Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle (1500m). Port Lockroy carried 53kg last year but Depth Of Character’s 53.5kg is made more attractive when considering there were six horses on the minimum mark last year and only one (Storyville) this year.

Hayden King 17 hours ago

Technology

UIDAI launches new Aadhaar card mobile application; learn how to download it

UIDAI has launched a new Aadhaar card mobile application with several new features. Users will now be able to store their digital Aadhaar cards securely on their smartphones and manage family members’ cards in one place. UIDAI has finally launched the new Aadhaar card mobile application. This long-awaited app now boasts several new features that will help India’s nearly 1.4 billion people easily manage their digital Aadhaar identity. People will now be able to store their digital Aadhaar card securely on their smartphones. The new Aadhaar app is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. People have been waiting for this app for a long time because there wasn’t a good option for storing digital Aadhaar securely. Previously, managing multiple Aadhaar cards (for family members) in one place was difficult because the old mAadhaar app didn’t support this feature. The mAadhaar app had features like updating name, address, and mobile number, which often required a visit to an Aadhaar service center. However, the new app has simplified this process. Learn about the features of the new Aadhaar app The new Aadhaar app offers several enhanced and powerful features compared to the old mAadhaar app: 1. Multi-profile management: You can add up to five family members’ Aadhaar cards linked to a single mobile number in a single app. This makes it easy to manage all your household’s Aadhaar cards in one place. 2. Biometric security lock: You can set biometric security, such as fingerprint/face lock, to ensure your Aadhaar information is completely secure. No one can access the data until you unlock it. 3. Selective data sharing: You can now decide which information to share. For example, share only your name and photo, but hide your address or date of birth. 4. QR Code Verification: You can easily verify your identity at a bank, government office, or service center by showing or scanning your Aadhaar QR code, without any paperwork. 5. Offline Mode Access: After the first setup, you can view your saved Aadhaar details even without internet access. However, full features will only be available with internet access. 6. Usage History Monitoring: The app also shows when, where, and how your Aadhaar was used. This increases security and transparency. How to download this app? Download the app: Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store on your smartphone and search for “Aadhaar” to download the official app. Enter Aadhaar number: Open the app, select a language, and enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number. Verify with OTP: Complete the verification process with the OTP received on your Aadhaar-registered mobile number. Face authentication: A face scan is required to verify your identity. This reduces the risk of fraud or misuse. Set a security PIN: Create a 6-digit security PIN to protect your profile.

Shyamu Maurya 17 hours ago

Entertainment

George and Amal Clooney just dined at this Michelin-selected restaurant in BGC | ABS-CBN Lifestyle

For me, the menu began to show real heft with the arrival of the scallop course. A firm and subtly sweet Hokkaido scallop, smoked and cured, was paired with a luscious cappuccino of Japanese corn, with shrimp-head fat enriching the broth’s umami. If the menu allowed à la carte orders, I’d have easily requested a second helping. Then came a delightful, smoky surprise: Iberico pork pluma skewered on a stick of sugarcane, still smoldering as it arrived at the table. A salsa of fermented pear sat atop the pork, while pansit-pansitan and a delicate edible flower added a local flourish. The servers even encouraged us to chew on the sugarcane, reminding diners that elegance and fun can co-exist. Where most palate cleansers feel like obligatory intermissions, Taupe’s version — named 24K Magic — felt like a course all its own. This over-the-top gulaman, which features fermented guava gel, lime pandan syrup, and actual edible gold dust, embodied Tolentino’s flair for turning even the simplest ideas into showpieces. The final two savory courses leaned into traditional fine-dining form. A duo of dry-aged duck slices — already rich and flavorful — was accompanied by two sauces: one inspired by the coconut-ash flavors of Mindanao’s pianggang, the other a classic truffle jus. A quenelle of braised duck encased in queso de bola gel added textural contrast — and a clever nod to duck two-ways. Fortunately, Tolentino’s light playfulness returned with the dessert courses. His reimagined brazo de Mercedes used passion fruit and calamansi to balance a traditional vanilla custard, while the Italian meringue was scorched tableside with fragrant Japanese binchotan charcoal. The second dessert, a pistachio and chocolate entremet, layered pistachio butter and black sesame dark chocolate over sponge, with a final flourish: a dramatic dip in liquid nitrogen before serving, resulting in a chilled, smooth bite.

Abs-Cbn Lifestyle 17 hours ago

World

Warm November Continues in Bulgaria, Snow Unlikely Below 1400 Meters

Bulgaria can expect unusually warm weather through the end of November, with snow unlikely below 1400 meters, according to Anastasia Stoycheva from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. Temperatures currently remain 4 to 5 degrees above the seasonal average. Stoycheva noted that two cold snaps are expected in the coming days, as a cold atmospheric front moves across the country from the northwest. Southwestern Bulgaria is forecast to see significant precipitation, ranging from 25 to 50 liters per square meter. In addition, many areas in Western and Central Bulgaria are experiencing elevated levels of Saharan dust, which is expected to fall with the rain. For now, snowfall is predicted only above 2000 meters, except in the Western Stara Planina, where it could reach 1400 meters. Between November 17 and 24, heavy precipitation above normal levels is expected, particularly in Western and Southwestern Bulgaria, while Northern regions will also see rainfall. Some numerical models suggest that around November 22–23 temperatures may drop, potentially increasing the chance of snow, but the likelihood remains low at present. A more noticeable decline in morning and nighttime temperatures is expected only toward the end of the month. Meteorologists will continue to monitor conditions closely as the situation develops over the coming week.

Unknown 17 hours ago

Sports

Déjà boo: Sam Darnold didn’t think he’d see ghosts on the field again. Then he faced the Rams

The Seahawks quarterback has looked like an MVP this season. But his old failings returned in Los Angeles on Sunday

Doug Farrar 17 hours ago

Technology

Marcos declares special non-working days in 6 municipalities, 2 cities | ABS-CBN News

Meanwhile, December 1 is now a special non-working day in Cainta, Rizal to celebrate the municipality’s founding anniversary and the Sumbingtik Festival, under Proclamation No. 1090. In the north, Proclamation No. 1091 declared December 9 a special non-working day in Burgos, Ilocos Norte to commemorate the municipality’s founding anniversary. Proclamation No. 1092 declared December 18 a special non-working day in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan to observe the city’s Charter anniversary. Proclamation No. 1093 declared December 23 a special non-working day in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental to mark the city’s 25th Charter anniversary. Proclamation No. 1094 meantime declared December 23 a special non-working day in Sto. Niño, South Cotabato to celebrate the municipality’s 45th founding anniversary and the 26th Hinublag Festival.

Ched Rick Gatchalian 17 hours ago

World

Is The EU Edging Closer To A 'Military Schengen?'

Europe is ramping up defense spending. But one issue has largely been neglected -- how to move military equipment from one country to another as quickly as possible in the case of conflict. A “military Schengen,” an area in which arms and troops can freely move around the bloc’s passport-free zone as easily as civilians do, has been talked about for years. But so far it has remained elusive for both the EU and NATO, despite increased security concerns brought about by the war in Ukraine. On November 19, the European Commission will present its latest attempt to achieve this by the end of the decade. An advanced copy, seen by RFE/RL, points out two ways to achieve this: firstly, splashing cash on hundreds of “choke points” around the continent such as rail tracks, ports, and bridges, including in EU candidates Ukraine and Moldova, which the paper considers crucial to integrate into the EU’s military transport structures. And secondly, cutting red tape to stop disparate national laws and bureaucracy from hindering any efforts to quickly and easily move military assets from one EU country to the next. Lots Of Talk, Little Progress In 2017, the idea of a “military Schengen” became an “area of priority” and action plans were drawn up by the European Commission in 2018, 2022, and 2024 -- however, scant progress was made. EU diplomats, speaking under condition of anonymity to RFE/RL, have said that the minimal progress certainly isn't due to a lack of trying. The topic, they say, is usually near the top of the agenda whenever EU-NATO cooperation is discussed, but neither organization, they say, has ever truly embraced it. NATO has long hoped that the EU would devote more legislative power and cash to military mobility, especially now when 23 out of 27 EU member states are also part of the military alliance. The war in Ukraine has only added to the urgency to step up on all defense-related items. At the same time, there has been frustration in the EU that NATO has been too focused on spending money on expensive military gear and much less on how to actually transport it and make it available for other alliance members. The new NATO goal of spending 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on military equipment by 2035 and an additional 1.5 percent on nonmilitary investment -- such as military mobility -- goes some way to address the issue. But it is still very much in the hands of individual countries, as the European Commission paper highlights. “While Member States remain free to decide whether to allow foreign armed forces to cross their territory as part of their national security and defense, the EU must have a framework for military mobility that balances military and civilian needs,” it says. The goal for this European Commission, whose mandate ends in 2029, is to “set up an EU-wide Military Mobility Area by the end of 2027 as a first step towards progressively achieving a ‘Military Schengen’ in regulatory, infrastructure, and capabilities dimensions.” Will There Be Enough Money? The question is if the cash will be available this time. In the last multiannual EU budget (2021-2027), some 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) were earmarked for dual civilian/military use transport infrastructure, focusing on 95 projects in 21 countries. But, as the paper notes: “the demand for EU funding significantly exceeded the available resources and all calls were heavily oversubscribed.” For the next long-term budget (2028-2034), the European Commission has therefore proposed 17.65 billion euros in dual-use transport infrastructure focusing on 500 “hot spot projects” where transport of military gear needs to become faster and smoother. But will this fly? Especially as member states always water down the initial commission proposal and prefer to divert EU cash on more "vote-winning” sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and other types of social spending. Rail is also the mode of transport that most money has been spent on when it comes to military mobility. And that is likely to continue. Earlier this year, the EU agreed on four priority multi-modal military mobility corridors -- north, south, east, and central. The northern one, mainly connecting the Netherlands with Germany and Poland, and further on to Ukraine, is the most advanced. The commission's paper highlights a 22-kilometers railway stretch -- connecting western Ukraine with Slovakia and the rest of Central Europe -- featuring European standard gauge railway track, which opened in September. It also notes that “preparatory works are ongoing to deploy the European nominal standard track gauge on the European Transport Corridors connecting Moldova and Ukraine to EU Member States.” The idea is very much that all of the EU, including candidate countries, will operate with the same railway track gauge going forward. The European Commission is also keen to lay out money on other items that are vital for military movement such as outsized cargo airlifts, dual-use ferries, and flatbed wagons for trains to move heavy military equipment such as rockets and tanks. Improving 'Military Mobility' Yet, in the end, the biggest changes the EU could make is in the legislation to make the movement of troops and equipment easier. It can take up to 45 days to obtain permission for military transport to cross from one EU country to another. The goal, set by Brussels, is three days. Surprisingly, EU harmonized rules for the transport of dangerous goods do not apply to military transport, meaning that ad hoc arrangements often have to be agreed upon. This would change, and the European Commission intends to push for even more. Another proposal is that permission to move military equipment between member states will no longer need to be renewed annually. They will simply remain valid until revoked. Non-EU member states can also be part of this change. The key to this would be a so-called “European Military Mobility Enhanced Response System (EMERS),” which can be triggered within 48 hours after a proposal from the European Commission or an EU member state. When activated, in case of a potential military emergency, cross-border military transport will only require a notification with a reduced advance notice of military movement. Most standards procedures could be bypassed, except for customs formalities. Of course, all of these proposals will have to be agreed upon among EU member states, often requiring unanimity. Given the increased urgency for the EU to step up militarily due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, this might prove to be the best chance possible to achieve a “military Schengen.”

Rikard Jozwiak 17 hours ago

Entertainment

Weekly Planner: Blackpink, Michael Learns to Rock, Jason Derulo and more | ABS-CBN Lifestyle

2. Sing along with Michael Learns To Rock Join Michael Learns To Rock as they close their 2025 Philippines tour with a grand finale at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on November 18, 8 p.m. Manila is the largest and final stop, so get ready to fill the arena with your loudest cheers. Tickets available via SM Tickets outlets and smtickets.com. 3. Get nostalgic with David Archuleta, Vanessa Carlton and Blue 4. Dance the night away with Jason Derulo After nine years, Jason Derulo is back in Manila, bringing chart-topping hits and electrifying energy to the SM Mall of Asia Arena on November 22. Tickets available via SM Tickets. Get ready for a night of unforgettable music and dance. 5. Get charmed by Lee Chae-min at his Manila fan meet K-drama fans, prepare your hearts! Rising star Lee Chae-min brings his “Chaem-into You” fan meeting tour to the New Frontier Theater on November 23. Enjoy exclusive photo sessions and raffles for Royalty and VIP ticketholders. Tickets start November 9 via TicketNet. 6. Explore SMDC’s Good Life Expo 2025 Discover your dream home and lifestyle at SMDC’s biggest home and investment showcase yet, happening November 21–23 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. Experience immersive home zones, live performances from Martin Nievera, Dilaw, and Hale, curated home-styling packages, grand raffle prizes, and more. 7. Find out how the story ends in 'Wicked: For Good

Abs-Cbn Lifestyle 17 hours ago

World

SpaceX launches second satellite to monitor sea level changes

SpaceX launched a joint NASA-European environmental research satellite early Monday, the second in an ongoing billion-dollar project to measure long-term changes in sea level, a key indicator of climate change. The first satellite, known as Sentinel-6 and named in honor of NASA climate researcher Michael Freilich, was launched in November 2020. The latest spacecraft, Sentinel-6B, was launched from California atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 12:21 a.m. EST.Both satellites are equipped with a sophisticated cloud-penetrating radar. By timing how long it takes beams to bounce back from the ocean 830 miles below, the Sentinel-6 satellites can track sea levels to an accuracy of about one inch while also measuring wave height and wind speeds.The project builds on earlier missions dating back to the early 1990s that have provided an uninterrupted stream of sea level data.That data indicates sea levels are slowly but surely rising, widely interpreted as evidence of global warming caused in large part by human industrial activity.But in keeping with recent Trump administration policies aimed at scaling back climate research and the interpretation of such data, NASA did not directly refer to "climate change" or "global warming" in a Sentinel-6B pre-launch briefing Saturday.In the press kit released by NASA for the first Sentinel 6 mission in 2020, the first item in a "need to know list" said the satellite would "provide information that will help researchers understand how climate change is reshaping Earth's coastlines - and how fast this is happening."In the press kit for the Sentinel 6B mission launched Monday, NASA's first "need to know" item said simply that "Sentinel-6B will contribute to a multi-decade dataset that is ... key to helping improve public safety, city planning and protecting commercial and defense interests."Karen St. Germain, director of NASA's Earth Science Division, did not directly mention climate change in the Saturday briefing, focusing instead on the practical importance of monitoring sea levels."Sentinel 6B is the latest in a line of missions stretching over three decades, keeping an uninterrupted watch over our planet's sea surface height, finding patterns and advancing our understanding of planet Earth," she said.She said the data provided by the Sentinel-6 satellites "underpins navigation, search and rescue and industries like commercial fishing and shipping. These measurements form the basis for U.S. flood predictions for coastal infrastructure, real estate, energy storage sites and other assets along our shoreline."The data, she continued, will help scientists "understand and predict coastal erosion and salt water encroachment into inland supplies of water that are used for agriculture, irrigation as well as municipal drinking water."Regardless of interpretation, the launch of Sentinel-6B went off without a hitch.After blasting off from launch complex 4E at the Vandenberg Space Force Base, the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage powered the vehicle out of the dense lower atmosphere, separated and flew itself back to a landing pad at the California launch site.The upper stage then carried out two firings of its single engine before releasing the 2,600-pound Sentinel-6B into an 830-mile-high orbit tilted 66 degrees to the equator, the same orbit used by Sentinel-6A and earlier sea level-monitoring spacecraft.Taking 112 minutes to complete one orbit, the solar-powered satellite will fly over locations between 66 degrees north and south latitude, covering 90 percent of the world's oceans.Along with measuring sea levels, the new satellite also will monitor temperature and humidity in the lower atmosphere as well as the higher-altitude stratosphere using an instrument that measures atmospheric effects on signals broadcast by navigation satellites.But the primary mission is monitoring Earth's changing sea levels."The dynamic balance that persisted before the industrial revolution has been upset by the almost instantaneous combustion of huge reserves of carbon as our society has developed," Craig Donlon, a European Space Agency project scientist, said before the first Sentinel-6 launch in 2020."We see evidence of this dramatic change in many different measurements ... but they all point the same direction: the Earth is warming. And the greatest indicator of this Earth system imbalance is sea level rise."The Sentinel-6 satellites are the result of a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.St. Germain said NASA's share of the cost for both Sentinel-6 satellites came to about $500 million. The Europeans contributed a similar amount.

William Harwood 17 hours ago

Politics

'India not scared of any blackmailing': Army Chief’s stark message to Pakistan

New Delhi, Nov 17: India will continue to consider the terrorists and their supporters alike, and it will respond firmly to terrorism, Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Monday, in a firm message to Pakistan. In an interactive session, the Army Chief also broadly said that there has been improvement in India's relations with China in the last one year following talks between the leadership of the two countries. On cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, Gen Dwivedi said New Delhi has been following a policy of new normal in dealing with Pakistan, and it will be a challenge for the neighbouring country if it continues to support terror groups targeting India. "India focuses on progress and prosperity. If someone creates obstacles in our course, then we will have to take some action against them," he said. "We have said that talks and terror can't go together; blood and water cannot follow together. We are for a peaceful process, which we will cooperate with. Until then, we will treat terrorists and their sponsors alike," the Army Chief said. "Today, India is in a position that it is not scared of any blackmailing," he said, apparently referring to Pakistan's nuclear threat. "Our new normal in combating terrorism will be a challenge to Pakistan," he said. The Army Chief said India's political brass has the will to strengthen the country's deterrence capabilities. "In today's time, our deterrence is very strong. Our deterrence is working," he said. Gen Dwivedi also said that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. "After this, political clarity has come. There has been a huge decline in terrorism," he said. The Chief of Army Staff also indicated that President Droupadi Murmu may consider visiting Manipur as the situation in the state is improving.PTI

The Assam Tribune 17 hours ago

Politics

Trump backs full release of Epstein files in sharp reversal  - St. Vincent Tribune – Daily St Vincent And

United States President Donald Trump has called on Congress to make public additional files related to the notorious late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in a reversal of his earlier opposition to the documents’ release. “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide,” Trump wrote late Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party.” Trump’s shift comes as a growing number of Republican lawmakers have joined Democrats to back legislation that would compel the US Justice Department to unseal all remaining Epstein-related records. Democrats and a handful of Republicans reached 218 signatures on Wednesday to force a floor vote on a bill to release the files within 30 days. The Epstein Files Transparency Act appears poised to clear the House of Representatives, although its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain. Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor of the bill, told ABC News on Sunday that as many as 100 Republicans could vote in favour. The president’s remarks also come amid an unusually public rupture with parts of his political base, including a highly visible split with Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once among his closest allies. “The American people deserve full transparency into who was involved in these horrific acts”, Greene wrote on X on Thursday. Trump has since distanced himself from Greene, saying he would endorse a challenger to her in next year’s midterm elections “if the right person runs”. On Friday, he called her a “traitor” and a “ranting Lunatic”. Greene has attributed the falling out to the Epstein files, though Trump has not directly linked their split to the issue. As Republican support for the legislation grew, Trump accused some in his party of being manipulated, saying they were being “used”. In recent weeks, Trump contacted at least two Republican lawmakers who signed on to the bill, including Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. The legislative push coincides with the release last week of emails that have reignited scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with Epstein. Among them is a 2019 email Epstein sent to a journalist claiming that Trump “knew about the girls”. In another email sent in 2011, Epstein told his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had “spent hours” at his home with a sex trafficking victim. The White House has accused Democrats of releasing selective material to “create a fake narrative” and damage the president. Trump, who had a 15-year friendship with Epstein, has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly insisted he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. His name appeared in previously released Justice Department records made public during efforts to address longstanding demands for transparency over the case. In July, as criticism from within his base mounted over the handling of the government’s Epstein investigation, Trump lashed out at supporters who questioned the transparency of the process. “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit’, hook, line, and sinker. They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years”, he wrote on Truth Social, urging the FBI to investigate what he described as a criminal conspiracy against him. Speaking to journalists around the same time, Trump said he did not “understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody”. “It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring, and I don’t understand why it keeps going,” he said. Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had longstanding ties to numerous prominent figures in politics, business, and entertainment. Many of Epstein’s associates maintained close contact with him even after he was registered as a sex offender in 2008 following his conviction on two counts of soliciting prostitution, including from a minor. Trump on Friday demanded that Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI investigate Epstein’s links to a number of his critics, including former US president Bill Clinton and ex-Harvard University President and one-time Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. Clinton and Summers have said they regret ever associating with Epstein and have not been implicated in any criminal wrongdoing involving the disgraced financier.

Cb_usr 17 hours ago