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NewAmsterdam Pharma Announces Commencement of $300 Million Public Offering of Ordinary Shares ...OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada’s hotel. The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country’s under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier. “You only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?” Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning. “Is that how this works?” That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament. Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians. The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight. “We’re certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water,” said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. “We’ve got to be really careful.” Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front. There were, of course, desperate spurts — especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime — but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects. “We played really, really hard,” Anholt said in defending his players. “We controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good ... 99 times out of 100 we win that game.” Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year’s Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players. Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia’s net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area. “Tough blow for the kid,” Anholt said. “The way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed.” Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday’s ugly result in the nation’s capital. “We’re good,” said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. “Everyone’s lost a hockey game before.” But not like that — or to that opponent on that stage. “Bit of a (crappy) feeling,” said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. “We all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard. “We’ll bounce back.” Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team’s overall roster construction. “We’re not really worried about it,” defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year’s team, said of the outside noise. “We know we didn’t play well.” Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there’s a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee. The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League. “Great player,” Cowan said. “He finds ways.” Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments. “Let’s not panic,” he said. “The world hasn’t fallen in. It’s hard, but we’ll learn from it.” It’s something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny. “People are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you,” said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. “Gotta keep doing you.” Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn’t getting 2024 vibes from this year’s group. “Not even in any way, shape or form,” he said. “We’ve just got to take care of business.” They get a first shot at redemption Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The Detroit Lions will play without two high draft picks in rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. while getting back veteran Emmanuel Moseley against the host Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Arnold was downgraded Saturday from questionable to out because of a groin injury. He was limited at practice on Thursday and participated in a full practice on Friday. The Lions drafted Arnold with the 24th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Arnold, 21, has started all 10 games and has 38 tackles and six passes defended. Rakestraw (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve after not practicing all week. He already had been ruled out for Sunday's game. Detroit picked Rakestraw in the second round (61st overall) out of Missouri. He has played in eight games and has six tackles. Rakestraw, 22, has played on 46 defensive snaps (8 percent) and 95 special teams snaps (42 percent). Moseley had full practice sessions all week and was activated from injured reserve on Saturday but was listed as questionable for Sunday. The 28-year-old is in his second season with Detroit and appeared in one game last season before going on IR in October 2023. He was placed on IR on Aug. 27 with a designation to return. Moseley played from 2018-22 for the San Francisco 49ers and had 162 tackles, four interceptions -- one returned for a touchdown -- and 33 passes defensed in 46 games (33 starts). Detroit elevated linebacker David Long on Saturday for game day. Long, 28, signed with the practice squad on Tuesday after the Miami Dolphins released him on Nov. 13. He had started six of eight games for the Dolphins this season and had 38 tackles. In other Lions news, the NFL fined wide receiver Jameson Williams $19,697 for unsportsmanlike conduct for making an obscene gesture during a touchdown celebration in last Sunday's 52-6 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL Network reported Saturday. Williams, 23, scored on a 65-yard pass from Jared Goff with 12:55 remaining in the third quarter. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.Vikings right guard Dalton Risner says he’ll continue to get better at new position"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

Romania PM fends off far-right challenge in presidential first roundThe International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The announcement came as health officials in the Gaza Strip said the death toll from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. The ICC panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both Netanyahu and his ex-defense minister bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Israel’s war has caused heavy destruction across Gaza, decimated parts of the territory and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here’s the Latest: BEIRUT — Israeli strikes killed at least 51 people on Thursday in towns and villages across Lebanon, according to the country's Health Ministry. In eastern Lebanon, intensified Israeli airstrikes killed 40 people in 10 different towns in Baalbek province, the ministry said. Rescuers were searching under the rubble of destroyed buildings, said Gov. Bachir Khodr, calling it “a very violent day” in his province. In southern Lebanon, five people were killed by an Israeli strike in Tyre province, and seven others were killed by a strike in Nabatiyeh province, the Health Ministry said. As of Thursday, the Health Ministry has recorded at least 3,583 people killed and 15,244 wounded in Lebanon during the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel, with the majority of casualties taking place after Israel’s escalation and ground offensive in late September. UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. humanitarian chief for Gaza is warning that the delivery of critical food, water, fuel and medical supplies is grinding to a halt throughout the territory and “the survival of two million people hangs in the balance.” Muhannad Hadi said in a statement Thursday that Israeli authorities have been banning commercial imports for more than six weeks and at the same time thefts from humanitarian convoys by armed individuals have surged. “In 2024, U.N. trucks have been looted 75 times –- including 15 such attacks since Nov. 4 alone –- and armed people have broken into U.N. facilities on 34 occasions,” he said. Last week, one driver was shot in the head and hospitalized along with another truck driver, Hadi said. And on Saturday 98 trucks were looted in a single attack which saw the vehicles damaged or stolen. The Gaza humanitarian coordinator said bakeries are closing because of lack of flour or fuel to operate generators. “Palestinian civilians are struggling to survive under unlivable conditions, amid relentless hostilities,” Hadi said. He demanded the immediate improvement of security and conditions throughout Gaza to allow the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid “through lawful means.” Israel says it puts no limit on the supplies permitted into Gaza, and it blames the U.N. distribution system. But Israel’s official figures show the amount of aid it has let in has plunged since the beginning of October. The U.N has blamed Israeli military restrictions, along with widespread lawlessness that has led to theft of aid shipments. WASHINGTON — The White House fundamentally rejects the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday. She said the Biden administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” The Biden administration has increased its warnings and appeals to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do more to spare civilians in airstrikes and other attacks, and to allow more aid to reach Gaza. However, a 30-day Biden administration deadline came and went earlier this month for Israel to meet specific U.S. targets to improve its treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza trapped in the war. U.S. demands included that Israel lift a near-total ban on delivery of aid to hard-hit north Gaza for starving civilians there. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The three children were playing outside a cluster of tents housing displaced people in the Gaza Strip when an Israeli airstrike killed them, along with six other people. It’s become a grim, near-daily ritual more than 13 months into the Israel-Hamas war, which local health authorities said Thursday has killed over 44,000 Palestinians. Israel carries out frequent strikes against what it says are militants hiding in civilian areas, and women and children are nearly always among the dead. Wednesday’s strike killed Hamza al-Qadi, 7, his brother Abdulaziz, 5, and their sister Laila, 4, in a tent camp in the southern city of Khan Younis. Areej al-Qadi, their mother, says they were playing outside when they were killed. “All that’s left of them are their notebooks, their books and a blood-stained jacket,” she said as she broke into tears. “They were children who did nothing.” The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on the strike. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Thursday that 44,056 Palestinians have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war, which was ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people that day, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 people. The Health Ministry does not say how many of those killed in Gaza were fighters but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities. Israel, which rarely comments on individual strikes, says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Hours after the ministry announced the latest toll, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader. Mahmoud bin Hassan, the children’s father, said he buried them on Thursday. He asked when the international community would take action to stop the war. “When the entire Palestinian population has been killed?” he said. NEW YORK — Human Rights Watch applauded the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants issued Thursday against both Israeli and Hamas officials. The warrants “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. The New York-based rights group earlier this month released a report saying Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, including massive forced displacements that amount to ethnic cleansing. JERUSALEM — Israeli prosecutors have charged a former aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with leaking classified documents to international media, apparently to protect the Israeli leader from criticism as a hostage deal was collapsing. Eli Feldstein, a former media adviser to Netanyahu, was charged Thursday with leaking classified information with the intent of harming state security and obstruction of justice. The leaked documents are said to have formed the basis of a widely discredited article in the London-based Jewish Chronicle — which was later withdrawn — suggesting Hamas planned to spirit hostages out of Gaza through Egypt, and an article in Germany’s Bild newspaper that said Hamas was drawing out the hostage talks as a form of psychological warfare on Israel. Critics say the leaks were aimed at giving Netanyahu political cover as the case-fire talks ground to a halt. Some have accused Netanyahu of resisting a deal in to preserve his governing coalition, which includes hard-line members who have threatened to bring down the government if he makes concessions to Hamas. The leaks came at a time of public uproar over the deaths of six hostages who were killed by their Hamas captors as Israeli soldiers were closing in. The indictment said the leaks were meant “to create media influence on the public discourse in Israel in regards to the handling of the hostage situation, after the news of the murder of six hostages.” The indictment identified two other Netanyahu aides as being connected to the scheme, but only Feldstein and an unidentified reservist in Israeli military intelligence were charged. Netanyahu, who denies the accusations, has not been identified as a suspect in the burgeoning investigation. Israeli media say if convicted, Feldstein could potentially face life in prison. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military has launched an investigation into the death of a 70-year-old Israeli man who entered Lebanon with Israeli forces and was killed in a Hezbollah ambush. Investigators are trying to determine, among other things, who allowed Zeev Erlich into the combat zone with the forces and why he was permitted to enter. According to Israeli media reports, Erlich was not on active duty when he was shot, but was wearing a military uniform and had a weapon. The army said he was a reservist with the rank of major and identified him as a “fallen soldier” when it announced his death. Erlich was a well-known West Bank settler and researcher of Jewish history. Media reports said Erlich was permitted to enter Lebanon to explore a local archaeological site. The army said a 20-year-old soldier was killed in the same incident, while an officer was badly wounded. The army announced Thursday that the chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, has appointed a team of experts “to examine and strengthen operational discipline and military culture” following the incident. It said its commander for northern Israel, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, would launch a separate “command inquiry,” while Israeli military police conduct a separate probe. Such investigations can lead to criminal charges. BEIRUT — At least 29 people were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on different towns and villages across Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state-run media. In eastern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed 26 people in six different towns in Baalbek province, the health ministry and the National News Agency said. In Tyre province, southern Lebanon, three people were killed in an Israeli strike, the health ministry said. The health ministry Wednesday said that over 3,550 people have been killed in the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. The European Union's foreign policy chief has underlined that the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas officials are a legal and not political matter, and that they are binding on all 27 EU member countries and other signatories to the ICC to implement. “The tragedy in Gaza has to stop," Josep Borrell told reporters during a visit to Jordan. “It is not a political decision. It is the decision of an international court of justice, and the decision of the court has to be respected, and implemented.” “This decision is a binding decision on all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union," he added. ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling partyhas welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamn Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, calling it a judgement made for the sake of “humanity.” Omer Celik, spokesman for the Erdogan’s party, said on the social media platform X that Netanyahu and Gallant would “eventually be held accountable for genocide.” Celik also criticised Israeli officials who described the ICC decision as antisemitic. Turkey is among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and has submitted a formal request to join a genocide case that South Africa has filed against Israel at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice. Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the International Criminal Court, has confirmed The Netherlands would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived on Dutch soil. “The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC ... we abide 100% by the Rome Statute,” he said in response to a question in parliament Thursday. Other European officials were more cautious. In France, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said he supported the International Criminal Court's prosecutor but declined to comment when asked more specifically if France would arrest Netanyahu if he were to step on French soil. “Today, combating impunity is our priority. We ratified the ICC Statute in 2000 and have consistently supported the court’s actions. Our response will align with these principles,” Christophe Lemoine told reporters at a press conference. Lemoine added that the warrants were “a complex legal issue ... It’s a situation that requires a lot of legal precautions.” In Italy, the foreign and justice ministries didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment about whether Italy, an ICC member which hosted the Rome conference that gave birth to the court, would honor the arrest warrant. Premier Giorgia Meloni hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2023 and has strongly supported Israel since Oct. 7, while providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. JERUSALEM — Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, has called the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a dark day for justice. A dark day for humanity.” In a post on X, he said the international court “has chosen the side of terror and evil over democracy and freedom, and turned the very system of justice into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity." Israel Katz, Israel’s new defense minister, said the decision was “a moral disgrace, entirely tainted by antisemitism, and drags the international judicial system to an unprecedented low.” He said it “serves Iran, the head of the snake, and its proxies.” Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, also condemned the decision, saying it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.” Hamas has welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court to issue warrants against Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, calling it an “important and historic precedent” after what it said was decades of injustice at the hands of a “fascist occupation.” The statement did not refer to the warrants issued for the militant group’s own leaders. Hamas called on all nations to “cooperate with the court in bringing the Zionist war criminals, Netanyahu and Gallant, to justice, and to work immediately to stop the crimes of genocide against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.” DEIR AL-BALAH, The Gaza Strip — Bakeries have reopened in the central Gaza Strip after being closed for several days because of flour shortages. The shortages appear to have been linked to the looting of nearly 100 truckloads of aid by armed men in southern Gaza last weekend. Associated Press footage showed a crowd of hundreds pushing and shouting outside a bakery in the central city of Deir al-Balah on Thursday. The day before the reopening, the price of a bag of 15 loaves of pita bread had climbed above $13. “In my house, there is not a morsel of bread, and the children are hungry,” said Sultan Abu Sultan, who was displaced from northern Gaza during the war. The amount of aid entering Gaza plunged in October as Israel launched a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say famine may be underway . Hunger is widespread across the territory, even in central Gaza where aid groups have more access. Humanitarian organizations say Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order make it difficult to deliver assistance. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people. Hundreds of thousands are crammed into tent camps with little in the way of public services and are reliant on international food aid. NICOSIA — The president of Cyprus says the European Union must play a bigger role in the Middle East as it can no longer stand by as an observer. President Nikos Christodoulides said the 27-member bloc needs to establish closer ties with countries that bolster regional stability like Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf states. “The conflict in the Middle East is taking place on the EU’s doorstep, in an area of vital interest to the bloc’s interests, where any escalation or regional spillover will have significant consequences on its security and stability,” Christodoulides told an Economist conference in the Cypriot capital. Christodoulides said EU member Cyprus for years has tried to get this message across to Brussels. The island nation earlier this year was the staging ground for a maritime corridor delivering some 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The EU is wracked by members’ divisions over how peace should come about in the Middle East THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have previously condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for the warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request. The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Health Ministry said 44,056 people have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war. It has said the real toll is higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or in areas that medics cannot access. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year. Around 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are living in squalid tent camps with little food, water or basic services. Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in residential areas, where they have built tunnels, rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. JERUSALEM — A rocket fired from Lebanon killed a man and wounded two others in northern Israel on Thursday, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. The service said paramedics found the body of the man in his 30s near a playground in the town of Nahariya, near the border with Lebanon, after a rocket attack on Thursday. Israel meanwhile struck targets in southern Lebanon and several buildings south of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, after warning people to evacuate.Mercy the only health care organization represented in policy discussion ST. LOUIS , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As a leader in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve experiences for patients and caregivers, Mercy was the only health care organization invited to participate in "CHAI on the Hill," a pivotal event at the U.S. Senate Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. , focused on ensuring AI in health care prioritizes patient benefit and public trust. "CHAI on the Hill," a gathering of policymakers, industry leaders and subject-matter experts, discussed the uses of AI in health care, as well as the evolving regulatory environment around it. "We're already seeing the tremendous potential AI holds to revolutionize patient care, but it has to be used responsibly, with patients and caregivers at the forefront," said Steve Mackin , Mercy's president and CEO. "At Mercy, we are committed to utilizing AI to enhance care and save caregivers time as well as build trust and confidence in how this technology makes a positive difference in patient care." Mercy is an early member of Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), a diverse group of stakeholders from health care organizations, technology innovators, academia, government and patients. The group was formed to guide the responsible development and adoption of AI in health care. Its mission is to ensure transparent and trustworthy AI use, address public skepticism and safeguard patient care. CHAI includes representatives from more than 1,300 member organizations including nationally renowned hospital systems, tech, education, government agencies and advocacy groups. Participation in this event highlights Mercy's reputation for innovation, such as its work with Microsoft to empower clinicians with generative AI tools, its agreement with Mayo Clinic to analyze de-identified patient data and countless more examples. These projects are designed to improve patient experiences, streamline workflows and create a more proactive approach to medicine. "CHAI on the Hill" underscores the importance of collaboration among multiple stakeholders in shaping AI's future. By participating, Mercy hopes its expertise and experience will ensure AI technologies serve patients' best interests while addressing critical issues like privacy, access and ethical use. Mercy , one of the 20 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation's largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 50 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas , Kansas , Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas , Louisiana , Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2023 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercy-drives-conversation-on-ai-use-in-health-care-at-chai-on-the-hill-302315770.html SOURCE Mercy

Capitol One user reveals simple trick to get ‘hundred of dollars’ back from credit card companies – and it takes no workUndefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level Media

Youngkin seeks additional $290 million for school construction

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting. He didn't pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He had combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. "The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we are able to accomplish," he said through a translator. "The next goal is for me to do it again and so right now I'm in the middle of rehab and working out and getting stronger." When Ohtani returns to the mound, could he win MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same year? "That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do," Ohtani said. Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP in a season that started with the revelation his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen nearly $17 million from the star to fund gambling. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and '21. "I was telling him, `Man, I'm going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,'" Judge recalled. "He'd say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he'll do." When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. "March and April were not my friend this year." Judge said. "Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can't mope. You can't feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody's going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?" ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark, initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course. The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. “This is a sad place. I'm really disappointed,” council chair Deborah Figg-Sanders said. “We won’t get there if we keep finding ways we can’t.” The Rays say the lack of progress puts the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field in jeopardy. “I can't say I'm confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members. The Trop's translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York's spring training home across the bay in Tampa. The initial vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that's done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The subsequent vote reversing funding for the roof repair essentially means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so that Tropicana Field can possibly be ready for the 2026 season. The city is legally obligated to fix the roof. BRIEFLY PIRATES: Pittsburgh hired Matt Hague as its hitting coach, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2008. Hague replaces Andy Haines, who was fired after Pittsburgh finished in the bottom 10 in the majors in every significant statistical category last season, including runs (24th) and home runs (25th), while also striking out a club-record 1,504 times, second-most in the National League behind Colorado. The 39-year-old Hague spent last season as an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. Get local news delivered to your inbox!No. 22 Xavier unbeaten but looking for more effort vs. South CarolinaTrain collides with fire truck in Florida. Police say 3 firefighters and at least 12 passengers hurt

 

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The news of the player's availability has sent shockwaves throughout the footballing world, with several top clubs expressing interest in securing his services. His combination of speed, technical ability, and creativity make him a prized asset for any team looking to bolster their attacking options. With his potential transfer fee set at a staggering 80 million euros, only a select few clubs will have the financial muscle and ambition to pursue a deal.Cadillac to join Formula 1 grid in 2026

In the end, she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she would face them with the same courage and determination that had carried her through the desperate hours of that unforgettable day. And as she looked out the window at the city beyond, she whispered a silent prayer of gratitude for the precious gift of life and the unbreakable bond between a daughter and her father.As we reflect on the 20th anniversary of Tracy McGrady's historic performance, let us remember the magic and excitement that he brought to the game of basketball. His 35 seconds of brilliance will forever stand as a shining example of what is possible when talent, determination, and heart converge on the basketball court. Tracy McGrady's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of athletes and basketball fans, reminding us all of the enduring power of sports to captivate our hearts and minds. The "McGrady Moment" will live on in basketball lore, a true testament to the enduring legacy of one of the game's most electrifying talents.

In conclusion, the recent update on the property valuations of Li Gangren and Muani serves as a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of the Paris real estate market and the importance of staying agile and proactive in order to succeed in this thriving and competitive industry. As property values continue to fluctuate and investors continue to seek new opportunities, one thing remains certain – Paris remains a city of dreams and possibilities for those willing to take on the challenge and embrace the rewards of investing in one of the most dynamic and exciting real estate markets in the world.In the unpredictable world of football, anything can happen on any given day. Real Madrid's experience and pedigree in the Champions League might give them the edge, but Bayern Munich's relentless attacking prowess cannot be underestimated. As fans eagerly await the clash between these two European heavyweights, one thing is certain – it will be a spectacle to behold.Takeaways from Biden’s Africa trip: Pardon of son Hunter overshadows official business

Looking ahead, the outlook for Chinese enterprises remains promising, with opportunities for growth and development in both domestic and global markets. By maintaining a focus on sustainable practices, innovation, and resilience, businesses can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and strengthen their position in the evolving economic landscape.CS Northridge 89, Denver 60The decision to pre-sell VIP boxes demonstrates Barcelona's commitment to exploring innovative revenue streams amidst the challenges posed by the current economic landscape. By offering exclusive access to premium seating options with luxurious amenities, the club aims to attract high-net-worth individuals and corporations looking to enhance their matchday experience. This venture not only promises substantial financial returns but also serves as a testament to Barcelona's unwavering dedication to excellence both on and off the pitch.

Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with HezbollahFeeling devastated and overwhelmed by financial ruin, Mrs. Lin and Jane decided to seek help from the police, hoping to bring the scammers to justice and potentially recover some of their lost funds. However, instead of providing compassion and assistance, the officers they encountered brazenly belittled their situation and even made disparaging remarks about their decision to invest in the first place.

Furthermore, the shift towards remote work and flexible lifestyles in the wake of the global pandemic is also expected to impact the real estate market in the coming year. With more people looking for homes that double as offices and spaces that cater to a blend of work and leisure activities, there is a rising demand for properties that offer versatility and adaptability. This could lead to a surge in interest in properties with dedicated home office spaces, outdoor living areas, and smart home technologies.The film follows the intertwined lives of four brothers—Liu, Chen, Wei, and Zhang—as they navigate the treacherous underworld of the Four Seas Gang in 1920s Shanghai. Through a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards, viewers witness the brothers' rise to power, their conflicts and betrayals, and ultimately, their quest for redemption in a world rife with violence and deception.

Monetary policy also played a crucial role in supporting economic growth while maintaining price stability. The People's Bank of China adopted a flexible approach to monetary policy, adjusting interest rates and liquidity to support businesses and consumers. By ensuring ample liquidity in the financial system, the government facilitated access to credit for businesses, promoting investment and consumption.Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. In court filings on Monday, the prosecutors cited longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had sought to hold Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president who firmly won election this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire with Hezbollah BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli airstrikes are hitting Lebanon with airstrikes as negotiations progress toward a ceasefire between the country and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants. Lebanon reported that at least 12 people were killed Monday as explosions lit up the sky and airstrikes hit targets in Beirut and Tyre, a southern port city. After about a year of exchanging low-level attacks across the Israel-Lebanon border with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, Israeli troops launched a ground invasion of Lebanon in October. More than 3,700 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced since. The fighting has amplified worries about direct conflict between Israel and Iran. International mediators are seeking to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to end the fighting. What's blocking a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? BEIRUT (AP) — Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe. Israel’s military has killed nearly all of the militant group’s top leaders. Tens of thousands of Israelis who were evacuated from the border months ago are pressuring their government to go home. And the world wants to stop regional conflict from spreading after more than a year of fighting. But there remain sticking points over how Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the border area will be monitored and whether Israel will have freedom to strike the militants. Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike. White Florida woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting Black neighbor in lengthy dispute A white Florida woman who fatally shot a Black neighbor through her front door during an ongoing dispute has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for her manslaughter conviction. Susan Lorincz was sentenced Monday. The 60-year-old was convicted in August of killing 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Owens by firing a single shot from her .380-caliber handgun in June 2023. The shooting was the culmination of a long-running argument between the two neighbors over Owens’ children playing in a grassy area near both of their houses in Ocala. Lorincz told detectives that she feared for her life. Jurors did not agree with her self-defense claim. Judge in LA delays until January decision on resentencing Menendez brothers LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has delayed until January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago. Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said he needed time to review 17 boxes of documents. Still he let the brothers' aunts take the stand. They both testified on their behalf as the brothers seek to have their 1989 convictions reexamined in the shotgun murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez. They argued the convictions should be reexamined because of new evidence of sex abuse by the brothers' father. The brothers were sentenced to life without parole. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to graphic cigarette warning labels WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to a federal requirement that cigarette packages and advertising include graphic images demonstrating the effects of smoking. The high court declined to hear the case in a brief written order handed down Monday. The warnings include pictures of smoke-damaged lungs and feet blackened by diminished blood flow. Nearly 120 countries around the world have already adopted graphic warning labels. It’s not clear when new labels might appear in the U.S., however. Some legal claims remain and the FDA has said it doesn’t plan to enforce any new requirements until December 2025. Russia reportedly captures a Briton fighting for Ukraine as Russian troops advance Reports say the Russian military has captured a Briton fighting with Ukrainian troops who have occupied part of Russia’s Kursk region. Russia also began launching daylight drone attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine and its ground forces accelerated gains along parts of the front line. Russian state news agency Tass says the captured fighter was in the British army for four years and then joined the International Legion of Ukraine, formed early on in the nearly 3-year-old war. On the battlefield, a think tank says Russian forces recently have gained ground at “a significantly quicker rate” than they did in the whole of last year. Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender A judge has rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she’s transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship in Las Vegas this week. His order also upholds the seedings and pairings in the tournament. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays NEW YORK (AP) — There’s no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the presidential election, the upcoming marking of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the holiday season could be a boon for some - a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones, hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives, another chapter in a lifetime of memories.For others, though, that same scenario, particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign, is something to dread, with the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words and raised voices looming large.

The timing of Turan's potential return couldn't be more crucial. Barcelona is preparing for a new season, with high expectations and ambitions. The club is gearing up to challenge for domestic and international titles, and having a player of Turan's caliber in the squad could prove to be crucial. However, Barcelona is also aware of the need to streamline their squad and make strategic decisions to ensure competitiveness in a highly competitive football landscape.The Steady Development of New Productivity - Constantly Gathering Momentum Towards the 'New' PotentialISANTI, Minn. — The young Buddhist lama sat on a throne near an altar decorated with flowers, fruits and golden statues of the Buddha, watching the celebrations of his 18th birthday in silence, with a faint smile. Jalue Dorje knew it would be the last big party before he joins a monastery in the Himalayan foothills — thousands of miles from his home in a Minneapolis suburb, where he grew up like a typical American teen playing football and listening to rap music. But this was not an ordinary coming-of-age celebration. It was an enthronement ceremony for an aspiring spiritual leader who from an early age was recognized by the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders as a reincarnated lama. Young women in white long bearded masks danced, jumping acrobatically and twirling colorful sticks to wish him luck in a tradition reserved for dignitaries. Hundreds lined up to bow to him and present him with a khata, the white Tibetan ceremonial scarves that symbolize auspiciousness. From a throne reserved for lamas, he smelled the aroma of Tibetan dishes prepared by his mother over sleepless nights. He heard the monks with shaved heads, in maroon and gold robes like his own, chant sacred mantras. Behind them, his shaggy-haired high school football teammates sang “Happy Birthday” before he cut the first slice of cake. One of his buddies gave him shaker bottles for hydrating during training at the gym; another, a gift card to eat at Chipotle Mexican Grill. “I was in awe!” Dorje recalled later. “Usually, I’d be at the monk section looking up to whomever was celebrating. But that night it was for me.” Since the Dalai Lama’s recognition, Dorje has spent much of his life training to become a monk, memorizing sacred scriptures, practicing calligraphy and learning the teachings of Buddha. After graduation in 2025, he’ll head to northern India to join the Mindrolling Monastery, more than 7,200 miles from his home in Columbia Heights. Following several years of contemplation and ascetism, he hopes to return to America to teach in the Minnesota Buddhist community. His goal is “to become a leader of peace,” following the example of the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Gandhi “There’s going to be a lot of sacrifice involved,” Dorje said. He’s not new to sacrifices. He remembered all the early mornings reciting ancient prayers and memorizing Buddhist scriptures, often rewarded by his dad with Pokémon cards. “As a child, even on the weekend, you’re like: ‘Why don’t I get to sleep more? Why can’t I get up and watch cartoons like other kids.’ But my dad always told me that it’s like planting a seed,” he said, “and one day it’s going to sprout.” It all began with the process of identifying a lama, which is based on spiritual signs and visions. Dorje was about 4 months old when he was identified by Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, a venerated master of Tibetan Buddhism and leader of the Nyingma lineage. He later was confirmed by several lamas as the eighth Terchen Taksham Rinpoche — the first one was born in 1655. After the Dalai Lama recognized him at age 2, Dorje’s parents took him to meet the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism when he visited Wisconsin in 2010. The Dalai Lama cut a lock of Dorje’s hair in a ceremony and advised his parents to let their son stay in the U.S. to perfect his English before sending him to a monastery. Dorje is fluent in English and Tibetan. He grew up reading the manga graphic novel series “Buddha,” and is an avid sports fan. He roots for the Timberwolves in basketball, Real Madrid in soccer and the Atlanta Falcons in football. His teammates praised his positivity on the football field; playing as a left guard, he often reminded them to have fun and keep losses in perspective. “It’s someone to look up to,” said Griffin Hogg, 20, a former player who took Dorje under his wing. He said they learned from each other and he credits Dorje with helping him find his spirituality. “I’m more of a relaxed person after getting to know him and understanding his own journey.” While Dorje tries to never miss Monday Night Football, he’s always there to help with any event hosted by the local Tibetan community, one of the largest in the U.S. “He has one foot in the normal high school life. And he has one foot in this amazing Tibetan culture that we have in the state of Minnesota,” said Kate Thomas, one of his tutors and the teachings coordinator at Minneapolis’ Bodhicitta Sangha Heart of Enlightenment Institute. “You can see that he’s comfortable playing a role of sitting on a throne, of participating and being honored as a respected person in his community, as a religious figure. And yet, as soon as he has the opportunity, he wants to go and hang out with his high school buddies,” she said. “That’s testimony to his flexibility, his openness of mind.” For years, he followed the same routine. He wakes up to recite sacred texts and then attends school, followed by football practice. He returns home for tutoring about Tibetan history and Buddhism. Then he might practice calligraphy or run on a treadmill while listening to rap music. Though he was officially enthroned in 2019 in India, an estimated 1,000 people gathered at the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota for his recent ceremony. “He unites us — Jalue is always here for us,” said Zenden Ugen, 21, a family friend and neighbor who performed Tibetan dances at the event. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Crypto.com and Mastercard Collaborate to Scale the Digital Payments Industry in GCC Region

In the face of adversity, the spirit of unity and cooperation shone brightly, underscoring the strength and resilience of the human spirit. While the road to recovery may be long and arduous, the resolve to overcome challenges and emerge stronger on the other side remained unwavering.Lawsuit Update: Donald Trump Rebuked by Central Park 5

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Rockstar Games has always been known for its innovative marketing strategies and attention to detail in promoting its games. From cryptic teaser trailers to elaborate in-game events, the company has a proven track record of building hype and engaging with its community in unique ways.This move represents a strategic investment for Real Madrid, as they look to address key areas of their squad that need strengthening. The club's fans are eagerly anticipating the official announcement of the transfer, with many hoping that the new signing will be the catalyst for a successful season ahead.

 

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Patrick Healy, the deputy Opinion editor, hosted an online conversation with New York Times Opinion columnists Ross Douthat and David French about President Joe Biden’s decision to issue a broad pardon to his son Hunter Biden. Patrick Healy: Ross and David, you both have written extensively about the rule of law and presidential power. You both have a good sense of what American voters care about. And you both are fathers. So I’m curious what struck you most about Biden’s statement that he was pardoning his son Hunter Biden. David French: As a father, I think it would be very, very hard to watch your son go to prison — especially if you have the power to set him free. I can’t imagine the pain of watching Hunter’s long battle with substance abuse and then watching his conviction in court. But in his role as president, Biden’s primary responsibility is to the country and the Constitution, not his family. As president, this pardon represents a profound failure. Biden was dishonest — he told us that he wouldn’t pardon Hunter — and this use of the pardon power reeks of the kind of royal privilege that is antithetical to America’s republican values. Healy: Biden’s decision to rule out the pardon while running for reelection was an enormous misjudgment. At the same time, David — Hunter Biden didn’t harm anyone, and pardons go to people with connections all the time now. I want to understand your umbrage on behalf of “the country and the Constitution” a bit better. French: When Biden issued the pardon, my first thought was “here we go again.” It’s exactly this kind of self-dealing and favoritism that has created such cynicism in this country, and the fact that pardon abuse is almost routine at this point isn’t a defense of Biden. It’s an indictment of a political class that helped lay the groundwork for Donald Trump — a much worse figure, by the way, but one that did not arise in an otherwise-healthy moment in American democracy. Ross Douthat: I think it’s important to stress that Biden always kept Hunter close, within the larger aura of his own power, in ways that likely helped his son trade on his dad’s name even as his own life was completely out of control. This pardon is a continuation or completion of that closeness: It’s a moral failure, as David says, a dereliction, but one that’s of a piece with the president’s larger inability to create a sustained separation between his own position and his troubled son’s lifestyle and business dealings and place in the family’s inner circle. A clearer separation would have been better not just for the president and the country, but also for Hunter himself — even if he’s benefiting from it now, at the last. Healy: Ross, Hunter Biden should absolutely be held accountable for his actions — that’s something that 12-step programs make clear to addicts, in fact: Their addiction is no excuse for breaking the law, for instance. But it seems like you are conflating Biden’s legitimate powers as president with how you think he should have regarded his son in office. Douthat: I’m not saying that Biden’s pardon of Hunter is categorically worse than prior presidents’ use of the power to help out cronies and donors and the like. But most people regarded, say, Bill Clinton’s pardon of Marc Rich as scandalous even though it fell within the ambit of legitimate presidential powers, and this case is scandalous as well. Whether it’s more corrupt to help a relative than a party donor or donor’s spouse is an interesting subject for debate about the nature of political ethics, but I don’t think we need to resolve that question. We can just say that (1) past presidents have used the pardon power in legal but disreputable ways and (2) pardoning your son is also quite disreputable even if it is constitutional as well. Healy: Trump has indicated he would pardon Jan. 6 insurrectionists, whose actions I’d argue were more disreputable and dangerous to the Republic than what Hunter Biden did. So I’m curious how you see pardons in light of the rule of law in this country. Does Biden’s pardon conflict with or undermine the rule of law? French: While the pardon is legal and a president’s pardon power is quite broad, the rule of law isn’t maintained by merely keeping to the letter of the law. The founders didn’t give presidents the pardon power to be deployed as a favor to friends and family. In fact, during the constitutional ratification debate in Virginia, James Madison said, “If the president be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds to believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty.” So, yes, abuse of the pardon power is serious. Biden’s inability to separate his personal feelings as a father from his moral and constitutional obligations as a president might be understandable on a human basis, but it’s indefensible as a moral and political matter. The fact that Trump has pledged to do worse is not a defense of Biden. Douthat: The other issue is that the scope of the pardon extends well beyond the specific gun and tax charges, immunizing the junior Biden from potential charges dating all the way back to just before he joined the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. The sympathetic take is that this was necessary to protect Hunter from frivolous prosecutions by the Trump Department of Justice. The more skeptical take is that the president is casting a blanket of protection over potential sordid dealings we may not even know about, in which members of the wider family as well as Hunter might be implicated. At the very least, it creates an appearance of more potential corruption than just helping his son avoid jail time for charges unrelated to his business dealings. Healy: To your point, Ross, Hunter Biden wanted sweeping immunity from prosecution when he was trying to get a plea deal. He didn’t get it from the Justice Department — but he just got it from his father. That’s pretty ugly politics by the Bidens. Ross, is Biden’s pardon more stupid politically than it is wrong? Douthat: The pardon power has certainly been used by presidents of both parties for seamy or self-dealing or disreputable-seeming purposes before. So in that sense, you could argue that this case stands out more for the political message it sends — undermining the Democratic Party’s claims to represent the rule of law as against an incoming president who regards himself as a victim of legal persecution and has promised to persecute his enemies right back. And further undermining, one might add, the reputation of a president whose competence to execute the larger responsibilities of his office has been for many months very much in doubt. French: The pardon is far more wrong than it is politically stupid. Give Trump five minutes, and he’ll say or do something that knocks this pardon off the front page. People will forget the pardon soon enough. But the nation needs integrity, and Biden’s dishonesty contributes to the sense that there isn’t really that much difference between Trump and his opponents. When you talk to Trump voters, they’ll often share the conviction that Trump isn’t really all that different from other politicians. He’s just more blunt and direct about his goals and objectives, while his opponents act the same way Trump acts, but they conceal their corruption in high-minded rhetoric. This pardon fits that narrative perfectly. Douthat: What one might say in Biden’s quasi-defense is that while his pardon confirms a general mood of cynicism, that mood is so deeply entrenched that it’s not likely to be deepened that much further by one more act of self-dealing by an already-unpopular president. But maybe the more sophisticated reading is the one offered by writer Noah Millman, who argues that the pardon reflects Biden’s own deep cynicism about the condition of America, and his own participation in the country’s larger disillusioned mood. The president has talked a good game about his deep belief in the resilience of American democracy, but maybe he really thinks that a country that would reelect Donald Trump is actually too far gone to be much helped, and so he might as well choose familism over patriotism and do his best to just look out for his own. He’s like Benicio Del Toro’s character in the movie “Sicario,” telling a more upright and innocent FBI agent, “This is the land of wolves now” — except his audience is all the voters who were naive enough to believe him when he promised not to issue this pardon. French: As Ross said, there is a long history of pardon abuse in the United States, and very few voters give it a moment’s thought. To amplify Ross’s point above about cynicism, to the extent that voters pay attention, it merely confirms their priors. They expect politicians to act like this. But it’s the decisions that leaders make when voters aren’t focused on the issue that define their integrity. We’re learning how much America has run on an honor system — that, as John Adams argued, our human vices can “break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.” When presidents choose self-interest over the public interest, the law doesn’t always provide an answer. Perhaps it should, however. We’ve seen enough pardon abuse that it’s past time to revoke this particular presidential privilege. I’d love to see a constitutional amendment that further strips presidents of any vestiges of royal prerogatives. That means limiting the scope of the pardon power, and it means limiting presidential immunity from prosecution. Healy: Listening to Biden over the years, you get the sense he thinks he knows Trump better than most, that he knows how Trump uses power. So on that level, doesn’t the pardon make sense — that Biden knows Trump and the Republicans would likely keep targeting the Biden family and in particular Hunter Biden for disparate treatment in the years ahead, and the pardon power was the only available means of justice, as it were, against Trumpist attacks on Hunter Biden? Douthat: Well, here the president himself can expect a certain degree of protection from the recent Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity, which I suspect was written as much with an eye to protecting Biden from Trump-directed prosecutions (or protecting the presidency itself from an endless cycle of prosecutions) as with the goal of protecting Trump against the charges he has faced and may face in the future. Obviously that protection doesn’t extend to Hunter, and yes, I think the fear of a widened investigation into Hunter’s past and the Biden family business dealings was part of the thinking, part of the self-justification involved. Though I have my doubts as to whether Hunter would have actually been a special target for even a revenge-seeking Trump, since the president-elect seems much more focused on his avenging (or at least avoiding a reprise of) his own first-term experience with the Department of Justice and the FBI than with going after his vanquished Democratic opponents. French: There was a way for Biden to protect Hunter from politically targeted prosecutions. He could have protected Hunter from prosecution for any other crimes, while leaving the gun and tax convictions intact. In both those cases, there is no credible argument that either of those prosecutions was substantively or procedurally flawed. Even a selective, prospective pardon could be problematic, but it’s far more defensible than pardoning him for crimes that he’s already been convicted of. Healy: As we discussed at the start, you are both fathers. To borrow an earlier point of Ross’, I wonder if we are at such a wolves-are-at-the-door moment in politics that Biden’s decision, as a father protecting his son, is a logical one, as well as one that a lot of people would understand. Now, that may not make it right. But would you pardon your child if you had that power and he or she was being targeted for partisan political attack that might go beyond the bounds of traditional fair treatment under the law? Was this a father’s justifiable recourse? French: I completely understand the fear of political prosecution in a second Trump term. He’s vowed vengeance, after all, and he’s long been obsessed with Hunter’s business dealings overseas. But I just don’t see the evidence that Hunter’s prosecutions went beyond the bounds of traditional fair treatment. It is true that some of these charges are rarely prosecuted, but it’s also true that Hunter threw down the gauntlet to law enforcement by essentially confessing to a federal crime in his memoir. He’s the one who effectively told the public he committed a crime. In fact, prosecutors played excerpts from his memoir to the jury. He wrote about his life for profit, and he has no cause to complain when it is used against him in court. Douthat: I agree with David, you can extend Biden a certain sympathy — as a father, of course you tend to give your son the benefit of the doubt — while still recognizing that objectively he’s pardoning a guilty man, and for all we know enabling further issues or disasters for Hunter down the line. Though I also suspect that for Biden it’s not just the sense of paternal obligation at work here. It’s also the sense of betrayal he doubtless still feels at being denied a chance to run for a second term by his own party, and then watching that same party stumble to defeat. In other words, it’s not just Trump’s Department of Justice that he’s thinking about while issuing this pardon; it’s also a Democratic Party that in his view knifed him politically, and to no purpose in the end. And when a man feels betrayed by his allies (not just threatened by his rivals), it’s especially unsurprising that he would revert to the most basic human code: Look out for your own. — Ross Douthat and David French are columnists with The New York Times.Motoring News Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Elon Musk is officially the world’s richest man. But while he enjoys global financial success, Tesla’s fortunes in Australia have taken a hit. The latest figures reveal a concerning 21 per cent decline, equivalent to approximately $600 million, in Tesla sales in Australia. Tesla Model 3 and Toyota Camry Hybrid. Photo: Camber Collective MORE: 15 yrs later: Aussie fave’s ‘ludicrous’ return It’s a significant difference to the previous year’s growth. Tesla, was once a dominant force in the Australian electric vehicle (EV) market but now faces rising competition from other brands, such as Chinese automaker BYD, which are outperforming Tesla in other regions. Specifically, BYD’s Seal and Atto 3 continue to attract Australian buyers due to their aggressive pricing and advanced technology. BYD’s Atto 3 is a popular Tesla alternative. Supplied M ORE: Catch: Buy a ‘Lambo’ for 20pc of the price The automaker’s momentum is undeniable, with its most recent quarterly revenue of US $28.4 billion surpassing Tesla’s US $25.18 billion for the same period. According to Stake market analyst Samy Sriram the shift in the market is also reflected in trading data for 2024 with both companies seeing strong stock performance. 2022 Tesla Model Y RWD. Photos by Thomas Wielecki. “We’re seeing some of that sentiment reflected in trading data. In 2024, while sentiment towards both TSLA and BYD was positive, the latter saw more bullish bets. On Stake, 64 per cent of TSLA trades were buys, whereas 75 per cent of BYD trades for the year were buy orders.” she said. Sriram explained BYD has performed well in 2024 with a strong 45 per cent increase in stock value this year. However, Tesla’s performance was even more impressive. Tesla rivals include the Nissan Leaf, Polestar 2, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Porsche Taycan, Volvo XC40 Recharge. Photo: Thomas Wielecki “Tesla has seen an even stronger run, rallying around 30 per cent since Trump’s election win in November, and almost 70 per cent year to date, helping Elon Musk to regain his position as the world’s richest person.” she said. This rally helped Musk return to the top spot on the world’s wealthiest ranking. But with sales down in Australia, will this impact Musk? Likely no. Australia is a small market, accounting for just 3 per cent of Tesla’s global sales, with the U.S. and China continuing to be its largest market. However, Sriram explained the potential impact of Trump’s trade policies with China may force Tesla to refocus their efforts on places like Australia. “As Tesla continues to compete with newer entrants to the market, it might be forced to lower prices and see a considerable drawdown in its operating margins.” she said. Originally published as Musk loses $600 million in Aussie market More related stories Motoring EV that will finally convert the sceptics This stunning new EV is one that will likely turn the disbelievers around but there is one rather large catch. Read more Motoring News Best end-of-year deals on new cars Want to start the new year with a fresh ride? Here’s how to save thousands on new models. Read moreFurthermore, in cases where a mentally ill individual has been raped, the sentencing criteria for the perpetrator must take into account the vulnerability of the victim and the harm caused by the crime. Sentencing guidelines often consider aggravating factors such as the victim's vulnerability, the use of force or coercion by the perpetrator, the severity of the harm caused, and the impact of the crime on the victim's well-being.



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At its core, this saga encapsulates a profound reflection on human nature - the capacity for compassion and suspicion, empathy and distrust, generosity and skepticism. It underscores the complexities inherent in interpersonal interactions, where perceptions and perspectives can diverge dramatically, leading to a mosaic of conflicting narratives that challenge our notions of truth and reality.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What's stoking the Denver Broncos' surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos' come-from-behind 29-19 win at Las Vegas. “Courtland played tremendous,” coach Sean Payton said. Again. “He’s just reliable,” Nix said. “He's just always there when you need him.” Sutton's size (6-foot-4 and 216 pounds) and experience (he's in his seventh NFL season) make him an ideal target and safety valve for the rookie QB whose confidence is growing by the week. “He’s smart. He’s savvy. He makes plays when the ball’s in the air,” Nix said. “You can trust him. When it’s up in the air, it’s his or nobody’s. It’s not going to be a pick.” Nix's first touchdown toss to Sutton was an 18-yarder that allowed the QB to break Marlin Briscoe's 1968 Denver rookie record of 14 TD passes, and the two connected again with 5:30 left to make it a two-score game. The Broncos trailed 13-9 at halftime and Nix said they knew they had to get the ball into Sutton's hands more in the second half after he had caught the only pass thrown his way in the first half (for 17 yards). “Didn’t target him (much) in the first half,” Nix said. “We come out and say, ‘Look, Courtland, this is your half.’ We take over the game. He goes for two touchdowns. That just kind of speaks for what he means to our team.” Sutton has been on a tear after since he wasn't targeted a single time in Denver's 33-10 win at New Orleans on Oct. 17. (Payton mentioned as recently as last week what an anomaly that game was because there was a heavy diet of plays for Sutton that just didn't pan out for various reasons.) In his six games before that goose egg, Sutton had 21 catches on 49 targets for 277 yards and a touchdown. In the five games since, he's caught 36 of the 48 balls thrown his way for 467 yards and three TDs. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass to Nix on a “Philly Special” at Baltimore in Week 9. “I think we're just scratching the surface,” Sutton said. Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nix and Sutton, the Broncos are in position for the seventh and final playoff spot entering December. The passing game, thanks to the Nix-Sutton connection. The running game. Javonte Williams had just 2 yards on eight carries and Audric Estime ran three times for 15 yards against the Raiders' run-heavy fronts and a steady diet of blitzes. Jaleel McLaughlin saved the day with seven carries for 44 yards. OLB Nik Bonitto. His 10 sacks make him the first Denver defender with double-digit sacks since 2018, when Von Miller did it. Once again, the Broncos' special teams, with the exception of K Wil Lutz, who hasn't missed a field goal attempt or extra point since his protection unit cratered at Kansas City three weeks ago and allowed the Chiefs to block what would have been the game-winning kick as time expired. On Sunday, the Raiders had a successful fake punt and a 59-yard kickoff return. Payton isn't saying much about the injuries to DE Zach Allen (heel) and CB Riley Moss (knee) except that to him they're not serious setbacks for either player. 2 — The Broncos are two games above .500 for the first time since starting the 2021 season with three wins. The Broncos host Cleveland (3-8) on Monday night ahead of their bye week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

(The Center Square) – Legislators in Washington, D.C., have taken a number of steps over the past few days to push for insurance and pharmaceutical reforms to be passed before the end of the year. On Wednesday, a bicameral group of Republican and Democrat lawmakers held a press conference discussing the need for pharmacy benefit manager reform to protect small pharmacies across the country and “save lives.” “Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or an independent, we all want the same thing. We want accessible, affordable, quality health care,” said Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. “We’re not here today to just discuss one bill or to discuss just one patient’s story. We're here because there's broad, bipartisan pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM, reform that is needed to save lives.” Pharmacy benefit managers are the middlemen responsible for managing the drug prices covered by health insurance plans. According to the Harvard Political Review , the problem with pharmacy benefit managers is that they “have vertically integrated with pharmacy chains and health insurers through massive conglomerates.” That then allows them to abuse their power to cut out small pharmacies and increase prices. Carter also signed a letter that was released last week calling on the Department of Justice to dig into the role pharmacy benefit managers played in the opioid epidemic. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., Deborah Ross, D-N.C., and Cliff Benz, R-Ore., all joined him in signing that letter. “The opioid crisis has devastated communities in North Carolina and across the country, and PBMs may have fueled it by prioritizing profits over people,” Ross said on social media . “That’s why I joined a letter calling on the DOJ to investigate their role and hold these bad actors accountable.” The letter looked at recent reports on the largest pharmacy benefit managers, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx which state that they “colluded and conspired to steer patients towards OxyContin in exchange for $400 million.” OxyContin is a trade name for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride, a painkiller available by prescription only. This and the general “lack of transparency” is just one of the many complaints that legislators aired on Wednesday. “My colleagues who are joining me today, Democrats and Republicans ... all recognize that PBMs are decreasing the accessibility, the affordability, and therefore the quality of health care in America,” Carter said. “We have an opportunity, right now, to advance bipartisan legislation that increases reporting requirements, which would heighten transparency and shine a light on the opaque practices of these PBMs.” Carter was also joined by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who is leading the effort to get legislation passed in the U.S. Senate. “This year, we're losing about one pharmacy a day in America,” Lankford said. “We want leadership to be able to take this up and to bring it up in the end-of-year package ... Stop holding up legislation that is bipartisan, bicameral, and solving a problem that Americans need solved.”As he delved into his speech, Jack Ma's message resonated with all who listened. His words were a call to action, a reminder of the power of perseverance and innovation in the face of adversity. He spoke of the need to embrace change, to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of technology and business, and to never lose sight of the values that had guided him from the very beginning.Donald Trump made an announcement about his upcoming administration, and his biggest fans are not happy about it. Trump said on Friday that he had chosen Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a physician and Fox News medical contributor, as his surgeon general. She also "serves as a medical director at CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey," according to Politico's reporting . “Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health,” Trump said on Friday in a statement on his Truth Social platform . “She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives.” ALSO READ: The America-attacking Trump is coming for our military — and then he's coming for us The pick did not go over well with Trump's base. @BlueArmy24, who frequently posts in favor of Trump on Truth Social, responded on the site with a letter from the "base." "Dear President Trump, many of us...MANY of us are very disheartened and upset about this pick -this doctor has been a major advocate for pushing Covid vaccines upon people which are being proven cause much harm," @BlueArmy24 wrote. "She also was a big advocate of masking and other terrible Covid policies please don’t let this happen! Sincerely -your base." A user with the ID "I STAND WITH TRUMP" also responded to the president-elect, saying, "Booo!! She advocates for the clot shot!!" "Bring the Surgeon General from Florida into this position!!" the user added. InkedKatLady , a self-identified conservative who comments favorably about Trump on Truth Social, characterized the pick as a "dealbreaker." "She’s pro-masking — dealbreaker for me," the user wrote in response to Trump's announcement for the choice for surgeon general. @SaltyPretzel, who shares pro-Trump content on Truth Social, also appeared outraged. "Are you out of your mind? We lost everything for refusing covid vax and you pic this pro vaxxer? What a slap in the face this is to maga," they wrote. Craig M. Wax, DO , a family physician who supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said Trump is "making a colossal mistake with Dr. Jeanette Neaheiwat has surgeon general." "She was a genetic vaccine zealot," he wrote Friday.

Jeju’s government-run food delivery app Mukkebi has achieved a milestone of over 10 billion won. (Mukkebi webpage) JEJU, Dec. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Jeju’s government-run food delivery app Mukkebi has achieved a milestone of over 10 billion won ($7.5 million) in cumulative transactions just two years after its launch in December 2022. According to the Jeju Provincial Government, as of December 23, 2024, the platform has registered 44,064 members and 3,352 partner restaurants. To boost adoption, Jeju introduced monthly 3,000-won delivery discounts and a 5% cashback incentive for payments made with the local currency Tamnaneun Jeon (Jeju Pay). Special promotions in June and November, offering 5,000-won discount coupons, further spurred growth. Following the June promotion, Mukkebi’s average monthly sales doubled to 560 million won, up 102% compared to earlier in the year. Monthly order volume also saw a near-doubling, from 11,364 to 22,627 orders. Local currency accounted for 59.1% of all payments, reflecting its widespread use among app users. Jeju officials noted that the growth trend has continued beyond the promotional periods, attributing the success to a shift in consumer habits and growing loyalty among users. Plans are underway to leverage data analytics for season-specific promotions and enhance local currency utilization. Mukkebi distinguishes itself with a low commission rate of 1.5%, significantly undercutting private delivery platforms, and imposes no fees for onboarding or advertising. Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)TRACCOM INC. (Pink Open Market Symbol: TRCC) COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF VULCAIN, INC.

AP News Summary at 3:17 p.m. EST

 

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fb 777 casino login No, Voice of America is not a new government organizationThe top stories and transfer rumours from Saturday's newspapers... THE SUN Liverpool are interested in launching transfer swoops for Joao Pedro and Jeremie Frimpong, according to reports. Violent football ultras have been organising sick Fight-Club style brawls in forests across Europe to avoid detection by police. DAILY MAIL Trending Liverpool's staff Christmas Party - at the city's Anglican cathedral - was shut down early after suspected drug paraphernalia was found in the toilets. England will not now travel to America for two June friendlies after Friday's World Cup qualifying draw placed them in a five-team group. Also See: Transfer Centre LIVE! Stream Sky Sports with NOW Download the Sky Sports app Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp Lionel Messi has revealed that Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal reminds him of himself when he was a youngster. Wayne Rooney gives no thought to a potential sacking by Plymouth and insists he is focusing on improving the squad in January. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Paul Pogba has provided an update on his future with a cryptic Instagram post on the back of his Juventus exit. DAILY MIRROR Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United have too many problems of their own to think about Manchester City's crisis ahead of Sunday's derby. Regis Le Bris has insisted Sunderland's "foundations are still strong" after losing Tommy Watson for two months. THE TIMES Debbie Hewitt, the chairwoman of the FA and Britain's Fifa vice-president, is not expected to run for Uefa's executive committee when the former Manchester United chief executive David Gill steps down in April, having come to the end of this term limit. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The exodus of senior executives from Aston Villa shows little sign of halting, with Paul Tyrrell, who had a number of senior roles at the club, the latest to depart to take over as chief operating officer at Nottingham Forest. Tom Ilube and Bill Sweeney have been told "there is no trust left" as senior figures in the Championship called for a government review into the RFU's leadership of the game and pressed for clubs in England to support a no-confidence debate. THE ATHLETIC England manager Thomas Tuchel has said he needs to "prove himself" after the mixed reaction to his appointment. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Marc Skinner said comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe were 'hard' to hear but insists Manchester United Women's team are supported. THE INDEPENDENT New England manager Thomas Tuchel will speak to Ben White and offer the Arsenal defender a "clean start" when he takes charge in the new year. DAILY TELEGRAPH Phil Vickery, the 2003 World Cup winner, has revealed his diagnosis of probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and spoken for the first time about the brain damage he has suffered from head injuries during his career. THE GUARDIAN Julen Lopetegui has revealed the West Ham squad will visit Michail Antonio over the weekend as the forward continues his recovery after a "miracle" escape from a car accident. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De'Vondre Campbell won't be part of the 49ers moving forward after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job. DAILY RECORD Rangers are reportedly set to sign a deal that will see Umbro take over as their new kit suppliers from the start of next season.

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As production gears up for filming to commence, details about the cast and plot of "Deadly Arrival" are being closely guarded secrets, adding to the anticipation surrounding the project. With a release date tentatively set for next year, fans can look forward to once again experiencing the thrill of cheating death alongside their favorite characters.

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Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF ( NASDAQ:BSCV – Get Free Report ) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 188,300 shares, a growth of 117.2% from the November 30th total of 86,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 314,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. raised its holdings in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 27.3% during the second quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 14,650 shares of the company’s stock valued at $234,000 after buying an additional 3,145 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc acquired a new position in Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $73,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 25.1% in the second quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 67,018 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after purchasing an additional 13,456 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 33.0% during the second quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,771,517 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,256,000 after purchasing an additional 439,570 shares during the period. Finally, Novare Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 6.6% during the second quarter. Novare Capital Management LLC now owns 113,345 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,808,000 after purchasing an additional 7,056 shares in the last quarter. Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF Stock Down 0.2 % Shares of NASDAQ BSCV opened at $16.03 on Friday. Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $15.57 and a 1-year high of $17.80. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $16.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.33. Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF Cuts Dividend About Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF ( Get Free Report ) The Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an index of investment grade corporate bonds with effective maturities in 2031. The fund will unwind in December 2031 and return capitals and proceeds to investors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Burhan urges UN to act on Darfur arms embargo violations

By AAMER MADHANI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden has been briefed on the findings and that the White House “has made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” The Chinese embassy in Washington on Tuesday rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages on Wednesday. Associated Press writer David Klepper contributed reporting.Pelangio Exploration (CVE:PX) Sets New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

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El Salvador's Congress on Monday approved a bill promoted by President Nayib Bukele to roll back a ban on the mining of gold and other metals, dismaying environmentalists. The small Central American nation became the world's first country to outlaw metal mining in 2017, warning of the harmful effects of the chemicals used, like cyanide and mercury. The move by Bukele's predecessor, former left-wing rebel Salvador Sanchez Ceren, reflected a growing rejection of mining by rural communities in the region. But last month, Bukele, who is popular at home for his crackdown on street gangs, signaled that he wanted to change course. The bill to bring back metal mining was approved by 57 deputies out of a total of 60, said Ernesto Castro, head of the legislature -- which is dominated by the ruling party -- as environmental campaigners protested nearby. Critics fear that mining will pollute the Lempa River, which runs through a potential mining zone proposed by Bukele and supplies water to 70 percent of the inhabitants of the capital and surrounding areas. "This wretched mining will punish the people, it will contaminate our waters and rivers and that's an attack on life," activist Vidalina Morales told reporters. Bukele said last month that El Salvador, a country of 6.6 million people, had "potentially" the largest gold deposits per square kilometer in the world. "God placed a gigantic treasure underneath our feet," he wrote on social media, arguing that the mining ban was "absurd." "If we make responsible use of our natural resources, we can change the economy of El Salvador overnight," he said. The new law stipulates that the state will be the only entity authorized to search for, extract and process mined metals. However, the government may do so through companies in which it is a shareholder. The bill prohibits the use of mercury in mining operations, which may not be carried out in protected natural areas or places with important water sources. A survey by Central American University published on Monday revealed that 59 percent of respondents do not consider El Salvador "an appropriate country for metal mining." Since El Salvador dollarized its remittances-reliant economy in 2001, it has registered average annual growth of 2.1 percent. Twenty-seven percent of Salvadorans live in poverty, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 70 percent of the workforce operates in the informal sector. Elsewhere in the region, Costa Rica and Honduras have banned open-pit mining, and Panama declared a moratorium on new mining concessions last year after mass protests over plans for a huge copper mine. ob/fj/dr/jgc Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.

Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• Karen Tolkkinen’s Dec. 20 column ( “Minnesota politicians are trying to rile up the Christians again” ) justifies an entire year’s subscription to the Minnesota Star Tribune; it was brilliant. The false pretext of Christianity by U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber and retired state Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka is most un-Christian. Either Christianity is used as an excuse to ban or limit things that certain conservatives don’t want (e.g., books, abortion, etc.) or to falsely pretend that “Christian values” mean posting the Ten Commandments in schools and that teaching “universal” Bible stories is the American way. Yet when the beliefs are counter to their own (such as those of atheists, Wiccans, Muslims or so-called Satanists), they scream that this is un-Christian, un-Minnesotan and un-American. These Constitutionalists have a weird way of separating church and state. Perhaps the U.S. Constitution should be posted in all schools and government buildings instead of the Ten Commandments. P.S. Gov. Tim Walz may be a lot of things, but I’m pretty sure a Satanist is not one of them. Ted Rich, Crystal ••• Bless you, Tolkkinen, and the camel you rode in on. Your column was spot-on, saying that the basic tenets of Christianity — love, reconciliation and forgiveness — were hardly on display by U.S. Reps. Emmer and Stauber and retired state Senate Majority Leader Gazelka, as they criticized everyone who doesn’t practice Christianity the way they believe it should be practiced. Or, perhaps it’s more appropriate to say the men took aim at those who don’t feel politics should show favoritism toward a particular religion ( their religion, Constitution be damned). In this particular case, they got their jodhpurs in a bundle over a display at the Capitol by a group that calls itself the Minnesota Satanists. It was (brace yourself) a display of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Forget the fact that there was also a Christmas tree on display and a traditional manger scene. The three men were outraged that there was anything on display that was not overtly Christian and related to the Christmas story. So they set about doing exactly what their chosen religion teaches its followers not to do: They stirred up anger, rabble-roused, finger-pointed, name-called. Tolkkinen’s column was spot-on as she pointed out the hypocrisy of what they purported to believe and hold holy and what they actually practice. Jesus himself would probably raise his shepherd’s staff up high in solidarity with the columnist, were it not such a busy time of year for him, what with all the birthday preparations and such. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in this season that so many hold sacred, the faithful would step back and think deeply about the core messages of their chosen religion and then ask themselves how they can move from talking the talk to walking the talk in the new year. What a wonderful world it would be! Caryn Schall, Minnetonka ••• Our nation’s founders were well aware of England’s struggles with mixing religion and politics. England has a long history of fighting over what — and whose — religion would control the country: Protestant, Catholic or whatever King Henry VIII declared this week. England rose to new heights when Queen Elizabeth I declared it didn’t matter. People could relax about who believed what, and get on with their lives. This separation of church and state is precisely what has made America great. It’s what attracts people from all over the world who want to make better lives for themselves and their loved ones by doing better for others. Short-sighted and selfish politicians are the real problem. It’s very simple: Politics and religion are like walking and chewing gum. You can do both at the same time, but it gets sticky if you mix them up. Hooray for Tolkkinen. A breath of sanity in our morning paper. Dave Porter, Minneapolis Teach a man to fish ... It is easy to bring a food item to an event supporting a food bank. A simple click donates $50 to a holiday food drive. Open the car window at the red light, and you can quickly give a granola bar to the man asking for donations. But are we letting ourselves off the hook? Are these actions so easily taken, so laudable and accessible, that they fulfill our desire to do good? We drop a dollar in a bucket, and there is no more need to consider further the food issues in our midst. There are plenty of these issues — food producers earning a pittance, poor working conditions on farms and in factories, lack of basic food knowledge, food companies peddling sugar and fat in any way possible, our agricultural land groaning under excessive use of pesticides. During this season of giving — especially food giving ― I urge you to make donations to groups that will change our unjust food systems. Here are some ideas: Farmworker organizations Food education Urban agriculture Farmers markets Cultural centers These donations allow you to go beyond the next meal and have an influence on the future. With the recent needs in North Carolina in the wake of hurricane disaster, I donated to a local nonprofit there that fights for immigrant workers’ rights. Though it might be giving out food right now, the organization is primarily looking to improve wages and working conditions of farm laborers. These men and women supply our winter desires for berries, cucumbers and yes, Christmas trees. Another idea is the round-up opportunities at Twin Cities natural food co-ops. The staff at the co-ops specifically choose organizations for these round-ups that support BIPOC producers, educate youth or build local food systems. Why not “round up” by an extra $25 and make an impact for a small, grassroots nonprofit? It is the season for giving. Donate to feed the hungry, please do. But also put your donation dollars toward repairing our unjust food systems. Give a boost to the real change we all want. Uli Koester, New Brighton The writer is executive director of Midwest Food Connection. ••• Every day, more Minnesotans are forced to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table. Caleigh Gumbiner, public affairs advocacy manager at Second Harvest Heartland, said, “Last year we (the emergency food system) saw a record number of food shelf visits in Minnesota at 7.5 million.” This statistic puts our growing hunger crisis into perspective. Food insecurity in Minnesota is increasing rapidly, and there should be more funding for food banks and programs like SNAP, which helps Minnesotans buy meals and groceries. Sophia Lenarz-Coy’s Nov. 27 commentary, “Last year, nearly 500,000 Minnesotans used SNAP, but cuts are threatened in Washington,” expressed that “Right now, the minimum average SNAP participant in Minnesota receives just $5.16 per day. Certainly this is not enough for anyone to live on, let alone purchase fresh, healthy food.” This article resonates with the advocacy of Second Harvest Heartland and Lenarz-Coy’s organization, Food Group: working to increase the SNAP minimum, especially for marginalized populations. While this legislation is being advocated for, Gumbiner suggested more practical ways the public can get involved, noting that “taking up a packing shift at your local food shelf or donating when you can” is a great way to help combat this issue. I know that these actions are crucial, as I started volunteering at food banks at a young age and saw how food insecurity can be detrimental to one’s life. To address this issue, it’s important that we increase funding and take manageable steps towards solving this hunger crisis. Evie Chow, Edina No Christmas in Bethlehem On my first trip to Palestine in 2009, I visited Bethlehem. When I toured the Nativity Museum I could see this beautiful kaleidoscope of humanity interpreting our living God among us. This is the second year in a row of no Christmas in Bethlehem while war rages on in Gaza ( “Bethlehem plans another somber Christmas under the shadow of war in Gaza,” StarTribune.com, Dec. 22). Many lament the dwindling Christian presence in Palestine. Bethlehem is more than a physical location; the birthplace of hope in our Prince of Peace resides in every Nativity scene around the world. Out of tragedy comes hope. Howard Dotson, MinneapolisSouth Korea, France shaken by political dramas

 

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One of their most notable collaborations is the film "The Emperor and the Assassin," where Sophie Marceau played a pivotal role as the ambitious concubine Zhao. Her portrayal of the character brought a sense of depth and vulnerability to the film, elevating it to a level of emotional intensity that resonated with audiences worldwide. It is through Marceau's performance that the audience was able to see beyond the historical context of the film and connect with the universal themes of love, betrayal, and sacrifice.

Michigan fans mock VP-elect Vance after alma mater Ohio State's upset loss to MichiganFACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent Biden administration spending on EV charging stationsGet ready for yet another GPU shortage, as Nvidia has warned about potential shortages in the current quarter. Although the company’s third-quarter revenue saw a healthy growth, in its recent earnings call , company Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said that the fourth-quarter revenue is expected to decline sequentially due to supply constraints. The anticipated GPU shortage could potentially stem from a strategic shift in production to prepare for the next-generation RTX 50-series “Blackwell” GPUs, slated for release in 2025. This supply transition, coupled with surging gaming and professional use-case demand, seems to have left the company in a tight spot. Nvidia acknowledged its struggle to maintain stock for both gamers and enterprise customers, emphasizing its ongoing efforts to expand manufacturing capacity. For gamers, this warning means longer wait times and potential price surges for Nvidia’s GPUs during the holiday season. Retailers may face limited inventory of RTX 40-series models, especially premium cards like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 . This challenge arrives as gamers increasingly seek powerful hardware for 4K gaming and emerging AI-enhanced features, making GPU availability crucial. Nvidia remains optimistic about a recovery though, projecting improved supply by early 2025 as production ramps up. Analysts note that the company’s dual strategy — balancing gaming and enterprise segments — has proven profitable but may exacerbate short-term shortages. Additionally, the ramp-up to the RTX 50-series could generate renewed interest among gamers, potentially easing pressure on older product lines. Despite these challenges, Nvidia continues to solidify its leadership in both gaming and AI markets. The company’s GPUs remain a cornerstone of the gaming ecosystem and the driving force behind advancements in generative AI technologies. However, gamers should brace for a challenging quarter in obtaining sought-after GPUs until supply levels stabilize. On the positive side, Nvidia’s third-quarter revenue surged 94% year-over-year to $35 billion, with net income rising 109% to $19.3 billion. The data center segment drove this growth, contributing $30.7 billion (87.7% of total revenue), fueled by strong demand for H100/H200 and upcoming Blackwell GPUs.

VPNs and other dangersVia Brian McGlinchey at Stark Realities From a federal government operating far beyond the bounds of the Constitution to law enforcement agencies routinely entering private property without warrants , tyranny takes many forms in the United States. However, few are as shocking to the sensibilities as civil asset forfeiture , the controversial practice that empowers police to seize money, cars, trucks, houses or anything else they merely accuse of having a link to criminal activity — regardless of whether the property owner is charged with a crime. Civil asset forfeiture is an affront to anyone who’s sincerely committed to the American justice system’s cornerstone presumption of innocence . With law enforcement typically keeping some or all of the assets that are seized, the practice has rightly been called “ policing for profit .” I’ve previously examined the raw tyranny of civil asset forfeiture , spotlighting the story of a Mississippi man who took $42,300 in cash to Houston with the intent of buying a second semi truck for his fledgling trucking business, only to have it seized — or, in legal jargon, “forfeited” — by Harris County police, who pulled him over for allegedly following the vehicle in front of him too closely. Now I’m compelled to share a new example of this legalized theft — the most brazenly unjust and opportunistic one I’ve encountered yet: In an ongoing, multi-million-dollar racket in Indianapolis, police are routinely seizing cash they find in FedEx packages that happen to be routed through that company’s second-largest hub. Like bears wading into a river teeming with salmon, state and local Indiana police officers routinely stride up to the conveyer belts at FedEx’s sprawling Indianapolis facility, where tens of thousands of packages flow by every hour, pouncing when they see a package with traits that meet their absurdly broad definition of “suspicious.” Review the criteria and you’ll quickly conclude you’ve sent and received many “suspicious” packages yourself . Supposedly damning attributes include: A box that’s taped on all its seams — something FedEx itself recommends A box that’s new A package that was dropped off at a FedEx shipping center A shipment paid by credit card, or “possibly by cash,” or by “unknown means” — a trio of criteria that seems to cover every possible means of payment. A package being sent to or from a so-called “source state” — a state that police consider a prominent conduit of illegal drugs. Depending on the law enforcement agency, that could encompass, among others, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. That sample list alone accounts for 29% of the US population. After plucking a package from the FedEx stream, police present it to a K-9. If the dog alerts — which dogs have been found to do unjustifiably up to 66% or more of the time — police obtain a warrant to open it. While they often find no drugs, they’re all too happy when they find cash, which is confiscated and held as prosecutors file suit for the government to take permanent ownership. In April of this year, Henry and Minh Cheng, who run a mom-and-pop jewelry wholesaling business in Los Angeles, were caught in Indiana’s unconscionable web, as police confiscated $42,825 in a FedEx package en route to them from a retailer in Virginia. The retailer had been slow to pay for jewelry the Chengs had shipped to them in January. When the Chengs followed up on the invoice, the retailer offered to pay immediately via cash. In a fateful move, the Chengs obtained a FedEx shipping label and transmitted it to the Virginia retailer. "The next thing I know is the police and the prosecutor [are] forfeiting my money...based solely on suspicions,” Henry Cheng told Los Angeles station ABC7 . “They didn't even name the crime that I've committed, because I know I have not committed any crime.” Consistent with the inherent madness of civil asset forfeiture — in which property itself is put on trial — asset forfeiture cases are given bizarre case names such as “ Nebraska v. One 1970 2-Door Sedan Rambler (Gremlin) .” The case in which Indiana seeks ownership of the Chengs’ seized cash is “State of Indiana v. $42,825.00 in US Currency.” It’s bad enough when Indiana police seize cash out of a car they pull over for speeding somewhere in the state, baselessly assuming the money played some unknown role in the violation of Indiana law. However, in their exploitation of the FedEx facility, Indiana police are typically taking cash that’s only in Indiana because FedEx’s logistical algorithms routed it there rather than through another FedEx hub. (When asked by Stark Realities if the police presence at the facility requires FedEx’s consent, the company declined comment. FedEx likewise chose not to say if it was concerned about customers’ property being seized by police without any specific allegation of a crime.) The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has sued to confiscate currency in FedEx packages traveling to and from states other than Indiana at least 130 times in just the past two years , never identifying any specific violation of Indiana law that’s the basis for the asset forfeiture. The prosecutor’s complaint typically only alleges that “the seized currency was furnished or was intended to be furnished in exchange for a violation of a criminal statute, or is traceable as proceeds of a violation of a criminal statute, in violation of Indiana law” — which is utterly implausible given the money was merely being shipped through the state, and not at the direction of the shipper or receiver . Civil asset forfeiture places a daunting burden on those are victimized by it , forcing them to spend time and money navigating the government’s house of mirrors in an attempt to prove their money or property wasn’t associated with a crime. In many cases, victims of this legalized theft find the situation hopelessly complex and expensive, and simply give up . That demoralizing dynamic is compounded where the Indianapolis FedEx hub is concerned, as victims often live several hundred or even thousands of miles away. Fortunately for the Chengs and hundreds of other victims of Indiana’s FedEx trap, their plight is now the focus of a class action lawsuit filed on their behalf by the Institute for Justice — a non-profit, public interest law firm that’s represented civil asset forfeiture victims across the country. Among other wrongs, the suit asserts that the police seizures of FedEx packages violate the US Constitution’s guarantees of due process , and the Indiana Constitution’s prohibition against prosecuting alleged crimes that occur outside Indiana. "This scheme is one of the most predatory we have seen, and it's past time to put a stop to it," said Institute for Justice attorney Sam Gedge when the suit was filed. "It's illegal and unconstitutional for Indiana to forfeit in-transit money whose only connection to Indiana is the happenstance of FedEx's shipping practices." Perhaps seeking to thwart the class action suit, the Marion County prosecutor’s office last week said it would give the lead plaintiff Chengs their money back — some seven months after taking it without articulating any specific violation of Indiana law. The suit will proceed, however, with Institute for Justice lawyers asking the court to bar the state of Indiana and Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears from initiating currency forfeitures like the one that targeted the Chengs. Reflecting on what police have done to him and continue doing to people across the country, Henry Cheng’s sentiments echo those of many Americans upon first learning about civil asset forfeiture: “I am just totally stunned that this can happen in America." * * * Stark Realities undermines official narratives, demolishes conventional wisdom and exposes fundamental myths across the political spectrum. Read more and subscribe at starkrealities.substack.com Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge. You may also like:

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lucky 777 casino login Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Len Desiderio wants answers on drones. So does most of New Jersey, where dozens of drones have been seen overhead at night in recent weeks. The FBI is investigating, and Gov. Phil Murphy has said the drones do not appear to be a safety concern. Desiderio is the director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners. At a Tuesday meeting, he said he would soon meet with county Emergency Management Director Chris Leusner to discuss the drones, and whether there is anything the county should be doing about them. “I plan on sitting down with him, asking what this is about, what we should do and what we should be looking at down here in Cape May County,” Desiderio said. He said there have been no sightings of mysterious drones reported in the county, at least as far as he knows. Body matching description of missing 84-year-old found in Galloway Township Questions about Gillian’s Wonderland finances draw angry response from Mita 1 injured in Egg Harbor Township crash Absecon police detain suspect in dollar store robbery These South Jersey bars and restaurants have transformed into holiday wonderlands Could American Airlines bus program lead to more flights at Atlantic City airport? District overspending main focus for new Atlantic City school board member Ron Bailey Atlantic City now has more weed shops than casinos with dozens more on the way Atlantic County suing NJ Juvenile Justice Commission over placement of youth offenders Large drones spotted in Philadelphia area as FBI investigates mysterious drone sightings in NJ Egg Harbor City church celebrates its inspiration with 1,700-year-old artifact Who are The Press 2024 Boys Soccer All-Stars? Northfield intersection to become four-way stop Former Galloway gymnastics co-owner accused of sex with minor to remain in jail High-scoring St. Augustine senior is The Press Boys Soccer Player of the Year Private drones are legal to own and use, and come in a variety of sizes, with a variety of capabilities. Their use is governed by Federal Aviation Administration rules. That includes a requirement to maintain a direct line of sight between the drone and the operator, to avoid flying over crowds and to remain below 400 feet. Ocean City police and other agencies routinely use drones for a variety of tasks, including searches for missing persons. They also are used for commercial photography and recreational flying. Sharp-eyed observers will often see small drones on summer nights in the beach communities, as some users seek to capture aerial video of fireworks or events. Dozens of reported drone sightings across New Jersey in recent weeks can be frustrating, but they don’t appear to pose a public safety concern. That's what Gov. Phil Murphy stressed Monday. Reports vary, but the drones seen in New Jersey have been described as being several feet long. Desiderio cited reports that describe them as being the size of an SUV. Drones designed for cargo work or to dust crops can lift 1,000 pounds. At least one lawmaker is calling for a ban on drone flights, as reported on NJ.com. Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick, who is seeking his party's nomination for governor, said drones should be grounded until the reason for the sightings has been discovered. Murphy said there were 49 reports of drones Sunday, mostly in Hunterdon County. The Democratic governor said those numbers included possible sightings and potentially the same drone being reported more than once. “This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated," Murphy said this week. A speaker at the county meeting told Desiderio he was right to be concerned, and that she sees drones regularly over her home in the Whitesboro section of Middle Township. She said they fly at night and make a considerable amount of noise. She expressed concerns about community safety, noting the county is home to a Coast Guard base. “At night tonight, when you go home, take a look up at the sky and see what you see,” she said at the meeting. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Heavenly duties or hellish efforts?

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A psychiatric report will be prepared on a man over a one-day crime spree in Lavington during which he threatened several people, including one with a knife. or signup to continue reading In one incident, Izzac James Williams made his way into a woman's unit in Klose Street, causing her great distress. "No, no, no, you know me," Williams told the woman, throwing his right arm forward as if to shake hands. In fear, she walked backwards as Williams then said: "I'm Michael, you owe me money". The woman screamed at him, warning she'd call the police if he didn't leave, then ran outside from a sliding door in the kitchen and called out: "Please, somebody help me". In a menacing voice, Williams told the woman: "Just shut the f--- up, stop screaming". This was one of four incidents from March 10, 2024, over which Williams was charged with a series of offences. One had him telling a shopper who had parked his vehicle in the Lavington Square car park: "What the f--- are you doing? Get the f--- out of my car. I'm taking the car". The victim, Albury Local Court has heard, realised Williams was making a threat, then noticed he was holding a knife. A Coles supermarket worker approached and warned the man to "be careful, he's got a knife". Ten minutes later, about 4.15pm, Williams approached a couple who had just pulled their MG into a disabled parking space. The man got out and went inside the supermarket, but his wife remained in the car. Moments later, Williams approached the car, opened a door and got in the driver's seat. He grabbed the keys, which had been left in the door, and told the woman to "get out of my car". She refused, replying: "No, it's my car". The woman then reached over and turned off the car, but after hitting the starter button Williams grabbed her forearm and shoved it into the dashboard. The court was told the woman was petrified during the incident, which ended when he got out of the car and walked away. Williams also stole items valued at $41.20 from the Woolworths supermarket at the shopping centre, but was arrested soon after as he walked along Griffith Road while armed with the knife. Williams, 29, of Elwin Street, Narrandera, appeared before magistrate Sally McLaughlin via a video link to jail, where he is being held bail refused. He pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny, common assault, use an offensive weapon with the intention of committing an indictable offence of stealing a car, escape police custody, unlawfully obtain goods, assault with the intention of stealing a car and break and enter a dwelling with the intention of committing a serious indictable offence. The escape custody charge related to Williams not following directions when he was being moved to a bigger cell at the police station late that night. He had just told police he "had drunk too much alcohol". Williams will be sentenced on February 2, 2025. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement

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FOXBORO — Drake Maye’s arrival in New England coincided with a wholesale reset for the Patriots franchise following the departure of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones this past offseason. In his eight starts since assuming the reins from veteran Jacoby Brissett, the rookie quarterback has provided encouraging examples of what the Patriots’ revamped front office saw in selecting him third overall in the draft last April. While the Patriots enter their bye week with a 3-10 record and just 2-6 with Maye as the starter, both the coaching staff and his teammates feel they have a quarterback they can build around going forward. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, one game at a time,” Maye said this week. “I’m trying to learn from negative experiences or negative plays, learn from turnovers, learn from sacks that I take and see if I can get the ball out and do something better. That’s probably the biggest thing. "Hopefully, the work that we’re putting in and the product that we’re putting out can lead to some positive plays and some positive wins down the road.” Maye is coming off his best statistical performance of the season, completing a season best 80% of his passes (24 of 30) for a season-high 238 yards and a touchdown in New England’s 25-24 loss to Indianapolis. He also had a 41-yard run, showing off a running ability that has him averaging 9.1 yards per carry – best among quarterbacks who have played at least nine games. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Rosen Law Firm Encourages Light & Wonder, Inc. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - LNW

SL Green Realty Corp. stock falls Monday, underperforms marketBuchanan scores 28 off the bench, Boise State downs South Dakota State 83-82FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Drake Maye’s arrival in New England coincided with a wholesale reset for the Patriots franchise following the departure of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones this past offseason. In his eight starts since assuming the reins from veteran Jacoby Brissett, the rookie quarterback has provided encouraging examples of what the Patriots’ revamped front office saw in selecting him third overall in the draft last April. While the Patriots enter their bye week with a 3-10 record and just 2-6 with Maye as the starter, both the coaching staff and his teammates feel they have a quarterback they can build around going forward. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, one game at a time,” Maye said this week. “I’m trying to learn from negative experiences or negative plays, learn from turnovers, learn from sacks that I take and see if I can get the ball out and do something better. That’s probably the biggest thing. "Hopefully, the work that we’re putting in and the product that we’re putting out can lead to some positive plays and some positive wins down the road.” Maye is coming off his best statistical performance of the season, completing a season best 80% of his passes (24 of 30) for a season-high 238 yards and a touchdown in to Indianapolis. He also had a 41-yard run, showing off a running ability that has him averaging 9.1 yards per carry – best among quarterbacks who have played at least nine games. Maye did have one interception off a tipped ball, but showed his best command of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s scheme to date, spreading the ball around to six different players and consistently getting the Patriots into the red zone. The rub is that the Patriots were just 2 of 6 once they got there, including four trips inside the 10-yard line that yielded only one TD. Lackluster play in the red zone has been a hindrance for a unit that ranks 30th in the NFL in scoring touchdowns inside the 20. Maye said it will be one of his main focal points over the final four games. “It’s tough to go out like that,” Maye said. “You can’t win games going four drives in the red zone that end in field goals. We’ve got to focus in on that. I think that’s been an emphasis of improvement for this offense. We know you have to score touchdowns to win in this league.” Though coach Jerod Mayo agrees there is room for improvement for Maye, he also pointed out that the pieces around him need to do a better job supporting him as well. He pointed specifically to the offensive line, singling out rookie left guard Layden Robinson and rookie tackle Caedan Wallace, as well as fellow lineman and 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange, who is working his way back from a knee injury. “You need a guy like Layden Robinson to show what he can do. We need a guy like Cole Strange before the end of the season to see what he can do,” Mayo said. “You can use Caedan in that same bucket. We need to see what the receivers can do and what they’re going to look like going forward, and that’s the hard part for me. You want to win right now, but at the same time, I think it would be a disservice to go to the end of the season and not know exactly what we have.” That’s not lost on Robinson, who wants to play better for his quarterback who he said has grown exponentially as a leader since earning the starting job. “He always has that confidence about him and you know how he takes control of the huddle,” Robinson said. “He gets in there, and he’s like, ‘All right, let’s go to work,’ basically. We rally behind him.” Results aside, Van Pelt said there are no regrets about initially waiting to elevate Maye to the starting job. “Absolutely not. I think we had the plan going into place, and I think that it’s showing now that that was a good decision for us,” Van Pelt said. “Would he be as developed had he started the first game? Maybe. Could’ve gone the other way as well. I stated in the spring, this is a marathon, it’s not a sprint. "This is about a career, franchise quarterback, and we’re trying to develop him in the right way. And I feel like we did it that way.” AP NFL:

 

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ph777+casino+login LOCKERBIE victims’ families are split over a controversial new drama about the atrocity — amid fears it could undermine their 36-year fight for justice. Oscar-winning star Colin Firth takes the lead role of campaigner Dr Jim Swire, 88, who lost his daughter Flora in the 1988 tragedy. The bereaved dad has long argued that late Libyan spy Abdelbaset al-Megrahi — the only person ever convicted over Britain’s deadliest terror attack — was innocent. His book, A Father’s Search For Justice, is the inspiration for the forthcoming Sky Atlantic drama. Now other victims’ relatives are outraged at the portrayal ahead of a trial in the US next year. Victoria Cummock, 71, whose husband John died aboard Pan Am Flight 103, accused programme makers of trying to “influence uniformed audiences” and “instil doubt in potential jurors”. The American dad of three was among 259 passengers plus 11 in the Dumfriesshire town who perished when the London-New York flight exploded in mid-air on December 21, 1988 . And Victoria, who regularly travels to the UK to visit John’s grave in Lockerbie’s Tundergarth cemetery, described the five-part series as an attempt to “undermine the course of criminal justice”. The widow added: “I feel that the casting of Colin Firth, depicted as the lone, courageous champion of truth and justice, will elevate Swire’s story, filled with unproven conspiracy theories and politically biased interpretations.” Al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001 after being convicted of 270 counts of murder at a 72-day trial at a special Scots court convened in The Netherlands. Controversially, Scottish ministers released him back to his homeland eight years later on compassionate grounds after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He then survived for another three years. Alleged spy Abu Agila Masud is set to stand trial in Washington DC in May accused of assembling the Lockerbie bomb. The King’s Speech A-lister Firth, 64, was spotted walking past reconstructed plane wreckage while filming Lockerbie: A Search for Truth earlier this year in Bathgate, West Lothian. Victoria revealed the scenes had upset relatives — with the real-life plane’s remains set to be sent to the US to be used in evidence against the alleged bomb maker. Slamming the telly drama, she added: “It discredits the exemplary efforts and integrity of thousands of first responders and law enforcement personnel who combed for evidence for months, in the bitter, wet cold, across 2,200sq km. It was the largest crime scene in UK history.” Dr Swire has maintained that the true bombmaker was a Jordanian “double agent, or possibly even a triple agent”. He has insisted this man was a valuable CIA asset — prompting the US and UK Governments to instead pin the blame on tyrant Muammar Gaddafi and Libyans. But bereaved loved ones are concerned millions of viewers will be swayed by his theories. Bert Ammerman, 77, whose brother Tom, 36, died in the attack, questioned the TV show’s agenda — despite retaining “respect” for Dr Swire’s decades of campaigning. He said: “Jim Swire was the key person that wanted to keep the Lockerbie story going until we found out the truth. “And for this entire period he has been a leader. For that he will always have my respect and gratitude. I disagree that Megrahi was wrongly convicted and that it was not Libya to blame. Jim really went off the beaten path.” Vowing to keep fighting for convictions, Bert, of New Jersey, US, insisted: “It’s not just Megrahi and Gaddafi that were involved — and that alone keeps us going 36 years later. My power to keep going is my brother being blown out of the air at 31,000 feet.” Among the victims when the tragic flight exploded 38 minutes after take-off were 35 students from Syracuse University in New York. Sue Lowenstein, 80, lost her son Alexander, 20 — who had been among the group studying abroad. She accused the forthcoming small-screen portrayal of deliberately courting controversy. The sculptor, of Montague, New York, said: “Controversy always creates an interesting story for TV and most of us haven’t been in agreement with Jim Swire and his beliefs.” Campaign groups told of their horror that the series was allowed to get off the ground after pleading with producers to pull the plug. A spokesman for the US-based Victims of Pan Am 103 said: “We have raised our concerns with the producers of the project. “We feel they are amplifying and highlighting a false narrative about the bombing. “A narrative that the great majority of us who lost loved ones do not align with and have fought very hard against. “They risk dishonouring the memories of those that were lost, the lifetime of work of the families, and worst of all they may put doubt in the public about those that committed this heinous act.” But Swire’s supporters insist the series, set to debut on January 2, will be a force for good. His friend, Reverend John Mosey, 84, lost daughter Helga in the tragedy — and continues to hope the “hidden” truth will emerge. Rev Mosey said: “Somebody in the US government or security departments has something they want to hide from the public and will do anything to stop it from coming out. “It’s frustrating getting nearer the end of our days so people are waiting for us to shuffle off our mortal coil and keep quiet until we do so. “Those who kept secrets ought to be brought to justice.” Dr Swire declined to comment. Last night a Sky spokesman said: “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth is based on Dr Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph’s book, The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice. “We understand there are opposing opinions and do not attempt to tell the definitive version of the Lockerbie disaster or present a conclusion. "We do not underestimate the responsibility of telling this story sensitively. We engaged with victims’ families and support groups through- out production and in the lead-up to the series launch.”Aide to finance minister outlines tax reformsBlue Water Acquisition (OTCMKTS:BLUWU) Stock Price Up 6.8% – What’s Next?New footage of vehicles slamming into rail bridges in Queensland has been released amid a push to improve driver awareness. At least 386 bridges or protection beams have been hit by vehicles in the past 12 months, causing train and road delays. Police and multiple government departments are leading a blitz this week to improve awareness among drivers in high-risk areas. “Just last month we saw a car narrowly miss being crushed after a truck got wedged at Corinda – next time maybe we won’t be so lucky,” said Travis Cooper from Queensland Rail. “We’re not mincing our words – drivers, know your height, plan your route and obey the signs and rules.” Children younger than 16 are all but set to be banned from social media, with federal parliament poised to enact the world-first legislation. The Senate is expected on Thursday to pass the laws that would ban young people from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with bipartisan support. However, there has been concern that the proposal has been rushed through parliament without proper scrutiny, given that Australia would be the first country to implement such a ban. The ban would come into effect one year after the laws pass the parliament, with trials of age-verification technology still done by the federal government. Criticism had been levelled at the ban after an inquiry into the laws ran for just three hours, with people only given one day to hand in submissions and a lack of consultation with young people themselves. While the bill has enjoyed bipartisan support, several coalition members have broken ranks to raise concerns. Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to vote against the ban in the House of Representatives, while coalition senator Matt Canavan has also criticised the laws. Brisbanites wake to another cloudy day today, with the mercury forecast to hit a top of 30 degrees. There’s a higher chance of showers today than there has been this week so far, so don’t forget your umbrella. Tomorrow and the weekend look to be even wetter again. Here’s the outlook into the weekend and beyond. Stories making the rounds beyond Brisbane this morning: Bikies ran amok in the CFMEU , and they’re not going to leave quietly. Efforts to clean up the troubled union are encountering resistance as the extent of past problems becomes clearer. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe was suspended from the chamber for a day for throwing papers at Senator Pauline Hanson in fury, after the latter was accused of spreading hatred by Senator Fatima Payman. In Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has intervened to scupper a deal with the Greens over environmental reform that Labor promised at the last election, circumventing his Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Elon Musk, US President-elect Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jnr, Mike Johnson and Robert F. Kennedy enjoy a McDonald’s meal aboard Trump’s private plane. Credit: @DonaldJTrumpJr/X It was a picture that revealed more than just Donald Trump’s inner circle. What does the president-elect’s diet consist of? Breakfast – nothing. Lunch – nothing. Dinner – a McDonald’s, KFC, pizza or a well-done steak. Twelve Diet Cokes a day, and snacking on Doritos. Here’s what happened when The Telegraph’s Gareth Davies tried it for a week. And a man who could be the NRL season’s most important buy has revealed why he changed clubs, as Brisbane Times Sports Reporter Nick Wright dissects who stands as their new side’s most crucial purchase . Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Thursday, November 28, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 30 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: After an eight-month inquiry, the Senate transport committee’s 229-page report on aircraft noise has been tabled in parliament . In Olympics venue news, Dykman Consulting is working on a submission to the Crisafulli government’s 100-day review that envisages a “golden triangle” inner-city Games transport area , with the Gabba becoming the Brisbane Arena, a Suncorp Stadium upgrade and a Main Stadium at the eastern end of Victoria Park. Local primary school students have joined the fight against the development of a 24/7 McDonald’s on Nudgee Road in Hendra. Credit: Courtney Kruk Primary school students have added their voices to a chorus of locals opposing the proposed development of a 24-hour McDonald’s on Nudgee Road , staging a protest outside Hendra State School on Wednesday afternoon. Dozens of mums, dads and bubs have turned King George Square into a parking lot for prams as they gathered to sing songs and read stories in protest of Brisbane City Council’s decision to cut local library reading programs . Barry Parade Public House is one of the best-looking bar openings in years. Credit: Markus Ravik And a sophisticated neighbourhood boozer has opened in what many would consider a relatively unknown byway between the CBD and Fortitude Valley. Take a look inside Barry Parade Public House.

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The recent arrest of the man accused in the Dec. 4 death of United Healthcare’s CEO has resurfaced the writings of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, who was apprehended by authorities in 1996 at his Montana cabin near Lincoln after nearly 17 years of mailing bombs that killed three and injured nearly two dozen others. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, Ted Kaczynski In social media posts, Luigi Mangione called Kaczynski a “political revolutionary,” according to a police bulletin obtained by the Associated Press. Several news agencies are reporting that Mangione wrote about “The Unabomber Manifesto” by Kaczynski, also known as the “Industrial Society and Its Future,” in January on the book review site Goodreads. "It's easy to quickly and thoughtless write this off as the manifesto of a lunatic, in order to avoid facing some of the uncomfortable problems it identifies. But it's simply impossible to ignore how prescient many of his predictions about modern society turned out," the reviewer wrote. “He was a violent individual − rightfully imprisoned − who maimed innocent people. While these actions tend to be characterized as those of a crazy luddite, however, they are more accurately seen as those of an extreme political revolutionary,” they wrote. Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Mangione, 26, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, reportedly gave the manifesto a 4-star rating, or “liked it.” Ratings range from 1 star – “Didn’t like it” – to 5 stars: “It was amazing.” New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, who led United Healthcare, the United States’ largest medical insurance company. Thompson, 50, was killed Dec. 4 as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski, the Harvard-educated mathematician who retreated to a dingy shack in the Montana wilderness and ran a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died June 10, 2023. He was 81. Branded the “Unabomber” by the FBI, Kaczynski died by suicide at the federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina. Kaczynski’s manifesto, a 35,000-word anti-technology tirade, was printed in 1995 in The New York Times and The Washington Post and eventually led to his arrest. His capture thrust Lincoln into the international spotlight as FBI agents, other law enforcement and hordes of media converged on a tiny mountain town, where he had lived as something of recluse. This April 6, 1996, file photo shows Ted Kaczynski's cabin in the woods outside Lincoln. Kaczynski, a Harvard-educated mathematician, died by suicide while in federal custody in 2023. He was 81. He had been transferred to a federal prison medical facility in North Carolina in late 2021 after spending the past two decades in a federal Supermax prison in Colorado. His brother, David Kaczynski, told several news agencies that his brother should not be someone to aspire to. "His actions are like a virus," David Kaczynski said, according to Yahoo News. "They could be like a virus unless they understand he was a very angry and disturbed man. It doesn't mean his ideas are ideas of a lunatic, but his behavior, I believe, is the behavior of a lunatic." "To the extent that he may have attributed at all to sort of normalizing or recasting the violent acts as beneficial to humanity is a terrible mistake," David Kaczynski added. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him to New York so that he can face a murder charge, the Associated Press reported. At the time of his arrest after being spotted Monday at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power, the Associated Press reported. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Assistant Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Photos: Remembering Jimmy Carter, the 39th US presidentA new report has listed top airlines operating routes across Nigeria with the most flight delays and cancellations The report by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority shows about 10 international and local airlines experienced delays and cancellations The report shows over 15 million passengers moved through Nigeria’s airports in 2023. Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade. Passengers in Nigerian airports experienced some of the highest flight delays and cancellations rates in the first half of 2024. Flight delays and cancellations on some Nigerian routes have become frequent, caused by weather conditions and operational challenges. Passengers experience delays and cancellations during Xmas Passengers travelling through Nigerian airports during the holiday period experienced delays due to concerns about potential last-minute delays or cancellations. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! As the holiday season begins, increased passenger traffic may result in crowded airports and longer delays. Read also FG spends N1.4bn on repentant terrorists' rehabilitation, secret trials According to Business Insider, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos rank among the 10 busiest airports in Africa , with a significant part of the continent’s air traffic. NCAA reports the number of flight cancellations and delays The report said about 15.89 million passengers moved through Nigeria’s airports in 2023. The delays disrupted schedules and created significant logistical challenges. Some of the delays are caused by technical issues, weather conditions, air traffic congestion, and regulatory or security checks. According to data from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), about 19,250 passengers across Nigerian airports faced prolonged delays during the review period. Also, the NCAA data shows that of the 35,398 flights operated by 13 domestic airlines, about 16,945 experienced delays. Airlines in Nigeria cancelled 696 flights, representing two per cent of the total 35,398 flights operated. The top airlines with the most delays and cancellation Read also Full list: Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines, 3 other airlines sanctioned by NCAA, reasons given Additionally, about 48% of domestic flights experienced delays. Twenty-six airlines operated 7,144 flights, with 2,305 delays and 69 cancellations. The NCAA data shows international and local airlines with the most delays and cancellations to and from Nigeria’s airports. Delta Airlines Cronos Uganda Air Turkish Airlines South African Airways Air Peace Kenya Airways Max Air (international) British Airways Air Cote d'Ivoire Air Peace clarifies the video, suggesting passengers rush Legit.ng earlier reported that Air Peace provided updates regarding the status of its flight on December 20, 2024, confirming that customers never hurried to board its aircraft without following the operational guidelines established by aviation authorities. The company said some unknown persons created the movies that were making the rounds on social media to confuse and divert stakeholders, management, and regulators. Ejike Ndiulo, Air Peace spokesperson, disclosed in a statement that the video content making the rounds amounts to a false claim, which is not just cheeky but also deceptive. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng

AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:06 p.m. ESTRegional shares rise in thin year-end trading

The building that once housed the Morrison Hotel — featured on the iconic cover of the Doors ’ 1970 album of the same name — suffered significant damages Thursday after a fire tore through the downtown Los Angeles property. No one was injured in the blaze, which caused the roof to collapse on the 110-year-old, four-story, mostly vacant building; once a transient hotel — which it was when the Doors were photographed there — the Morrison Hotel had been vacant for over a decade, although the houseless frequently squatted in the structure. “There were some unhoused persons exiting the building,” an LAFD spokesperson said following the fire Thursday ( via CBS News ). “We did have firefighters place ground ladders to fire escapes because they could see there were a couple of people coming to the fire escapes.” Photographer Henry Diltz, who captured Jim Morrison and company inside the hotel for the album cover, would later co-found the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York. In a 2020 remembrance of his fame d photograph , Diltz wrote, “We were at a transient hotel in Downtown LA on Hope Street. The Doors didn’t have permission to take pictures, so when the lobby was empty, they ran in quickly and sat behind the window. One roll of film shot before we got asked to leave.” A post shared by Henry Diltz (@henrydiltz) Following news of the Morrison Hotel building’s fire, Diltz wrote on social media, “Sad to hear the original Morrison Hotel in downtown LA caught fire yesterday... It was a great old wooden building with many small rooms upstairs where transients and drinkers used to sleep it off on a cot for $2.50 a night! I think the beautiful front window with ‘Morrison Hotel’ in red letters was the best part of it... & So did The Doors!” The building was purchased by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in 2023, with that nonprofit planning on transforming it into affordable housing. However, while development on the property continued, the houseless continued to trespass on the Hope Street structure. Ironically, in recent years, the vacant building had been used by firefighters as a training space, the Associated Press reports .The month of November has seen major announcements from Spotify in the podcasting space. In mid-November Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek spoke at the Spotify campus in Los Angeles about initiatives for uninterrupted video podcasts, audience-driven payments, and the new Spotify for Creators platform. “We can provide an experience for your audience that is superior to any platform. And by giving you, the creators, another path to monetisation beyond ads, we’re freeing you up to spend more time doing what you love: creating,” said Ek. Creators are taking notice of the changes. Why? Spotify is one of the largest platforms in the world for creators, with more than 640 million users and more than 250 million subscribers. Video consumption is rapidly growing on Spotify. To find out a little more about the changes on the platform, Mediaweek spoke with Prithi Dey, podcast lead AUNZ at Spotify. Dey explained the platform is no stranger to video content. “We’re seeing a lot of engagement with video content on Spotify. We’ve had video podcasts since 2019.” “For audio-only podcasters, they are being an opportunity to grow via Spotify.” There’s good reason to consider adding video to audio-only content. More than 250 million users have watched a video podcast on Spotify, and nearly two-thirds of podcast listeners say they prefer podcasts with video. There are now more than 300,000 video podcast shows on Spotify Dey: “Our focus is really trying to give creators from all different backgrounds the opportunity to grow their audience, monetise their content and give them the tools they need to be able to engage with their audiences.” With no option for audio creators to offer subscriptions to podcasts on Spotify, their monetisation options were restricted. Now with the ability to share Spotify subscription revenue with creators, it provides a new revenue stream. “The reason we’re doing that is to basically have a creative, better user experience for the audience because they get an uninterrupted experience of being able to view video podcasts on Spotify,” said Dey. “We’re able to do this because we are going to be paying the video podcast creators the premium revenue from subscribers. “ It will also help video creators, like traditional YouTubers for example, decide if they want to bring their video content to Spotify because they will essentially have three revenue streams that they could leverage from the 2nd of January, 2025.” Prithi Dey “Spotify for Podcasters has been rebranded to Spotify for Creators,” explained Dey. “It’s an easy-to-use platform and the whole purpose of rebranding is to create a holistic ecosystem that is easy to use. It’s free to use, and those thinking about bringing their content onto Spotify can easily upload content through Spotify for Creators. “They can easily look at their analytics, they can easily distribute to all other platforms, and our job really is to support them on that process. We’re having multiple with creators and partners from all different places about how they can actually bring their video podcast onto Spotify and how to use Spotify for Creators. “We try to make it as easy for them as possible. We also have a help section on Spotify for Creators, which is easy to use and comprehensive. I often direct a lot of new creators there and all their questions are usually answered, and it’s a really easy process if they have that content.” Spotify has reacted to what its audience wants, explained Dey. “In 2021, 43% of podcast listeners said they prefer video podcasts. In 2024, just three years later, that number’s grown to 64%. We are seeing increased interest from audiences coming to Spotify to watch video content. “ In Australia, the number of podcast listeners engaging with video podcasts has surged around 25% year over year. This is why we are investing in this space a lot more.” See also: Every Thursday in Mediaweek’s Podcast Week When asked about what rates for Spotify users, Dey said: “ I don’t think there’ll be any major surprises if I say true crime is always popular. Entertainment in general, sport and comedy, too are the categories that we always see doing well. Given that we’ve got quite a young audience, entertainment skews towards younger demographics and sport is always really popular. “Long-form content is where we are going and what we’re encouraging creators to upload. When I say long form, we’re thinking 15 to 30 minutes. That’s something the audience can be consuming when commuting or maybe walking.” There is another initiative aimed at helping grow podcast audiences – podcast clips. These are basically short-form teasers that can be uploaded by creators. The purpose of the clips is to drive awareness to the long-form content.” For podcasters who have “baked-in ads”, including host reads, nothing changes. “That will not be impacted,” advised Dey. “If the podcaster or the video creator has those baked in ads, mayb sponsorships that they set up and manage directly. Those host reads and sponsorships will stay in the podcast or the video podcast. “Even if you’re a premium user and you don’t get those third party dynamic ads, the host reads will still be there. The creator gets a hundred percent of that revenue.” While Dey listens and watched a wide range of content for her work, she has a few regulars she doesn’t miss. “I’m watching more content now than I did previously because it’s actually a really good user experience when I can watch and listen to a podcast. It is easy to toggle between the two. “I recently started watching a new show called Swag on the Beat . They’re comedians, with a massive social following. They just launched a couple of weeks ago. “Also Relatables with Jake and Ottie, that’s a video show as well. So those are two local shows. In terms of audio podcasts, I like to listen to a lot of current affairs and I listen to the news. “I listen to Guardian podcasts and The Daily Aus . I love a good documentary series too. See also: Spotify’s Now Playing event: Uninterrupted Video Podcasts to roll out first in Australia Uninterrupted Video Podcasts: Beginning in January, Spotify Premium subscribers in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada can watch their favourite podcasts uninterrupted by dynamic ads. Spotify Partner Program: Beginning in January, this new program will give eligible creators access to a new monetisation system. The Spotify Partner Program has two components: Premium Video Revenue and Ads. With new Premium Video Revenue, creators in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia can earn revenue based on video consumption from Spotify Premium subscribers beginning in January. With Ads, enrolled creators earn a share of revenue every time a dynamic ad monetised by Spotify plays in their episodes both on and off Spotify. Eligible creators can apply today and learn more at creators.spotify.com Spotify for Creators: Spotify for Podcasters, Spotify’s free, all-in-one podcast hosting and analytics platform, is evolving to Spotify for Creators to serve the needs of multiformat creators with a more expansive and streamlined platform. The platform features a new mobile app experience, robust analytics, a suite of new monetisation options, tools to customise shows’ presence on Spotify, creator-fan interactivity features, and turnkey audio and video distribution. Podcast Clips: Eligible creators will also have the ability to upload short-form, vertical Podcast clips to promote their episodes, and select a custom thumbnail to represent their content on Spotify. Seamless Streaming: We’re delivering the best viewing experience for audiences by making it easy for fans to stream their favourite video content in the foreground or background without disrupting the experience – whether they are using Spotify Premium or Free. We’re giving fans more content they love and a best-in-class UX so they can easily switch between watching or listening. • More than 170m users have consumed a podcast on Spotify, up from 10m in 2019. • There are now more than 300,000 video podcast shows on Spotify. • More than 250M users have streamed a video podcast on Spotify (based on users who streamed video in background or foreground). • More than 70% of users consuming video podcasts watch them in the foreground. • On Spotify, more than 1 in 3 US podcast MAU engage with video, while more than 1 in 4 global podcast MAU engage with video. Video Podcast MAU globally has grown by 60% year on year. • Premium users listen more than twice as much as Ad-supported users. • In 2021, 43% of podcast listeners said they preferred video podcasts, and in 2024, that number has grown to more than 64%. • In 2020, average users were spending 30 hours a month on Spotify. Today it’s closer to 40. And younger subscribers are spending around 60 hours each month on Spotify. • The share of podcasts from Australian creators that publish video has grown by more than 60% YoY. • Video podcast consumption hours in Australia are up 11% YoY. • Video podcast monthly listeners in Australia are up more than 40% YoY. • The share of podcast listeners in Australia who watch video podcasts is up almost 25% YoY. • Australia is the top podcast market in APAC for Spotify (by consumption hours). • Podcast listeners in Australia are up 13% YoY. • Podcast consumption hours for local shows in Australia are up 8% YoY. • Politics & Current Events, Horror, Paranormal & Conspiracy Theories, Business & Technology are the fastest-growing podcast categories on Spotify in Australia.

While still on injured reserve, Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (biceps) was a full participant at practice Wednesday. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) did not practice. Wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) and right tackle Spencer Brown (ankle) were limited. The Bills also opened the 21-day practice windows for defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) and offensive lineman Tylan Grable (groin). Both were full participants on Wednesday. Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

PHILADELPHIA — Logan Cooley broke a tie on power play late in the second period and had an assist to help Utah beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Sunday night. Cooley took a no-look pass from Dylan Guenther and made a slick forehand-to-backhand move in front of the net to beat goalie Sam Ersson. Cooley also assisted on Juuso Valimaki's first goal of the season. Valimaki's shot hit Philadelphia captain Sean Couturier's stick and went past Ersson. Jaxson Stauber stopped 20 shots for Utah. Ersson made 21 saves in his first start after missing a month because of a lower-body injury. Philadelphia has lost three straight. Michael Carcone opened the scoring for Utah when Ersson made a save on his shot, but the rebound bounced off Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen's skate and slid into the net. Kevin Stenlund added an unassisted short-handed goal with 4:17 to play to give Utah an insurance marker. Utah Hockey Club's Juuso Valimaki, left, celebrates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Derik Hamilton Joel Farabee snapped a 12-game goal drought and Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia. Takeaways Utah: Goaltending has been good despite starter Connor Ingram being sidelined with an upper-body injury since Nov. 18. Stauber made his second start of the season, following up as shutout against Vegas last week. Flyers: Defenseman Jaime Drysdale returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with an upper-body injury. Key moment Drysdale thought he scored the tying goal in the third period, but a challenge by Utah coach Andre Tourigny was successful. Replays showed Philadelphia's Travis Konecny collided with Stauber in the crease, interfering with his ability to make a save. Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson reacts after giving up a goal to Utah Hockey Club's Logan Cooley during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Derik Hamilton Key stat Plus-14 — Utah's goal differential since Nov. 23, the best in the NHL in that span. Utah is 5-2-1 in that span. Up next Both teams are back in action Tuesday night, with Utah hosting Minnesota, and Philadelphia at Columbus.The deadliest air accident ever in South Korea killed 179 people on Sunday when an airliner belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport. Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew on board, was trying to land shortly after 9 am local time at the airport in the south of the country, South Korea's transport ministry said. Two crew members survived and were being treated for injuries. The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 was seen in local media video landing on its belly at the Muan International Airport and skidding off the runway as smoke streamed out of the engines, before crashing into a wall and exploding in flames, killing everyone on board except two crew plucked from the wreckage. "Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of [the plane] looks almost impossible to recognise," Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told a press briefing. The two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning plane, Lee said. "Passengers were ejected from the aircraft after it collided with the wall, leaving little chance of survival," a local fire official told families at a briefing, according to a statement released by the fire brigade. Only two people—both flight attendants—were rescued from the crash, it said. "Of the 179 dead, 65 have been identified," the country's fire agency said, adding that DNA retrieval had begun. Inside the airport terminal, tearful family members gathered to wait for news. An official began calling out the names of the 65 victims, with each name triggering fresh cries of grief. All of the passengers were Korean apart from two Thais, with the youngest a three-year-old boy and the oldest a 78-year-old, authorities said. The two survivors were transferred to separate hospitals in Seoul, the Yonhap news agency reported. Bits of plane seats and luggage were strewn across the field next to the runway. Authorities combed nearby areas for bodies possibly thrown from the plane, Lee said. Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors, Lee said. The control tower had issued a bird strike warning and, shortly afterward, the pilots declared mayday and then attempted to land from the opposite direction, a transport ministry official said. A passenger texted a relative to say a bird was stuck in the wing, the News1 agency reported. The crash was the worst for any South Korean airline since a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that killed more than 200 people, transportation ministry data showed. The previous worst on South Korean soil was an Air China crash that killed 129 in 2002. Yonhap news agency cited airport authorities as saying a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction. Experts, however, said the bird strike report and the way the aircraft attempted to land raised more questions than answers. "A bird strike is not unusual, problems with an undercarriage are not unusual," said Airline News editor Geoffrey Thomas. "Bird strikes happen far more often, but typically they don't cause the loss of an airplane by themselves." Under global aviation rules, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and automatically involve the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States, where the plane was built. The NTSB said later it was leading a team of US investigators to help South Korea's aviation authority. Hours after the crash, family members gathered in the airport's arrival area, some crying and hugging as Red Cross volunteers handed out blankets. Many victims appeared to be residents of nearby areas returning from vacation, officials said. Families screamed and wept as a medic announced the names of victims identified by their fingerprints. Papers were circulated for families to write down their contact details. Mortuary vehicles lined up outside to take bodies away, and authorities said a temporary morgue had been established. The aircraft was manufactured in 2009, the transport ministry said. The Boeing model involved in the crash, a 737-800, is one of the world's most flown airliners with a generally strong safety record. It was developed well before the MAX variant involved in a recent Boeing safety crisis. It was the first fatal flight for Jeju Air, a low-cost airline founded in 2005 that ranks behind only Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines in terms of the number of passengers in the country. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. Kim said that the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction, adding that the airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority. All domestic and international flights at the airport were cancelled after the accident, Yonhap reported. The crash site smelled of aviation fuel and blood, according to Reuters witnesses. Workers in protective suits and masks combed the area while soldiers searched through bushes. The accident happened only three weeks after Jeju Air started regular flights from Muan to Bangkok and other Asian cities on December 8. Muan International is one of South Korea's smallest airports but it has become much busier in recent years. South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok, named interim leader of the country on Friday in an ongoing political crisis, arrived at the scene of the accident and said the government was putting all its resources into dealing with the crash. Two Thai women were on the plane, aged 22 and 45, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said. The Thai foreign ministry later confirmed both were among those killed. Thai officials said that there were no abnormal conditions when the plane took off. Both black boxes—the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder—have been found from the crash site, some 288 kilometres southwest of the capital Seoul, deputy transport minister Joo Jong-wan said at a briefing. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. 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WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. It passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." Branden Marty, a Navy veteran who served for 13 years, said the loss of health coverage for transgender medical treatments could prompt some with valuable experience to leave the military, affecting national security because "we already struggle from a recruiting and retention standpoint." He also said the bill could regularly force service members into difficult choices financially. "It will be tough for a lot of them because of out-of-pocket expenses, especially enlisted members who we know already struggle with food insecurity," said Marty, the father of a transgender teenager. "They don't get paid very much, so they're going to be making a lot of choices on a day-to-day, tactical level." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. Overall, 81 Democrats voted for the bill and 124 against it. On the Republican side, 200 voted for the bill and 16 against it. "It's disappointing to see 124 of my Democrat colleagues vote against our brave men and women in uniform over policies that have nothing to do with their intended mission," Johnson, R-La., said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. High rents make it difficult to save up, even when applying for a VA loan—a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that typically has more favorable terms. While the VA does not require a downpayment, some lenders, who ultimately provide the loan, do. They're not entirely risk-free either, and veterans can still lose their homes if they are unable to keep up with their mortgages. In November 2023, the VA put a six-month pause on foreclosures when an NPR investigation found thousands of veterans were in danger of losing their homes after a COVID forbearance program ended. Biden officials pointed to high rents and the end of COVID-era housing restrictions like eviction moratoriums to explain the spike in Americans experiencing homelessness. In the last year, homelessness rose 12%—to more than 650,000 people—the highest level since data began being collected in 2007. Overall, more than half of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 live in states with high living costs. Most were in California, followed by New York and Florida. Western states, including Montana and Utah, experienced massive population growth during the pandemic, becoming hubs for remote workers who drove home prices and rents even further. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Jain and Becker have served on the council together since 2020.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Bill Belichick, cutting the sleeves off an Alexander Julian plaid blazer. Bill Belichick, responding to boosters’ grinning back-slaps with a scowl and, “We’re on to Georgia Tech.” Bill Belichick, trying on Mack Brown’s old sideline puffy coat for size. Bill Belichick, being asked to shake the hand of a human dressed as a toaster pastry. Bill Belichick, adding the entire lacrosse team to the football roster to play special teams. Can you imagine? JONES ANGELL: “Welcome back everyone to Bill Belichick Live. Say, Bill, what’s your favorite appetizer here at Top of the Hill?” BELICHICK: “Yeah, I’m not going to discuss that.” North Carolina will miss out on all of that wonderful stuff if it doesn’t lock down a deal with Belichick to replace Brown as football coach, something that seemed imminent over the weekend but continues to dangle in the breeze. North Carolina should be so lucky as to have it fall apart. This already has disaster written all over it, from the too-many-cooks hiring process to the transparent competing leaks from each camp: Belichick to NFL insiders, the trustees and boosters to political reporters. This circus has a lot of clowns and no tent. Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get any more absurd at North Carolina than Brown burning a career’s worth of bridges in Chapel Hill by insisting he would be back next season only to be informed the next day he would not, here comes an NFL legend who couldn’t land an NFL job last cycle, with absolutely no NCAA experience in that lengthy career, as the top candidate to replace him. Imagine the kind of privileged bubble you’d have to live in to be able to convince yourself that, after firing a genial 73-year-old coach who seemed to be losing his grasp on the rapidly changing world of college football, a surly 72-year-old with little or no grasp on college football is the right guy to replace him. Why not dig up Knute Rockne’s corpse and drag it around, like Weekend at Bernie’s? This is such a bad idea that even if it were to happen and somehow work out, it would still be an objectively bad idea even with 20-20 hindsight. Even if no one else wants the job, whether for football reasons or having to submit TPS reports to eight different bosses, this is an absurd place to land. North Carolina is willing to settle for someone who counts as family because his dad was a Tar Heels assistant coach for three years some 70 years ago, who has spent one fall observing his son as an assistant coach at Washington and is therefore an expert on the college game despite actually never coaching in it, whose NFL dynasty fizzled as soon as Tom Brady tapped out, whose coaching tree has had little success. (Two branches of it actually sprouted in the ACC: Al Groh and Bill O’Brien). And forget about UNC for a second: With all the nonsense that comes along with being a college head coach, it’s fair to wonder whether Belichick has fully thought this through, either. Two words: Mayo bath. What’s in this for him? If he wants to prove his late decline in New England wasn’t a fluke, the NFL is the place to do that. Beating Charlotte doesn’t count toward breaking Don Shula’s record. Beating the Panthers does. Brown may have been out of coaching for a little while when he returned to North Carolina, but he at least had won something at the NCAA level, knew the school inside and out and was (and remains) as avuncular as Belichick is gruff. Once again, the folks in power at North Carolina fell in love with a big-name trophy coach, but Belichick’s name only means anything to people like them. The oldest recruits in this cycle were 12 years old when Belichick last won anything. These kids don’t even know who he is, other than maybe the guy whose dog was apparently drafting for him during COVID. In Belichick’s defense, he does know the game of football as well as anyone on the planet and wouldn’t take the job without the financial backing to buy a decent team — no doubt at the continued expense of funds for basketball, which just lost out on the nation’s top recruit to BYU of all places — and if he’s got any tricks left up his absent sleeves, he might be able to find inefficiencies in recruiting, the transfer portal and on the field that college coaches have heretofore missed. It’s not like there are any NCAA rules left to break. But that’s a lot of maybes, and there are fundamental aspects of the college game — like sucking up to high-school coaches, making nice with the faculty and getting players out of the film room to go to class — that would be entirely foreign to Belichick. Whereas an up-and-coming college coach might have been able to build on the foundation Brown left behind — Jeff Monken is still out there, and wouldn’t it be something if UNC eventually blundered into what might be the best possible hire — this feels like it would be a ground-up rebuild of the entire operation. If Belichick really did submit a 400-page blueprint, and nothing’s ever gone wrong with a lengthy manifesto from a guy known for wearing a hoodie, it certainly suggests so. There are only two reasons someone like Belichick wants a job like this: He’s running away from something, or he’s got no place else to go. Unlike Norman Dale at Hickory High, there’s no Jimmy Chitwood waiting in the wings to save him. If this falls through, both sides should be relieved, not aggrieved. ©2024 The News & Observer. Visit at newsobserver.com . Distributed at Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The recent federal conviction and sentence of a man who tried to run over an FBI agent while driving a stolen truck into Mexico highlights a growing trend plaguing South Texas. Multiple cities are seeing a rise in the thefts of four-door SUVs and pickups that are taken into Mexico at the request of the Gulf Cartel. The criminal organization uses the trucks in their ongoing turf wars. This week, 23-year-old Damian Evans Lopez went before U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera, who sentenced him to almost ten years in prison on the charge of assaulting a federal officer. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Evans pleaded guilty to the charge in September. According to authorities, on June 28, an FBI agent was at one of the international ports of entry in Brownsville, Texas, checking for stolen vehicles when he spotted Evans in a stolen Chevrolet truck. They agent attempted to get the driver to come out of the truck. Evens drove straight at the FBI agent, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Evans tried to drive away and led authorities on a high-speed chase that ended in the city of San Benito, Texas. In recent months, cities like Brownsville, Harlingen, and Pharr, Texas, have been plagued with a wave of vehicle thefts focused on four-door SUVs and pickups. As Breitbart Texas reported, these vehicles are crossed into Mexico and turned over to the Gulf Cartel. The criminal organization favors these vehicles due to their high clearance and powerful engines. The trucks allow the cartels to move at least four gunmen. In some cases, the stolen trucks are outfitted with makeshift armor plating. The vehicle theft wave has, at times, turned violent. In late November, a gunman held two women at gunpoint outside of a restaurant in Brownsville and took their late model SUV. According to Brownsville police, one of the suspects is believed to be hiding in Mexico. Mexican authorities have largely been ineffective in stopping the car thieves as they cross into Mexico. In the few times that they have tried, the suspects can drive past the security checkpoints on the Mexican side of the border. This week, one of the factions of the Gulf Cartel shared a video on social media where they questioned a young man who claimed to have been sent to Reynosa to steal vehicles for a rival faction of the Gulf Cartel. The fate of the young man remains unknown. In the past, people in similar videos have been tortured and killed. Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook . He can be contacted at Iortiz@breitbart.com . Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart management. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook . He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com .

New Langley school named for respected elder, veteran and educator