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In conclusion, the proposed exemption of the land value tax on the sale of ordinary residential properties in Henan Province has the potential to benefit homeowners, stimulate the real estate market, and improve housing affordability. However, it is essential to carefully consider the potential impacts and weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision. Public participation in the decision-making process will be crucial in ensuring that the policy change is in the best interest of all stakeholders involved.By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. A pepper grinder, really? Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. To build a fire Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The place for a ladle is on the pot The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. Up your birdwatching with this feeder The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Printing old-fashioned photos via Bluetooth Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. Houseplants don’t get much easier than this The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Making your own (plant-based) milk Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. The perfect temperature for 350,000-plus wines For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Casting light on the grill after dark Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.

Given Namibia’s increasing international importance, considering its strategic location, its standing in the region, and its potential newfound oil wealth, the Southern African n ... If you are an active subscriber and the article is not showing, please log out and back in. Free access to articles from 12:00.

Manchester United Officially Signs 14-Year-Old Grassroots Midfield Prodigy! Reveals Himself as the Next Wonderkid, Rejects Arsenal and Chelsea

Nvidia, a leading American technology company, is currently under investigation in China for alleged misconduct related to a supply chain issue that dates back to two years ago. The company was reported for cutting off the supply of critical components to Chinese partners, resulting in significant disruptions to their operations. The potential penalties for Nvidia could reach as high as $5 billion, highlighting the severity of the situation.Nuno, who took over as Tottenham's manager in 2021, has faced a tough start to the season, with the team experiencing mixed results and performances. However, Tottenham's management believes in Nuno's vision for the team and is steadfast in their commitment to giving him the time and resources needed to turn things around.

Canadians took two of the top four spots on Spotify's list of most-streamed artists globally in 2024, while Taylor Swift dominated the charts in Canada and abroad. The streaming giant unveiled its annual Spotify Wrapped listening trends overview Wednesday, with Taylor Swift unsurprisingly coming in first place worldwide with more than 26.6 billion streams, and also topping Canada's list. Swift also earned the year's most-streamed album in Canada and globally, with The Tortured Poets Department , released in April. But Toronto's The Weeknd followed Swift as the No. 2 most-streamed artist around the world, while Drake came in at No. 4. Drake was Spotify's second most-streamed Canadian artist globally in 2024. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images) Puerto Rican reggaetón star Bad Bunny, who held the top spot for three years in a row before Swift dethroned him last year, took the No. 3 spot, and Billie Eilish came in at No. 5. Drake took the second spot among listeners in both Canada and the U.S., while The Weeknd fared lower in his home country than abroad, at No. 7. After those two artists, the top streamed Canadians worldwide were London, Ont.'s Justin Bieber, Calgary's Tate McRae and Pickering, Ont.'s Shawn Mendes, in that order — though none of them made the top 10. Shaboozey takes top song in Canada When it came to songs, Canadians fell in love with Shaboozey's country hit A Bar Song (Tipsy) , which took the No. 1 spot here, but was No. 3 in the U.S. and didn't reach the global Top 10. Sabrina Carpenter's summer pop jam Espresso was the No. 1 song in the U.S. and globally, and was No. 4 in Canada. Spotify Wrapped is a social media sensation. Its impact on artists and listeners is debatable Group Chat Does Spotify Wrapped make up for the platform's pitfalls? Swift also took the international top artist and album slots on Apple Music's Replay, while Apple's No. 1 track was Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us , a diss track aimed at Drake, released amid a drawn-out feud between the two rappers. On Spotify, which provided more detailed breakdowns, Not Like Us hit No. 2 in the U.S. but was No. 10 in Canada, and failed to crack the Top 10 globally. Drake has launched legal actions against Universal Music Group, accusing the music giant of defamation for the song, saying it falsely accuses him of being a sex offender. Drake is also alleging Spotify and UMG — the distributor for the record labels of both Drake and Lamar — conspired to falsely boost the song's popularity. Taylor Swift, pictured performing in Toronto last month, dominated Spotify's year-end charts in Canada and abroad. (Evan Mitsui/CBC) Streaming now accounts for most of the money generated by the music industry — a whopping 84 per cent in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, and 67.3 per cent worldwide, according to a 2024 report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which tracks global sales. Spotify is the largest platform of all , making up roughly 31 per cent of the total market share, with a reported 626 million users and 246 million subscribers in more than 180 markets. The top 10 most streamed artists on Spotify in Canada: 1. Taylor Swift 2. Drake 3. Zach Bryan 4. Morgan Wallen 5. Travis Scott 6. Kanye West 7. The Weeknd 8. Future 9. Eminem 10. Post Malone The Top 10 most streamed songs on Spotify in Canada: 1. Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy) 2. Benson Boone - Beautiful Things 3. Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen - I Had Some Help 4. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso 5. Noah Kahan - Stick Season 6. Teddy Swims - Lose Control 7. Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves - I Remember Everything 8. Hozier - Too Sweet 9. Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather 10. Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

NoneThe shocking murder of UnitedHealth Group executive, Brian Thompson, allegedly by Luigi Mangione, continues to shake the healthcare industry. Mangione, who was not a UnitedHealth customer, faces murder charges following the incident near a Manhattan hotel. While there's no clear link between Mangione's actions and his personal health struggles, the event has fueled widespread anger towards the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system. Public figures, including UnitedHealth Group's CEO Andrew Witty, have condemned the glorification of the accused on social media. As healthcare companies reassess their security measures, public demands for transparency and better communication of coverage decisions grow louder. Meanwhile, analysts suggest the incident could represent a pivotal moment for potential change in the industry. (With inputs from agencies.)

Photo: File image Family violence numbers have remained stagnant for decades, even as evidence shows the vast majority are never reported. The fight for legal support Not long after their whirlwind romance, Christchurch woman Shannon Williams' new partner needed somewhere to live. Given he had been hanging out at her place a lot anyhow, he soon moved in with her and her young son. She said things were good for less than a week. "I felt like I was walking on eggshells, having to hold myself to an unrealistic standard to avoid him getting angry. The anger wasn't always directed at me, but it was enough to make me feel quite uncomfortable in my own home." But things would get much worse when a few drinks at home with friends turned into a violent rage. "Everything was good, we were all having a really good night. I don't know what happened, but he kicked off - he ended up quite violent, he started smashing up the house. "He caused about $20,000 of damage to my property." Police were called, and her ex-partner spent a night in custody, but apologetic and embarrassed, he eventually convinced her to give him another chance. Eventually he would be charged and convicted following another incident. As a solicitor, she had an advantage when applying for the protection order, which she had within 24 hours, but acknowledged getting legal support is an issue for many women. University of Auckland associate professor Carrie Leonetti calls this the privatisation of victim safety - placing the onus on the victim to protect themselves from revictimisation - which she notes violates New Zealand's obligations under several international human rights conventions. "The Convention against Torture and Inhumane Treatment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - all of these international human rights conventions put obligations on state parties to protect victims from violence and not to make victims grab a torch and a pitchfork and protect themselves." The restraining orders people get under the Harassment Act in many other countries would be handled by the police, she said. "We still largely leave the job of protecting themselves to victims in New Zealand and they're already victims of domestic violence. The last thing they need is to have to get lawyers and go to court to get restraining orders, to get Protection Orders, to get child support, to get occupancy orders from the house." Leonetti said most countries treated those procedures as a police prosecution function, where they would facilitate securing occupancy of the house and getting a protection order. And while they did not arrange child support, they will enforce an order if a parent did not pay. "In New Zealand, we still largely have a self help regime." Instead of protecting victims from revictimisation, "we push it on to victims and make them do it through old clunky, expensive, inefficient civil procedures". Police changes Despite the stubborn statistics of shame, there are fears a recent policy shift by police could lead to less family violence incidents being attended, investigated or prosecuted. Earlier this year, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said police attendance to family harm callouts had increased 80 percent in 10 years and was "not sustainable", but that the proposed changes, which had been trailed for six months in 2023, were under consideration. University of Auckland associate professor Carrie Leonetti said she had grave concerns about the impact of the changes. She said the problem stemmed from the decision - dating back several years - to include family violence under the more amorphous term of family harm, which conflated criminal and non-criminal offences. Police say they will still respond to crimes, making a decision based on the 111 call as to whether the harm is criminal family violence, non criminal forms of family violence - such as coercive controlling behaviour, financial and emotional abuse - or other issues such as mental health problems, substance use or people arguing. But Leonetti said she was "baffled" police believe they can accurately distinguish between family violence from non-family violent family harm, without showing up on the doorstep and reading between the lines. "If somebody makes a 111 call and the perpetrator is standing in the room, they are not at liberty to disclose everything they need to. Or if the neighbour calls, how would the police figure out talking to the next door neighbour whether they need to respond to that home or not?" In the absence of coding those things differently when the calls are taken and triaged, there is no data to know if the police position - that they are only avoiding non-criminal non-family violence forms of family harm - is true, she said. "There is evidence from around the world, including Aotearoa New Zealand, that police are getting called out to cases that involve crimes and family violence, and not treating them as such." Leonetti also warned that the non-response could make a victim's situation substantially worse, destroying trust in authorities and emboldening the perpetrator. "The thing that keeps me up at night is, very few people call the police for family violence. On average, intimate partner violence victims call the police after the seventh or eighth occurrence. "So this is a person who hasn't called, hasn't called, hasn't called, and if - when they finally call - don't get a good response, they'll never try again. "That we're missing those opportunities is a tragedy, and it's a tragedy of the creation of our own policy." She said it was particularly frustrating given Aotearoa actually had strong laws, but family violence remained "under-reported, under-prosecuted and under-identified". "New Zealand has some of the best family violence legislation on paper that I've seen, but some of the worst rates of family violence, and some of the worst systemic responses." Overseas models University of Auckland professor in social and community health Janet Fanslow said there were overseas models that had shown huge promise in dramatically lowering family violence rates. Much of what New Zealand has been doing in the past two decades has been about increasing recognition of violence, often targeted at the victims of family violence, encouraging them to leave the relationship and seek help. While that's an important message, Fanslow wanted to see more investment in evidence-based strategies. "There are evidence-based prevention strategies that have been used elsewhere in the world which have seen dramatic decreases in intimate partner violence - I'm talking a 50 percent decrease in four years." While she acknowledged the importance of New Zealand developing "home grown solutions", Fanslow said we could learn a lot from successful international models. "Some of the successful strategies seen overseas are more community based, involving both men and women, exploring power and the use of power in relationships. "It's a great way to flip the discussion so violence becomes seen as a manifestation of power, which can be used in ways that go over the top of other people to suppress them, or you can think about power not as a zero-sum game. "It's been a transformational strategy elsewhere, because it brings men on board into the conversation, and it gives everyone a positive thing to move to." She said other well-evaluated programmes included those working with men, especially when they become new fathers. "That's a great entry, because men are interested in being good fathers, in being good parents and good partners, but we need to have the conversation with people about what that looks like, and how do you negotiate and do things like conflict resolution in ways that aren't about getting your own way at the expense of other people." Fanslow said funding cuts to the sector were counterproductive, especially cuts to parenting programmes. She said there was strong evidence showing the programmes' ability to engage parents and benefit children, and their cost effectiveness. "By supporting people to develop safe, stable and nurturing relationships with their children and giving people the skills and resources for that, it has long term benefits for the kids, and for society. "It's across all of those domains we say we're interested in - we say we're interested in better educational outcomes, we say we're interested in less crime, we say we're interested in better health - actually our relationships, and the quality of those relationships, influence all of those domains." A 2014 economic estimate - which put the cost of family violence at $4-7 billion a year - is likely a significant underestimate given increased costs, and what researchers were now learning about the long term health impacts of abuse, she said. Shannon Williams said the help she and her son received from Barnados was invaluable. She found the group meetings for the women's safety programme were important for her journey. "Before then, I don't think I realised that some of the things I experienced were abuse. It was really empowering to just sit in a room with a group of other ladies who had a similar experience - that was really healing, just to know I'm not alone and I'm not crazy. "We tend to internalise it and think there's something wrong with us, especially when you have someone constantly degrading you and devaluing you, you start to think, this is me, I'm the one causing this anger - but you can start to step back and say I wasn't doing anything wrong, this is their problem to figure out. That was really empowering."

As we eagerly await the arrival of YU7 next summer, Xiaomi's entry into the SUV segment is poised to shake up the industry and redefine the concept of smart mobility. With its combination of advanced technology, sustainable initiatives, and innovative design, YU7 promises to captivate consumers and set new benchmarks for excellence in the automotive world. Stay tuned for more updates on YU7 as Xiaomi prepares to unleash its revolutionary SUV onto the market.

Real Madrid, the Spanish powerhouse, is gearing up for their upcoming Champions League clash, and there have been exciting predictions from AS, the renowned sports media outlet, about the potential starting lineup for Zinedine Zidane's side. The headline-grabbing news is the inclusion of Kylian Mbappe and Isco in the starting XI, with an unexpected twist seeing Toni Kroos being deployed as a center-back alongside Raphael Varane. Additionally, youngster Takefusa Kubo is set to make his European debut for the Galacticos.In November, as indicated by the data from value-added tax invoices, the Chinese economy demonstrated notable bright spots, showcasing the effectiveness of the comprehensive policy measures implemented. With a blend of fiscal, monetary, and structural reforms, the economy has shown signs of stabilization and a gradual uptick in growth trajectory.

The shifting market dynamics surrounding corn and the emergence of the "lifesaving straw" rice highlight the need for agricultural stakeholders to adapt to changing trends and technologies. While corn has long been a reliable and profitable crop for many farmers, the threat of climate change and the demand for more resilient crops present challenges that cannot be ignored. By exploring new opportunities in crop diversification and innovation, farmers can position themselves to thrive in a changing agricultural landscape.

Overall, the approval and progress of the new highway project in Jiangxi Province herald a bright future for the region, paving the way for enhanced connectivity, economic development, and sustainable growth.Iranian 'mothership' linked to drones in New Jersey mysteriously missing from its port in Persian Gulf

Title: Liverpool Eyes Fekir and K77 to Prevent Departure of Arnold and Salah

Looking ahead, Jack Ma expressed optimism about the opportunities that the AI era presents, highlighting the potential for AI to enhance productivity, improve decision-making, and drive economic growth. He emphasized the need for businesses to adapt to the changing landscape and leverage AI technologies to their advantage to stay ahead in the increasingly digital economy.Schools caution international students: Get back to campus before Trump's inaugurationLooking ahead, the future of Southeast Asian overseas warehouses is poised for continued growth and innovation. As e-commerce continues to thrive and consumer expectations evolve, companies will need to invest in cutting-edge technology, sustainable practices, and agile supply chain strategies to stay ahead of the curve. Collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders in the industry will also be essential to drive further advancements and address emerging challenges.