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Icelanders have voted to elect a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call an early election. All polling stations managed to open despite fierce weather in the sub-Arctic nation that left roads in many areas blocked by snow. Ballot counting began after polls closed at 10pm local time, with results expected early Sunday. This is Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggested the country could be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Mr Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. “My expectation is like, something new (is) going to happen, hopefully,” said Horour Guojonsson, voting in the capital, Reykjavik. “We always have had these old parties taking care of things. I hope we see the light now to come in with a younger people, new ideas.” Iceland, a nation of about 400,000 people, is proud of its democratic traditions, describing itself as arguably the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy. The island’s parliament, the Althingi, was founded in 930 by the Norsemen who settled the country.
Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference. Game of the week It's the first regular-season meeting since 2003 between traditional college football heavyweights who have combined for 25 national titles and usually face off in January bowl games with championship implications. Another fun fact: They've only played once each on the other's home field in six lifetime matchups, with the Sooners winning that showdown 20-13 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Alabama won the most recent postseason meeting, 45-34, at the Orange Bowl in the 2018 College Football Playoff semifinal before falling to Clemson in the championship. Another berth in the 12-team playoff is at stake for the visiting Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-2 SEC, No. 7 CFP), which trails No. 3 Texas and No. 15 Texas A&M by a game in the standings and is among four two-loss teams trying to stay within reach and possibly get to next month's championship in Atlanta. Alabama has won three in a row overall including last week's 52-7 rout of Mercer, rolling up 508 yards on offense. Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Milroe passed for 186 of his 229 yards from scrimmage and two of his three touchdowns. Milroe's 32 total TDs lead the SEC and he's second with 17 rushing scores. Rather than contending as hoped, SEC newcomer Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5) is instead playing spoiler after four losses in five games, against ranked league foes Texas, No. 19 South Carolina and No. 9 Ole Miss. The Sooners scored two late fourth-quarter touchdown to lead Missouri 23-16 two weeks ago before the host Tigers scored two TDs in the final 1:07 seconds for a 30-23 victory. Alabama is a 14-point favorite according to BetMGM. The undercard The Rebels have won three in a row since falling at LSU and four of five overall. They're coming off a bye after beating then-No. 3 Georgia 28-10 on Nov. 9 and look to stay within reach of first place and remain in the CFP discussion. Florida upended No. 21 LSU 27-16 on Saturday to earn a signature win for embattled coach Billy Napier and reach the cusp of bowl eligibility after finishing 5-7 last fall. Also worth a look: Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3) at LSU (6-4, 3-3). Both are bowl eligible, but the Commodores can clinch their first .500 SEC finish since going 4-4 in 2013 and help coach Clark Lea match his win total for the past two seasons combined. The Tigers look to regroup from the Florida loss. Impact player No. 15 Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed. Reed is 4-1 as a starter for an Aggies team that visits Auburn hoping to stay in the playoff hunt before the regular season finale against in-state rival Texas. Reed has passed for 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions. He has run for 375 yards and six scores. The Tigers have had some struggles against dual-threat quarterbacks like Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Arkansas' Taylen Green. Inside the numbers Vanderbilt will play in LSU's Tiger Stadium for the first time since 2009, having played in Nashville three times since. The Commodores' last win over LSU came in 1990 and they haven't won in Baton Rouge since 1951. ... First-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is 34-2 in the month of November, including a 10-0 mark since 2022. ... Kentucky's 107th-ranked offense (340.5 yards per game) faces Texas's No. 1-ranked defense, which is giving up just 249 yards a game. ... Texas A&M has held opponents to 100 or fewer rushing yards in five of the last seven games, including holding LSU to 24 yards on 23 attempts. ... Auburn QB Payton Thorne has only three touchdown passes in his last four SEC games. ... Mississippi State's Isaac Smith leads the SEC and is tied for seventh nationally with 101 total tackles. ... Kentucky is 3-0 in nonconference games after shellacking in-state foe Murray State 48-3, which followed four SEC home losses.
Nations strive for climate funding consensus as COP29 deadline nears
Regulations introduced by the federal government have created a lucrative new market for vapes sold through pharmacies. The laws shut down scores of small vapes sellers across the country, by restricting the products to pharmacies only, whether they contain nicotine or not, as well as banning single-use vapes and restricting flavours. It's no small market at stake — a report last year estimated 3.5 million Australians aged 14 or over either smoke or vape. Smokers are still more common, at 8.9 per cent of the population, compared to 7.3 per cent who vape. But vaping rates have been on the rise among young people, who have fed their addiction with a black market that continues to thrive without proper enforcement. 'Making criminals and pharma a lot of money' Despite their regulatory upper hand, pharmacists have been reluctant to sell the products without a prescription, or at all. In the first month of the new laws, only 3,500 vapes were sold without a prescription, according to data supplied to Senate estimates. Andrew Gourley is a vape user and former online vape business owner, who was forced to shut that part of his operations because of the laws. Mr Gourley is scathing of Australia's approach to vape laws, which differs from other countries like the UK and Canada, which allow retail sales and tax the products. "I don't think they're going to achieve anything other than making criminals and the pharmaceutical companies a lot of money," he said. Andrew Gourley was forced to close the vape side of his online business when the federal government's laws came into effect in July. (ABC News: Scott Jewell ) Mr Gourley has found vapers he knows have struggled to purchase regulated products. "Some will have them available for you to order, and they'll get it in a few days. "Others may have it in stock, but you're limited on selection. Others just flat out refuse to sell it." Vape makers are expecting access through pharmacies to improve though, as concerns... Rhiana Whitson
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Bluesky had one of its first major moments on Thursday, as former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. The left-leaning social media platform responded in full force — with a flood of jokes and commentary. This marked the first big news event for Bluesky's growing community to rally around since Trump's election victory, which had spurred a surge of new users to the platform. In case you missed it, the news itself wasn’t exactly a surprise. Gaetz’s withdrawal followed long-standing controversies , including allegations of sexual misconduct and statutory rape involving payments to a minor. While Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, pointing out that a federal investigation did not result in charges, the cloud of allegations has lingered, as noted by the Associated Press. Users on Bluesky were quick to jump on the news, reacting largely through memes and lighthearted commentary. The company itself has indicated it doesn't have an interest in supporting politicians — unlike X's Elon Musk devout backing of Trump — and has become the preferred platform for lots of left-leaning folks. Since the election, the app has surged in popularity, climbing to over 21 million users , up from around 12 million in October. On Thursday, it felt like a significant portion of that growing user base had something to say — many of them with jokes aimed squarely at Gaetz. Attorney General Matt Gaetz has brought down his first and last sex criminal, Attorney General Matt Gaetz.— Josh Gondelman ( @joshgondelman.bsky.social ) November 21, 2024 at 12:45 PM [Anne Hathaway Oscar acceptance speech voice] It came true! [image or embed] — Mark Harris ( @markharris.bsky.social ) November 21, 2024 at 12:33 PM Folks, this is just a minor setback for Matt Gaetz. Well, several minors. [image or embed] — Zach Schonfeld ( @zachschonfeld.bsky.social ) November 21, 2024 at 1:19 PM That news was as good as it Gaetz.— George Takei ( @georgetakei.bsky.social ) November 21, 2024 at 1:15 PM Matt Gaetz is unemployed. Lol— Imani Gandy ( @angryblacklady.bsky.social ) November 21, 2024 at 12:46 PM Happy to all who celebrate [image or embed] — Read the book Abolish Rent ( @jphillll.bsky.social ) November 21, 2024 at 1:27 PM Happy to all who celebrate [image or embed] — Read the book Abolish Rent ( @jphillll.bsky.social ) November 21, 2024 at 1:27 PM There were, of course, plenty of reactions and jokes about Gaetz on X as well. But for Bluesky, this moment felt particularly significant. Twitter, before it became X, was known as the go-to platform for real-time reactions to breaking news. Bluesky's ability to step into that role, especially amid its post-election surge in users, signals a major milestone in its evolution as a social media hub.
This year's Black Friday shopping behavior underscored a dramatic shift towards online platforms, where U.S. consumers increased their spending by a robust 14.6%, Mastercard SpendingPulse reported. In contrast, brick-and-mortar stores faced stagnant growth at 0.7%, posing challenges to traditional retailers. With the impact of inflation, Facteus' data reveals adjusted gains of 8.5% online and a concerning 8% decline for in-store purchases. Economic insights from Mastercard's Chief Economist, Michelle Meyer, indicate that while overall inflation hovers above 2%, key holiday products like clothing and electronics are seeing moderated or reduced prices, providing some respite for consumers. Mobile and device-driven purchases are bolstering e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Walmart, as U.S. shoppers leaned into online venues for holiday deals. Adobe and Salesforce report a significant increase in online spending, with U.S. consumers spending $10.8 billion and $17.5 billion online on Friday alone. Retail dynamics are rapidly evolving as the competition for consumer attention intensifies. (With inputs from agencies.)None
STAFF PHOTO BY TED JACKSON The newly renovated Louisiana Supreme Court building in the heart of the French Quarter from Royal Street. Thursday May 5, 2004 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A man facing execution if he is convicted of a brutal triple murder had his motion for a new trial judge denied by a split Louisiana Supreme Court this week. In a ruling released Wednesday, the court voted 4-3 against Michael Wade’s request to remove his capital case from Baton Rouge District Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts’ docket. Foxworth-Roberts has been the primary judge presiding over Wade's case for the past four years, but she has moved off the 19th Judicial District Court’s criminal bench and now handles civil cases. In a May 24 appeal to the state Supreme Court, Wade’s attorneys argued that Foxworth-Roberts continuing to handle the proceedings violates procedural rules that govern how cases are randomly allotted to district judges. They insisted it should have been inherited by District Judge Collette Greggs, who took over the criminal section that Foxworth-Roberts left behind when she moved to the civil bench. Chief Justice John Weimer was joined by justices Scott Crichton, Jeannette Knoll and William Crain in denying Wade’s motion to transfer the case to a new courtroom. But in a dissenting opinion, Justice Jefferson Hughes sided with Wade. He blistered the Baton Rouge-based state court’s process for assigning cases and said he “would grant the writ to stop the insanity.” “Once upon a time, the 19th Judicial District Court had an efficient and fair system for allotting cases. Based on seniority, divisions were either criminal or civil. Allotment was transparent and consistent,” Hughes wrote. His sentiments were bolstered by dissenting votes from justices Jay McCallum and Piper Griffin. “While there does not seem to be the problem of letting the district attorney pick the judge on individual cases, the current system is confusing, and the random allotment of cases is called into question,” Hughes’ opinion went on to say. “One wonders how the Clerk of Court is able to fairly and randomly allot new cases into this cluster of a system, which by appearance alone diminishes the administration of justice in the 19th Judicial District Court. “I urge the judges of the 19th to put petty politics aside and revert to the former system, which stood the test of time and was unquestionably fair and efficient,” he added. Deadly attack inside a Baton Rouge home State prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in Wade’s case, which stems from a June 26, 2019, shooting that authorities dubbed a “ crime of rage .” Officials said it is East Baton Rouge's first death penalty case since 2015, when Lee Turner Jr. was convicted of killing two Carquest Auto Parts workers during a 2011 armed robbery. Wade, now 53, shot and killed his 35-year-old ex-girlfriend, Crista Mae Sudduth, her new boyfriend, 32-year-old Ivy Frank, and Sudduth’s grandmother Ruby White, according to an indictment that charged Wade with three counts of first-degree murder. The shooting happened inside the 72-year-old grandmother’s Palmer Lane home just off South Harrell’s Ferry Road, where Sudduth lived with her two sons, ages 12 and 14. East Baton Rouge deputies said the boys were in the house, but fled when the shooting began and hid in a shed in the backyard until officers arrived. The older boy led his younger brother to safety and helped identify the shooter as his mother’s ex-boyfriend. Wade has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges, and his Oct. 1 trial date was shelved in anticipation of the state Supreme Court’s decision on his bid for a new judge. No new trial date has been selected. The home off South HarrellÕs Ferry Road at 2929 Palmer Lane where officials say a gunman, Michael Lee Wade, 48, opened fire early Thursday on his ex-girlfriend, her grandmother and her current boyfriend, killing the 3 of them, Thursday June 27, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La. Judicial economy vs. random allotment In their motion to the Supreme Court, Wade’s attorneys questioned how Foxworth-Roberts could retain the death penalty case after she has left the criminal bench. Court records show the case shuffled through a few ad hoc judges serving on a temporary basis until Foxworth-Roberts inherited it after she was elected in August 2020. She spent more than two years presiding over the matter before she took over an entirely civil docket of cases midway through 2023. Wade said his capital case was the only criminal litigation she held onto from her previous section of the district court. The 19th JDC has eight sections of court carved out for criminal cases . The Clerk of Court randomly allots felony and misdemeanor cases to the criminal section assigned to the judge on duty when an alleged offense is committed. On the date of the triple homicide in 2019, that was section 8 — the courtroom Foxworth-Roberts previously presided over. Months after she moved to the civil bench, District Judge Collette Greggs was sworn in Jan. 18 to handle open cases in section 8. Wade’s attorneys fought to have her installed as the judge overseeing the remainder of the case, contending it violated Louisiana District Court rules for Foxworth-Roberts to unilaterally maintain the case without a hearing or consent from Wade’s lawyers. At an April 24 hearing, state prosecutors argued other 19th JDC judges have “held on to cases” after departing the criminal bench, and said it wasn’t an uncommon practice, court records showed. They lobbied to keep Foxworth-Roberts on the case to preserve judicial economy and avoid “unnecessary delays.” Wade’s legal team countered that not returning the case to Greggs’ section “subverts the process and system of random allotment.” His attorneys acknowledged that elected judges have leeway to hear both criminal and civil cases in the district court. “But that ‘general jurisdiction’ is exercised and constrained within a system of allotment rules that exist to promote random assignment and limit ‘judge shopping’ or ‘cases shopping’ by any party — including judges,” Baton Rouge attorney Bruce Unangst wrote in the Supreme Court filing. “A lot of different judges have presided over Mr. Wade’s case, but none of them had a right to claim Mr. Wade’s case as their exclusive property.” In denying their motion in April, Foxworth-Roberts noted that she had heard all the substantive pretrial motions argued in the case leading up to trial and had taken special training specifically to preside over death penalty matters. According to hearing transcripts included as exhibits in Wade’s Supreme Court motion, the judge also spurned any notion that she was “cherry picking” cases and stressed that she could be fair, impartial and unbiased. “In the interest of judicial economy, judicial efficiency, this court feels that it is in the best position to preside over the remaining motions,” Foxworth-Roberts said, according to the transcripts. “I believe there have been in excess of 50-plus motions that I have presided over thus far. I believe that there are a remaining 18 motions to be heard.” East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office Deputy Kevin Miller, left, and Lt. Richard DeQuir, right, escort prisoner Michael Lee Wade, 48, to a waiting vehicle outside the Violent Crimes Unit housed at La. State Police headquarters, early Thursday, June 27, 2019. A triple homicide just before midnight late Wednesday night in the 2000 block of Palmer Ave., just off South Harrells Ferry Road left three dead, a man and two women, one of which was described by authorities as the ex-girlfriend of the suspect. The suspect refused to be interviewed Thursday morning, claiming to intoxicated, and was on has way to be booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, according to the EBRSO.