All councils controlled by the Reform party plan to increase local taxes, though Reform sources say a handful expect to keep rises below the rate of inflation. The article notes party figures had pledged to cut wasteful spending but leaders are facing rising costs similar to other councils.
Hong Kong's High Court will hear Jimmy Lai's mitigation plea on Monday ahead of sentencing, after he was found guilty last month on two counts related to national security.
Wegmans and other U.S. retailers have deployed facial-recognition systems in a small number of stores, and privacy advocates and some lawmakers say oversight, accuracy and transparency are limited.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards take place Jan. 11 at the Beverly Hilton with Nikki Glaser returning as host, and 'One Battle After Another' leading nominations with nine; the show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Jesse Armstrong told Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that he still experiences imposter syndrome despite Succession's awards, and he described both the energising moments of a writers' room and the lows of working alone.
William Ackman is listed as a top donor of $10,000 to a GoFundMe supporting ICE agent Jonathan Ross; officials have defended the agent as acting in self-defense and a federal investigation into the death of Renee Nicole Good is underway.
Reggie Yates revealed he underwent emergency surgery in February after doctors discovered a tumour, and he described the experience as one of the hardest moments of his life.
Manchester United players were told that Champions League qualification is the target for the rest of the season after Ruben Amorim left; interim staff will lead the team while a permanent manager is sought.
Reports say Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov is reportedly receiving dialysis after alleged kidney failure, and intelligence-linked sources have reported growing concern while Moscow has not commented.
Protests that began after a late-December currency shock have spread across Iran while authorities imposed an internet blackout and increased security operations; rights groups have reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests.
