wowowillie dancers MANCHESTER CITY striker Khadija Shaw was bizarrely shown a yellow card after being hit by an object thrown from the crowd during Thursday's Champions League clash with Hammarby. Shaw broke the deadlock for City with a deflected shot in the 31st minute. 3 Khadija Shaw was hit by a projectile while celebrating her first goal Credit: EPA 3 The striker was left completely baffled after the incident Credit: EPA 3 She was then left stunned after receiving a bizarre yellow card Credit: Getty But as she ran over to the corner flag to celebrate, she was struck by a projectile which appeared to be thrown from the home supporters. The striker looked over to the crowd to see where the object came from, but as she began walking back to the halfway line referee Silvia Gasperotti brandished a yellow card. Shaw looked completely perplexed as her team-mate Alex Greenwood attempted to question the decision. However, Gasperotti just walked away before restarting the match. Read More in Football GET IN LINE Ex-England star more popular than Lineker named fans' favourite to host MOTD Fans on social media were equally confused as to why Shaw received a booking. One person wrote: "Absolutely crazy decision from the ref." Another commented: "Just when you think you have seen the worst decision in women's football the refs just have to take it to a new level." While a third said: "Poor officiating, there has to be severe punishment for this incompetence." Most read in Champions League VLAD THREAT Putin warns he could strike British targets after new hypersonic missile launch COPS PROBE Scottish football club at centre of police investigation into alleged fraud BOOZE TRAGEDY Brit, 28, becomes fifth to die after 'drinking fake booze' on holiday RUSSELL UP Ex-Rangers star forgets mounting pressure on his job on romantic break with Wag FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS Other fans appeared to suggest that Shaw was booked for "excessively celebrating" in front of the Hammarby fans. One commented: "She celebrated in front of Hammarby stand, that's why she got a yellow card." Chelsea women’s coach Emma Hayes SHOVES Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall in heated scenes after losing League Cup final Shaw had the last laugh, however, as she went on to score the winner in superb style. Just four minutes after Ellen Ingegerd Wangerheim equalised for Hammarby, the striker fired a shot straight into the top-right corner from the edge of the box. The goal saw her become Man City Women's all-time top goalscorer in the Champions League. City went on to win 2-1 to book a spot in the quarter-finals.Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.

From road closures, power outages, weather declarations and nonstop shoveling, Muskoka residents were faced with nearly a metre of persistent snowfall on Saturday. According to Environment Canada, observed snowfall amounts as of 9 a.m. on Saturday included 45 centimetres in Gravenhurst, 40 centimetres in Washago, 25 centimetres in Orillia and unofficially 89 centimetres in Bracebridge. Near-whiteout conditions near Orillia Ont., on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 (CTV News/David Sullivan) The heavy snow continued into Saturday afternoon, leading to OPP closing Highway 11 in both directions between Doe Lake Road and Washago. Multiple motorists informed CTV News via phone and email that many were stranded on the highway for several hours without food or water. OPP Central Region stated via social media that towing companies have been in the area since 12:30 p.m. and were initially unable to clear trucks blocking the road. The Bracebridge fire chief confirmed to CTV News that there were a couple hundred stranded vehicles ‘at minimum.’ Fire crews helped bring motorists to Gravenhurst Town Hall via side-by-side transports for access to generators amid power outages. Traffic on Highway 11 on Sat., Nov 30, 2024 (CTV News/David Sullivan) Lakeland Power and Elexicon Energy – the respective suppliers of electricity for Bracebridge and Gravenhurst – and Hydro One all indicated via their outage maps that tens of thousands of customers are without power. The District Municipality of Muskoka declared a ‘Significant Weather Event’ in response to the persistent snowfall. According to Environment Canada, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst are still under a snow squall warning, expected to last through Sunday morning. The national weather agency states that 50 centimetres of snow could fall by Sunday afternoon, with peak rates of five-to-ten centimetres per hour. Areas in the region that are also under snow squall warnings according to Environment Canada include: In a Saturday evening update, OPP Central Region stated via social media that most passenger vehicles that were stuck on Highway 11 have been cleared, and that there were less than 20 that still needed to be cleared. Abandoned vehicles were towed to a Canadian Tire parking lot in Gravenhurst. Police added that the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 11 remained closed between Highway 169 and Highway 118. The area was closed throughout the overnight as emergency services continued their efforts, as stated by OPP in a Sunday morning update.World's pioneering tech cop's making her exit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the 'cherry-picking' of historical facts about Tipu Sultan during a book launch in New Delhi. He asserted that narratives have often overlooked the complexity of Tipu's resistance against British colonialism and the contentious reactions he provokes. The book, authored by historian Vikram Sampath, delves into Tipu Sultan's dynamic political and diplomatic strategies, questioning prevailing narratives. Jaishankar emphasized the necessity for more balanced historical accounts and praised Sampath's work for capturing the intricacies of Tipu's era. Throughout his speech, Jaishankar underscored the importance of approaching history without bias, acknowledging Tipu Sultan's diplomatic endeavors and the nuanced realities of his rule. He described the book as pivotal in fostering informed public discourse on historical narratives. (With inputs from agencies.)

By Takeru Tsuzuki and Kazuki Sato / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers 7:00 JST, December 25, 2024 * * A clear liquid in a flask turned opaque after carbon dioxide was injected into it. Bacteria in the liquid fed on the CO2 and multiplied. Hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, a common type of microorganism, use CO2 as a raw material for the creation of biodegradable polymers used to make plastics. When these polymers are no longer needed, they can be broken down by microorganisms. Kaneka Corp., a major chemical company in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture, has been researching such bacteria since the 1990s. Kaneka has developed the technology to produce bacteria that can absorb more CO2 and convert it into a greater variety of polymers. It can absorb 50 to 70 times more CO2 than algae. The company plans to begin experiments for mass production by 2030. The world’s plastic production is estimated to be more than 400 million tons per year. As the majority of plastic is made using fossil fuels and not recycled, it is a cause of climate change and ocean pollution. “The only raw material that can replace petroleum is CO2,” said Shunsuke Sato, 45, who is leading the research at Kaneka. “This will be a ‘straightforward’ technology that will help shape a recycling-oriented society.” The results of this research will be introduced at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, which starts in April, as an advanced technology that Japan can be proud of. It will be one of the main attractions of the Japan Pavilion, which will have recycling as its theme. The realization of a recycling-oriented global society is essential for pursuing sustainable economic growth while reducing the burden on the environment. The pavilion, which represents Japan at the Expo, will serve as a venue to convey this message. Since ancient times, Japan has nurtured a culture that values recycling. Takayuki Shiose, 51, an associate professor at the Kyoto University Museum who has been involved in the creation of the Japan Pavilion, said: “Japan has a culture of restoration, as in ‘kintsugi,’ the art of repairing broken pottery. It is an important mission for Japan to convey to the world the kind of recycling that we should strive for.” In addition to the Japan Pavilion, the Expo will also feature a number of other exhibits that focus on the concept of recycling. The highly efficient cultivation of algae, a raw material for biofuels, is demonstrated at one exhibit. Another explains the synthesizes of methane, a raw material for fuel gas used in homes, from CO2 and hydrogen. Japanese companies and research institutes will all showcase their latest technologies. The theme of the Expo is “Designing a Future Society Where Life Shines.” The concept goes along with that of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of 169 targets which the United Nations aims to achieve by 2030. Osaka won the bid to host the Expo in 2018 largely because the concept got the international community’s understanding. However, the realization of the SDGs is a huge challenge. The Sustainable Development Solutions Network, an international research organization, estimates that only 16% of the 169 targets under the 17 goals are likely to be achieved. “Japan, where the spirit of “mottainai” [too good to waste] is deeply rooted, has the technology and potential to lead the way in solving environmental problems,” said Toshiya Hoshino, 65, professor emeritus at Osaka University, who served as Japan’s ambassador to the United Nations. “We should make the Expo, which will bring together people from around the world, an opportunity to strengthen cooperation toward achieving the SDGs.”

In a landmark move supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India Mission, the Yogi Adityanath government is spearheading digital transformation across Uttar Pradesh. By the end of December, all police stations in Kannauj will shift to a paperless e-office system, making it the first district in the state to achieve this milestone. The transition to a digital platform will eliminate traditional paper-based processes, streamlining administrative functions. Advertisement Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Kumar Anand emphasized on Saturday that this initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize the Uttar Pradesh Police through technological advancements. “Kannauj Police aims to become fully digital by the end of 2024. This includes adopting a 100 per cent e-office system, eliminating bulky files and enabling seamless, digital administrative workflows,” he stated. Recently, the SP inaugurated this digital transformation initiative during a ceremony at the police office. Laptops were distributed to station in-charges, jurisdictional officers, and gazetted officers to facilitate the shift to technology-driven operations. Police personnel are undergoing specialized training at the District Training Center to ensure the effective implementation of the e-office system. The platform, developed by the National Informatics Center (NIC) and based on the Central Secretariat Manual of e-Office Procedures (CSMeOP), will enhance technical skills among the force. To support this transition, the district’s digital infrastructure has been upgraded, and all police stations and offices are being equipped with necessary technical resources. The e-office system is designed to enhance transparency, expedite administrative processes, and improve data management, ultimately leading to faster resolution of pending complaints and more efficient delivery of justice. The system also empowers officials with better monitoring tools, facilitating smoother decision-making and reducing the risk of corruption. For the public, this translates to faster, more transparent services and timely complaint resolutions. Kannauj’s pioneering digital transformation sets a benchmark for other districts in Uttar Pradesh, promising a future of more effective, efficient, and citizen-centric policing. Advertisement