As wildfires roar into residential neighborhoods, firefighters in California and elsewhere are finding that water systems can’t keep up with the demand.
A judge annulled the marriage after accepting the woman was tricked
A woman in Australia has annulled her marriage after realising that a fake wedding ceremony she took part in for a social media stunt was in fact real.
The unknowing bride said her partner was a social media influencer who convinced her to take part in the ceremony as a "prank" for his Instagram account.
She only discovered the marriage was genuine when he tried to use it to gain permanent residency in Australia.
A Melbourne judge granted the annulment after accepting the woman was tricked into getting married, in a judgment published on Thursday.
The bizarre case began in September 2023 when the woman met her partner on an online dating platform. They began seeing each other regularly in Melbourne, where they lived at the time.
In December that year, the man proposed to the woman and she accepted.
Two days later, the woman attended an event with the man in Sydney. She was told it would be a "white party" - where attendees would wear white-coloured clothing - and was told to pack a white dress.
But when they arrived she was "shocked" and "furious" to find no other guests present except for her partner, a photographer, the photographer's friend and a celebrant, according to her deposition quoted in court documents.
"So when I got there, and I didn't see anybody in white, I asked him, 'What's happening?'. And he pulled me aside, and he told me that he's organising a prank wedding for his social media, to be precise, Instagram, because he wants to boost his content, and wants to start monetising his Instagram page," she said.
She said she accepted his explanation as "he was a social media person" who had more than 17,000 followers on Instagram. She also believed that a civil marriage would only be valid if it was held in a court.
Still, she remained concerned. The woman rang a friend and voiced her worries, but the friend "laughed it off" and said it would be fine because, if it were real, they would have had to file a notice of intended marriage first, which they had not.
Reassured, the woman went through the ceremony where she and her partner exchanged wedding vows and kissed in front of a camera. She said she was happy at that time to "play along" to "make it look real".
Two months later, her partner asked her to add him as a dependent in her application for permanent residency in Australia. Both of them are foreigners.
When she told him she could not as they were technically not married, he then revealed that their Sydney wedding ceremony had been genuine, according to the woman's testimony.
The woman later found their marriage certificate, and discovered a notice of intended marriage which had been filed the month before their Sydney trip - before they even got engaged - which she said she did not sign. According to the court documents, the signature on the notice bears little resemblance to the woman's.
"I'm furious with the fact that I didn't know that that was a real marriage, and the fact that he also lied from the beginning, and the fact that he also wanted me to add him in my application," she said.
In his deposition, the man claimed they had "both agreed to these circumstances" and that following his proposal the woman had agreed to marry him at an "intimate ceremony" in Sydney.
The judge ruled that the woman was "mistaken about the nature of the ceremony performed" and "did not provide real consent to her participation" in the marriage.
"She believed she was acting. She called the event 'a prank'. It made perfect sense for her to adopt the persona of a bride in all things at the impugned ceremony so as to enhance the credibility of the video depicting a legally valid marriage," he stated in the judgement.
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What Xi Believes
Lizzi C. Lee is a fellow on Chinese Economy at Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis and the host of Wall St TV.
Reading the full text of Xi Jinping’s February 2023 speech — published on the last day of 2024, almost two years later, in Qiushi 求是— isn’t how I expected to welcome the new year. It’s dense, grandiose, and filled with Marxist-Leninist jargon that demands a machete to cut through. This speech is vintage Xi — equal parts ideological lecture, historical justification, and political directive. It’s also the clearest articulation we’ve had of his vision for “Chinese-style modernization” (中国式现代化). And, as always with Xi, there’s no shortage of sharp critiques, bold ambitions, and ominous warnings.
Modernization, Xi-Style
Xi’s pitch is simple: modernization doesn’t have to follow the Western script. In fact, it shouldn’t. He blames Western modernization for prioritizing capital over people, resulting in runaway inequality, entrenched social divisions, and political instability. For Xi, this isn’t just a bug in the system — it’s the system’s defining feature.
Chinese modernization, he says, is different. It’s “people-centered,” aiming for a balance between material wealth and spiritual well-being. It’s a model designed to suit China’s history, culture, and governance system — not a one-size-fits-all approach borrowed from the West. And Xi doesn’t stop there: he frames it as a beacon for other developing nations, a way out of the “middle-income trap” that has snared so many others.
This might resonate with some, especially in a world where the Western model has lost some of its sheen. The problem lies in the art of the word balance. Xi’s model relies on the very market mechanisms he criticizes. For all his railing against capital, the Chinese economy still leans heavily on private enterprises, foreign investment, and global trade. Xi wants to avoid the pitfalls of capitalism while using its tools to fuel growth. If anything, his tendency to clamp down too much risks suffocating the economic dynamism he seeks to safeguard, embedding even more vulnerabilities into the system. That balancing act — rejecting Western modernity while borrowing liberally from it — is harder to achieve in practice.
The Party: Soulkeeper and Savior
If there’s one thing Xi makes clear, it’s that the Party is non-negotiable. Without the CCP, he says, Chinese modernization would “lose its soul” (丧失灵魂). That’s heavy stuff, and it underlines how deeply he ties the Party’s leadership to the nation’s success — or failure. Party leadership isn’t just important — it’s existential. Xi warns that losing the Party’s grip would spell doom for the entire project.
Interestingly, Xi seems clear-eyed about the challenges within his own ranks. He talks about the “deep-rooted problems” (深层次问题) that still plague the Party — issues that, if left unchecked, could stage a comeback. His warning is blunt: any lapse in discipline could let old problems “resurface like embers reigniting” (死灰复燃). This seems to reflect the constant tension within the Party to maintain control, enforce discipline, and keep its sprawling apparatus from falling into complacency.
Xi’s disdain for procrastination is striking. “See risks early, act quickly, make decisive calls,” (见事早、行动快，当断则断、当机立断) he demands. And the language here is truly explosive (pun intended!): “Act decisively when action is needed; make bold, swift decisions. Don’t let small problems grow into big ones, or big problems explode” (当断则断、当机立断，不能让小事拖大、大事拖炸). The message is clear: inaction is dangerous, and delay is unforgivable. It’s the kind of directive that might inspire action — or strike terror — depending on where you sit in the Party hierarchy.
Lean Into the Struggle
If there’s one word that defines Xi’s speech, it’s struggle (斗争). He frames it as the CCP’s defining trait, a “political gene” forged through a century of adversity.
Struggle isn’t just a strategy for Xi — it’s practically a moral imperative. He frames it as the CCP’s key to its past victories and future survival. “Weakness” and “retreat,” he argues, lead only to decline. It’s a stark, almost combative philosophy, underpinned by his conviction that China’s path is righteous and its rise inevitable.
When it comes to cultivating young leaders, Xi is equally unsentimental. He wants cadres forged in the fire of practice and struggle. His metaphor of choice? “Let cadres, especially young ones, learn to swim by swimming” (在游泳中学会游泳). The best way to spot capable leaders, he suggests, is to see who thrives in “severe and complex struggles” (严峻复杂的斗争).
But this obsession with struggle reveals as much about Xi’s insecurities as it does about his ambitions. [JS: he must see lazy cadres all the time whose hearts aren’t in the fight.] China’s rise, he acknowledges, is fraught with risks: economic pressures, geopolitical tensions, and internal dissent. Xi’s solution is to double down on the fight, whether it’s against foreign “containment,” domestic inefficiencies, or ideological wavering within the Party.
And here’s the irony: a system that constantly defines itself through struggle risks becoming trapped in a self-perpetuating cycle of conflict. Xi’s insistence on vigilance — his warning to cadres to “act decisively” and prevent “small risks from escalating into major crises” — sounds less like confidence and more like paranoia. It’s as if he’s bracing for a storm that never arrives but always looms on the horizon.
The West as the Convenient Villain
Xi’s critique of the West is one of the speech’s sharpest elements — and also one of its most revealing. He accuses Western modernization of being inherently exploitative, built on colonialism, inequality, and capital-driven greed. But Xi goes further, taking aim at what he calls the “myth” that modernization equals Westernization.
By positioning Chinese modernization as a viable and increasingly appealing alternative, he not only defends China’s path but also offers it as a model for other nations — though, as Xi claims, China won’t force it on others.
Of course, the focus of this messaging is other developing countries. In fact, Xi portrays China’s model not just as an alternative but as an improvement to the Western system, which he accuses of failing those who tried to copy it. It’s a not-so-subtle attempt to redefine modernization itself — and to shift the narrative away from Western dominance.
And while Xi rails against Western-style inequality, China’s own wealth gap remains an uncomfortable reality. The promise of “common prosperity” has been toned down in recent years, given economic malaise and the seemingly more urgent need to revive the animal spirits of the business community. Yet another reminder of how fast China can pivot (and how long the time delay of the Qiushi article is!).
Can Xi Deliver?
Xi’s speech is a declaration of ideological intent. It frames Chinese modernization as a project of historic significance, tied to the Party’s legitimacy, China’s rise, and even global civilization itself. It’s ambitious, audacious, and, yes, a little overwhelming. My main issue, though, is whether his vision is genuinely achievable. The message boils down to: “Do everything, perfectly, all at once.” It’s an impossible standard that Xi holds himself to. He wants to combine market efficiency with socialist equity, preserve environmental sustainability while driving industrial growth, and project confidence while guarding against constant threats. It’s a lot to ask of any system, let alone one as complex and unwieldy as China’s.
Some might say that the competing priorities and contradictions may not be a bug but a feature. Like many Party documents, it attempts to cover every conceivable issue with sweeping mandates, but it leaves room for both ideological purity and pragmatic flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. But Xi goes a step further. What is clear to me is that Xi isn’t just trying to reshape China. He’s trying to reshape the very idea of modernity itself.
Back to the topic of ideology and practicality, I do believe, though, compared with Xi’s predecessors, he is less about paying lip service to ideological purity and is actually a man of deep conviction in such beliefs — but that’s a topic for another day.
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Constellation Energy’s deal to buy Calpine is being driven by fast-rising demand for electricity in part by the technology industry’s investments in artificial intelligence.
Calpine’s natural gas power plants, like this one in Richmond, Texas, are increasingly valuable because of the rising demand for electricity from data centers.
The president-elect had said the Russian leader wanted to meet him to discuss the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin stopped short of that, saying it could only happen after he takes office.
President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Club, on Thursday. Mr. Trump has repeatedly said that he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours after entering office, without saying how.
A 4x4 makes its way through a snow covered road in Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Commuters are being warned of icy roads and travel disruption, as temperatures plummeted again overnight across the UK.
Fresh weather warnings have been issued, with snow, ice and fog forecast across southern England, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland on Thursday.
It will be mainly dry elsewhere with winter sunshine, but temperatures could fall again to as low as -16C on Thursday night.
The cold snap has already brought heavy snowfall to some areas, and dozens of flood alerts and warnings are in place due to either heavy rain or melting snow.
On Wednesday the lowest temperature recorded was -8.4C (16F) in Shap, Cumbria, according to the Met Office.
It comes as an amber cold health alert remains in place for all of England until Sunday, meaning the forecast weather is expected to have significant impacts across health - including a rise in deaths.
The Hills/BBC Weather Watcher
A sheep walks in snow in Huddersfield
The Met Office says travel disruption to road and rail services is likely on Thursday in areas covered by warnings, as well potential for accidents in icy places.
There are five warnings in place:
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for northern Scotland until midnight on Thursday
A yellow warning for ice has been issued until 10:30 across southern England and south-east Wales
Two yellow warnings for snow and ice are in force until 11:00 GMT - one across western Wales and north-west England, and south-west England; and another for Northern Ireland
A yellow warning for fog until 09:00 in Northern Ireland
Sue B/BBC Weather Watchers
A teenager made a snow sculpture of Venus in her garden in Leeds
On Wednesday snow caused some roads to close and motorists to be stationary for "long periods of time" in Devon and Cornwall, according to authorities there.
Gritters working into Thursday morning have been fitted with ploughs to clear routes in the area.
Car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
"Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow," said RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson.
National Rail have also advised passengers to check before they travel, as ice and snow can mean speed restrictions and line closures.
On Wednesday evening, poor weather was affecting Northern and Great Western Railway.
Buses are also replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog until Monday.
A car covered in snow on a road in Buxton, Derbyshire
The wintry conditions have caused significant disruption across the UK since snow swept many parts of the country at the weekend.
Hundreds of schools were closed in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including schools in Yorkshire, Merseyside, the Midlands and Aberdeenshire.
The country has also been hit by widespread flooding in recent days. Currently there are 68 flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - in England and three in Wales.
The weather is expected to be less cold over the weekend.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen in the early hours of Tuesday in Aberdeen city centre
Police are searching for two sisters in Aberdeen who were last seen three days ago.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32 and who live in Aberdeen city centre, were last seen in Market Street at Victoria Bridge at about 02:12 GMT on Tuesday.
They then crossed the bridge and turned into a footpath next to the River Dee in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club.
Police Scotland said they are carrying "extensive enquires" and searches to find the sisters, including the use of police dogs and the marine unit.
Family handout
The Huszti sisters were last seen on CCTV in Aberdeen's Market Street at Victoria Bridge
Both Eliza and Henrietta are described as being white, slim build with long, brown hair.
Police said the side of Victoria Bridge in the Torry area, where they were last seen, contained many commercial and industrial units and searches are ongoing there.
It added it was urging businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review CCTV footage recorded in the early hours of Tuesday and dashcam footage.
Ch Insp Darren Bruce said: "We are continuing to speak to people who know Eliza and Henrietta and we urge anyone who has seen them or who has any information regarding their whereabouts to please contact 101 quoting incident number 0735 of Tuesday, 7 January, 2025."
Please create a Tetris game with the following requirements:
Basic Game Mechanics:
Standard Tetris board layout
Different shaped pieces (tetrominoes)
Piece rotation and movement
Line clearing when filled
Game over detection
Controls:
Arrow keys for movement (left, right)
Up arrow for rotation
Down arrow/space for quick drop
Automatic piece falling
Scoring System:
Base points for clearing lines
Bonus scoring for multiple lines:
2 lines: 200 base + 200 bonus = 400 total
3 lines: 300 base + 300 bonus = 600 total
Dynamic speed increases:
Every 2000 points reduces interval by 100ms
Starting at 1000ms
Minimum interval of 100ms
Visual level-up indication
Visual Features:
Next piece preview window
Score display
Lines cleared counter
Game over screen
Level up animations
Bonus score animations
High Score System:
Store top 10 high scores in localStorage
Display scores sorted high to low
Include date for each score
Highlight current score in the list
Persistent between sessions
Additional Features:
Restart button on game over
Clean, modern visual design
Responsive controls
Performance optimization
Technical Requirements:
Use plain JavaScript (no frameworks)
HTML5 Canvas for game rendering
CSS for styling
Local Storage for high scores
Responsive design principles
The implementation should focus on:
Clean, maintainable code
Smooth gameplay experience
Intuitive user interface
Proper error handling
Performance optimization
Please provide the complete implementation with appropriate comments and documentation.
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