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A collection of progressive pressure groups have called on the UK Labour government to ‘think differently’ when it comes to childcare. This is based on new analysis that reveals the English local authorities with lowest numbers of childcare places. The survey shows Walsall ranked worst. The associated report extrapolates the data and predicts that at current rate of decline, there will be no childminders left by 2033. The report comes from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) – an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society and Save the Children, which is active in one hundred countries. Concluding the report The childcare challenge: How can the new government deliver a real early education and childcare guarantee? , the campaign organisations state that the UK government must ensure deprived and rural areas are not left behind in forthcoming childcare expansion. In other words, public policy needs to focused on equalising the disparity throughout the UK. The report indicates that the expansion of free childcare currently underway is at risk of not delivering for poorer families. Amongst the poorest fifth of parents with young children, only a third (36 per cent) use formal childcare, compared to double that (73 percent) of the highest earning households. The analysis indicates how the use of formal childcare is highly defined by social class . Over two-thirds of parents of young children who work in professional jobs such as lawyers, doctors and architects use it, compared to less than half of parents in elementary occupations such as cleaners, care workers and hairdressers. Further analysis by the think tank of local access to private and voluntary nurseries as well as childminders – who deliver nearly all provision for children under three years of age – finds significant variation in access to childcare within a reasonable travel time by local authority, with deprived and rural areas the worst off. The more deprived or more rural a local area is, the fewer and lower-quality childcare options families tend to have. The most deprived areas have 32 percent fewer places per child and 25 per cent fewer good places compared to the most affluent areas. Rural areas have 31 percent fewer places and 29 per cent fewer good places compared to inner cities and town centres. For example, three in four children in Walsall live in areas that have some of the worst access to childcare in England. There are significant regional and local variations. For example, parts of the North-East have five times the average ratio of childcare places to children. However, other parts of the same Combined Authority are amongst the least well served in the country. Part of this problem is driven by the falling numbers of childminders. At the current rate – a drop of around 3,000 childminders per year. Another issue is the lack of places in school-based nurseries. Whilst the number of schools offering nursery provision has grown since 2018, the headcount of children in primary school nurseries has reduced by 14 percent (the equivalent of 42,000 children) between 2015/16 and 2023/24. To remediate the situation, the report urgest the Starmer government to adopt progressive and leftwing policies, such as: • Establishing new not-for-profit nursery trusts to rival private equity backed for-profit chains, with the aim of helping smaller childcare providers with business support, best practice and achieve the same economies of scale as larger groups. • Reinvigorating the role of local authorities including by pooling funding to secure new childcare in the areas of greatest need and more actively brokering the new schools-based nursery expansion. • Growing and supporting the supply of childminders by developing a new long-term national strategy which sees them paid monthly to deliver funded entitlements and explores a new childminder friendly national digital platform. • Increasing funding for deprived areas and children through raising the Early Years Pupil Premium and increasing weighting for Additional Need in the national formula. • Reforming the funding system , giving greater recognition to emerging needs in early years within mainstream funding. These proposals attempt to deal with childcare deserts, a lack of funding and the patchwork of commissioning services. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.
KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Chiefs will play host to the Los Angeles Chargers today on Sunday Night Football as the top two teams in the AFC West battle in what could be a playoff preview. The Chiefs are looking to essentially wrap up the division, while the Chargers are looking to keep their hopes alive. Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. Eastern from Arrowhead Stadium. Several streaming services will broadcast the Dec. 8 game live and you can watch on Fubo ($30 off your first month), DirecTV Stream (free trial), Sling (promotional offers) and Peacock . The Chiefs and Chargers played earlier this season, and the Chiefs emerged victorious in a 17-10 win. That was the game that star receiver Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending injury. The Chargers rebounded after that start, though, and after their bye week following that game, are 6-2 since. Check out a complete rundown of NFL Week 14 action , including the schedule, predictions, previews, TV information and more. Chiefs - Chargers Matchup Preview The Chiefs enter at 11-1 and are the AFC’s No. 1 team entering Sunday night. They just escaped with a Black Friday win over the Raiders a week ago. The Chargers, on the other hand, are one of the league’s hottest teams with quarterback Justin Herbert at the helm. Chiefs - Chargers Last Game Recap The Chiefs have won two back to back games by close margins, while the Chargers played great defense in Atlanta. Kansas City Chiefs: Beat the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 on Nov. 29 Los Angeles Chargers : Beat the Atlanta Falcons 17-13 on Dec. 1 Chiefs - Chargers Players to Watch The Chargers and Chiefs both have incredibly talented offensive players, but are led by their talented defenses. While the offense is what jumps off the page, their defenses are why they’ve been so good this season. Kansas City Chiefs: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (68.4% completion percentage, 2,979 yards passing, 19 touchdowns, 11 interceptions), tight end Travis Kelce (75 receptions, 637 yards, 2 touchdowns), defensive tackle Chris Jones (30 tackles, 5 sacks) Los Angeles Chargers: Quarterback Justin Herbert (63.4% completion percentage, 2,551 yards passing, 13 touchdowns, 1 interception), receiver Ladd McConkey (58 receptions, 815 yards, 4 touchdowns), outside linebacker Khalil Mack (33 tackles, 4.5 sacks) How to Watch Chiefs - Chargers Who: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers When: Sunday, December 8, 2024 Time : 8:20 p.m. Eastern Where: Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Missouri Channel: NBC, Peacock Best Streaming Options: Fubo ($30 off your first month), DirecTV Stream (free trial), Sling (promotional offers) and Peacock . Channel finder if you have cable You can access the channel by using the channel finders online: Verizon Fios , AT&T U-verse , Comcast Xfinity , Spectrum/Charter , Optimum/Altice , DIRECTV and Dish . About FuboTV Fubo ($30 off your first month) has three main packages: Pro costs $79.99/month; Elite is $89.99; Premier is priced at $99.99. Cancel before the free trial ends to avoid being charged. Fubo includes access to more than 185 sports, entertainment and news channels. You can record games, TV shows, movies and more. About DirecTV Stream DirecTV Stream , which also gives customers a free trial, offers four packages if you continue with the service after your trial ends: Entertainment for $69.99; Choice for $84.99; Ultimate for $109.99; and premier for $159.99. Choice offers the most channels for sports enthusiasts. About Sling Sling , which features promotional offers for new customers, has a Blue package for $20 for your first month ($40 after that) and an Orange package for the same price and deal. Get both the Blue and Orange packages for $27.50 for your first month ($55 after that). About Peacock RECOMMENDED • cleveland .com Where to watch Browns vs. Steelers NFL FREE STREAM today Dec. 8, 2024, 10:00 a.m. How to watch ‘Yellowstone’ season 5, episode 13 free online today Dec. 8, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Peacock offers multiple sports coverage on select games, including the NFL, Big Ten football, Premier League soccer, PGA Tour and more. Catch all the action for $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually. This service also features movies and hit television shows, as well as current NBC programming. For team hats, shirts and more gear: Visit Fanatics , Dick’s Sporting Goods , Lids , Champs Sports and New Era . Information from the AP was included in this report and AI might have been used to assist with this story.
Inmates are learning to code in prison. Jobs may be hard to come by | CNN BusinessArne Slot has admitted that Real Madrid were a 'pain in the a**' for Liverpool before their 2-0 Champions League triumph on Wednesday evening. The Reds had gone eight straight games without getting the better of Los Blancos, with their most-recent win coming in 2009. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put that right this time round, sending Liverpool top of the European table with a perfect record of five wins, zero draws and zero defeats. After the game, Slot admitted that Real had been a thorn in his new club's side for years - albeit before he took the reins from Jurgen Klopp this summer. "I wouldn't say it's the same as any other game because we know how special it is to play against the club that has won the Champions League so many times, and the reigning champions as well," the Dutchman told TNT Sports . "They were a pain in the a** for Liverpool many times as well, so we knew it was a big week. Not only the result, but also the way we played - it's pleasing to see." Liverpool have now won six straight games in all competitions, with Slot opening up an eight-point gap over Manchester City in the Premier League title race, leading the way in the Champions League and battling through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. The Merseysiders were expected to go through a tricky transition period in the wake of Klopp 's departure, but Slot has taken to life in England like a duck to water. And the ex-Feyenoord head coach is relieved that his new players have adapted to the new style of play so swiftly. "If you start at a new club, you want to implement your playing style as quickly as possible," Slot explained. "That was not so difficult because the playing style is so similar to Jurgen's, especially without the ball. "There are certain details, maybe with the ball, that we do a bit differently. It's very pleasing to see not only the starters but also the players on the bench today, if they are in the starting line-up they do the same." Liverpool are already in control of their own destiny, but they can make a real statement of Premier League intent this Sunday when they host City at Anfield. The reigning champions are on a dreadful run of form, losing five matches on the spin before surrendering a three-goal lead to draw with Slot's former club, Feyenoord, on Tuesday.Ventura Police Department introduces new maps to track crimes, calls for serviceHooked, Harmed, and Sleepless: How Social Media is Stealing Indian Teens' Mental Health
EU, Mercosur bloc strike ‘historic’ trade deal but pushback loomsAlignment Healthcare, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ALHC – Get Free Report )’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $10.72, but opened at $11.45. Alignment Healthcare shares last traded at $10.84, with a volume of 45,975 shares traded. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ALHC shares. UBS Group upped their price objective on Alignment Healthcare from $9.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays upped their price target on Alignment Healthcare from $7.00 to $8.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. KeyCorp began coverage on Alignment Healthcare in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. Finally, Stephens upgraded shares of Alignment Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $13.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $11.44. Get Our Latest Report on Alignment Healthcare Alignment Healthcare Stock Performance Alignment Healthcare ( NASDAQ:ALHC – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported ($0.14) earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.14). Alignment Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 108.69% and a negative net margin of 5.84%. The company had revenue of $692.43 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $662.11 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.19) earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 51.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Alignment Healthcare, Inc. will post -0.69 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Transactions at Alignment Healthcare In related news, CFO Robert Thomas Freeman sold 21,375 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.66, for a total transaction of $227,857.50. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 243,054 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,590,955.64. This represents a 8.08 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO John E. Kao sold 90,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.65, for a total transaction of $1,048,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2,363,100 shares in the company, valued at $27,530,115. This represents a 3.67 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 653,546 shares of company stock worth $7,875,008. Company insiders own 6.60% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Verition Fund Management LLC increased its holdings in Alignment Healthcare by 85.3% in the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 121,180 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,432,000 after acquiring an additional 55,771 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in shares of Alignment Healthcare by 132.2% in the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 128,933 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,524,000 after purchasing an additional 73,402 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Alignment Healthcare by 144.1% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 193,446 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,287,000 after purchasing an additional 114,191 shares during the period. Deerfield Management Company L.P. Series C lifted its stake in shares of Alignment Healthcare by 31.8% during the 2nd quarter. Deerfield Management Company L.P. Series C now owns 10,901,485 shares of the company’s stock valued at $85,250,000 after buying an additional 2,630,788 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Alignment Healthcare by 27.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 382,462 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,991,000 after buying an additional 82,559 shares during the period. 86.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Alignment Healthcare Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Alignment Healthcare, Inc, a tech-enabled Medicare advantage company, operates consumer-centric health care platform for seniors in the United States. It provides customized health care designed to meet the needs of a diverse array of seniors through its Medicare advantage plans. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Orange, California. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Alignment Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alignment Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Musk and Ramaswamy have their work cut out for themAuto industry leaders say U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat of tariffs on Canadian goods would have devastating effects for the sector, forcing both Canadian and U.S. consumers to pay higher vehicle prices. Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, said it's unreasonable to apply such a tax to vehicle parts, which may cross the border up to eight times before ending up in a finished vehicle. He noted the auto industry works with single-digit profit margins. "A tariff of 25 per cent is like talking about purple unicorns," said Volpe in an interview. "I think we need to ignore the number, because cars would cease to be made by American companies if that came into effect." Trump sparked backlash among Canadian business and political leaders after posting to Truth Social on Monday that he will sign an executive order imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming to the United States from Canada and Mexico. The incoming president said such a tariff would remain in place until Canada and Mexico stop drugs and people from illegally crossing the borders. Global Automakers of Canada president and CEO David Adams said his organization had "obvious concerns" about the announcement. “A 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Canada — the largest trading partner of the United States — will negatively impact jobs and livelihoods on both sides of the border across a number of key sectors of our economies. This would also be the case for the automotive industry," said Adams in a statement. "In our view, Canada must act swiftly and firmly to make the case that the U.S. and Canada are stronger and more competitive when we face the global challenges together, not apart.” Volpe said any cross-border tax would increase the cost of components and raw materials that go back and forth between the neighbouring countries. That would lead to a slowdown in production and a supply shortage, prompting higher prices for customers at dealerships. "Everybody would feel it," he said. "First, the American consumer would feel it. But it wouldn't take too long before it would be shared by everybody, meaning everybody in Canada and Mexico as well." During the U.S. election campaign, Trump had promised to introduce a universal 10 per cent tariff on all American imports — a pledge that would reduce the size of the Canadian economy by around one per cent, resulting in $30 billion per year in economic costs, according to previous modelling by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. But asked if he would consider any tariff level digestible for the Canadian auto sector, Volpe replied, "Zero is the maximum." "It's simply because we've built this auto sector together," said Volpe. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
Ajay Bagga explains how FII inflows and economic recovery could fuel market growthThe connections are clear between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, longtime NFC South rivals. The teams get together for a meeting on Sunday in Charlotte and showed recent signs they can play with any team. "It's an NFC South battle," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. "All of them are going to be hard, none of them (are) going to be easy. ... They're playing pretty good football. They missed some games here and there, but they're playing very good football. It's going to be a tough battle." Few introductions are needed on Sunday, as first-year Panthers coach Dave Canales came to Carolina after serving as Buccaneers offensive coordinator a season ago. Canales' prized pupil last season, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was with the Panthers for part of the 2022 campaign. "There's some familiarity," Canales said of his connection to the Buccaneers. "Knowing coach Bowles, he's got a really sophisticated system and he attacks each team with a specific game plan. There's some principles that carry over. I know that he's going to have some things up his sleeve." The Buccaneers (5-6) playing a division opponent for the first time since an Oct. 27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The goal will be notching back-to-back wins for the first time since the first two weeks of the season. Four different ball-carriers, including Mayfield, found the end zone on the ground during a 30-7 drubbing of the New York Giants last Sunday. Mayfield also completed 24 of 30 passes for 294 yards. "For me, the biggest thing was blocking and tackling," Bowles said of what his team did well last weekend. "We cleaned up the fundamental and technique part of it." Star wideout Mike Evans was back in action for Tampa Bay following a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury. He finished with five receptions for 68 yards against the Giants and now gets a crack at a Carolina team allowing a league-high 30.9 points per game this season. However, the Panthers have tightened up their play as of late, winning two games in a row before hanging with the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in a 30-27 setback last Sunday. The outing against Kansas City may have been the most efficient performance of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's two-year career. Young completed 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards and one score without throwing a pick. "It's not all Bryce, it's the whole unit," Canales said. "It's a collective effort, but he certainly needs to be the voice and driver of that." Wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps), tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck) and safety Lonnie Johnson (personal) were all missing from practice on Wednesday for Carolina. Defensive end LaBryan Ray is dealing with a hand issue and was among those limited. Safety Jordan Whitehead (pectoral) was one of four Buccaneers to miss practice on Wednesday. Evans practiced in full. Carolina and Tampa Bay might as well get used to each other, as the two teams will collide again in Week 17. --Field Level MediaVideo: Carmelo Anthony Reveals Kevin Garnett Said 'Wild S--t' Before 2013 Fight
Paris, Dec 7 (AP) Howling winds couldn't stop Notre Dame's heart from beating again. With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a staff carved from fire-scorched beams, the cathedral roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating 2019 blaze, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches. While the ceremony was initially planned to begin on the forecourt, unusually fierce December winds whipping across the central Paris island, flanked by the River Seine, forced all events inside. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendour. Inside the luminous nave, choirs are singing psalms, and the cathedral's mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, is thundering to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies. The evening's celebration, being attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US First Lady Jill Biden, Britain's Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscores Notre Dame's enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. For President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious five-year restoration timeline, it was a rare moment of unity amid profound political crises and threats to his presidential legacy. (AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
If you’re planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you’re not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they’ll make at least one resolution for 2025. There’s some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren’t expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year’s Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn’t usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he’s got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Every New Year’s also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they’ll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they’ll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods’ resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it’s to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. ___ Sanders reported from Washington.Japan's famous sake joins UNESCO's cultural heritage list, a boost to brewers and enthusiasts
US troops in Syria to prevent Islamic State resurgence
Afriforum to take on Information Regulator over matric resultsIsrael will appeal against the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. Judges last week issued warrants for the two men along with Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, saying there were reasonable grounds to believe the three men bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel's government, along with Netanyahu and Gallant, strongly rejected the accusations. On Wednesday, the prime minister's office said it had informed the ICC of its "intention to appeal to the court along with a demand to delay implementation of the arrest warrants". It reiterated that Israel both denied the authority of the ICC and the legitimacy of the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. Netanyahu's office also said US Senator Lindsey Graham had updated Netanyahu "on the efforts that he is advancing in the US Congress against the ICC and countries that have co-operated with it". US President Joe Biden called the warrants "outrageous" last week. "Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence - none - between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," he said. ICC member states - which do not include Israel or the US - are obliged to take action in detaining a wanted defendant if they are found to be in their jurisdiction. Some European Union countries have indicated that they will respect the ICC's decision, while others have declined to say what they would do if Netanyahu entered their territory. The British government has indicated that Netanyahu would face arrest if he travelled to the UK. France's prime minister said last week that it would "rigorously" comply with its obligations under international law. But on Wednesday the French foreign ministry said that the Israeli leader may have immunity from arrest under the ICC warrant because Israel is not an ICC member state. "Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the other ministers concerned and will have to be taken into account should the ICC request of us their arrest and surrender," a statement said. It expressed this view the day after a ceasefire deal was announced to end the war between Israel and Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon. France and the US had been instrumental in negotiating the agreement. Rights groups criticised France's statement as a response to political pressure to maintain good relations with Israel. "No-one gets immunity from an ICC arrest warrant because they're in office - not Netanyahu, not Putin, no-one," said Andrew Stroehlein from Human Rights Watch. The ICC prosecutor's case against Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif stems from 7 October 2023, when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others back to Gaza as hostages. Israel responded by launching a military campaign to eliminate Hamas, during which at least 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. The ICC judges said they found reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore criminal responsibility for: Netanyahu said the ICC's decision was a "dark day in the history of humanity" and "an antisemitic step that has one goal - to deter me, to deter us from having our natural right to defend ourselves against enemies who try to destroy us". Gallant said the warrants placed “the State of Israel and the murderous leaders of Hamas in the same row and thus legitimises the murder of babies, the rape of women and the abduction of the elderly from their beds”. The ICC judges said they found reasonable grounds to believe Deif was responsible for: Israel believes it killed Deif in an air strike in Gaza in July, but the ICC prosecution said it was not in a position to confirm that. Hamas made no mention of the warrant for Deif but welcomed the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, saying the ICC's decision “constitutes an important historical precedent. The ICC - established in 2002 - investigates, arrests and tries individuals charged with the gravest international crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. It has more than 120 members. However, key powers including the US, China, Russia and India are not members, having never signed or ratified its founding treaty, the Rome Statute.