Talking after Syrian rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad, who had dominated Turkey’s neighbour since 2000, Erdogan heaped reward on Russia’s authoritarian chief.
He stated: “Now, there are solely two leaders on this planet. They’re myself and Vladimir Putin.
“I’m not saying this as a result of one in every of them is me. However I’ve been in workplace for 22 years, practically so long as Mr Putin. The remainder are gone.”
In the meantime, the Turkish president has carried out a number of incursions into Syria over the past eight years in a bid to create a buffer zone on the border.
Erdogan has additionally been accused of aiding the Syrian rebels though Turkish officers have rejected such claims.
Turkey and Russia have additionally emphasised their shut connection previously, with Erdogan as soon as describing Putin as a “pricey good friend”.
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France‘s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is reopening its doorways on Saturday for the primary time since a devastating hearth practically destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019.
The restoration, a spectacular achievement in simply 5 years for a construction that took practically two centuries to construct, is broadly seen as a second of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the bold timeline — and a welcome respite from his home political woes.
Underneath the luminous stained glass, many world leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers will collect within the night to mark the event — a uncommon second of unity towards the backdrop of worldwide divisions and conflicts.
America’s first girl Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and President-elect Donald Trump, together with practically 50 heads of state and authorities and personalities — 1,500 company in all — will attend the reopening celebration underneath Notre Dame’s hovering Gothic arches, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich.
As a substitute of ranging from the cathedral’s forecourt as initially deliberate and due to robust winds forecast for Saturday night in Paris, the French presidential palace and the Paris diocese mentioned Friday your entire opening ceremony might be held inside Notre Dame.
An indication of hope
Notre Dame’s rector, Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, says the cathedral is “greater than only a French monument” and a beloved treasure of world’s cultural heritage.
“The cathedral is an impressive image of unity,” the rector mentioned. “An indication of hope, as a result of what appeared not possible has turn out to be attainable.”
Saturday’s occasions will mix solemn non secular custom with cultural grandeur, beginning with Ulrich symbolically reopening Notre Dame’s grand picket doorways.
Tapping them thrice with a employees crafted from charred wooden salvaged from the cathedral’s fire-ravaged roof, he’ll declare the cathedral open for worship as soon as extra.
Solemn rituals
Psalms, prayers, and hymns will fill the cavernous area because the cathedral’s thunderous organ, silenced for the reason that hearth, is reawakened. The 8,000-pipe instrument, painstakingly restored and cleaned of poisonous lead mud, will reply to the archbishop’s invocation, with 4 organists performing an improvised interaction of melodies.
Later within the night, a star-studded live performance will take heart stage contained in the cathedral and pay tribute to its resurrection and to those that labored to revive it, providing a common message of concord. Pianist Lang Lang, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and soprano Fairly Yende are among the many world-famous artists slated to carry out.
On Sunday, Ulrich will lead the inaugural Mass and consecrate the cathedral’s new altar, designed by up to date artist Guillaume Bardet to interchange the one crushed beneath the flaming spire within the blaze. Practically 170 bishops from France and overseas will attend the Mass, alongside clergymen from all 113 parishes of the Paris diocese.
Unity in instances of worldwide challenges
The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound unrest world over, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Center East.
For Catholics and Notre Dame’s rector, the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.”
“It’s a magnificent image of unity, an indication of hope,” Dumas mentioned.
Different dignitaries coming to Paris for Notre Dame’s rebirth embody European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and U.N. Secretary-Common António Guterres, underlining the cathedral’s significance as an emblem of shared heritage and peace.
Macron’s political woes
The celebration is anticipated to provide a much-needed increase to embattled Macron, whose prime minister resigned this week, plunging the nation’s political scene into extra turmoil.
The French president, who has known as Notre Dame’s reopening “a jolt of hope,” will deal with the gathering. He had hoped the event would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience underneath his management.
The bold five-year restoration timeline, introduced only a day after the 2019 hearth, had appeared unbelievable to many however its achievement serves as a testomony to Macron’s can-do perspective.
His presidency faces its gravest disaster after the federal government’s collapse this week in a historic no-confidence vote that toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier after simply three months — the shortest tenure of any authorities within the historical past of the Fifth Republic.
The vote adopted months of political gridlock after snap elections. Calls at the moment are rising louder from centrists and opposition forces on the far left and proper for Macron, whose approval rankings have plummeted, to resign.
However he vowed in an deal with to the nation on Thursday evening to stay in workplace till the top of his time period in 2027, and mentioned he’ll title a brand new prime minister inside days.
As France struggles with financial woes and mounting social unrest, Notre Dame’s rebirth celebrations is a stark distinction to the disaster.
Tight safety
Safety might be tight all by means of the weekend, echoing measures taken throughout the Paris Olympics earlier this yr.
The Île de la Cité — the small island within the River Seine that’s residence to Notre Dame — might be closed to vacationers and non-residents, with entry restricted to invitees and people who dwell on the island.
Public viewing areas alongside the Seine’s southern financial institution will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can observe the celebrations on giant screens.
Archbishop Ulrich’s reopening the cathedral doorways might be adopted by a liturgical service and the reawakening of the grand organ, ending with the celebratory live performance that can honor Notre Dame’s cultural and religious significance.
For a lot of, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not only a French achievement however a worldwide one — after the reopening, the cathedral is ready to welcome 15 million guests yearly, up from 12 million earlier than the hearth.
Following the 2019 hearth, practically $1 billion in donations shortly poured in from each nook of the world, testifying to Notre Dame’s common enchantment.
Harrogate and York’s companies have pushed the sector’s development in York and North Yorkshire area, which ranks within the high ten within the UK – in firm longevity, registered emblems and SME worker numbers.
The energy of the sector attracted visits this week from the pinnacle of expertise on the Division for Enterprise and Commerce in addition to a delegation of well being expertise corporations from India.
On Monday, the Put money into York and North Yorkshire partnership hosted at York St John College 5 Indian enterprise homeowners innovating with new expertise to develop listening to aids, diagnostics and physiotherapy practices.
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The enterprise homeowners met with these behind the area’s belongings together with the Harrogate NHS Innovation workforce, the Humber and North Yorkshire Built-in Care Board and the York Well being Economics Consortium, York St John College and the College of York.
On Thursday, the Put money into York and North Yorkshire workforce welcomed the officers from the Division for Enterprise and Commerce (DBT), together with their Head of Know-how, Caroline Malone.
This go to showcased belongings in York together with the Institute for Protected Autonomy and York Minster’s Works and Know-how Hub, which remains to be underneath improvement.
Indian well being tech officers at York St John (Picture: Pic provided)
The Division for Enterprise and Commerce workforce additionally met with senior leaders at York-based Adtran, which is a number one supplier of broadband gear, and Harrogate-based Inhealthcare which has developed digital wards for NHS Trusts, which helps with distant affected person monitoring.
David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has recognized the inventive and digital sector, with its current strengths, excessive potential for financial development and funding, as key for the area’s Native Progress Plan, which will likely be printed in Spring 2025.
Mayor Skaith stated: “Funding is central to my pledge to create wholesome and thriving communities proper throughout York and North Yorkshire.
“There’s a lot potential for funding right here, particularly in our key sectors of rail, the inventive and digital industries, wholesome ageing, industrial biotech, agritech and manufacturing.
“These sectors are both well-established or rising with loads of room for development.
“Our rural, coastal and metropolis communities need to be related to alternative. Meaning quick access to expertise and high-quality jobs – the roles of our future.”
“To attain our objectives, we’d like shut private and non-private partnerships. The relationships we foster will likely be essential in serving to our area attain its full potential.”
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American girls preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the info from the messaging.
At such a vital second in US historical past, we’d like reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.
The Unbiased is trusted by People throughout the whole political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock People out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism must be obtainable to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
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Manchester Metropolis ended their seven-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on an evening when Premier League leaders Liverpool had been held to a dramatic 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
Metropolis’s run included 4 Premier League defeats, however they managed to provide one thing extra like a routine win of outdated to beat Forest on the Etihad Stadium.
Bernardo Silva tapped in from a Kevin De Bruyne header with eight minutes gone earlier than the Belgian, beginning his first recreation since mid-September, rifled in a second simply after the half-hour mark.
Jeremy Doku bought his second league purpose of the season within the 57th minute and Metropolis had alternatives so as to add to their lead as they lastly stopped the rot.
The hole between the champions and leaders Liverpool was reduce to 9 factors after Arne Slot’s facet had been denied a win at St James’ Park by a last-minute Fabian Schar purpose, having twice come from behind to steer the sport late on.
Mohamed Salah seemed to have rescued an eighth successive win in all competitions when his second-half double – each arrange by substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold – put the guests 3-2 forward with seven minutes to play after Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon struck both facet of Curtis Jones’ equaliser.
However Schar had the ultimate say as he squeezed in a Ninetieth-minute equaliser, sliding in to transform Bruno Guimaraes’ free-kick from a good angle.
Liverpool’s draw allowed Arsenal to chop the hole on the high of the desk to seven factors with a 2-0 win over Manchester United, Ruben Amorim’s first defeat since taking cost.
Each targets got here from second-half corners, one headed in by Jurrien Timber and the opposite turned in by William Saliba after Thomas Partey bought his head to the ball.
Aston Villa ended an eight-game winless run as they beat Brentford 3-1, having scored all of their targets within the area of 15 first-half minutes.
Morgan Rogers bought the primary within the twenty first minute with an outstanding curling strike, and Ollie Watkins doubled the lead from the penalty spot seven minutes later after being fouled by Ethan Pinnock within the field.
Matty Money then made it 3-0 within the thirty fourth minute, with Mikkel Damsgaard getting one again for the guests early within the second half.
Chelsea romped to a 5-1 win away to Southampton in a match that noticed Saints captain Jack Stephens despatched off for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella.
Stephens noticed crimson within the thirty ninth minute after tugging the curls of the Spain defender, though by that time Southampton had been already 3-1 down, with targets from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke placing Chelsea in cost after Southampton’s Joe Aribo briefly cancelled out Axel Disasi’s early opener.
Second-half finishes from Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho piled extra distress on Russell Martin’s males, and it may have been worse with Chelsea hitting the put up and the crossbar.
Everton ended their purpose drought in model as they thrashed Wolves 4-0 for his or her largest win since Could 2023.
Everton had not scored in 370 minutes however eased the strain on Sean Dyche as Ashley Younger bagged his first purpose in additional than two years – turning into the membership’s oldest goalscorer at 39 and 4 months – whereas Orel Mangala fired within the first purpose of his mortgage spell from Lyon.
Craig Dawson was responsible of two personal targets so as to add to Wolves’ distress, though some credit score ought to go to Dominic Calvert-Lewin who had a key function in each even when he couldn’t finish his personal 10-game goal-less run.
In as we speak’s fast-paced, ever-changing enterprise atmosphere, disruption is the norm moderately than the exception. An agile method to strategic change might assist.
From technological developments and shifting market dynamics to sudden international challenges, companies face fixed challenges that demand swift, efficient responses.
To stay aggressive and ready for unexpected disruptions and rising alternatives, enterprise leaders are more and more embracing strategic agility. In a current survey of over 500 enterprise leaders by Affiliation for Venture Administration (APM), nearly half (49 per cent) mentioned they replace their methods a minimum of each three months resulting from elements such because the rise of AI, international instability and sustainability pressures. The findings present a major shift away from conventional long-term planning and a rising reliance on fast short-term technique updates, pushed by the pressing must adapt rapidly to rising tendencies and more and more complicated challenges.
However fast and common strategic change can pose its personal dangers. So how can enterprise leaders use agility for strategic profit whereas mitigating these dangers?
Success tales of agility in motion
Take into account the tech trade, the place firms should always innovate to remain forward. A number one tech firm’s iterative method to product growth, supported by agile undertaking administration methodologies, has enabled them to keep up market management. Equally, throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, communications companies comparable to Zoom tailored their infrastructure and companies to satisfy a sudden surge in demand, demonstrating how agility can drive success even in probably the most difficult instances.
Outdoors of tech, some retailers have adopted agile provide chain administration, permitting them to reply to style tendencies and client calls for quickly. By emphasising flexibility, real-time knowledge and collaboration with suppliers, they’ll produce and ship new merchandise sooner and staying aggressive in a fast-paced market.
These examples underscore the important function of strategic agility and undertaking administration in navigating complexity.
Making ready for the long run
To embrace strategic agility successfully, organisations should spend money on each management growth and undertaking administration capabilities. Leaders must domesticate a mindset of adaptability and openness to vary. By fostering a tradition of agility and collaboration, companies cannot solely climate disruptions but in addition remodel them into alternatives for development. Venture professionals needs to be on the forefront, guiding organisations towards a future the place adaptability is the last word aggressive benefit. In an period of uncertainty, one factor is obvious: strategic agility is not non-obligatory – it’s important.
Rising recognition of undertaking administration
APM is supporting enterprise in recognising undertaking administration ideas and the pivotal function that undertaking consultants play with regards to strategic execution. Within the first of a collection of upcoming APM white papers for the enterprise management neighborhood, titled The Tough Questions You Should Ask of Your Technique, Dr Paul Chapman, former APM Vice President and Director of the UK authorities’s Main Venture Management Academy, and Alistair Godbold, Vice President of APM and Director at The Nichols Group, discover how undertaking administration may also help companies keep resilient in a unstable panorama.
The paper poses – and solutions – a collection of questions which enterprise leaders ought to ask of their technique, together with: Is my technique deliverable? Is the correct sponsorship in place? How do you combine transformation with enterprise as traditional? How resilient is your technique?
APM supporting enterprise in supply of change
Embedding good undertaking practices is significant for fulfillment and development, which suggests gaining access to the precise abilities. APM is the one chartered organisation representing the undertaking occupation on this planet and is dedicated to supporting companies and their workers to prosper and develop, by way of its assets, and {qualifications} together with Chartered Venture Skilled (ChPP) customary. APM additionally gives enterprise leaders with the instruments and information essential to navigate the complexities of recent enterprise and drive efficient transformation, by way of white papers, roundtables and thought management.
Go to apm.org.uk for particulars on how APM may also help you and your corporation; to obtain common updates containing the newest thought management on the undertaking occupation and its affect on enterprise, electronic mail leaders@apm.org.uk