gstar28 casino login
ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of any federal crimes his son might have committed. The 82-year-old president said in a statement that his son’s prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon . That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump , who has argued that multiple indictments and one conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. “When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation,” the governor continued, a reference to the president invoking fatherhood in explaining his decision. “Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Biden “put personal interest ahead of duty” with a decision that “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.” Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said the pardon was “an improper use of power” that erodes faith in government and “emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the pardon “understandable” if viewed only as the “action of a loving father.” But Biden's status as “our nation's Chief Executive," the senator said, rendered the move “unwise.” Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and first administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on X. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there “is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden.” Harrison pointed to Trump's apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP's pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. “Most people will see that Joe Biden did what was right,” Harrison said. Story continues below video First lady Jill Biden said Monday from the White House, “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” Democrats already are facing the prospects of a Republican trifecta in Washington, with voters returning Trump to the White House and giving the GOP control of the House and Senate. Part of their argument against Trump and Republican leaders is expected to be that the president-elect is violating norms with his talk of taking retribution against his enemies. Before beating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump faced his own legal troubles, including two cases that stemmed from his efforts to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Those cases, including Trump’s sentencing after being convicted on New York state business fraud charges, have either been dismissed or indefinitely delayed since Trump’s victory on Nov. 5, forcing Democrats to recalibrate their approach to the president-elect. In June, President Biden firmly ruled out a pardon or commutation for his son, telling reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case: “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” As recently as Nov. 8, days after Trump’s victory, Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for the younger Biden, saying: “We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no.” The president’s about-face came weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges. It capped a long-running legal saga for the younger Biden, who disclosed he was under federal investigation in December 2020 — a month after his father’s 2020 victory. The sweeping pardon covers not just the gun and tax offenses against the younger Biden, but also any other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024.” Hunter Biden was convicted in June in Delaware federal court of three felonies for purchasing a gun in 2018 when , prosecutors said, he lied on a federal form by claiming he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs. He had been set to stand trial in September in a California case accusing him of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. But he agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges in a surprise move hours after jury selection was set to begin. In his statement Sunday, the president argued that such offenses typically are not prosecuted with the same vigor as was directed against Hunter Biden. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Biden said in his statement. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son. ... I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.” Associated Press journalists Will Weissert aboard Air Force One and Darlene Superville, Mary Claire Jalonick and Michael Tackett in Washington contributed to this report.
KTR dismisses allegations against him in Formula- E Car Race; Calls them ‘baseless’Influential people who died in 2024FOX45: Raskin launches bid for ranking member of House Judiciary CommitteeSyria’s embassy in Lebanon suspended consular services Saturday, a day after two relatives of were arrested at the Beirut airport with allegedly forged passports. Also on Saturday, Lebanese authorities handed over dozens of Syrians — including former officers in the Syrian army under Assad — to the new Syrian authorities after they were caught illegally entering Lebanon, a war monitor and Lebanese officials said. The embassy announced on its Facebook page that consular work was suspended “until further notice” at the order of the Syrian foreign ministry. The announcement did not give a reason for the suspension. Two Lebanese security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the suspension was ordered because the at the embassy. Assad’s uncle, Rifaat Assad — who has been indicted in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity — had flown out the day before on his real passport and was not stopped, the officials said. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Saturday that 70 Syrians, including former army officers, were handed over by a Lebanese security delegation to the security forces of the new Syrian government, led by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Three Lebanese judicial officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report. Regional countries have been quick to establish ties with Syria’s new rulers. Delegations of Libyan and Bahraini officials arrived in Damascus on Saturday on official visits. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has largely succeeded in calming fears within and outside of Syria that his group would unleash collective punishment against communities that supported Assad’s rule or attempt to impose strict Islamic law on the country’s religious minorities. However, in recent days, sporadic clashes have broken out between the HTS-led security forces and pro-Assad armed groups. The country’s new security forces have launched a series of raids targeting officials affiliated with Assad and have set up checkpoints in areas with significant populations of the Alawite religious minority to which the former president belongs to search for weapons. There have also been ongoing tensions and clashes in northeastern Syria between Kurdish-led forces and armed groups backed by Turkey. Many Kurds have viewed the new order in Damascus, which appears to have strengthened Turkey’s hand in Syria, with anxiety. Ankara sees the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces — a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State group — as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organization. The U.S. State Department said Saturday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to “discuss the latest developments in Syria.” “Secretary Blinken emphasized the need to support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that upholds human rights and prioritizes an inclusive and representative government,” the statement said, adding that they “also discussed the shared goal of preventing terrorism from endangering the security” of Turkey and Syria. On Saturday, hundreds of protesters convened by Kurdish women’s groups participated in a demonstration in the northeastern city of Hasaka to demand women’s rights in the new Syria. Perishan Ramadan, a participant from Hasaka, said the new government “is worse than Bashar” and that its leaders are Islamist extremists who “don’t accept any role for women.” While the country’s new leaders have not attempted to impose Islamic dress or other conventions, it remains to be seen what role women will have in the new order and whether they will hold political or government positions. “Women must be present in the new constitution for Syria,” said Rihan Loqo, spokeswoman for the Kongra Star women’s organization. “... Women’s rights should not be ignored.” ___
MIAMI, Fla. and BANGKOK, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arogo Capital Acquisition Corp. (“Arogo Capital”) (OTC: AOGO) today announced that it has signed a binding letter of intent (“LOI”) with Bangkok Tellink Co., Ltd (“Bangkok Tellink”), an emerging leader in advanced telecommunications, mobile network technology, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The LOI sets forth the preliminary terms and conditions for a potential business combination that would be expected to result in Bangkok Tellink becoming a publicly traded company in the United States. Bangkok Tellink at a Glance Established on January 24, 2019, Bangkok Tellink specializes in comprehensive mobile phone signal systems across multiple frequencies (700MHz, 850MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, and 26GHz). Operating under its ‘INFINITE’ brand, the company provides a range of services including Smart Solutions, IoT Sim Cards, E-sim, SMPP (virtual SMS), SIP trunk (voice virtual number), and software development. Through its offerings, Bangkok Tellink seeks to deliver integrated telecommunications solutions with a goal of enhancing both professional and personal lives of its customers. Bangkok Tellink’s commitment to innovation, efficient operations, and strategic growth positions it as a versatile technology provider, poised to meet evolving connectivity demands and contribute to sustainable development. Strategic Rationale The material terms of a definitive business combination agreement are subject to ongoing negotiations, but if agreement is reached and the proposed business combination is completed, it is anticipated to grant Bangkok Tellink enhanced access to U.S. capital markets. Bangkok Tellink believes that this proposed business combination could accelerate the rollout of its next-generation telecommunication technologies, foster broader geographic expansion, and provide increased financial flexibility to advance research and development efforts. Management Commentary “We believe that Bangkok Tellink has demonstrated an impressive ability to innovate and deliver exceptional telecommunications and IoT solutions,” said Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai, Chief Executive Officer of Arogo Capital. “The signing of this binding LOI marks an important first step in exploring a potential business combination, and we look forward to conducting further due diligence and negotiating definitive terms. We believe that Bangkok Tellink’s vision, coupled with Arogo’s strategic support, could create substantial long-term value for the proposed combined company’s shareholders and customers worldwide.” “We are excited to work with Arogo Capital and move forward with negotiation of a potential business combination,” said Nusttanakit Sasianon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bangkok Tellink. “Our mission is to uplift lives through cutting-edge connectivity and innovative solutions. We believe that partnering with Arogo could provide us with an opportunity to broaden our horizons, enhance our product and service offerings, and accelerate growth. We are committed to making this potential milestone a reality and continuing to build on our progress.” Next Steps There is no assurance that the parties will enter into a definitive agreement or ultimately consummate the proposed transaction. If and when a definitive business combination agreement is executed, further details will be provided. About Arogo Capital Acquisition Corp. Arogo Capital Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company. Arogo aims to acquire one and more businesses and assets, via a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, and reorganization. For more information, visit www.arogocapital.com . About Bangkok Tellink Co., Ltd Bangkok Tellink Co., Ltd, established in 2019, is at the forefront of Thailand’s telecommunications industry. By offering mobile network infrastructure, IoT devices, E-sim services, and software development, Bangkok Tellink provides integrated solutions that foster connectivity and productivity. Bangkok Tellink invests in innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability to position itself as a prominent telecommunications and technology leader. Additional Information and Where to Find It For additional information regarding the LOI and the proposed business combination, see Arogo Capital’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) concurrently with the issuance of this press release. In connection with the proposed business combination, Arogo Capital intends to file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K if and when the business combination agreement is executed, and subsequently to prepare and file a registration statement on Form S-4 (or Form F-4, as applicable, the “Registration Statement”), and after the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, Arogo Capital intends to mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed transaction to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed business combination. Arogo Capital’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the proposed business combination with the SEC by Arogo Capital, as these materials will contain important information about Arogo Capital and Bangkok Tellink, and the proposed business combination. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed business combination will be mailed to stockholders of Arogo Capital as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. Such stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Arogo Capital Acquisition Corporation, 848 Brickell Ave, Penthouse 5, Miami, FL 33131. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Arogo Capital and Bangkok Tellink. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “target,” “seek” or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including that the parties will enter into a definitive business combination agreement or will subsequently consummate the proposed business combination, projections of market opportunity and market share, the capability of Bangkok Tellink’s business plans including its plans to expand, the sources and uses of cash from the proposed business combination, the anticipated enterprise value of the combined company following the consummation of the business combination, any perceived benefits of Bangkok Tellink’s partnerships, strategies or plans as they relate to the proposed business combination, anticipated benefits of the business combination, and expectations related to the terms and timing of the business combination are also forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although the management team of each of Arogo Capital and Bangkok Tellink believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, each of Arogo Capital and Bangkok Tellink cautions you that these statements are based on assumptions made as of the date hereof and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: the ability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to obtain approval from Arogo Capital’s stockholders or satisfy other closing conditions in any future business combination agreement, the receipt of regulatory approvals, the occurrence of any event that could give rise to the termination of a future business combination agreement, the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, the amount of redemption requests made by Arogo Capital’s public stockholders, costs related to the proposed business combination, the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed business combination, the outcome of any potential litigation, government or regulatory proceedings and other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Arogo Capital’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent Forms 10-Q, in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combination to be filed with the SEC, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC, including the definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed business combination and other filings made by Arogo Capital with the SEC from time to time. There may be additional risks that neither Arogo Capital or Bangkok Tellink presently know or that Arogo Capital and Bangkok Tellink currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Nothing contained herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Arogo Capital nor Bangkok Tellink undertakes any duty, and each of Arogo Capital and Bangkok Tellink express disclaim any obligations, to update or alter any projections or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall not constitute a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Arogo Capital or Bangkok Tellink, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. Participants in Solicitation Arogo Capital and Bangkok Tellink, and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Arogo Capital’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Arogo Capital’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination will be set forth in the Registration Statement, of which the proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, when it is filed with the SEC. Contacts: For Arogo Capital Acquisition Corp.: Nisachon Rattanamee nisachon@arogocapital.com For Bangkok Tellink Company Limited: Daniel Fong daniel@s1winconsultant.comThe UK must become less dependent on China for critical minerals, an influential thinktank has concluded before a government strategy decision in the spring. In a report on rare earth minerals, which are essential components for hi-tech products from mobile phones to missiles, Labour Together said ministers should “de-risk” supply chains and reduce reliance on China by building partnerships with other countries. The report said China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains created “vulnerability” and the UK was at greater risk of being singled out after Brexit. Amid escalating trade tensions with the US before Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, China banned shipments of antimony, gallium and germanium to the country earlier this month. The UK government has said it will produce a new strategy on critical minerals in the spring. Labour Together said this should be closely informed by the government’s industrial strategy, also due in the spring, to determine which critical minerals and stages of the supply chain the UK will be most reliant on in the future. Critical minerals are essential for the green transition. Data suggests China extracts about 70% of the world’s rare earth metal ore, dominates the processing and refining of it and uses it to manufacture 90% of the global supply of neodymium magnets, the magnet most commonly used in wind turbines. The report also said it was important for China to be “engaged where possible, eg on mining standards, rather than treated as an adversary”. A paper by the Royal United Services Institute thinktank in October said the UK should work with China on improving environmental and labour practices in mining and engage with Chinese companies operating in countries eligible for international aid. Labour Together said the government should improve the coordination of cross-Whitehall work on critical minerals, work more closely with the EU, promote responsible mining standards internationally and lead a campaign to drive investment. The Conservative party published a critical minerals strategy in 2022, which the foreign affairs committee said was “too broad and does not convey the sense of urgency”. Alicia Kearns, the Tory committee chair at the time, said that for three decades governments had been “asleep at the wheel”. Labour Together described the Tory approach as “too slow, too general and given too little support”. Felix Cazalet, a policy fellow at the thinktank and author of the report, said: “The new government should be more alert than the last to risks, including from the concentration of production in countries like China, while taking a pragmatic and targeted approach in the new strategy. “This should focus on the key things that matter for the UK, and include working more closely with international partners such as the EU to increase responsible investment in resilient supply. The new strategy is an opportunity to secure the materials we need for the UK’s growth, security and green ambitions.” Ruby Osman, a China policy adviser at the Tony Blair Institute, said ministers needed to prepare for disruption if the critical mineral export restrictions targeted at the US were extended to the UK. “When it comes to China, our biggest problem has been timing. China has been building its remarkable market dominance for decades – the UK only released its first critical mineral strategy in 2022,” Osman said. “Diversification is, rightly, likely to be at the heart of Labour’s new strategy. But the UK’s strategy also needs to be realistic – we can’t ignore quite how dominant China is at every step of these supply chains. Even if it wanted to, the UK is never going to be able to cut China out entirely, and that means we’re going to need some considered engagement.” In 2010, China introduced an export ban on rare earth elements to Japan after a dispute. The clampdown lasted only two months but led Japan to diversify its supply chains and become less dependent on China.WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday due to a technical issu e just as the Christmas travel season kicks into overdrive and winter weather is threatening more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after a national ground stop order was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. There were 1,447 delays for flights entering or leaving the U.S. early in the day, with 28 cancellations. Snow was falling early in New York and Dallas-Fort Worth International, which is American Airlines' main hub, was getting hit with rain. Dallas-Fort Worth had the most delays, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington, New York, Chicago and Miami Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier’s flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline yourself tends to be very expensive. Just before 7 a.m. Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. at the airline’s request. American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday. American said in an email that the problem Tuesday morning was caused by a vendor technology issue that “impacted systems needed to release flights.” The groundings couldn’t come at a worse time for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Friday and Sunday, and on Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. —— AP Reporters David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court. He appeared briefly before a judge and wore a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt. He did not speak. He will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Friday. The apparently random attack occurred on Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Police said on Tuesday that identification of the victim was still “pending at this time”. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who was sitting motionless in the train car and may have been sleeping, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. The woman quickly became engulfed in flames, while the suspect then sat at a bench on the subway platform and watched, according to police. Video posted to social media appeared to show the woman standing inside the train ablaze as some people look on from the platform, and at least one officer walks by. NYPD chief of transit Joseph Gulotta said that several officers had responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be” while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. They were eventually able to douse the fire, but “unfortunately, it was too late”, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said — the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. During Zapeta’s court hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said Zapeta at one point fanned the flames on the woman using his shirt. He said a 911 call from a subway rider helped identify Zapeta. Mr Rottenberg added that under interrogation Zapeta claimed he did not know what happened, noting that he consumes alcohol. But he alleged that Zapeta identified himself to interrogators in images related to the attack. Zapeta was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after police got a tip from some teenagers who recognised him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta had been previously deported in 2018 but at some point reentered the US illegally. The crime — and the graphic video of it that ricocheted across social media — deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system in a city where many residents take the subway multiple times each day.MIND TECHNOLOGY, INC. REPORTS FISCAL 2025 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easy
The 26-year-old man charged in last week’s killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom Tuesday, where he was denied bail and his lawyer said he'd fight extradition to New York City, where the attack happened. Luigi Nicholas Mangione was arrested Monday in the Dec. 4 attack on Brian Thompson after police say a worker at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, alerted them to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. When arrested, Mangione had on him a gun that investigators believe was used in the attack and writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. As Mangione was led into the Hollidaysburg courthouse Tuesday, he struggled with officers and shouted something that was partly unintelligible but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He left hours later without saying anything and was driven away. Mangione is being held on Pennsylvania charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Mangione mostly stared straight ahead during the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. Judge David Consiglio denied bail to Mangione, whose attorney, Thomas Dickey, told the court that his client did not agree to extradition and wants a hearing on the matter. Blair County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney Peter Weeks said that although Mangione will create “extra hoops” for law enforcement to jump through by fighting extradition, it won’t be a substantial barrier to sending him to New York. In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Monday that Mangione also had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” she said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, the commissioner said. Mangione, who comes from a prominent Maryland family, was valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and had degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania. Mangione's grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin, said that Martin had learned that Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life. Friends in Hawaii widely considered Mangione a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit and smiling young man on beaches and at parties. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. last Wednesday. Eleven minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park, according to police. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack, police said. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspect exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Jamie Stengle, Lea Skene, Matt O'Brien, Sean Murphy and Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.Cyprus’ foreign ministry on Monday night called for the “utmost restraint” as the war in Syria reignites . The ministry said it is “closely following developments in Syria” and that it has “persistently supported United Nations Security Council resolution 2254”, which was adopted in December 2015 and calls for a ceasefire and a political settlement to the Syrian civil war. “We call for the utmost restraint and that international humanitarian law is fully respected, especially as regards civilians, including minority groups,” it added. The ministry’s message comes after Russian and Syrian aircraft bombed the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria after insurgents had swept into Syria’s second city Aleppo on Friday night. Most of Aleppo is now in rebel hands, though the Syrian army now says it has recaptured several towns which rebels had taken in recent days.
Asian chip stocks mostly rise, shrugging off new U.S. semiconductor export curbs on ChinaQatar PM meets Hamas delegation for Gaza ceasefire talks
Rahul Vadisetty: Harnessing AI to revolutionize predictive healthcareThe Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association wants to see more women officiating high school sports, especially football.
Maryland U.S. Rep. James Raskin, who represents Maryland’s 8th District, officially launched his campaign to be the next ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee in the 119th Congress. In a letter released on Dec. 2, the Democrat expressed concern over the future of the country in the face of a GOP-controlled Congress and White House, calling next year’s political scene the “fight of our lives.” This time the MAGA movement has not only a trifecta but a complicit Supreme Court waiting in the wings and a dominant media propaganda system parroting all the lies,” he wrote. “House Democrats must stand in the breach to defend the principles and institutions of constitutional democracy.” Congressman Raskin urged his colleagues to “strategize and organize like never before” until Democrats “win the House back in 2026,” he predicted. With Republican’s thin 220-215 majority in the House, the Democrat said lawmakers need to advance legislation that will prevent a “further descent into MAGA chaos.” “This is where we will wage our front-line defense of the freedoms and rights of the people, the integrity of the Department of Justice and the FBI, and the security of our most precious birthright possession: the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the rule of law, and democracy itself,” he wrote. Throughout his career in politics, Congressman Raskin has leveraged his experience as a professor of constitutional law and the First Amendment for over 25 years, and his decades-long work at the Maryland State Senate, where he served as Majority Whip. During his time at the Maryland General Assembly, Congressman Raskin advocated for marriage equality, abolition of the death penalty, restoration of voting rights for former prisoners, and the passage of the National Popular Vote interstate compact. Congressman Raskin has been a member of the House Judiciary Committee since he joined Congress in 2017, and was heavily involved in the legislative aftermath of Jan. 6. Together with Congressmen Ted Lieu and Joe Neguse, Raskin successfully drafted an Article of Impeachment against president-elect Donald Trump. In the 119th Congress, the Judiciary Committee will be the headquarters of Congressional opposition to authoritarianism and MAGA’s campaign to dismantle our Constitutional system and the rule of law as we know it,” the Congressman Raskin wrote in his ‘dear colleague’ letter. “I hope to be at the center of this fight and — as someone who has battled cancer and chemotherapy — I can tell you that I will never surrender, never surrender.” The Democrat concluded the letter expressing respect and “boundless admiration” for his opponent and current Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler. In response to the news on social media, political pundits were quick to weigh in. John Dedie, a political science professor at the Community College of Baltimore County, predicted Congressman Raskin would earn enough support to be selected as ranking member. “Dems want a guy who can do the theatre of TV for all the public hearings and is sharp with sound bites,” Dedie wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. “Rep. Raskin is that guy.” Have a news tip? Contact Lori Rampani at lrampani@sbgtv.com.