A fire raged through a 12-storey hotel at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkiye early Tuesday during a school holiday, killing at least 76 people, at least two of them when they jumped from the building to escape the flames, officials said. At least 51 people also were injured in the fire at the Grand Kartal hotel in Kartalkaya, in Bolu province's Koroglu mountains, some 300 kilometres east of Istanbul, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The fire occurred near the start of a two-week winter break for schools, when hotels in the region are packed. 'We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,' Yerlikaya told reporters after inspecting the site. Atakan Yelkovan, a hotel guest staying on the third floor, told the IHA news agency there was chaos on the upper floors as other guests tried to escape the fire, including by trying to climb down from their rooms using sheets and blankets. 'People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung down sheets ... Some tried to jump,' Yelkovan said. Yerlikaya said 45 of the 76 people killed have been identified while efforts to identify the other victims were continuing. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in serious condition, while 17 other people were treated and released. The hotel had 238 registered guests, Yerlikaya said. The fire was reported at 3:27 a.m. and the fire department began to respond at 4:15 a.m., he told reporters. The government appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the blaze, which is believed to have started in the hotel's restaurant section. Nine people have been detained as part of the investigation into the fire, Yerlikaya said. Earlier, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the hotel's owner was among the people detained for questioning in the probe. At least two of the victims died when they jumped from the building in panic, Gov. Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency earlier. Those killed included Nedim Turkmen, a columnist for Sozcu newspaper, his wife and two children, the newspaper announced. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a day of national mourning to be observed on Wednesday. All flags at government buildings and Turkish diplomatic mission abroad would be lowered to half-staff, he said. Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, said he was asleep when the fire erupted and he rushed out of the building. He told NTV television that he then helped some 20 guests out of the hotel. The hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to locate the fire escape, he said. 'I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,' the ski instructor told the station. Television images showed the roof and top floors of the hotel on fire. Witnesses and reports suggested that the hotel's fire detection system failed to operate. 'My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off,' said Yelkovan, the guest interviewed by IHA. 'We tried to go upstairs but couldn't, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here (outside),' he said. Yelkovan said it took about an hour for the firefighting teams to arrive. NTV television suggested that the wooden cladding on the exterior of the hotel, in a chalet-style design, may have accelerated the spread of the fire. Part of the 161-room hotel is on the side of a cliff, hampering efforts to combat the flames. 'Because the rear side is on a slope, intervention could only be made from the front and sides,' Yerlikaya confirmed. Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy told reporters that the hotel underwent inspections in 2021 and 2024 and that 'no negative situation regarding fire competence' was reported by the fire department. Earlier, in an address in Ankara, Erdogan said: 'Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel.''All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable,' he added. NTV showed a smoke-blackened lobby, its glass entrance and windows smashed, its wooden reception desk charred and a chandelier crashed to the ground. Aydin's office said 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances were sent to the site. Other hotels at the resort were evacuated as a precaution and guests were placed in hotels around Bolu. Meanwhile, a gas explosion at a hotel at another ski resort in central Turkey injured four people. The explosion took place at the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province. Two skiers and their instructor were slightly injured while another instructor received second-degree burns to the hands and face, the Sivas governor's office said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. 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22 January,2025 08:27 AM IST | Ankara | APUS President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is ready to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin anytime, but at the same time warned that he would likely impose sanctions on Russia if the latter does not come to the negotiations table on the issue of Ukraine. "It sounds likely," Trump told reporters when asked if the US will impose additional sanctions on Russia if Putin doesn't come to the negotiation table. "The war should have never started. If you had a competent President, which you didn't, the war wouldn't have happened. The war in Ukraine would have never happened if I were the president," Trump said. "Russia never would have gone into Ukraine. I had a very strong understanding with Putin. That would have never, ever happened. He disrespected Biden. Very simple. He disrespects people. He's smart. He understands. He disrespected Biden," Trump said. "Also, the Middle East would have never happened because Iran was broke," he added. Responding to a query, Trump said he is ready to meet Putin anytime. "Anytime they want, I'll meet. Millions of people are being killed... It's a vicious situation and they're now largely soldiers. A lot of people have been killed and the cities look like demolition sites," he said. "The thing with Ukraine is that many more people died than what you're reporting. You're not reporting the real numbers, and I'm not blaming you for that. I'm blaming maybe our government for not wanting to release those numbers," Trump told reporters. Asked if the US will continue sending weapons to Ukraine, or will he turn off the tap soon, Trump said he is looking into the matter. "We'll look into that. We're talking to (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy. We're going to be talk with President Putin very soon, and we'll see how it all happens. We're going to look at it very soon," he said. "One thing I do feel is that the European Union should pay a lot more than they're paying, because under Biden, I mean, we're in there for USD 200 billion more. Now it affects them... We have an ocean in between, right? The European Union should equal us. We're in there for USD 200 billion more than the European Union. I mean, what are we, stupid? I guess the answer is yes," the president said. Trump also said that Ukraine President Zelensky told him that he would like to have peace. "He's told me that wants to have peace very strongly, but it takes two to tangle. We'll see what happens. Anytime they want, I'll meet. I'd like to see that end. Millions of people are being killed. It's a vicious situation," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 08:23 AM IST | Washington | PTIUS President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he likes both sides of the argument on H-1B foreign guest workers' visa, noting that he likes "very competent people" coming into the country and that he has used the programme. "I like both sides of the argument, but I also like very competent people coming into our country, even if that involves them training and helping other people that may not have the qualifications they do. But I don't want to stop -- and I'm not just talking about engineers, I'm talking about people at all levels," Trump told reporters at the White House during a joint news conference with Oracle CTO Larry Ellison, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, and Open AI CEO Sam Altman. The president was responding to a question on the ongoing debate on H-1B visa within his support base. While his close confidants like Elon Musk, the Tesla owner, supports H-1B visa as it brings in qualified tech professionals, many of his supporters oppose it arguing that it takes away jobs from Americans. "We want competent people coming into our country. And H-1B, I know the programme very well. I use the programme. Maître d', wine experts, even waiters, high-quality waiters -- you've got to get the best people. People like Larry, he needs engineers, Masa also needs... they need engineers like nobody's ever needed them," Trump said. "So, we have to have quality people coming in. Now by doing that, we're expanding businesses and that takes care of everybody. So I'm sort of on both sides of the argument, but what I really do feel is that we have to let really competent people, great people, come into our country. And we do that through the H-1B programme," Trump said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 08:22 AM IST | Washington | PTICanada's outgoing prime minister and the leader of the country's oil rich province of Alberta are both confident that Canada can avoid the 25 per cent tariff US President Donald Trump says he will impose on February 1. Justin Trudeau and Danielle Smith will argue that Canada is the energy super power that has the oil and critical minerals that America needs to feed what Trump vows will be a "booming" US economy. But Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, the manufacturing and automobile hub of Canada, said a trade war is 100 per cent coming. Trump "declared an economic war on Canada", Ford said in an interview with The Associated Press. "And we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend our economy." Trudeau said Canada will retaliate if needed, but noted that Canada has been here before during the first Trump presidency when they successfully renegotiated the free trade deal. Ford said as soon as Trump applies tariffs, he will instruct Ontario's liquor control board to pull all American-made alcohol from the shelves. "We are the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. And I'm going to encourage all the premiers to do the exact same," Ford said, adding that there will be a dollar-for-dollar tariff retaliation on American goods entering Canada. "We are going to target the Republican held areas as well. They are going to feel the pain. Canadians are going to feel the pain, but Americans will feel the pain as well," he said. "A message to the countries around the world: if he wants to use Canada as an example, you are up next. He's coming after you as well." Trump pledged in his inaugural address that tariffs would be coming in a speech in which he promised a golden era for America. He later said Canada and Mexico could be hit with the tariffs as soon as February 1, though he signed an executive order requesting a report coordinated by the secretary of commerce by April 1. Trump said Tuesday that the 25 per cent tariff that he intends to place on Canada and Mexico as soon as February 1 would have "nothing to do" with renegotiating the existing trade pact among the three countries. For him, the tariffs are all about stopping unauthorised migration and the flow of any illicit drugs. The US president told reporters at the White House that, in his opinion, the amount of fentanyl coming through Canada and Mexico is "massive". US Customs agents seized just 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared to 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. About 60 per cent of US crude oil imports are from Canada. Despite Trump's claim that the US doesn't need Canada, nearly a quarter of the oil America consumes per day comes from Canada. America's northern neighbour also has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the US. Nearly USD 3.6 billion Canadian dollars (USD 2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is also the top export destination for 36 US states. "Trump wants to usher in a golden age for the US," Trudeau said at a Cabinet retreat in Quebec called to deal with Trump's threats. "If the American economy is going to see the boom that Donald Trump is predicting, they are going to need more energy, more steel and aluminum, more critical minerals, more of the things that Canada sells to the United States every single day.' On Tuesday, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum stressed the need to keep "cool heads" and look at the wording of what Trump signed, rather than listen to the discourse surrounding it. On the threat of tariffs, Sheinbaum took solace in that the "America First Trade Policy" order that Trump signed on Monday talks about the free trade agreement signed with Mexico and Canada during Trump's first term, which lays out clear processes for disputes. She noted that a formal revision of the agreement is scheduled for July 2026. Smith, the premier of Canada's oil rich province of Alberta, said the April 1 deadline gives Canadians time to make case to the Trump administration that Canada should be exempted from tariffs. "With the energy emergency that they declared and with their desire for critical minerals Canada is the answer," Smith told the AP. Canada can get a "total carve out" from the tariffs, she said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 08:20 AM IST | Toronto | APUS President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his team is discussing imposing a 10 per cent tariff on China starting February 1 based on the fact that the latter is sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada. "We're talking about a tariff of 10 per cent on China based on the fact that they're sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference at the White House along with Oracle CTO Larry Ellison, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, and Open AI CEO Sam Altman. In response to a question, Trump said he is looking at February 1 as the date for the tariffs. "For Mexico and China, we're talking about approximately 25 per cent (tariff)," the president said. Responding to another query, Trump said he did not "talk too much about tariffs" when he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. When asked if he has asked Xi Jinping to intervene to stop the war in Ukraine, Trump said China has not done very much on that. "He's got a lot of power. I said you ought to get it settled. I had that talk with President Xi the other day too. I said we don't want that crap in our country. We've got to stop it. I would have stopped it. I had to deal with him where he was going to give the maximum penalty, which in China is death penalty, for drug dealing and he was all set," Trump said. "He was going to give the maximum penalty to fentanyl dealers if they send (the staff) to the United States. And of course, Biden didn't pick that up. I had that deal all done. It was all wrapped up," he added. "We were going to get it done and then the election went -- let's put it nicely. It didn't go the proper way. I'm trying to be nice about it. It (election) was rigged and we had an incompetent president elected who never followed up on that deal," Trump said. He added that if there was death penalty, "they wouldn't be sending fentanyl to Mexico, Canada and other places". This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 08:19 AM IST | Washington | PTIPresident Donald Trump begun his promised flurry of executive action on Day 1. With his opening rounds of memoranda and executive orders, Trump repealed dozens of former President Joe Biden’s actions, began his immigration crackdown, withdrew the US from the Paris climate accords and sought to keep TikTok open in the US, among other actions. He also pardoned hundreds of people for their roles in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. US Capitol attack pardons The President issued pardons late on Monday (US time) for about 1,500 people convicted or criminally charged in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol as Congress convened to certify Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump. President Donald Trump addresses his inauguration ceremony Separately, Trump ordered an end to federal cases against “political opponents” of the Biden administration, meaning Trump supporters. His actions seemed targeted only to help his backers. The economy and TikTok By repealing Biden actions and adding his own orders, Trump is easing regulatory burdens on oil and natural gas production, something he promises will bring down costs of all consumer goods. Trump is specifically targeting Alaska for expanded fossil fuel production. On trade, he said he expects to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting February 1, but declined to flesh out his plans for taxing China. Trump also intended to pause Congress’ TikTok ban for 75 days, a period in which the President says he will seek a US buyer to protect national security interests while leaving the popular social media platform open to Americans. America First Trump is pulling the US out of the World Health Organization. He also ordered a comprehensive review of US foreign aid spending. Both moves fit into his more isolationist ‘America First’ approach to international affairs. Trump planned to sign an order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, making it the Gulf of America. The highest mountain in North America, now known as Denali, will revert back to Mount McKinley, its name until President Barack Obama changed it. Another order states that flags must be at full height at every Inauguration Day, and one calls for promoting “beautiful federal civic architecture”. Immigration, security Trump reversed several immigration orders from Biden’s presidency. It returns the government to Trump’s first-term policy that everyone in the country illegally is a priority for deportation. The President declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, and he plans to send US troops to help restrict refugees and asylum. He suspended the US Refugee Admission Programme, pending a review and is ending the CBP One app, a Biden-era border app that gave legal entry to nearly 1 million migrants. On national security, Trump revoked any active security clearances from a long list of his perceived enemies, including former director of national intelligence James Clapper, Leon Panetta, a former director of the CIA and defense secretary, and his own former national security adviser, John Bolton. Climate and energy Trump signed documents to formally withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreements. He made the same move during his first term but Biden reversed it. Trump also declared an energy emergency and said he will eliminate what he calls Biden’s electric vehicle mandate. Federal bureaucracy Trump halted federal government hiring, with some exceptions. He added a freeze on new federal regulations while he builds out his second administration. He also formally empowered the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is being led by Elon Musk. Transgender rights Trump is rolling back protections for transgender people and terminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes within the federal government. An order declares that the federal government would recognise only two immutable sexes: male and female. A separate order halts DEI programmes. 100% tariffs against BRICS Trump has again warned that he will impose 100 per cent tariffs against countries of the BRICS bloc, of which India is a part, if they take any steps to replace the US dollar. BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation of ten countries—Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. New US Secy of State meets Quad members On his first full day as secretary of state, Marco Rubio is meeting with his counterparts from a group of countries known as the Quad, which is made up of the US plus India, Japan and Australia, representing nearly 2 billion people and more than a third of global GDP. The grouping has been around for more than 15 years. Taliban to release two Americans A prisoner swap between the US and Afghanistan’s Taliban freed two Americans in exchange for a Taliban figure imprisoned for life in California on drug trafficking charges, officials said Tuesday. The Taliban praised the swap as a step toward the “normalization” of ties between the US and Afghanistan. The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul confirmed the swap, saying two unidentified US citizens had been exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment in 2008. Key orders issued >> 1,500 people convicted in US Capitol riot pardoned>> 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico starting February 1>> Order for pulling the US out of the WHO>> Everyone in the country illegally is now a priority for deportation>> US Refugee Admission Programme temporarily suspended>> Active security clearances of ‘perceived enemies’ revoked>> Protections for transgender people rolled back>> Order to formally withdraw from the Paris climate agreements>> Federal government hiring halted, with some exceptions
22 January,2025 08:17 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesThe sequel to Prince Harry vs the British tabloids is to begin on Tuesday in a high-stakes trial pitting him against Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers that could cost the media mogul millions even if he wins. Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, and one other claimant remain alone among hundreds who have settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, over allegations their phones were hacked and investigators unlawfully snooped on their lives. News Group has settled over 1,300 other claims so far. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 08:16 AM IST | London | AgenciesDonald Trump has officially been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on Monday. JD Vance also took the oath of office as the Vice-President. The 60th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony https://t.co/kTB4w2VCdI — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2025 In keeping with tradition, outgoing President Joe Biden accompanied Trump to the US Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony while outgoing Vice-President Kamala Harris joined Vance at the White House before heading to the Capitol. Prior to the ceremony, Trump and his wife Melania had pre-inauguration tea with Joe and Jill Biden at the White House. CNN reported that Joe Biden left a letter for Trump in the Oval Office, a customary gesture between outgoing and incoming presidents. The ceremonial proceedings began with Vance being sworn in as Vice President, followed by Trump taking the presidential oath of office and delivering his inaugural address. The ceremony occurred roughly two weeks after Congress certified Trump’s electoral college victory. Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, arrived at Rotunda along with Vance's wife, Usha Vance. Biden's wife, Jill Biden and Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, arrived ahead of them.Trump's cabinet nominees took seats ahead of his inauguration. Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and tech billionaire Elon Musk, the co-chairs of the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency, also attended the ceremony.Former US Presidents and First ladies, including Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, George Bush and Laura Bush attended Trump's inauguration. Former US President Barack Obama was also present during the ceremony.Donald Trump's children -- Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump and Baron Trump were present in US Capitol to attend his inauguration. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Google CEO Sundar Pichai attended the ceremony.After the swearing-in, President Trump will take part in the signing ceremony in the President's Room, a tradition that began in 1981 with President Ronald Reagan. This event marks one of the first official actions of the newly sworn president, where he signs nominations and various memorandums or proclamations.Following the signing, a luncheon will be held, and Trump will take part in the review of the troops before heading to Capitol Hill to join the inaugural parade. Later, Trump and his wife will participate in a signing ceremony at the White House and deliver remarks at the Convention Centre.The evening will conclude with the first dance at the Liberty Ball, followed by participation in the Commander-in-Chief Ball and the United Station Ball. The day will end with Trump's return to the White House.
21 January,2025 12:00 PM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentWith a call for 'collaboration for the intelligent age', the World Economic Forum began its annual meeting in Davos on by conferring legendary footballer David Beckham and two others with the prestigious Crystal Awards and an opening concert that brought together classical music and AI-generated visuals to spotlight an urgent environmental crisis facing Antarctica, reported news agency PTI. Several Indian leaders also reached this ski resort town to participate in the biggest confluence of top global leaders from arenas ranging from the government to businesses to civil society to academia, art and culture, reported PTI. WEF President and CEO Borge Brense said the meeting is taking place at one of the most uncertain moments in a generation, as new geoeconomic, geopolitical and technological forces reshape our societies. The dynamic changes taking place are creating both significant challenges to address, as well as important opportunities, particularly regarding fast-evolving technologies, to unlock, he said. In convening 3,000 leaders from around the world and across the public and private sectors, our aim is to help strengthen or build the collaboration needed for this unique moment, he said in his welcome message for nearly 3,000 leaders from across the globe participating in the five-day meeting that will continue till January 24, reported PTI. "I look forward to the constructive dialogue that will take place in Davos this week, which I am confident will have an important impact on the year ahead, and beyond," Brense said about the 55th WEF Annual Meeting which has selected 'Collaboration in an intelligent age' as its theme, reported PTI. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is leading a big Indian delegation that comprises a strong representation of states, said he will highlight India's Development Model at Davos and the country's vision for inclusive growth and digital transformation. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said his state would be meeting the world at the meeting and was aspiring to break new ground on the global stage. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu said he along with his team was ready to put Andhra Pradesh back on the global investment map, reported PTI. While the major sessions and plenary speeches will begin on Tuesday, the opening evening on Monday saw star footballer David Beckham, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and renowned architect Riken Yamamoto getting the Crystal Awards, reported PTI. The dynamic changes taking place are creating both significant challenges to address, as well as important opportunities, particularly regarding fast-evolving technologies, to unlock, he said. In convening 3,000 leaders from around the world and across the public and private sectors, our aim is to help strengthen or build the collaboration needed for this unique moment, he said in his welcome message for nearly 3,000 leaders from across the globe participating in the five-day meeting that will continue till January 24, reported PTI. The awards function was followed by an opening concert that turned out to be a spectacular and emotionally engaging moment when the best of classical music, electronic compositions and AI-generated visual experiences to an extraordinary event under the theme of preserving the glaciers. In alignment with the UN's declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation, the concert spotlighted the urgent environmental crisis facing Antarctica, home to 91% of the world's glaciers, reported PTI. Besides business and government leaders from across the world, the meeting is also attended every year by several renowned people from fields of art, culture, entertainment, and civil society, among others. The WEF said the Crystal Award celebrates the achievements of cultural leaders who have made significant contributions to advancing social, environmental and creative progress worldwide, reported PTI. This year's awardees span diverse fields, including architecture, fashion and sport, and are recognised for notable efforts in advancing community regeneration, gender equality, children's rights, and more. Yamamoto, also a 2024 Pritzker Prize laureate, will be honoured with the 2025 Crystal Award for his outstanding contributions to architecture and society, reported PTI. Furstenberg, a celebrated fashion designer, philanthropist and champion of women's rights, is being awarded for her contributions to empowering women through philanthropy, mentorship and social responsibility. As founder of her eponymous brand and creator of the iconic wrap dress, she has consistently championed women's independence and strength as a leading voice in the movement for gender equality and women's rights. Furstenberg also serves on the board of Vital Voices Global Partnership, a non-profit organisation founded in 1997, reported PTI. The former English footballer is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and global advocate for children's rights. He is being given the Crystal Award in recognition of his long-term humanitarian work and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide, the WEF said, reported PTI. Through his relentless dedication to children's education, protection and well-being, Beckham has emerged as a powerful global leader in advocacy for the rights of vulnerable children worldwide, using his platform and resources to create lasting, positive change, it added, reported PTI. Through his work with UNICEF, he has raised awareness of the importance of immunisation, and he is a long-time campaigner for malaria prevention. The awards were presented by Hilde Schwab, Chairwoman and Co-Founder of the World Economic Forum's World Arts Forum. (With inputs from PTI)
21 January,2025 11:42 AM IST | Davos | mid-day online correspondentJoe Biden on Monday wrapped up a more than 50-year political career, but promised that "we're not leaving the fight", as he bid farewell to the presidency and flew to California to unwind with his family and ease back into private life. Biden spoke not long after watching his successor, Republican President Donald Trump, pledge during his inaugural address to "completely and totally reverse" everything that his Democratic predecessor did. In the final hours before the noontime transfer of executive power, Biden extended courtesies to the man he turned out of the Oval Office four years ago. Trump denied losing the 2020 election and refused to offer similar niceties to Biden upon his inauguration in 2021. The bitter cold day opened with Biden and his wife, Jill, receiving Trump, and his wife, Melania, for a traditional Inauguration Day meet-and-greet over tea at the White House. "Welcome home," Biden told Trump. Afterward, the rivals who share a history of political animosity rode in a limousine to the Capitol where Trump was sworn in as the 47th president. "Our recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal," Trump said about the work of the Biden administration. Biden sat expressionless in the front row. As Trump gave his address, the residence staff at the White House got to work. clearing out the remainder of Biden's belongings so they could move Trump and his family back in. The work included redecorating the Oval Office in time for Trump to sign a series of executive orders. Walls in the press offices that were bare in the morning after most of the staff had ended their government service were decorated by midafternoon with fresh photographs of Trump. After Trump's address, the new president and his wife walked the Bidens outside to a helicopter that had been waiting on the Capitol grounds to fly them to Joint Base Andrews for a farewell event with his staff. "We couldn't have done anything we did without you," Biden told them. "No president gets to choose the moment they enter history, but they get to choose the team they enter history with and we chose the best damn team in the world." Even though they may feel "knocked down" by the turn of events, he said what was important was how quickly they get back up. "We're leaving office. We're not leaving the fight," Biden said, urging them to stay engaged. He also appeared to joke about Trump's speech, chuckling as he said, "We heard the inaugural address today. We got a lot more to do." Biden then made the sign of the cross and everyone laughed. He and the first lady then walked across the tarmac to the familiar blue-and-white plane he flew on as president for the flight to Santa Ynez, California, where they planned to unwind with family. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 January,2025 08:18 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesGaza has received a major influx of aid and goods, with 915 trucks crossing into the territory on the second day of the ceasefire, the United Nations said. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said colleagues in Gaza informed the UN that 915 trucks -- significantly higher than the 600 trucks called for in the ceasefire -- entered Gaza on Monday, based on information from Israeli authorities and the guarantors of the ceasefire agreement. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said Sunday the needs in Gaza are staggering and his office said Monday that aid workers are ramping up the delivery of food, clean water, shelter materials and other essential supplies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the more than 2 million people in Gaza, about half of them children, depend on this aid, Haq said. The World Health Organization, meanwhile, has a 60-day plan to increase beds and deploy overseas health workers to Gaza hospitals, but some 30,000 Palestinians have life-changing injuries and need specialised care, Haq said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 January,2025 08:17 AM IST | United Nations | APADVERTISEMENT
