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lucky wallpaper NEW YORK -- As New York City prosecutors work to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Sunday morning had raised over $100,000. NOTE: The video above is from a previous report. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from thousands of anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for GiveSendGo said the company "operates with a principle of not preemptively determining guilt or innocence." "Our platform does not adjudicate legal matters or the validity of causes. Instead, we allow campaigns to remain live unless they violate the specific terms outlined in our Terms of Use. Importantly, we do allow campaigns for legal defense funds, as we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to access due process," the GiveSendGo spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "We understand the concerns raised by such campaigns and take these matters seriously. When campaigns are reported, our team conducts a thorough review to ensure they comply with our policies. While other platforms may choose a different approach, GiveSendGo's core value is to provide a space where all individuals, no matter their situation, can seek and receive support, with donors making their own informed decisions." Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded."Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where the suspect was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." In a later interview on CNN, Dickey said he is leaning toward not accepting any money from his client's supporters for his defense. "To be honest with you, I probably wouldn't," Dickey told CNN. "I just don't feel comfortable about that. So, I don't know. I haven't given that much thought. Obviously, my client appreciates the support that he has, but I don't know, it just doesn't sit right with me, really." Retired FBI special agent Richard Frankel said that in previous politically-charged violent crimes, suspects have received unsolicited support. "We saw it with the Unabomber," said Frankel, an ABC News contributor, referring to Ted Kaczynski -- the mathematician-turn-domestic terrorist who blamed technology for a decline of individual freedom and mailed handcrafted explosives to targeted individuals between 1978 and 1995. Frankel said Eric Rudolph, who detonated a bomb in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Olympic Games and carried out three additional bombings as he eluded capture for five years, also attracted supporters. "In my opinion, they're supporting individuals who have committed potentially terrorist acts, but it's a politically charged act," Frankel said Referring to the Thompson killing, Frankel added, "You can be up in arms about the healthcare industry, but you can't threaten or actually hurt members of the healthcare industry." Most recently, Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was acting erratically on a New York City subway, after supporters donated more than $3 million to his legal defense fund. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.Toh (third left) leads others in the gimmick to officiate at IEM Miri’s 25th anniversary celebration. MIRI (Dec 15): The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Miri branch is commended for introducing various initiatives, meant to boost human capital, improve technologies and meet the needs of the industry. According to Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, IEM Miri has exceeded expectations in catering for the needs and interests of its members, while still preserving the social image of the engineering profession in this division. “IEM Miri, established in June 1998 as the 12th IEM branch and the youngest amongst all other branches, has been at the forefront of fostering professional excellence and community engagement for the industry. “The group’s initiatives, which include signing memorandums of understanding with notable companies and collaborations with academic institutions, are beneficial to both academia and the industry,” said the Senadin assemblyman in his speech for IEM Miri’s 25th anniversary celebration dinner at a hotel here, last Saturday. The minister’s text-of-speech was read out by Councillor Toh Kah Shiong at the event. Moreover, Lee hailed engineers as ‘being at the heart of addressing some of the most pressing challenges humanity faces, including the battle against climate change; harnessing renewable energy for urbanisation; and digital transformation’. “IEM Miri has uniquely positioned itself to play a pivotal role in these areas, especially with Sarawak embarking on initiatives such as green economy and digital transformation. “With over two decades of experience, IEM Miri stands as a testament to its members’ commitment, perseverance and excellence, as well as a reflection of enduring values and vision, propelling the group to where it stands today.”Article content Amateur mixed martial arts fighter Natalija Rajkovic saw the red flags as soon as she watched the video her boyfriend took of her training partner Trokon Dousuah’s fight that ultimately caused his death earlier this week. Dousuah, 33, took part in a charity mixed martial arts event put on by U.K. promoter Ultra MMA on Saturday at the Enoch Community Centre and tragically died in hospital on Monday due to injuries sustained in the fight. “In the video, you can see his body looks normal but towards the end of the fight you could see his stomach was inflated, you could tell something was seriously wrong,” said Rajkovic, who told Postmedia that Dousuah died due to a ruptured kidney and had to be carried out of the cage and was seen in severe distress. “The more I think about it, the more red flags come up about how everything was run and handled.” Rajkovic said she believes that Dousuah shouldn’t have been allowed to fight at all because he suffered from asthma and she wonders why that wasn’t taken into account. “I have no idea why he was cleared to fight. Maybe he didn’t tell them he has asthma, but we all had to take a physical from a doctor. If you’re any kind of good doctor and someone tells you they have an MMA fight, they shouldn’t be cleared (if they have asthma).” Rajkovic and Dousuah were part of 30 amateur MMA fighters training to make their debut on this fight card. They trained together with coaches from Kingdom MMA in Edmonton with one-hour sessions twice a week for two months. ‘Eight weeks isn’t enough’ Rajkovic described Dousuah as someone that was “full of energy” and he was “always happy.” But she believed he wasn’t ready to step inside the cage and fight. Dousuah was married with two kids and another child on the way. “Honestly, I don’t believe any of us were ready. Training one or two hours a week for eight weeks isn’t enough,” said Rajkovic, who never got to fight on the card because it was cancelled shortly after Dousuah was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. “I fully knew the risks going into this. I knew I could get knocked out or seriously injured, but I don’t know if everyone who was supposed to fight on this card truly knows the seriousness of MMA. “I had a lot of concerns with how things were run. One fight scheduled on the card, the two fighters had a 20-pound difference in weight. That should never happen.” RCMP are investigating the death of Dousuah but Alberta RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff confirmed to Postmedia that all deaths outside of doctor’s care or hospital are investigated by police. Retired mixed martial artist and current boxer Ryan Ford, who also runs his own fight promotion and trains many mixed martial artists and boxers, is angry that this MMA card was allowed to go forward. Ford posted his displeasure in a video on his social media on Tuesday and didn’t hold back in his criticism of the event. “This is a stark reminder and harsh reality of this sport,” said Ford in the video. “You play basketball, you play football, but you don’t play combat sports. Whether it’s professional or amateur, stepping into that ring or cage, or even just sparring, carries real risk. Risk to your health, and risk to your life.” ‘Puts lives in danger’ Ford, who’s been involved professionally in mixed martial arts and boxing for almost two decades said anyone wanting to become a MMA fighter or boxer needs to take the right approach. “I don’t know who keeps pushing this bull—- nonsense idea that training twice a week for eight weeks with zero experience and stepping into a fight. That’s pure stupidity, and the kind of careless approach is what tarnishes combat sports and puts lives in danger,” said Ford, calling out the promoters who he said are putting inexperienced fighters at risk. “If you’re serious about getting into the fight game (as a fighter), you need to do it right. Get yourself to a legit gym. Find yourself an experienced coach who knows the sport inside and out and most importantly knows your safe. Their priority is to make sure you always make it back home to your loved ones in one piece after every fight. “This isn’t a game, respect the sport, respect your health and respect your life.” Ford told Postmedia on Wednesday he talked to one fighter who was scheduled to fight on the card but she didn’t start to spar until the week before the fight. Ford, who runs both amateur and professional fight cards, said one major concern he saw from this event was that none of the amateur fighters were wearing head gear, oversized gloves and shin guards, which is mandatory at the amateur level. “They asked us if we could train (these fighters), and I said, ‘No chance.’ I don’t corner people unless I train them and I know they’re ready. At the end of the day, if something happens to them, it’s part of me,” said Ford, who said amateur fighters should train for at least six months and have 50-60 sparring sessions before even considering stepping into the cage to fight. Held responsible Both Ford and Rajkovic believe that Ultra MMA and those involved with putting the event on should be held responsible for Dousuah’s death. “I’ve done some research on Ultra MMA and last year they had three fighters die in the U.K.,” Ford said. “The people who run these charity fight cards, they don’t care about the fighters, all they care about is money.” Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.

However, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt”. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Mr Assad’s brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali for the first time. Mr Jalali stayed in Syria when Mr Assad fled and has sought to project normalcy since. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Mr Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a UN official said some government services had been paralysed as worried state employees stayed at home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonised by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Mr Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. “I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” In a video shared on a rebel messaging channel, Mr al-Sharaa said: “You will see there are skills” among the rebels. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets.

Digital Vision./DigitalVision via Getty Images Investors can find reasons to feel positive about shares of U.S. defense contractors as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, according to analysts at financial-services firm Bernstein. “We expect Trump to seek a strong defense as he did

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 very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter 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. That's one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place. For those who feel strongly about the election's outcome, and know that the people they would be spending the holiday feel just as strongly in the other direction, take the time to honestly assess if you're ready to spend time together in THIS moment, barely a few weeks after Election Day — and a time when feelings are still running high. The answer might be that you're not, and it might be better to take a temporary break, says Justin Jones-Fosu, author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” “You have to assess your own readiness,” he says, “Each person is going be very different in this.” He emphasizes that it's not about taking a permanent step back. “Right now is that moment that we’re talking about because it’s still so fresh. Christmas may be different.” Keep focused on why why you decided to go in the first place, Jones-Fosu says. Maybe it’s because there’s a relative there you don’t get to see often, or a loved one is getting up in age, or your kids want to see their cousins. Keeping that reason in mind could help you get through the time. If you decide getting together is the way to go, but you know politics is still a dicey subject, set a goal of making the holiday a politics-free zone and stick with it, says Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University whose work includes research on family estrangement. “Will a political conversation change anyone’s mind?" he says. “If there is no possibility of changing anyone’s mind, then create a demilitarized zone and don’t talk about it.” Let’s be honest. Sometimes, despite best efforts and intentions to keep the holiday gathering politics- and drama-free, there’s someone who’s got something to say and is going to say it. In that case, avoid getting drawn into it, says Tracy Hutchinson, a professor in the graduate clinical mental health counseling program at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. “Not to take the hook is one of the most important things, and it is challenging,” she says. After all, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to. If you risk getting caught up in the moment, consider engaging in what Pillemer calls “forward mapping.” This involves thinking medium and long term rather than just about right now — strategy rather than tactics. Maybe imagine yourself six months from now looking back on the dinner and thinking about the memories you'd want to have. “Think about how you would like to remember this holiday,” he says. “Do you want to remember it with your brother and sister-in-law storming out and going home because you’ve had a two-hour argument?” Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn't have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need. Says Hutchinson: “If they do start to do something like that, you could say, `I’ve got to make this phone call. I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’m going to take a walk around the block.'"

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3 factors sending Dell and HPE stocks higher in 2025: AnalystDanica Patrick Applauds Walmart For Controversial Business AnnouncementLEDUC COUNTY, ALTA. - Alberta’s government says it will invest up to $50 million to support the creation of a first-in-Canada drilling test site to support technology development in the oil, gas, geothermal and lithium industries. The Alberta Drilling Accelerator is intended to be an open-access, industry-led site where companies can test drilling technologies at deep depths, high temperatures and varying rock types. A location for the hub site has yet to be determined. While no binding contracts have been signed, the province says several companies have expressed strong interest in serving as anchor tenants, including Calgary-based geothermal company Eavor Technologies, Tourmaline Oil Corp. and international oilfield service supermajor Halliburton. The money the province is providing will come from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program, which Alberta’s heavy emitters are required to pay into as part of the province’s industrial carbon pricing system. The provincial government says the Alberta Drilling Accelerator could start drilling in 2026. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:TOU)