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Aston Villa have failed in their attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal. The 21-year-old Colombia international was sent off 32 minutes into a 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at St James’ Park by referee Anthony Taylor after appearing to stamp on defender Fabian Schar, prompting a furious reaction from head coach Unai Emery, who later indicated that the club would appeal. However, their bid has proved unsuccessful and Duran will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct. A statement on Villa’s official X account read: “Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Duran’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected. The player will now miss our next three matches.” Emery insisted after the game that it was not a red card offence, adding: “I think he didn’t kick him on purpose. Of course we are going to appeal and hopefully it’s not three matches because it’s a very big punishment for this action.” The frontman will sit out Premier League fixtures against Brighton and Leicester around the turn of the year as well as the FA Cup third round clash with West Ham on January 10.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hints at strikes on West in 'global' Ukraine warLONDON/CAIRO/DUBAI: Famine in Sudan has expanded to five areas and will likely spread to another five by May, the global hunger monitor reported Tuesday, while warring parties continue to disrupt humanitarian aid needed to alleviate one of the worst starvation crises in modern times. Famine conditions were confirmed in Abu Shouk and Al-Salam, two camps for internally displaced people in Al-Fashir, the besieged capital of North Darfur, as well as in residential and displaced communities in the Nuba Mountains, according to the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Phase Classification (IPC). The committee also found that famine, first identified in August, persists in North Darfur’s Zamzam camp. The five-member review committee vets and verifies famine findings produced by technical analysts. In its Tuesday report, the review committee predicts famine will expand to five additional areas in North Darfur — Um Kadadah, Melit, Al-Fashir, Tawisha and Al-Lait — by May. The committee identified another 17 areas across Sudan at risk of famine. The IPC estimated about 24.6 million people, about half of all Sudanese, urgently need food aid through May, a sharp increase from the 21.1 million originally projected in June for October through February. The findings were published despite the Sudanese government’s continued disruption of the IPC’s process for analyzing acute food insecurity, which helps donors and humanitarian groups direct aid where it is most needed. On Monday, the government announced it was suspending its participation in the global hunger-monitoring system, saying the IPC issues “unreliable reports that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and dignity.” The IPC is an independent body funded by Western nations and overseen by 19 large humanitarian organizations and intergovernmental institutions. A linchpin in the world’s vast system for monitoring and alleviating hunger, it is designed to sound the alarm about developing food crises so organizations can respond and prevent famine and mass starvation. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are engaged in a civil war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and are adamantly opposed to a famine declaration for fear it would result in diplomatic pressure to ease border controls and lead to greater foreign engagement with the RSF. In a Dec 23 letter to the IPC, the famine review committee and diplomats, Sudan’s agriculture minister said the latest IPC report lacks updated malnutrition data and assessments of crop productivity during the recent summer rainy season. The growing season was successful, the letter says. It also notes “serious concerns” about the IPC’s ability to collect data from territories controlled by the RSF. Under the IPC system, a “technical working group,” usually headed by the national government, analyzes data and periodically issues reports that classify areas on a one-to-five scale that slides from minimal to stressed, crisis, emergency and famine. In October, the Sudanese government temporarily stopped the government-led analysis, according to a document seen by Reuters. After resuming work, the technical working group stopped short of acknowledging famine. The Famine Review Committee report released today said the government-led group excluded key malnutrition data from its analysis. A recent Reuters investigation found that the Sudanese government obstructed the IPC’s work earlier this year, delaying by months a famine determination for the sprawling Zamzam camp for displaced people where residents have resorted to eating tree leaves to survive. The civil war that erupted in April 2023 has decimated food production and trade and driven more than 12 million Sudanese from their homes, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis. The RSF has looted commercial and humanitarian food supplies, disrupted farming and besieged some areas, making trade more costly and food prices unaffordable. The government also has blocked humanitarian organizations’ access to some parts of the country. “We have the food. We have the trucks on the road. We have the people on the ground. We just need safe passage to deliver assistance,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, director of food security and nutrition analysis for the UN’s World Food Program. In response to questions from Reuters, the RSF said the accusations of looting were “baseless.” The RSF also said millions of people in areas it controlled were facing “the threat of hunger,” and that it was committed to “fully facilitating the delivery of aid to those affected.” The government said that problems delivering aid were caused by the RSF. The IPC report says both parties to the conflict have imposed “bureaucratic procedures and approval processes” that “severely limit both the reach and scale of humanitarian efforts.” Only 10 percent of people in the areas the IPC reviewed received food assistance in the last three months, the IPC report says. At least a dozen aid workers and diplomats contacted by Reuters for this story said tensions increased between the Sudanese government and humanitarian aid organizations after the IPC determined Zamzam was in famine in August. The sources said the government is slowing the aid response. The government’s general and military intelligence services oversee aid delivery, subjecting international aid approvals to the SAF’s political and military goals, the sources said. The government is slow to approve visas for aid workers, and several aid workers said it has discouraged NGOs from providing relief in the hard-hit Darfur region, which is largely controlled by RSF forces. The government has told aid organizations “there are no legitimate needs in Darfur, so you should not work there, and if you continue to respond to needs there, you should not expect visas,” said one senior aid official, who asked not to be named. The number of visa applications awaiting approval for non-UN aid workers has skyrocketed in the last four months, and the percentage approved has plummeted, according to data maintained by Sudan’s INGO Forum, which represents and advocates for international non-governmental organizations in the country. The government didn’t respond to specific questions about the blocking of visas. In the past, it has said that the majority of visa requests are approved. In October, the Sudanese government pressured the U.N. to remove the top humanitarian aid official for Sudan’s embattled Darfur region after the person traveled there without government authorization, three sources told Reuters. Requests for authorization had stalled, the sources said. The government told the UN it would throw the official out if he was not withdrawn, the sources said. The UN complied. The government didn’t respond to questions about the aid official’s removal. A UN spokesperson said the organization doesn’t comment on staff “working arrangements.” – ReutersCircle to Search now on Nothing Phone (2a), Phone (2a) Plus and more: How to activate the feature
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By HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. Related Articles The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.OG Maco, Trap Rap Pioneer, Dead at 32
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Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud chargesIN there’s one thing we’ve learned during the holidays, it’s that budget-friendly smartphones are among the most requested gift ideas. Every year, we receive countless messages asking, “What’s a good phone under P10,000?” It’s no surprise—smartphones make for fantastic gifts. They’re practical, versatile and appreciated by just about anyone, whether it’s for a sibling heading back to school, a friend who needs a reliable upgrade, or maybe even a backup phone for yourself. This is probably the sweet spot when it comes to buying a smartphone during this season. Continuing from our Christmas Gift Guide’s theme of thoughtful, memorable gifts, these smartphones are ideal for anyone who values a balance of practicality and useful features. Imagine unwrapping a sleek new phone that performs well, takes great photos, and still leaves some room in the holiday budget—what better way to celebrate the season? In this part of our gift guide, I’ll introduce you to two of my favorite phones under P10,000 that were just recently released—the Honor X7c and the Tecno Spark 30 Pro Transformers edition. One is perfect for those who need a phone that can withstand more than the daily abuse, and the other is one of the best collaborations I’ve seen this year. With these picks, I hope to make your holiday shopping a little easier and a lot more exciting. Let’s dive in. MORE THAT MEETS THE EYE: Tecno SPARK 30 PRO TRANSFORMERS EDITION AS a lifelong Transformers fan and collector, I knew I just had to have the Tecno Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition Having previously reviewed Tecno’s Camon, Pova, and Spark series—and currently using the Phantom V Flip 2—I’ve consistently been impressed by how much value Tecno delivers at competitive prices. While there have been a few Transformers collaborations before, this is the most affordable at P7,999—and a standout example of how to execute a budget smartphone collaboration perfectly. At a glance, it captures the imagination with its striking Optimus Prime-themed box design, but the appeal doesn’t stop there. The unboxing experience alone is way better than opening some premium flagship. The packaging itself sets the tone, adorned with bold Transformers artwork and a box featuring an embossed Autobot logo. Inside, you’ll find everything you need: the phone, a protective case, a 33W fast charger, a USB-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool. While the essentials are all there, I was hoping to get some collectible freebies like stickers or maybe a collectible card. The Optimus Prime-inspired design is one of the most distinctive features of this special edition. The back panel features a dynamic mix of red, blue and silver accents, reflecting the iconic look of the Autobot leader. It’s not just painted on either—the texture and detailing make the phone feel like a piece of Optimus Prime himself. Whether you’re a Transformers fan or just someone who loves bold, eye-catching gadgets, this phone is a conversation starter. Once powered on, the experience continues with customized Transformers-themed software. There are also a few wallpapers, app icons and ringtones. It’s thoughtful touches like these that make this collaboration feel authentic and exciting rather than just another branding exercise. Functionality is where the Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition proves that there’s more than meets the yes. The 6.78-inch AMOLED display is a treat for the eyes, boasting vivid colors, deep contrasts, and an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. Watching videos, scrolling through social media, or playing games feels smooth and responsive, and the TÜV Rheinland-certified low blue light emission ensures your eyes won’t tire even after prolonged use. The camera setup is another highlight of this phone. The 108MP main sensor delivers sharp, detailed images, making it one of the best cameras you’ll find at this price point. From landscapes to portraits, the photos consistently impress with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range. Even in low light, the Super Night Scene mode ensures that your shots retain clarity and brightness. One mode you definitely have to try is Sky Shop. This allows you to change the sky using various filters. AR shop lets you create your own avatar for videos and photos, while the Vlog mode lets you instantly shoot videos that are just the right length for your stories. For selfies and video calls, the 13MP front camera, equipped with dual-color temperature flash, captures clear and flattering images. Under the hood, the Spark 30 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Helio G100 processor, a solid choice for a midrange device. It handles everyday tasks like messaging, web browsing, and video streaming with ease, and even casual gaming is a breeze. The phone is backed by 8GB of RAM, expandable by another 8GB of virtual memory, ensuring smooth multitasking and responsiveness. With 256GB of storage, there’s plenty of room for photos, apps and games, making it ideal for users who need space but don’t want to splurge on higher-priced devices. Battery life is another area where the Tecno Spark 30 Pro shines. The 5000mAh battery ensures all-day use, even for heavy users. With the 33W fast charger included in the box, you can quickly top up the battery, going from zero to 100 percent in just over an hour. Tecno’s AI Smart Charging feature learns your charging habits to optimize battery health, ensuring it stays reliable over the long term. At an official price of P7,999, almost the same price of a Transformers Masterpiece figure and which can get even lower during online sales events, the Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition offers incredible value. For Transformers fans, it’s more than just a phone—it’s a collectible that blends functionality with fandom. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a Transformers enthusiast or just want a phone that feels unique, the Tecno Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition is a choice that’s hard to beat. HONOR X7c: A SPLASH OF GREAT VALUE WHEN it comes to viral smartphone campaigns, I don’t think any other brand comes close to Honor. The brand has built its reputation on delivering smartphones with exceptional durability, with models like the Honor X9a, X9b, and the more recent X6b standing surviving all sorts of drop and smash tests. The Honor X7c takes that legacy further by adding IP certification, making it one of the most resilient budget phones on the market. For just P8,999, this smartphone is built to withstand the demands of even the most active and daring users. The Honor X7c boasts of an IP64 rating for water and dust resistance. This means it’s protected from splashes and brief immersion, making it a reliable companion for delivery riders braving sudden rain showers, or parents handing it over to kids who aren’t exactly careful with electronics. Its all-angle water resistance isn’t designed for deep water adventures, but it can survive the occasional spill or light drizzle, adding peace of mind in situations where other phones might fail. During the launch, we tested it for several water activities and the phone survived all those slips and dips—just make sure you don’t submerge it for more than a few minutes (or press the volume/power button while underwater) The phone’s durability doesn’t stop there as it also received a 5-star drop resistance certification from SGS Switzerland, meaning the Honor X7c is built to withstand accidental drops and everyday impacts. This ruggedness makes it a practical choice for people who rely on their devices in tough conditions, or want a reliable second phone that can take a beating or their mood swings. It’s a phone you can trust to keep going, even in less-than-ideal circumstances. Besides its durability, the Honor X7c is also a well-rounded performer for its price. Its 6.77-inch TFT LCD display offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which is a treat for gaming and when scrolling through social media. While the resolution is capped at HD+, the screen delivers decent quality for casual streaming and everyday use. The 850-nit peak brightness ensures good visibility outdoors, and the ability to dim to just 2 nits make it comfortable to use in dimly lit environments. Powering the device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 processor, which is capable of handling everyday tasks like social media, video streaming, and light gaming. Paired with 16GB of RAM (8GB physical and 8GB virtual) and 256GB of storage, the phone provides smooth multitasking and ample space for apps, photos and videos. It’s not the most powerful chipset on the market, but it’s efficient and gets the job done, making it a dependable workhorse for users who need reliability over raw power. The Honor X7c’s 6000mAh battery is another highlight, delivering impressive longevity that can easily last a full day of moderate use. In real-world testing, it offered over 18 hours of screen time with 20 percent still left in the tank, which is ideal for users who are constantly on the move. And when it’s time to recharge, the 35W SuperCharge technology ensures you won’t be tethered to a power outlet for long. For those moments when every percentage matters, the Ultra Power Saving Mode squeezes out additional usage, perfect for emergencies. Camera performance is respectable. The 108MP main camera captures detailed shots in good lighting, while the 2MP depth sensor adds depth to portrait photography. The 8MP front camera is serviceable for selfies and video calls, though it lacks advanced features like wide-angle shots or stabilization for videos. The Honor X7c’s value lies not just in its affordability but in how well it balances practicality with durability. It’s a phone that can handle the unexpected, from accidental spills to the rigors of everyday use, without compromising on essential features. Like I said, it’s a great choice for messengers/riders navigating unpredictable weather or parents needing a reliable second phone for their young kids. At its core, the Honor X7c is a budget phone that punches above its weight. It doesn’t try to be flashy or overpromise on features. If you’re looking for a phone that works as hard as you do, the Honor X7c delivers exactly that. Final word: When it comes to choosing the best smartphone under P9,000, both the Honor X7c and the Tecno Spark 30 Pro offer incredible value, each catering to different needs and personalities. If durability and dependability are your top priorities, the Honor X7c is a rugged companion that can handle life’s unexpected moments. Its long-lasting battery and solid performance make it a practical choice for active users, parents, or anyone in need of a reliable second phone. On the other hand, the Tecno Spark 30 Pro is a standout for those who appreciate bold designs, great displays, and a better camera. Whether you’re a diehard fan or simply looking for a unique, feature-packed smartphone, this device offers something truly special and deserves a spot on your Christmas list.West Bengal Vs Odisha Live Streaming, Santosh Trophy 2024-25: Where, When To Watch Quarter-Final 1 Match On TV And Online