Russia enacted a new decree on Wednesday that limits payouts for injured soldiers based on their wounds.Soldiers with less severe wounds now have their $30,000 payout knocked down to $10,000, or even $1,000.Previous foreign estimates found that Russia had to spend 6% of its budget on casualty payouts. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The Kremlin introduced new restrictions on Wednesday to medical payouts for Russia's wounded troops, swiftly enacting a decree that allows only those with severe injuries to receive a promised $30,000.Previously, Russia had pledged at the start of its war on Ukraine that those wounded in the fighting were to each be given a one-time payout of 3 million rubles, or about $30,000.But Russian leader Vladimir Putin's new instruction on Wednesday reduces that payout to $10,000 for less severe injuries and $1,000 for other cases.The decree was approved by Russia's prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, who leads the country's parliament, and put into law at 4 p.m. on the same day.By the Kremlin's new guidelines, soldiers will only receive the full $30,000 if they suffer "Section I" injuries, or those that endanger their life or health or may cause significant damage to their organs.These include severe spinal injuries, brain damage, rupturing of genitalia, rib fractures, broken limbs, or damage to organs such as the lungs or kidneys.Less severe injuries that qualify a soldier for $10,000 are listed under "Section II." These are deemed temporary wounds such as minor fractures, concussions, first- and second-degree burns to the eyes, ankle fractures, and gunshot wounds that don't affect organs.Russia still holds to a law signed by Putin in March 2022 that entitles those who die in the war to about 7.4 million rubles, or $75,000, as well as 5 million rubles, or $50,000, to their families.Those wounded and deemed "unfit for duty" are also entitled to another 2.96 million rubles on top of their injury payout.The new decision comes about a week after Russian media reported that authorities had been discussing revising injury compensation.Anna Tsivileva, a Russian deputy defense minister, told reporters on November 5 that doctors and hospitals had said the payouts didn't account for the severity of soldiers' injuries.Meanwhile, mounting casualties from Russia's grinding advance in Ukraine's east have likely ballooned the cost of the payouts to the wounded and the families of those killed. The UK estimated that as many as 1,500 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded on average for every day of October.In July, two Western-based researchers estimated that Russia would have to spend about 2.3 trillion rubles, now worth about $23 billion, in payouts for the dead and wounded. That was about 6% of the country's entire budget for 2024.The Kremlin's press service did not respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

While campaigning, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to dismantle the US Department of Education (DOE), on the basis that the federal education apparatus is indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material. One thing Ill be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, DC, and sending all education and education work it needs back to the states, Trump said in a 2023 video outlining his education policy goals. We want them to run the education of our children because theyll do a much better job of it. You cant do worse.Closing the department wouldnt be easy for Trump, but it isnt impossible and even if the DOE remains open, there are certainly ways Trump could radically change education in the United States. Heres whats possible.Can Trump actually close the DOE?Technically, yes. However, It would take an act of Congress to take it out, Don Kettl, professor emeritus and former dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, told Vox. It would take an act of Congress to radically restructure it. And so the question is whether or not thered be appetite on the Hill for abolishing the department. Related:What do librarians do? Do they need degrees?Thats not such an easy prospect, even though the Republicans look set to take narrow control of the Senate and the House. Thats because abolishing the department would require 60 votes unless the Republicans abolish the filibuster, Jal Mehta, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, told Vox. Without the filibuster rule, legislation would need a simple majority to pass, but senators have been hesitant to get rid of it in recent years. With the filibuster in place, Republicans would need some Democratic senators to join their efforts to kill the department. The likelihood of Democratic senators supporting such a move is almost nonexistent.That means the push to unwind the department is probably largely symbolic. And that is the best-case scenario, Jon Valant, director of the Brookings Institutions Brown Center on Education Policy, told Vox. According to Valant, dismantling it would simultaneously damage the US education system while also failing to accomplish Trumps stated goals. Closing the department would wreak havoc across the country, Valant said. It would cause terrible pain. It would cause terrible pain in parts of the country represented by congressional Republicans too.Much of that pain would likely fall on the countrys most vulnerable students: poor students, students in rural areas, and students with disabilities. Thats because the departments civil rights powers help it to support state education systems in providing specialized resources to those students.Furthermore, much of what Trump and MAGA activists claim the agency is responsible for like teaching critical race theory and LGBTQ ideology isnt actually the purview of the DOE; things like curriculum and teacher choice are already the domain of state departments of education. And only about 10 percent of federal public education funding flows to state boards of education, according to Valant. The rest comes primarily from tax sources, so states and local school districts are already controlling much of the funding structure of their specific public education systems.I find it a little bewildering that the US Department of Education has become such a lightning rod here, in part because I dont know how many people have any idea what the department actually does, Valant said.Even without literally shutting the doors to the federal agency, there could be ways a Trump administration could hollow the DOE and do significant damage, Valant and Kettl said. The administration could require the agency to cut the roles of agency employees, particularly those who ideologically disagree with the administration. It could also appoint officials with limited (or no) education expertise, hampering the day-to-day work of the department.Trump officials could also attempt changes to the departments higher education practices. The department is one of several state and nongovernmental institutions involved in college accreditation, for example and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has threatened to weaponize the accreditation process against universities he believes to be too woke. Finally, Trump could use the departments leadership role to affect policy indirectly: Theres power that comes from just communicating to states what you would like to see being taught in schools, Valant said. And there are a lot of state leaders around the country who seem ready to follow that lead.Trumps plans for the department will become clearer once the administration nominates a Secretary of Education. Once that person is confirmed, Kettl said, Theyre just gonna be off to the races on the issue again.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on November 5, 2024.Donald J. Trump is headed to the White House again. Hell have the help of a Republican Senate, almost certainly a Republican House, and a conservative Supreme Court that includes three justices he appointed the first time around. The former president made plenty of pledges on the campaign trail now its time to see whats actually possible.Vox explains the agenda for Trumps second term. We take a look at what Trumps victory means for reproductive freedom and antipoverty programs, how his calls for tariffs will transform the economy, the realities of a plan for mass deportations, and more. We track Trumps promises and policies on everything from artificial intelligence to Middle East policy and how Americans are reacting in the wake of his historic win.We hope this coverage will cut through the chaos of the post-election months. Please keep checking back as we add stories and build out a guide to what to expect for the next four years.Why Ukraine thinks it can still win over Donald TrumpHow Trumps second term will be differentCould Trump actually get rid of the Department of Education?Health care and the social safety netFollowing Trumps victory, some women consider swearing off menTrump proposed big Medicaid and food stamp cuts. Can he pass them?What happens if another pandemic strikes while Trump is president?Trump won. So what does that mean for abortion?Trumps health care plan exposes the truth about his populismTrump just opened the door to Social Security cuts. Take him seriously.Taxes, tariffs, and the economyTrumps tariffs could tank the economy. Will the Supreme Court stop them?Elon Musk assures voters that Trumps victory would deliver temporary hardshipAI, social media, and Big TechTrumps techno-libertarian dream team goes to WashingtonAI is powerful, dangerous, and controversial. What will Donald Trump do with it?Immigration and the southern borderA Trump second term could bring another family separation crisisWould Trumps mass deportation plan actually work?Trumps immigration policies are his old ones but worseRussia, China, and the Middle EastWhy Ukraine thinks it can still win over Donald TrumpHow the second Trump presidency could reshape the worldThe global risks of a Trump presidency will be much higher this timeWhat Trump really thinks about the war in Gaza

EA FC 25 players have a whole new Team of the Week to find in packs, with amazing upgrades for Jude Bellingham, Mo Salah, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto

The Switch is finally getting some decent discounts (Nintendo)SHOPPING Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Metro article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Metro.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.Black Friday hasnt technically started yet, but there are already tons of discounts for Nintendo Switch consoles and games in the UK.With the consoles successor expected to arrive at some point next year, this Christmas should be the best time to pick up a Nintendo Switch at a cheap price.The console has amassed an impressive library of games since it launched in 2017 and it hasnt slowed down this year, with recent titles including Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership.Ahead of Black Friday, many retailers have already slashed the prices on a number of Switch bundles, so heres a round-up of all the discounts available online.Black Friday 2024 Nintendo Switch dealsAt the time of writing, the best Nintendo Switch deal is through Argos, where you can pick up a Nintendo Switch OLED, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and a 12 month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online for 289.99. When priced individually, all these items come to roughly just under 390, so its pretty huge saving overall.Considering the Nintendo Switch OLED by itself usually costs 299 on the same site too, youre essentially getting one of the systems best games for free.This same bundle is available on other retailers, including the Nintendo Store, John Lewis, and Smyths Toys, but it is roughly 10 more expensive there. Smyths Toys, however is offering the same bundle with either Mario Kart 8 or Mario & Luigi: Brothership for 329.99, which is a pretty great deal too.The OLED model has an improved screen (Nintendo)If youre after a Nintendo Switch Lite, which can only be played in handheld mode, Argos also has the best deal, selling two variants on the Animal Crossing: New Horizons bundle for 189.99, which is 10 cheaper than everywhere else.As for just the console itself, Amazon has the improved Switch OLED for 271.50, which is almost 40 cheaper than the Nintendo Store.Nintendo Switch OLED dealsNintendo Switch OLED Console + Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 309.99 Nintendo StoreNintendo Switch OLED Console + Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 289.99 ArgosNintendo Switch OLED Console 279.99 ArgosNintendo Switch OLED Console + Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 299.99 Smyths ToysNintendo Switch OLED Console + Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) + Mario & Luigi: Brothership or Mario Kart 8 329.99 Smyths ToysNintendo Switch OLED Console 271.50 AmazonNintendo Switch OLED Console + Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 298 John LewisNintendo Switch Lite dealsNintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Timmy & Tommy Aloha Edition + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 199.99 Nintendo StoreNintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Isabella Aloha Edition + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 199.99 Nintendo StoreNintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Isabella Aloha Edition + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 189.99 ArgosNintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Timmy & Tommy Aloha Edition + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 189.99 ArgosNintendo Switch dealsNintendo Switch Console + Nintendo Switch Sports + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 259.99 Nintendo StoreNintendo Switch Console 249.99 ArgosNintendo Switch Console + Nintendo Switch Sports + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) + Mario Kart 8 269 Very.co.ukNintendo Switch Console + Nintendo Switch Sports + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 249.99 John LewisMario & Luigi: Brothership is one of the last big Switch games (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.MORE : Where are the PS5 and Switch made? How Trump tariffs may impact pricesMORE : Video Game Christmas Gift Guide 2024 PS5, Nintendo Switch and XboxMORE : Nintendo Switch to be best-selling console ever despite 31% sales dropSign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site.Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

In between running for president, having an affair with a journalist, and defending himself against a wave of dead animal scandals, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vowed to Make America Healthy Again. One of his chief inspirations for doing that is a wellness influencer who apparently felt called to spread the gospel of health after tripping balls on some psilocybin mushrooms. The Wall Street Journal writes that Calley Means and his sister, Dr. Casey Means, a surgeon, are the wellness gurus from whom Kennedy has sourced much of his New Age-y health philosophy. The newspaper calls the siblings top advisors to Kennedy, and notes that their book, Good Energy, has been circulated among Trumps inner circle. Prior to becoming a health influencer, Means ironically worked as a lobbyist for the food industry. His LinkedIn profile says he also spent brief stints at Booz Allen Hamilton (the shadowy deep state-contractor) and the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing think tank behind Project 2025.Means claims he awoke from his corporate slumber after tripping on shrooms. The paper notes that the former lobbyist had a vision of dedicating his life to reforming healthcare after a high dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin. Michelle Obama was right, you know, to some degree, Means admitted during a recent interview with the Journal. By that, Means appears to be saying that Obamas program to make school lunches healthier was, in fact, a good idea. This is an agenda, youll recall, that was broadly derided by conservatives.Indeed, during his first term, Trump rolled back guidelines that Michelle Obama had put in place to heighten nutrition standards for national school lunches, because, in Trumps eyes, healthy children are too much of a bureaucratic cross to bear.The Means siblings have cruised the usual circuit of alt-media programming, including the podcasts of Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson. As admitted conservatives pursuing a pro-health, anti-corporatist agenda, they represent an odd ideological juncture that offers a weird hodgepodge of good and maybe not-so-good ideas. Similarly, Kennedy has often brought derision upon himself by being the mouthpiece for numerous health-related conspiracy theories (most notably, his indulgence of the anti-vax crowd), though not all of his ideas are entirely stupid. Americans should eat healthierits trueand another Kennedy ideato create government-funded wellness farmshas been championed by some progressive activists for years.That said, the real problem for Kennedy is that it seems highly unlikely Trump will ever let him do anything that legitimately threatens the interests of pharmaceutical companies or the private healthcare industry. After all, Trumps first administration was in bed with snack and corn syrup lobbyists, and the former President is a well-known fast food fanatic who held an actual McDonalds banquet inside the West Wing. During a recent podcast appearance involving Means, Kennedy even admitted that he found Trumps fat-filled dietary habitswhich he was exposed to during the campaignto be really, like, bad. Time will tell whether Kennedy is given an appointment in Trumps administration at all. So far, Trump has largely betrayed those voters who assumed he would drain the swamp. Instead, hes picked a cabinet full of Washington D.C. insiders, many of whom seem to signal a presidency that will have little to do with Trumps campaign promises. Maybe, if nothing else, Kennedy can be Trumps personal trainer.

Lately, Lady Gaga has been appearing in a lot of projects that are not directly tied to her already stellar music career. But just when you thought the response to Joker: Folie Deux might signal a slowed momentum in Gagas presence in Hollywood, news broke announcing Mama Monster is joining the cast of Netflixs smash-hit series Wednesday According to a report from Entertainment Weekly, Gaga has joined the season two cast of Wednesday. This news comes following a previous cast announcement that Steve Buscemi would be joining the Netflix series as well. While Gagas presence does a good show of upstaging Buscemi, her seemingly left-field casting announcement actually makes a lot of sense when you consider how her music career became intrinsically linked to the cultural success of the show all thanks to a viral TikTok edit. In 2022, a clip of Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams dancing to Goo Goo Muck by the Cramps became a sensation on TikTok. However, it was not the Cramps track that led to its success on the platform, but rather a fan-made edit with Lady Gagas 2011 song Bloody Mary that escalated the clips popularity. Before long, the Gaga version surpassed the Netflix shows original scene and sparked a dance trend on the platform. The trend grew so rapidly that it caught Lady Gagas attention, prompting her to join in with her rendition of the Wednesday Dance. While no one has outright confirmed this trend and Gagas involvement led to a delayed domino effect of her joining the cast, all signs are pointing to that being the case. @ladygaga BLOODY WEDNESDAY #fyp original sound heyy Gagas Hollywood presence is well-established by now; her most high-profile turns have included starring in 2018s Oscar-winning A Star Is Born and, more recently, DC Comics far less acclaimed Joker: Folie Deux. While Gagas shotgun-spread approach to acting roles has a 50/50 chance of being a cinematic success, every role she lands always neatly fits into her artistic ethos as a provocative performer. All that to say, Gaga joining the cast of Wednesday is a no-brainer.In a previous interview with Vanity Fair, Jenna Ortega revealed Wednesdays upcoming seasonwill showcase new villains, supernatural powers, and a darker tone more akin to Roger Cormans The Masque of the Red Death. Perhaps Gagas involvement in her as-yet unknown role will help fulfill one of, if not all three, of those criteria. Wednesday season two is slated to release on Netflix sometime in 2025. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Wabi Residences / RA!Save this picture! Ariadna PoloHousingTulum, MexicoArchitects: RA!PhotographsPhotographs:Ariadna PoloMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Hacienda Wabi is a residential complex nestled within the jungle, seamlessly blending into its natural surroundings. Promoted by Namus, a Tulum-based developer specializing in boutique projects and designed by RA!, the structure, composed of stairways and terraces, rises to create spaces that, over time, seem to surrender back to nature. The buildings design seeks to reinterpret the passage of time through the lens of ruin aesthetics.Save this picture!Save this picture!The staggered volumes, which recede skyward, evoke the ancient settlements that once lined the area, generating a layout that ensures a consistent flow of light and air to each block.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The terraces are framed by perimeter planters that drape the faade in greenery, giving the impression of nature reclaiming the space.Save this picture!Save this picture!Inside, a large, fragmented courtyard creates intimate corners that provide access to the 15 apartments spread across three levels. Each level features terraces and winding pathways that lead to the semi-public areas, including the pool and recreational spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Each floor offers distinct features: the ground level boasts expansive gardens and pools, the first level includes terraces and jacuzzis, while the second level features roof gardens with views extending to the treetops.Save this picture!The buildings material palette draws from local textures, with stone anchoring the base and Chukum finishing the upper levels. Neutral tones allow the jungle to play a starring role, as vegetation becomes an integral part of the walls and slabs, blending seamlessly with the architecture.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on November 14, 2024Cite: "Wabi Residences / RA!" [Hacienda Wabi / RA!] 14 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023412/wabi-residences-ra&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Tan Coffee / Son StudioSave this picture! Quang DamCoffee ShopThnh ph Hu, VietnamArchitects: son.studioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:245 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs:Quang DamManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Hopo, INAX Lead Architect: Nguyen Bao Son More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. From the initial idea of an abandoned factory, we dissembled the old structure and replaced it with a steel and concrete one, except for the front house whose concrete ceiling and old walls were left intact. The tin roof of the middle house was raised to give the feeling of "a factory". Big concrete pillars are used to divide up the space and big windows are to allow light and wind in. An indoor garden helps ease the heavy visual of concrete and steel.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The bar is placed in the front, by the main door, for ease of access. The office, storage room, and toilet are in the back, along with another indoor garden as the main green space of the whole architecture. The main materials in use are concrete walls and ceilings, steel, glass, and recycled wood. The furniture is of an industrial style, compatible with the overall design.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The most difficult task for the architect as well as the construction team was to create a color of past times, as the initial idea was of "an abandoned factory." Therefore, the tin roof was recycled, steel structures were artificially rusted using additives, the concrete ceiling was left intact from the remains of the old house, and wood parts were recycled from other old constructions. After 6 months of design and renovation, we now present "a cafe inside of an abandoned factory."Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Thnh ph Hu, VietnamLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeson.studioOfficeMaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on November 14, 2024Cite: "Tan Coffee / Son Studio" 14 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023328/tan-coffee-son-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream