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casino slot 2024 Can Colombia’s talks with the Comuneros del Sur help achieve ‘total peace’? During his inauguration in August 2022, Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla and Colombia’s first leftist president , told a crowd of 100,000 onlookers that, while the country has struggled with internal conflict for over half a century, peace was possible. “This is the government of life and peace,” he said at the time. “It shall be remembered as such.” Now, just over halfway through his four-year term, President Petro’s “Total Peace” strategy — which created legal pathways for the government to negotiate with Colombia’s armed groups — has stalled. Ceasefires have been broken, security conditions have fluctuated and, in some rural areas, kidnapping and extortion rates are on the rise . In fact, during the first year of the Total Peace policy, 189 social leaders were murdered and 94 massacres were documented, according to the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (INDEPAZ). But government negotiators are pointing to a degree of success with one armed group, the Comuneros del Sur. They believe the negotiating tactics forged with the Comuneros could serve as an example of how to reinvigorate talks with other armed actors. Some experts, however, caution that the gains made with the Comuneros may be short-lived — and that the tactics that work with one group may not be applicable to all. Who are the Comuneros? Established in 1992, the Comuneros del Sur formed as a regional extension of Colombia’s largest Marxist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). The group operates in the southwestern department of Nariño, near the border with Ecuador, where they have maintained territorial control over as many as 10 municipalities. Approximately 200 fighters make up the Comuneros’ ranks, and they have historically funded their operations through extortion, drug trafficking and illegal mining. In May, the Comuneros announced their rupture from the ELN after the larger group said it would resume kidnapping for ransom, a source of its profits. That, in turn, caused peace talks between the ELN and the government to falter. “We have decided to split from the central command because we do not accept the policy of aggression and the current model of leadership,” the Comuneros stated at the time. The Comuneros emphasised their willingness to engage with the government, separate from ELN leadership. “We remain committed to the negotiation process between the Comuneros del Sur and the national government under the Total Peace policy of President Gustavo Petro,” they wrote in their statement. After an initial meeting in July, government delegates and the Comuneros established a working plan for negotiations, and in August, Colombia’s Security Council recognised the rebel group as independent, paving the way for negotiations. The peace talks with the Comuneros, which officially began on September 13, focus on three agreed-upon areas: the de-escalation of violence, territorial transformation and transitioning armed fighters to civilian life. Exploring a territorial approach Andrei Gómez-Suárez, a delegate for the Colombian government in the negotiations, credits the concept of territorial transformation — or “territorialising” — with allowing strides to be made. Colombia is a country with vast socioeconomic divides. A 2014 report by the OECD found regional inequalities in Colombia were five times higher than in the United States or Canada, and 42 times higher than in Australia. Much of the country’s population is concentrated in dense, urban centres, but nearly two-thirds of its provinces, including Nariño, are largely rural. With terrain that ranges from Andean mountains to thick rainforests and coastal mangroves, each province has unique demands and pressures. Gómez-Suárez explained that working specifically with the Comuneros gave the Colombian government the opportunity to tailor their negotiations to specific, place-based needs. “This is the first effort, after the commitment to Total Peace began, in which we have explored what territorialising peace entails,” Gómez-Suárez said while sipping Earl Grey tea in front of a huge bookcase inside his Edinburgh apartment. He has been travelling back and forth from the Scottish capital to the mountains of Nariño since July, juggling his role as a chief negotiator with his position as a visiting scholar at the University of Edinburgh. Gómez-Suárez considers the “territorialising” of the peace process “innovative” because it draws on the participation of many stakeholders. It brings local politicians, Indigenous leaders and regional armed fighters into dialogue with their national government. “If we don’t work together, transforming this territory will be impossible,” Gómez-Suárez said. This grassroots approach is something Petro’s government is betting on to achieve nationwide peace in Colombia. In July, Petro told the United Nations Security Council, “We don’t have a national conflict but have regional conflicts in the same geographical areas as they have been for many decades.” Signs of optimism For Gómez-Suárez, if Colombia’s conflict is regional, then the solution should be too. He draws a contrast between his approach to the Comuneros and the way the Colombian government previously negotiated peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), once the largest rebel group in the country. In 2016, under then-President Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia signed a historic peace deal with the FARC that promised rural reforms and development in exchange for the nationwide demobilisation of the group’s fighters. The negotiations that led up to the deal, however, were fraught — and some parts of the FARC splintered off into dissident groups rather than agree to the terms. Gómez-Suárez argued his region-specific approach could be more efficient. “With previous agreements, namely that with the FARC guerrillas, there was this idea that nothing is set until everything is agreed, which implied that the parties would only begin implementation after a final document was signed,” Gómez-Suárez said. “Our case is impressive because sometimes we have even implemented before agreements are formally reached.” He pointed out that the Comuneros proposed a unilateral ceasefire even before their first meeting with the government’s delegates, as a sign of good faith. Since then, the parties have signed two agreements and plan to begin the Comuneros’ transition to civilian life before the next presidential elections in 2026. The first agreement comprises four points, including a definitive bilateral ceasefire, the gradual destruction of the group’s weapons and a collaborative programme to remove land mines throughout Nariño. The second establishes safety guarantees for the Red Cross, a humanitarian nonprofit, to operate in the Comuneros’ territory. In addition, the deal calls for the creation of a team composed of Comuneros members who will be trained and tasked with searching for people who have gone missing during the conflict. In return, the government has pledged funding for constructing roads, aqueducts, schools and universities in the territory, to help address poverty and infrastructure shortcomings in Nariño. A permanent solution? But some conflict monitors caution against interpreting these short-term gains as signs of long-term success. Jeremy McDermott, co-director of the organised crime monitoring group InsightCrime, said the Comuneros may be willing to negotiate with the Petro government simply because their political views align. “The Comuneros del Sur do not want to change the political system. Therefore, the negotiations are infinitely more feasible,” McDermott told Al Jazeera. That does not necessarily indicate the Comuneros are willing to lay down their arms forever, McDermott added, underscoring the political nature of their fight. One of the looming questions is what happens when Petro leaves office in two years: Colombian presidents are currently limited to a single term. McDermott anticipates that, because Petro has failed to deliver on a number of key policy issues, Colombia could see the return of a right-wing government in 2026. That may spur the Comuneros to abandon peace negotiations and continue their fight. “The question is: Under what framework will the Comuneros del Sur negotiate? Is it truly demobilisation?” McDermott asked. He added that this kind of reversal had happened before. In 2018, for instance, Ivan Duque replaced Santos as Colombia’s president, and peace talks sputtered under his administration, despite the historic gains made in 2016. “So, the issue of whether these negotiations would continue and survive, and under what terms, are very much open for debate,” McDermott said. Fractured fighters Further complicating negotiations is the fragmented nature of the armed groups in Colombia. Since 2016, multiple FARC dissident factions, including the Central General Staff (EMC), have re-armed and control territory in the country. Other armed groups like the ELN and the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) have filled the power vacuum left in some formerly FARC-controlled regions. The case of the Comuneros, too, prompts questions about the efficiency of negotiating with armed groups prone to internal fragmentation. After all, it only recently splintered off from a larger group itself. Sergio Guzmán, the director of the consulting firm Colombia Risk Analysis, views this fragmentation as a warning sign. “The government might think that dividing groups will make it easier to negotiate peace, but I think it makes it more complicated because it means more agreements and more points to overview and implement,” Guzmán told Al Jazeera. He added that, while the government has been able to “stop the confrontations between the illegal groups and the army”, they haven’t been able to stop the “clashes between the groups themselves”. Already, the government's negotiations with the Comuneros have raised tensions with the ELN. Following the Comuneros’ split from the ELN in May, the larger group denounced the government talks with the Comuneros. It said the new negotiations were established to pressure the ELN to continue its own talks with the government. On November 7, the government and ELN announced they would indeed resume peace talks in Venezuela. Interconnected negotiations Although the negotiations with the Comuneros focus on bringing peace to a relatively small portion of Colombia — 10 municipalities in Nariño — Gómez-Suárez hopes their early success may influence peace talks with other armed groups, too. Currently, nine negotiations are under way between the government and major armed groups like the ELN and the AGC. “I have heard that the talks with the Comuneros have had a positive impact on other [negotiations] that were stagnant and are now picking up speed again,” Gómez-Suárez said. “This has injected a dose of urgency, but it is something that [was] not calculated at the start of the peace dialogues.” For some analysts, the talks with the Comuneros are among the most promising in the current context of Colombia's armed conflict. Daniel Medina, a research associate at the Institute for Integrated Transitions, a Barcelona-based think tank, believes achieving peace with the Comuneros could be attainable during President Petro’s term. “It is not a secret that, in the context of an open and complex peace, the negotiation with the Comuneros del Sur could be the most advanced one in terms of signed agreements, and might be the only one to achieve a final deal in the next two years,” said Medina. He too believes the outcome of one peace talk could shape the outcome of the others, for better or worse. Failure to follow through on a given deal could be a setback for all the negotiations. “Both the nine negotiations and the 2016 peace agreement implementation are interdependent because the lack of implementation or stagnation of one could impact the others,” Medina told Al Jazeera. But to tackle the wider problem of Colombia’s armed conflict, Gómez-Suárez is doubling down on his smaller-scale “territorial” approach. “Peace does not wait for a final agreement,” he said. “We cannot allow the window of opportunity [for peace] to close because the government owes this to the communities. The government bets on territorial peace, and at this moment, the opportunity is there.”

GMB's Kate Garraway opens up about 'tough' first Christmas without husband Derek

By Luc Cohen , Reuters There is no risk Sean 'Diddy Combs will act violently if he is released from jail, a defence lawyer says, asking a judge to release the music mogul from a Brooklyn jail on bail. The case was being presented on Friday (US EST), after Combs had been held for 10 weeks, ahead of his 5 May trial on sex-trafficking charges. Combs' lawyers this month proposed a $50 million bail package backed by his $48m Florida mansion. It also called for Combs to be monitored around the clock by security personnel, subjected to home detention, and to have no contact with alleged victims or witnesses. Combs has been denied bail three times since his arrest, with multiple judges citing a risk he might tamper with witnesses. The rapper and producer pleaded not guilty on 17 September to charges that he used his business empire, including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment, to sexually abuse women. At a hearing before US District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo disputed prosecutors' contention that a 2016 hotel surveillance video of Combs assaulting former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, showed there was a risk he would act violently if released. "There's a zero percent chance of that happening," Agnifilo said. Combs apologised this year after CNN broadcast the video showing him kicking, shoving and dragging Cassie in a hotel hallway. Agnifilo said he had never denied the incident, but said the video was not evidence of sex trafficking. "It's our defence to these charges that this was a toxic, loving 11-year relationship," Agnifilo told the court. Earlier, prosecutor Christine Slavik said Combs tried to bribe hotel staff to delete the surveillance footage - demonstrating he was committed to concealing his crimes by illegal means. Even from behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Centre, Combs had communicated with his lawyers through unauthorised channels, and sought to run a social-media campaign to sway potential jurors, Slavik said. "The defendant here has demonstrated that either he cannot or will not follow rules," Slavik said. "The defendant, simply put, cannot be trusted." Defence lawyer Alexandra Shapiro said Combs had a right to respond to news coverage of the case that could paint him unfavourably for potential jurors. Upon being led into the hearing by members of the US Marshals service, Combs, wearing a beige jail-issued outfit, blew kisses toward his family seated in the second row of the courtroom's audience. Combs denies wrongdoing Prosecutors said the abuse included having women take part in recorded sexual performances called "freak offs" with male sex workers who were sometimes transported across state lines. Combs, 55, has denied wrongdoing, and his lawyers have argued the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual. Combs' lawyers questioned why jail was needed when federal prosecutors in Brooklyn last month allowed the pre-trial release on a $10m bond of former Abercrombie and Fitch chief executive Mike Jeffries, who has pleaded not guilty to sex-trafficking. The US Attorney's office in Manhattan, which brought the charges against Combs, countered that Jeffries is 80 years old with no criminal history, whereas Combs has prior arrests. They also said federal agents recovered rifles with defaced serial numbers from Combs' residences. This week, Subramanian ordered prosecutors to destroy their copies of handwritten notes that Combs took in jail, pending a decision on whether they were subject to attorney-client privilege. A government investigator photographed the notes during a sweep of the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where Combs has been jailed. - Reuters. SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has welcomed the recent upgrade of Sri Lanka’s credit rating by leading global agencies, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, calling it a significant milestone for the nation’s economic recovery. Speaking at a press conference held yesterday, Dr. de Silva remarked, “The credit rating improvement is not only good news for the Government but also for the entire economy, including private sector investors who were severely impacted by the debt crisis.” He highlighted how the downgrade of Sri Lanka’s credit rating had discouraged foreign investment, citing the example of India’s Adani Group, which raised concerns about credit risks during negotiations for electricity projects. Despite the positive development, Dr. de Silva cautioned that Sri Lanka is still not in a position to access international financial markets for borrowing. He attributed the credit rating upgrade to the initiatives undertaken by the previous Government, including key legislation and economic stabilisation efforts, rather than new policies introduced by the current administration. “The agreement reached prior to the Presidential Election has remained unchanged and has directly contributed to this credit rating improvement,” he stated. He also criticised the National People’s Power (NPP) Party for making unfulfilled promises, such as proposing an alternative debt sustainability analysis during its election campaign. “False promises by the NPP misled the people, but continuing with the previously established economic reforms has proven beneficial for the country,” he asserted. Dr. de Silva noted Sri Lanka’s recent exit from default status after it was declared a defaulter on 12 April 2022, following its announcement of an inability to repay external debt. While he acknowledged this as a step forward, he explained that the country remains unable to re-enter the international financial market or issue sovereign bonds. He estimated that it would take until at least 2027 for Sri Lanka to regain active participation in global financial markets, provided the Government adheres to its reform agenda. Discussing the nation’s economic progress, Dr. de Silva pointed to a 5.5% growth in the third quarter of 2024 and emphasised the importance of continuing reforms to maintain upward momentum in credit ratings. “The stock market has shown signs of improvement, but investor confidence has been undermined by misleading statements from the NPP Government. Continuity of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic program has been the foundation for stabilising the economy,” he added. He also stressed the need for disciplined economic management to secure a substantial loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2027. While acknowledging the significant challenges ahead, Dr. de Silva expressed optimism that Sri Lanka’s standing in the global financial community could improve if reforms are sustained. Reflecting on the pre-election promises of the NPP, Dr. de Silva criticised their claim that the debt sustainability analysis could be altered, arguing that such changes would have jeopardised the country’s credit rating improvements. Instead, he emphasised that the steady continuation of the existing economic framework has been instrumental in fostering the nation’s recovery.NFL appeals officer Ramon Foster has decided to uphold the three game suspension for Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair after a hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, according to Michael Signora . Al-Shaair is eligible to return to the active roster in Week 17. Al-Shaair, 27, originally signed on with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic back in 2019. Al-Shaair returned to San Francisco on a one-year restricted deal in 2022. He was testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time when he signed a one-year deal with the Titans last offseason. He then signed with the Texans on a three-year, $34 million deal this past offseason. In 2024, Al-Shaair has appeared in 10 games for the Texans and recorded 68 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes defended. This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.

Jefferson keeps seeing double as Vikings aim to stay focused on overall offensive productionOn a rare two-game skid, No. 24 Arizona faces Davidson

Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous yearsOn a rare two-game skid, No. 24 Arizona faces Davidson

Jets' Rodgers insists he'll play despite knee issue, rookie Fashanu placed on IR with foot injuryOppenheimer & Co. Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. ( NYSE:HIG – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund acquired 2,306 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $271,000. A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the second quarter worth approximately $213,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ boosted its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 27.6% in the 2nd quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 221,896 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $22,309,000 after buying an additional 48,004 shares in the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc acquired a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group during the first quarter worth $1,328,000. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $633,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 94.4% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 195,017 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $20,097,000 after purchasing an additional 94,717 shares during the last quarter. 93.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $112.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Bank of America lifted their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $121.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $133.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $120.88. Insider Activity In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total transaction of $803,479.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,820 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,021,972.80. The trade was a 21.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Company insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock. The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Up 0.9 % NYSE HIG opened at $120.72 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $116.81 and its 200 day moving average price is $109.32. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $76.65 and a 12 month high of $123.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of $35.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.94. The Hartford Financial Services Group Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.72%. This is a boost from The Hartford Financial Services Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The Hartford Financial Services Group’s payout ratio is 18.84%. The Hartford Financial Services Group Company Profile ( Free Report ) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HIG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. ( NYSE:HIG – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Greatest Boxing Day Tests – Part 2: Warnie’s magic, Mike Whitney to the rescue and a Windies classic for the ages

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Police arrested a 16-year-old student after he allegedly brought a gun to his high school in Kenosha, the second time in less than a month that someone has apparently tried to bring a firearm into one of the southeastern Wisconsin city's schools. Indian Trail High School and Academy's resource officer learned Monday that a photo of the student with a gun had been posted on social media, police said in a statement Wednesday. The student was located, escorted to an office, arrested and taken to the police department. Investigators later determined that the student had hidden a gun in a “sensitive area," making it difficult for officers to locate the weapon initially. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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'Unbelievable' Odegaard transforms Arsenal and gets Saka smiling againWalmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory'Unbelievable' Odegaard transforms Arsenal and gets Saka smiling againNORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids

Police say searchers don’t expect to find woman in Pennsylvania sinkhole alive UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania has become a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but that the search for her remains continues. Limani says crews have seen "no signs of any form of life or anything.” Pollard was last seen alive Monday evening when she went out looking for her cat in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. WWE is seeking a bigger stage and Netflix, pushing for more live events, is providing it WWE will perform on a stage next month that could be vastly larger than its current home on cable television when it makes its “Raw” debut on Netflix. The sports entertainment company is moving to a platform with about 283 million subscribers worldwide as it departs its current home on the USA Network, which averaged 688,000 viewers in prime-time last year, according to the Nielsen company. For Netflix, onboarding the WWE is part of strategic move to air more live events on the heels of a hugely successful fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that was viewed by more than 60 million people. Michigan court upholds light sentence for woman who killed dad in dispute over ride DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has declined to overturn a light jail sentence for a young woman who killed her father by burning him with a dangerous powder. Prosecutors said Megan Imirowicz was upset when her father couldn’t drive her to a hair appointment before her 18th birthday party. Imirowicz was sentenced to only a year in jail in 2023. She actually spent more than a year in custody because she was locked up before trial and while awaiting her punishment in suburban Detroit. Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London as the sport has an international moment LONDON (AP) — London’s Royal Albert Hall is preparing to host a different kind of spectacle: Sumo wrestling. Wrestlers put on an exhibition of heavyweight grappling to promote a tournament scheduled for next October. It marks only the second time an elite five-day tournament will be held outside Japan. The first was held in 1991 at the same venue. Organizers are hoping to whip up the kind of excitement that was generated three decades ago, when the deeply ritualistic sport attracted sell-out crowds and a national television audience. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. Jury revisits key videos in NYC subway chokehold death trial NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors have asked to review police and bystander video at the heart of the New York City chokehold manslaughter case against Daniel Penny. The request came during a second day of deliberations Wednesday. The anonymous jury also asked to rehear part of a city medical examiner’s testimony. The request included testimony about her decision to issue a death certificate without getting toxicology test results for Jordan Neely. He was the agitated subway rider whom Penny held him around the neck for roughly six minutes. Penny has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Prosecutors say he recklessly killed Neely. Penny's defense maintains he was justified in acting to protect fellow subway riders from Neely. Relatives hunt for the missing after Guinea stadium crush amid fears official death toll is too low CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Kambaly Kouroumah was searching a local morgue for his teenage brother, Adama, who died after chaos erupted at a soccer game in southern Guinea’s Nzerekore city. Adama, 15, was among 56 people that officials said were killed in Sunday's crush, although rights groups reported a death toll nearly three times higher. Local media, rights groups and witnesses say security forces used tear gas to respond after fans began to throw stones to protest a referee's decision during the soccer game that was organized in honor of Guinea's junta leader, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya. Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, videos showed. Power shortages in Ecuador are melting away the future of a small town’s ice-cream industry SALCEDO, Ecuador (AP) — Ice-cream production in this quiet Ecuadorian town began in the mid-20th century in a convent for Franciscan nuns. The nuns sold their creamy popsicles in town to gather funds for the poor. But the people of Salcedo saw a business opportunity and began experimenting with new flavors and techniques, establishing a thriving popsicle industry that has made their small town famous among ice-cream lovers. But now, the South American nation is struggling with a relentless wave of power cuts that threaten the future of Salcedo’s ice-cream industry, melting away its dreams of a more prosperous future. Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For the artistic and cultural elites of the West African nation of Senegal, the monthlong Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Arts is a celebratory moment. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighborhood, realized what the Biennale was. Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture, but its role has declined in recent years. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, Chinese-imported products. And those that can afford it buy Western clothes and furniture to mark their social status. Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69 Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his song lyrics, has died. She was 69. Eminem’s longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson’s death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. Nelson’s fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star. Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem’s statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she attempted to set the record straight.Jets' Rodgers insists he'll play despite knee issue, rookie Fashanu placed on IR with foot injuryLISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition. Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury . In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute. Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.” Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1. Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute. The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Between the dates of May 22 and July 11, Kamil Zielinski is reported to have "pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking" of a woman in St Helens. Zielinski, 29, of Bourne Gardens, St Helens, is said to have "known or ought to have known" that his conduct amounted to harassment, particularly as he attended the victim's home address unannounced while "knowing [he was] unwelcome at the address". READ > Police attend property after 'dog attacked another' in garden After pleading guilty to the offences of stalking without fear, in July, Zielinski's case was heard at Sefton Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 24. The 29-year-old was handed a three-year restraining order in which he must not contact the victim by any means, including social media, or enter the curtilage of her home address. Zielinski was also ordered a community order in that he must attend appointments and comply with rehabilitation activities for a maximum of 30 days. The 29-year-old was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114, which was reduced from £120 due to his guilty plea, and ordered to pay a further £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Putin's New War: 50,000 Russian & North Korean Troops Ready To Storm U.S. Ally's Bases? Detailsceciangiocchi via Getty Images What does the stereotypical image of a spa bring to mind? Perhaps a person relaxing, towel on the head, cucumbers over their eyes. This trope has been prevalent since our grandmas were young, but TikTok has recently seen a resurgence of the trend to reduce puffiness around the eyes: Advertisement But is there any truth to this old-time hack? HuffPost spoke to two dermatologists and an optometrist to find out. What causes puffy eyes? The skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive. Puffy eyes can be the result of many factors, such as increased sodium and alcohol intake, genetic predisposition, thyroid disease, diabetes, allergies, hay fever and even rubbing your eyes or crying. If you suffer from a sleep disorder or lack of sleep, you may be even more prone to puffy eyes: "Both result in lower oxygen levels in the blood, which cause blood vessels to dilate and leak fluid (water), which produces puffy lids and dark circles around the eyes when waking," explained Dr. Bruce Dornn, an optometrist at Eye Revive. The main cause of puffy eyes is fluid accumulation, said Dr. Christine Hall, a dermatologist based in London: "Thanks to gravity, [puffiness] is often worst in the morning when we wake up. Those who suffer with this the most tend to have sluggish lymphatic drainage systems (the body's way of clearing excess fluid and puffiness)." Alcohol and processed or salty food may make it worse, as they both... Fani Mari

G7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in final G7 of Biden administration