How Trump's bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woesbet fortune rabbit 。

WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. It passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. People are also reading... Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." Branden Marty, a Navy veteran who served for 13 years, said the loss of health coverage for transgender medical treatments could prompt some with valuable experience to leave the military, affecting national security because "we already struggle from a recruiting and retention standpoint." He also said the bill could regularly force service members into difficult choices financially. "It will be tough for a lot of them because of out-of-pocket expenses, especially enlisted members who we know already struggle with food insecurity," said Marty, the father of a transgender teenager. "They don't get paid very much, so they're going to be making a lot of choices on a day-to-day, tactical level." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. Overall, 81 Democrats voted for the bill and 124 against it. On the Republican side, 200 voted for the bill and 16 against it. "It's disappointing to see 124 of my Democrat colleagues vote against our brave men and women in uniform over policies that have nothing to do with their intended mission," Johnson, R-La., said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights.To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans.“The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24%, and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024.“There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace.“If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again.“The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the PentagonUnder the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores.But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses.In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor.When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Jon Bilous Most Menacing Loan Messengers Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / ShutterstockThe debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others.Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital.According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information.Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others.The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal.Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group.These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Olena Yakobchuk Loan Harassment Hotspots Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / ShutterstockAlthough widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members.The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military.The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period.The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members.Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Bumble Dee Billionaire Bets on Bad Credit Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / ShutterstockIn 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA.Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond, is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members.In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to.Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. PeopleImages.com - Yuri A Lenders Try to Shutter CFPB Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / ShutterstockOn May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional.That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election.If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate.In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Cynthia Shirk Holidays, Interest Rates Not to Blame Photo Credit: Lux Blue / ShutterstockSeasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates.The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments.Debt Complaints by Service MembersFrom Q1 2021 to Q4 2022 Up 4%From Q4 2022 to Q1 2023 Up 6%From Q4 2023 to Q1 2024 Up 24%The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates.30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesFrom 3.08% in Q4 2021 to 3.82% in Q1 2022From 6.66% in Q4 2022 to 6.37% in Q1 2023From 7.30% in Q1 2023 to 6.75% in Q4 2024Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021.To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. Shutterstock Methodology The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024.Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here.For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org. Jon Bilous Veteran homelessness is on the rise despite government efforts—here's how it happens Veteran homelessness is on the rise despite government efforts—here's how it happens Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military."This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis."At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero.Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows.Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment.These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan.Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. Photo illustration by Michael Flocker // Stacker // Canva Veterans struggle to find a path forward The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life.Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker."It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said.Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit.Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches.This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability.Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. Stacker Vets with mental health issues most at risk for homelessness For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers."It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness, according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems.Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma, either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness.Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation.Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps.That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need.In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services.Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'"Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Stacker Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!Ohio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffleNone

At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Mr Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought”. Mr Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Mr Trump had picked Mr Patel for the role in his new administration. Mr Wray had previously been named by Mr Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. Mr Trump had demonstrated his anger with Mr Wray on multiple occasions, including after Mr Wray’s congressional testimony in September. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Mr Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” Mr Wray continued: “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Mr Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorised to discuss the private gathering and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Mr Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Mr Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again”. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators”, raising alarm that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Mr Trump’s perceived enemies. Mr Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one”.

Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule

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Alice Weidel, the chancellor candidate of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) BERLIN: Alice Weidel , the chancellor candidate of the Alternative for Germany ( AfD ), is an unlikely public face for a male-dominated, anti-immigration far-right party that depicts itself as a defender of traditional family values and ordinary people. The 45-year-old is raising two sons with a Sri Lankan-born woman, a filmmaker, and speaks fluent Mandarin, having done a doctorate in economics in China. A west German leading a party that is strongest in the former communist East, she worked for Goldman Sachs and Allianz Global Investors and as a freelance business consultant before entering politics. Weidel's unusual profile, however, is precisely what makes her an asset to the AfD, say political analysts, lending a party that is suspected by authorities of being antidemocratic a veneer of well-heeled liberal respectability. She comes across as more poised and competent on various topics than some of her colleagues, they say. Her critics call her a ruthless opportunist and a "wolf in sheep's clothing". "Weidel is someone who can appeal to a broader public than the typical AfD constituency, to the middle class bourgeoisie", said Oliver Lembcke, political scientist at the University of Bochum. "She seems like the adult in the room among all these lunatics and extremists." As AfD co-leader, Weidel has overseen a surge in support for the party in recent years, benefiting from frustration with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's fractious coalition whose collapse is set to result in a Feb. 23 snap election. The party is polling in second place on around 17%, after the conservatives on 33% but well ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats on 15%, the Greens on 14% and the pro-market Free Democrats (FDP) on 4%. This is the first time the AfD has nominated a chancellor candidate and Weidel has already acknowledged it is unlikely to enter government for now, given other parties refuse to work with it. Weidel expects this firewall to crumble by the 2029 election as voters clearly want a right-wing coalition, she told German outlet Compact. "That will be the decisive year for the AfD," said Weidel, sporting her trademark dark suit, white shirt and pearls, with her blonde hair tied back in a bun. NAZI GRANDFATHER Weidel describes her upbringing as "highly political", although her parents did not belong to any party. Her paternal grandfather had been a prominent Nazi judge, Die Welt newspaper reported last month, and the family was expelled from Silesia, now in Poland, after World War Two. The youngest of three, she recalls getting into trouble at school for being too argumentative as well as having uncomfortable encounters with Middle Eastern immigrants living in social housing in her west German town. "You don't enjoy going to the outdoor pool anymore as a teenager when people are always calling you "slut" or somesuch," she told WeltWoche. After getting two university studies in parallel, in business and economics, she joined Goldman Sachs, grew bored and moved to China to do a doctorate on the Chinese pension system while working as a business consultant. Weidel joined the AfD in 2013 over her opposition to bailouts during the euro zone crisis - before the party shifted rightwards to focus more on fighting immigration. Her status in the party cost Weidel her friendship circle, prompting the family to move towns, she told Weltwoche. An economic liberal, Weidel claims late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her role model and wants Germany to push for a Brexit-style referendum on EU membership if it is unable to sufficiently reform the bloc to fix its "democratic deficit". A climate change sceptic, she wants to lower taxes, end the minimum wage, slim down the state and end the costly shift to a carbon neutral economy. She has also called for much tighter restrictions on immigration, tapping into a well of discontent in Germany with the large-scale arrivals from the Middle East in recent years. "Burqas, girls in headscarves, knife-wielding men on government benefits and other good-for-nothing people are not going to ensure our prosperity," Weidel told parliament in 2018 in a speech that also referenced "The Great Replacement" conspiracy theory popular among white nationalists. Versatility Her strength lies in her versatility, said Hans Vorlaender, a political scientist at Dresden University of Technology. She acts as a "moderating, well-mannered bourgeois politician" for established media, but then knows exactly how to reach her more extremist clientele elsewhere, in particular on social media. Weidel has acknowledged some friction over her personal lifestyle in a party that opposes gay marriage and expanding laws to allow same-sex couples to adopt. But she mostly does not focus on the issue of her identity - refusing to be called queer - and is adept at dealing with different wings of the party in order to maintain her position of power, tolerating rather than reining in the more extremist factions, said Lembcke. When same-sex marriage became law in Germany in 2017, she dismissed the matter as trivial compared to issues like mass migration. That same year Weidel said she was in the AfD "not despite her homosexuality but because of it" as it was the only party to address the issue of Muslim immigrants' hostility towards homosexuals, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper.

Pope Francis has led a ceremony in St Peter's Basilica to install 21 new Catholic cardinals with what appears to be a bruised chin. The Vatican said it would not comment on the matter. or signup to continue reading Francis, who turns 88 this month, appeared otherwise on good form, leading a ritual-filled ceremony on Saturday to elevate churchmen from 17 countries to the College of Cardinals, the elite group that will one day elect his successor. A purplish blotch could be seen on the right side of the pope's face, around his lower chin and upper neck. The Vatican's press office said it would not comment on what had happened. Francis, pope since 2013, has suffered occasional bouts of ill health in recent years, and now uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain. Cardinals are the highest-ranking officials in the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church beside the pope. At the pontiff's death or resignation, cardinals under the age of 80 are tasked with entering a conclave and choosing the next pope. Francis has now installed about 80 per cent of the prelates who will elect the next pope, increasing the likelihood that the next pontiff might share his vision for a Church that is more inclusive and engaged with the wider world. Francis, originally from Argentina and the first pope from the Americas, has focused on strengthening geographic diversity among the cardinals. At least 67 countries now have cardinals who can vote in a conclave, according to Vatican statistics, compared to fewer than 50 when Francis was elected. The newest appointees come from countries including Peru, Argentina, Japan, the Philippines, Algeria, India and Serbia. In his homily for Saturday's service, Francis said the new cardinals "come from different backgrounds and cultures", urging them to be "witnesses of fraternity, artisans of communion and builders of unity". Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, one of the new cardinals, praised the pope's efforts to boost geographical diversity. "Having cardinals from every part of the world truly translates the universality of the Church," Bessi Dogbo, from Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, told Reuters. Italy remains the country with the most cardinals, counting 17 under the age of 80. Four of those were installed on Saturday, including the archbishops of Turin, a northern business hub, and Naples, the country's third-largest city. Among the other new cardinals, one is a Belgian friar serving as archbishop of the Tehran-Isfahan archdiocese in Iran. Another is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic ministering in Australia. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement

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Alex Gibney was sitting in his New York office in early 2023 when a message from Israel caught his attention. The Oscar-winning filmmaker, regarded as one of the most prolific documentary creators in the United States, was immersed in multiple projects, including a series on tennis legend Boris Becker, a music documentary on Paul Simon and secretive endeavors on Elon Musk and Salman Rushdie. Despite his packed schedule, the mysterious message piqued his interest—it offered access to video recordings from the police interrogations of Benjamin Netanyahu. A year and a half later, The Bibi Files, a documentary directed by Alexis Bloom and produced by Gibney, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. “I got a leak—a message on Signal saying, ‘We have this interesting material. Would you be interested?’ Of course, I get these kinds of messages sometimes, and some turn out to be pranks. But I followed up, and this time it was real,” Gibney tells Ynet in an exclusive interview. "As a filmmaker, I always ask myself: Why should this be a movie? In this case, the leaked material was fascinating in itself and also told a compelling story—a story of corruption. I’m a student of corruption, and this was potent material." Gibney, 71, known for tackling corruption in films exposing the schemes of power-hungry politicians and businessmen, first delved into Netanyahu's actions in his 2016 film Zero Days. There, he linked Netanyahu to the spread of the Stuxnet malware, originally a joint U.S.-Israel cyber effort to thwart Iran’s nuclear program. In The Bibi Files, Gibney and Bloom take a closer look at Netanyahu, his family and his inner circle, offering an exclusive glimpse into leaked interrogation footage. The documentary alleges that Netanyahu’s and his wife Sara’s greed entangled them with the law, motivated his judicial overhaul initiative and influenced his decision-making in the war with Hamas. "I received it early in 2023, well before October 7. What stood out to me was how Netanyahu occupies such a central position in a geopolitical flashpoint—one that is now threatening to engulf the world," he says. 7 View gallery Alex Gibney ( Photo: GettyImages ) Bloom, who previously collaborated with Gibney on Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes and We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, was tapped to direct the project. Initially, she questioned whether the story, which is mostly well-known among Israeli audiences, would interest an international audience. "He’s Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, so it’s a stretch to say he’s marginal. We never thought of him that way. Unfortunately for Israel, they’ve made themselves such a central story, especially with the proposed Supreme Court overhaul. The unprecedented demonstrations drew a lot of interest—people wanted to know why,” she explains. Unfiltered and unafraid Set for release on December 11 on the alternative streaming platform Jolt, which Gibney co-founded, the documentary faced hurdles securing distribution through major U.S. content companies. Legal restrictions in Israel, barring the broadcast of interrogation footage without the subject’s consent, prevent the film’s release there—ironically, the same reason the footage found its way to Gibney. "The quality of vigorous journalism in Israel is very high, and there's a lot of open debate there—debate that people might hesitate to confront elsewhere. Some may feel uncomfortable addressing certain topics or question whether they should even be discussed," he says. "There was a legal issue with the footage. It couldn’t be officially distributed in Israel. That created an opportunity for it to be part of a film produced outside of Israel, which could potentially reach back into the country indirectly—whether through information circulating or leaks. "The source understood that I might be in a better position legally to handle the material in ways they couldn’t. There are still legal protections in the United States, at least for now, that allow for this kind of work. In that sense, it made it possible to bring this story to light." What can the film contribute to understanding Netanyahu’s character for the Israeli audience? “He grew up, in part, in Philadelphia, so he has a kind of American origin story. But I think what really drew me in was the idea of an important story about corruption—personal corruption and, ultimately, political corruption. People in Israel already know this, but they don’t know it as much abroad. Netanyahu’s reputation as a great statesman outside Israel gave him a lot of currency inside Israel, especially through his relationship with the United States. That connection allowed him to maintain power and influence. So how he’s perceived internationally turns out to be incredibly important. 7 View gallery As a filmmaker, what struck me was how different it is to see these things in the flesh. You get an up-close view of Netanyahu, Sara and [Arnon] Milchan. You can feel the sweat of corruption in these videotapes in a way that just doesn’t come through in transcripts. That’s what made me feel this story was both important and worth making into a film.” For Israeli audiences, the most striking revelations lie in the unfiltered portrayal of Netanyahu, his wife Sara and their son Yair during police interrogations. Unlike controlled public appearances or media interviews, the Netanyahus have no command over the conversation in these settings. The film’s most dramatic moments showcase Sara and Yair’s anger and arrogance as they lash out at investigators. "They’re not scared. They’re not intimidated. They walk into the room with this sense of entitlement, like, ‘How dare you bring me in here.’ What’s worse is there’s a kind of contempt for the state and the rule of law in what they have to say. It’s like they’re saying, ‘We’re the only thing that matters, and you are bugs.’ When you start calling the police ‘the Stasi’ or ‘the Gestapo’ and they clump everyone together—the public, the media, the police—'everyone is involved in this conspiracy,’ doesn't that give you pause that It might honestly be you," says Gibney. Unlike Sara and Yair Netanyahu and other filmed subjects of the investigation—such as Arnon Milchan, media mogul Shaul Elovitch, and state witness Nir Hefetz, who were summoned to police stations—Netanyahu's questioning takes place in his office. He maintains his composure most of the time, frequently resorting to his characteristic "I don't remember" responses and occasionally giving his interrogators lessons in leadership. However, there are moments when he is seen slamming his hands on the table and shouting in reaction to evidence presented to him regarding the cigars and champagne case, as well as his relationship with Elovitch. “Alex and I had this discussion back and forth,” Bloom says. “How aware is he of the cameras? It's a consumer camera that's set up in his office, pointed at him, so he doesn't forget it's there. Sara is a much more unfiltered presence in the film and people criticize her with valid reason, but there is something more honest about her. She has a feeling and she expresses it, and he is kind of the master of masks. But every so often it slips. If you're sitting there for four hours, it'll slip at some point. It's not as if he can get away with it like when a journalist on the runway asks him a few questions. There's a sort of psychological quality to the material.” 7 View gallery Benjamin Netanyahu ( Photo: Courtesy of TIFF ) In addition to the filmed interrogations offering an unfiltered glimpse into the Netanyahu family's character traits, testimony from other subjects sheds light on their fondness for gifts and ties to cronyism. Among the allegations are claims that Sara Netanyahu has a penchant for expensive jewelry at others’ expense and a particular taste for fine champagne. Alongside the jaw-dropping footage from the interrogation rooms, the documentary features interviews with journalist Raviv Drucker (also involved as a producer), former prime minister Ehud Olmert, former household manager Meni Naftali and Netanyahu's childhood friend, Uzi Beller. These accounts detail behind-the-scenes events and paint a picture of the Netanyahu family's indulgent lifestyle and interpersonal dynamics, emphasizing Sara Netanyahu's influence over both her husband and the state. As Sheldon Adelson, the late billionaire and staunch Netanyahu supporter, remarked during an investigation: "It’s better if she keeps her nose out of it." “When talking to people, they’d share how terrible things were,” Bloom says. “Some stories couldn’t even make it into the film—like Bibi calling them in the middle of the night, putting them on speakerphone with Sara listening. It’s absurd but it’s also serious.” ‘Mr. Security’ who failed to protect Gibney’s cinematic approach to social and political issues has shone through in films like Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005), Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)—which won him an Oscar, The Armstrong Lie (2014) and Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015), which contributed to the decline of the Church of Scientology. The Bibi Files joins this body of work, framing Netanyahu as part of a global group of authoritarian leaders—including Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orbán, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Donald Trump (as well as former leaders like Jair Bolsonaro and Rodrigo Duterte)—who use their political power to fulfill personal greed and amass unchecked authority, all while undermining the rule of law and institutional frameworks. Gibney argues that Netanyahu’s strategies toward Israel’s judiciary, media and police mirror tactics from the authoritarian playbook. These methods are again on display as Netanyahu confronts Shin Bet investigators probing leaks from his office and navigates restrictions imposed by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on his political powers. 7 View gallery Donald Trump ( Photo: AP ) “I think that Americans recognize this behavior as very Trumpian. Trump’s putting Matt Gaetz in charge of the Department of Justice now because he felt that he was badly handled. So now the Department of Justice will become just sort of a grudge fulfillment apparatus. Just an instrument of brute power, rather than something that's attentive to the rule of law,” says Gibney, who is currently rewriting the third act of his film on Elon Musk due to Musk's recent alignment with Trump's inner circle as a financial and political supporter. “It starts with a kind of personal corruption and contempt for the rule of law and ultimately develops into kind of messianic behavior, where you believe that because you are good and because you care so much about the nation that you're increasingly entitled to more and more and more for yourself. But really, it springs from your own personal greed and venality. What you see on display is human behavior, but the worst side of human behavior and how it can overcome some people. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv "Some of these other characters have a sort of an actor's talent. You can see that in the interrogation videos with Netanyahu, he's a good actor. So is Trump. And some of these other players, like [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar. They know how to motivate the crowd. That turns out to be their secret superpower, and that allows them then to mask their personal corruption and venality. "Sadly, I’d say that Netanyahu, with the rising body count, is reaching an extraordinary level in terms of the number of people that he’s responsible for killing. It’s a staggering thought.” Another hallmark of the strongman strategy, according to Gibney, is the use of political crises and wars to maintain power by portraying themselves as "strong leaders" defending the nation from external and internal enemies. In Citizen K, Gibney highlighted how Putin leveraged the Chechen war to cement his Kremlin ascendancy. In The Bibi Files, the filmmakers allege that the October 7 Hamas attack provided Netanyahu with an opportunity to channel public anger and rally support, bolstering his fragile leadership even as his "Mr. Security" image was shattered on that fateful day. “One parallel with Putin is this willingness to utilize a failure. Look at the hostage situation. Getting the hostages back requires a certain amount of statesmanship, compromise and thinking about a longer game rather than your own political survival,“ Gibney says and mentions the October 2002 Moscow theater terrorist attack, where 132 hostages and 40 Chechen terrorists were killed due to lethal gas pumped into the building. 7 View gallery Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin ( Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko / POOL / AFP ) “If you look at some of what Putin did in terms of literally allowing hostages to be sacrificed, murdered in effect by their own security forces so that he could make a grand statement about how he was protecting the Russian nation. He had no regard at all for the victims. We know the FSB may have manufactured bombings in and around Moscow, so he could blame it on Cheches, so this is part of the old dictator's playbook,” Gibney explains. “What happened on October 7 was horrific. But what is ongoing now in Gaza, let's be honest, is not what you would call a war. Where is the Hamas air force? Is there an air force that goes out to meet the Israeli Air Force every day? No, there isn't. One of the interview subjects in the film says, ‘What is the goal of this war?' Is it to keep bombing and killing until you get the last terrorist in a tunnel many years from now? Many more terrorists are going to be made and encouraged because of the carnage that Netanyahu is causing.” It may not be an equal war, but Israel still faces military and political threats in the Middle East. Bloom: “It's a genuine war and the chaos that it causes is keeping him in power. He's a politician who's made his career on the statement, ‘I will protect you, I am the king of security,’ so I think that he's also made his career on the implicit invocation of fear and danger. He campaigns that terror is just around the corner and he’s the only person who can save you. “With October 7, that became true. Terror was there and he didn't save them spectacularly. You can think about the accuracy of his campaign statements, he's made his career on that he is ‘Mr. Security’ and Israel should always be afraid. There's no other way for it to be in his Matrix. He got that from his father, and he's run Israel along those lines.” Gibney: “Sinwar did to Netanyahu what Osama Bin Laden did to the Bush administration. 9/11 was a terrorist act intended to provoke an overreaction which now he is gleefully providing because it's good for his own political survival, but nothing else. “Sinwar played Netanyahu like a fiddle. He knew exactly what Netanyahu was going to do and that was going to derail the Saudi-Israeli agreement. It was going to make Israel a pariah state. In that sense, the future of Israel, I would argue, should be looked through the lens of the idea that actually Netanyahu is executing Sinwar's plan.” Netanyahu’s last red line Toward its conclusion, The Bibi Files portrays Netanyahu’s political alliance with far-right figures Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich as his final breach, sacrificing Israeli democracy and the rule of law for political survival. This alliance, the filmmakers argue, has plunged the state into corruption while giving these politicians a global stage to be exposed as agents of chaos. “They seem to be important figures in the storytelling because they're keeping Netanyahu in power. Netanyahu likes to present it as the new normal, but it's not. It's an extraordinary alliance and terrifying,” Bloom says. 7 View gallery Alexis Bloom ( Photo: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images for BFI ) “It signals the bottom falling out. What lengths will he go to in order to stay in power? Some may present them as his puppet masters, and in a sense, they are right because they know how much he needs them. But he's a willing participant in all of this. It's not like they've kidnapped him. He identified them as coalition partners, went after them and on a daily basis has to keep them happy." Gibney references a photograph included in the film, showing Netanyahu alongside Smotrich with an expression of disdain and embarrassment on his face. "That moment is really powerful because it's full of such ambiguity in his expression. The actor wasn't playing the part. ‘Oh my God, I've had to play ball with this outrageous terrorist in order to save myself from being prosecuted for champagne and cigars.’ It's really a chilling moment because you can see the weakness in Netanyahu in addition to his so-called strength. He masquerades as a strongman. Another great victory of the film is that it shows the weakness of the bully—the person who's bullied by his own wife, who's bullied by Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. He's a weak man, and what weak men sometimes do is punish others when they have the opportunity.” Following screenings at the Toronto, Woodstock and Doc NYC film festivals, The Bibi Files is set for wider distribution in the United States and internationally, with an Oscar campaign in the works. However, the film will not be released in Israel due to legal restrictions on broadcasting interrogation footage without the subject’s consent. Despite these barriers, the filmmakers hope the documentary will eventually reach Israeli audiences. Netanyahu and his allies reportedly sought to cancel its Toronto premiere but failed. Gibney and Bloom report no further resistance or personal threats but express concern for their co-producer, investigative journalist Raviv Drucker, who could face repercussions. 7 View gallery Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir ( Photo: GPO ) “Raviv Drucker has gotten some blowback," Bloom says. "It can't be pleasant for him, and in this current climate, that is worse than ever before, where people are really fired, and their livelihoods are easily affected. To his credit, he carries on doing what he's doing. I don't know if I'd be that brave if I were living there and trying to support kids and a family.” The reality depicted in The Bibi Files, both before and after October 7, is deeply painful and infuriating. Yet the filmmakers are careful to distinguish between Netanyahu, his political allies and the broader Israeli public. The inclusion of mass protests against judicial overhaul and for the release of hostages, alongside interviews with figures like Drucker, former prime minister Ehud Olmert and ex-security officials Ami Ayalon and Nimrod Novik, presents Israeli society as a hostage to its leadership’s failures. “Israel is divided. I don't feel like we fabricated anything. It is the other way around—you actually show the reality that the world doesn't see,” Bloom says. “Of course, it's intentional to show that Israelis are not a monolith, that there's a plurality of views and a plurality of feelings. When people come out with statements saying, ‘Israelis are X,’ you want to say, ‘Well, which Israelis?’ It's about as useful as saying, ‘Well, Americans are Y,’ and you're like, ‘Well, which Americans?’ because there's a big divide in America.” Gibney adds: “The concern is that Netanyahu, step by step, is destroying Israel as a liberal democracy. The voices that are highlighted in the film are voices who are saying, ‘We're not going to let him do that.’ I think showing that conflict was very important.” Are you concerned about Israel's future? Bloom: “When you're there, you can't help but feel the hollowing out of Israel and it's sometimes not obvious. At first, the educational system is completely corrupted at the moment. Israel used to have a great public school educational system. It seems terribly underfunded now. More and more money goes to the Orthodox who don't teach things like science and math. They teach the Talmud and that's that. It seems like there are so many possible consequences in this direction. People are being appointed who have no qualifications because he demands loyalty and it's become like a tournament of hunchbacks in power. People who take pride in not reading books. The totally banal emptiness of the people who he's putting in power and I find that terrifying.” Can the situation improve without Netanyahu in power? Bloom: “Israel is in a very difficult situation. Its population is very divided and there are a lot of competing interests. If you look at Brothers and Sisters in Arms versus the Orthodox, I don't know how they go forward to common ground. You do know that they deserve better than a prime minister who is steeped in his own personal travails and that he has a monkey on his back at all times. It is obvious that he's not a leader who has the best interests of the nation at the forefront of his mind. There are alternatives and it's time for an alternative.” >SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Spencer Knight made 20 saves, Mackie Samoskevich scored with less than a second left in the second period, and the Florida Panthers got four goals in the third to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-0 on Saturday and complete a two-day sweep. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues and Adam Boqvist also scored for Florida, which won 6-3 at Carolina on Friday. The Panthers have won three straight — that streak following a stretch of six losses in seven games for the Stanley Cup champions. It was Knight's fourth career shutout, his first since Nov. 9, 2022 — also at home against Carolina. Spencer Martin made 23 saves on 28 shots for the Hurricanes, who have dropped four of their last six games (2-3-1). It was Martin's fourth consecutive start for Carolina. Hurricanes: This was the first time all season that the Hurricanes failed to get a point in the game immediately following a loss. Carolina was 4-0-1 after a defeat entering Saturday. Panthers: A big day for Samoskevich — his alma mater Michigan beat Ohio State in football on Saturday, that game ending just before the Florida-Carolina game started. The Panthers are 5-0-0 when he scores this season. Sam Reinhart had each of the four most recent Florida goals at 19:59, before Samoskevich got his Saturday. The Panthers scored two goals 11 seconds apart in the third to make it 5-0, and Yaniv Perets replaced Martin in the Hurricanes' net with 8:12 remaining. It was the second NHL appearance for Perets, who came on once in relief for Carolina last season. Ekblad's goal was his first in a span of 1,045 regular-season shifts since Feb. 20. Carolina starts a two-game homestand Tuesday against Seattle. Florida goes to Pittsburgh to start a two-game trip on Tuesday. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

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The sultanate has achieved a cultural milestone with the inclusion of the training ship in Unesco’s Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. Oman has also succeeded in registering ‘Henna: Rituals, aesthetic and social practices’ on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in collaboration with other Arab states. ’s sail training programme aims to promote peace and foster cultural dialogue, introducing Oman’s intangible heritage to the world. Since its launch, the ship has embarked on 18 voyages, visiting over 55 countries. The programme offers a platform for young people of all genders to participate in voyages and coordinate cultural events on board in partnership with practitioners of arts, literature and traditional crafts. The official registration was announced during Oman’s participation in the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Asuncion, Paraguay. The Omani delegation was led by H E Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and included representatives of Royal Navy of Oman and Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The Unesco Expert Evaluation Committee praised ’s efforts, acknowledging the ship’s role in advancing the International Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Officials noted that its inclusion in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices is a testament to Oman’s commitment to preserving its cultural identity and promoting international peace. Registration of henna traditions alongside other Arab countries highlights the cultural and social significance of the practice in Oman. Henna is deeply rooted in Omani customs and is linked to celebrations, beauty, health and its fragrant appeal. The traditional dye is also known for its therapeutic uses and symbolic role in marking special occasions. Over the years, the sultanate has successfully registered a total of 15 elements on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. These include four national elements unique to Oman – Al Bar’ah (2010), Al Azi (2012), Al Ardha al Khail Wa al Jamal (2018) and Khanjar (2022) – as well as ten joint Arab elements such as Al Taghroud (2012), Al Ayala (2014), Al Razfa (2015) and the cultural spaces of councils (2015). Other elements on the list include Arabic coffee, the palm tree, camel races, Arabic calligraphy and harees.

With over five million units sold globally in the past year, Tineco reinforces its leadership in the industry SEATTLE , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Tineco is proud to announce that Euromonitor International, the world's leading independent provider of strategic market research, has recognized the company as the #1 global leader in the household wet & dry vacuum cleaner category * . With over five million units sold between July 1, 2023 , and June 30, 2024 , the honor reflects Tineco's commitment to innovation and quality in the home cleaning sector. Harnessing more than two decades of industry innovation, Tineco began its journey with a single vacuum cleaner. Pioneering industry excellence, a notable moment in company history was the launch of the first-ever smart vacuum to market in 2018, quickly followed by an inaugural smart floor washer in 2019, and an intelligent carpet cleaner in 2022. Today, Tineco products are enjoyed by 14 million users across key markets worldwide, including regions in North America , Europe , and Asia . Tineco is now a globally recognized market leader in smart home appliances across the floor care, kitchen, and personal care categories, with 975 patents and 577 registered trademarks across domestic and international markets. For three consecutive years, the company has also held the title of being the #1 wet & dry vacuum brand on Amazon in the United States , Canada , France , Italy , Australia , and Japan . "At Tineco's inception, we set out to simplify life and household tasks with the help of smart technology. Over the past 26 years, our robust R&D team has made significant investments and a steadfast dedication to setting the standard for excellence in floor care solutions," said Ling Leng , CEO of Tineco. "The honor of being named the #1 global leader in the wet & dry vacuum cleaner category by Euromonitor International is an incredible milestone achievement. This recognition fuels our commitment to continuing to innovate and push boundaries to bring exceptional products to market that enhance the lives of our customers worldwide. Looking ahead, we are laser-focused on making Tineco more accessible by expanding into new markets, introducing new advanced technologies to simplify our customers' lives, and expanding our product lineup to meet diverse needs." Tineco's flagship models, including FLOOR ONE Stretch S6 , PURE ONE Station 5 , and Carpet One Cruiser , combine intelligent features with superior power and user-friendly capabilities to revolutionize cleaning. Tineco's R&D team has carefully engineered each model to address real-world challenges and enhance user satisfaction by incorporating technological advancements and valuable consumer feedback. Specifically: A leader in the intelligent floor care category, Tineco smart models are equipped with Tineco's proprietary iLoop technology that adjusts suction power in real-time based on the mess detected, which not only optimizes battery power but also allows the user to visualize cleaner floors on the unit's display ring that will change from red to blue once the surface is clean. Guided by customer insights, all new Tineco models also feature self-cleaning capabilities that significantly streamline maintenance. Tineco products are available globally, with distribution in North America on Amazon, Tineco's official online store, and in over 10,000 major retail locations, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, and Canadian Tire. To learn more about Tineco and its entire portfolio of intelligent stick vacuums, floor washers, carpet cleaners, and more, please visit us.tineco.com . *Source: Euromonitor International ( Shanghai ) Co., Ltd.; measured in terms of 2023 H2 and 2024 H1 retail sales volume in the world; household wet & dry vacuum cleaners are defined as household cleaners that dispense clean water (or cleaning solution) to wash hard floors and vacuum the dirty water and garbage thereafter; research completed in Nov. 2024 . About Tineco Tineco was founded in 1998 with its first SKU as a vacuum cleaner and, in 2019, pioneered the first-ever smart vacuum. Today, the brand has innovated into a global leader offering intelligent appliances across home categories, including floor care, kitchen, and personal care. Tineco is dedicated to its brand vision of making life easier through smart technologies and consistently innovating new devices. For more information, visit us.tineco.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tineco-recognized-as-global-leader-in-emerging-floor-washer-category-302316066.html SOURCE TINECOTrump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France