Friday, November 29
GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has announced halt on TV ad spending ahead of Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. Ramaswamy's campaign is set to focus on targeted advertising to mobilize voters and convey his vision for America. The campaign previously planned to spend up to $12 million on ads in Iowa and New Hampshire but has only spent $2.2 million so far. Ramaswamy is trailing in the GOP primary polls nationally, but his standings are slightly better in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to continue fighting in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed, defying calls for a ceasefire as concerns rise over the potential spread of the conflict amidst US-Iran tensions. Netanyahu dismisses speculation of a halt to the fighting and emphasizes the need for military pressure to free remaining hostages held by Hamas. Israeli operations intensify, resulting in a rising death toll and increased airstrikes. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have been rejected by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who are also holding hostages.
Taiwan is not seeing any signs of large-scale Chinese military activity before elections next month but is keeping a close watch on China, the island's defence ministry said on Tuesday. As the election approaches Taiwan has been reporting Chinese fighter jets and warships around the island, as well as balloons crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait, though the military says they are most likely for weather monitoring purposes. Taiwan's defence ministry gives a daily update on Chinese military activities near the island, including how many aircraft it has detected.
Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said that that this year, Nasa has once again demonstrated its ability to turn the seemingly impossible into reality, all while sharing our narrative of exploration with the global audience.
Saveera Parkash, a member of the Hindu community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Buner district, has filed nomination papers for a general seat in the upcoming general elections. She is running on a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) ticket and aims to follow in her father's footsteps, working for the underprivileged. Parkash is the first woman from Buner to submit nomination papers for a general seat. The Election Commission now mandates a five percent inclusion of women candidates in general seats.
For holding a sign outside a courthouse reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants, a retiree faces up to two years in prison. For hanging a banner reading Just Stop Oil off a bridge, an engineer got a three-year prison sentence. Just for walking slowly down the street, scores of people have been arrested. They are among hundreds of environmental activists arrested for peaceful demonstrations in the UK, where tough new laws restrict the right to protest. The Conservative government says the laws prevent extremist activists from hurting the economy and disrupting daily life.
A woman activist in Afghanistan openly opposes the Taliban's draconian policies and calls for strict action against the ban on girls' education. She criticizes the suspension of scholarships for Afghan girls and advocates for alternative educational alternatives. The activist highlights the need to fight against the normalization of the education ban, which stems from a gender apartheid attitude. She emphasizes the importance of opening up possibilities for girls' education overseas and supporting online education for girls.
The 64-day sit-in protest in Balochistan's Chaman area continues to draw attention to the border restrictions and harsh visa policy of the Pakistani government. The protesters, including Pashtun political parties, traders, and daily wage workers, are demanding a return to the earlier system of border crossing known as the "Easement Right." This protest follows the designation of 1.7 million refugees and migrants as "illegal," resulting in their deportation. Despite failed negotiations, demonstrators have intensified their protest, resulting in a roadblock on the Quetta-Chaman highway.
The head of Moldova's largest Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Vladimir, complained about attacks on his church ahead of Christmas. The Russian-linked church, the Moldova Metropolis, reaffirmed its allegiance to the Russian Orthodox Church despite concerns over its support for the war in Ukraine. It faces competition from the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which reports to the Romanian church and has gained priests from the rival church. Moldova's government, seeking EU membership, sees the Metropolis of Bessarabia as a key element in its drive toward European integration.
