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Back in 1987 local businessman Bill Fitzpatrick, wondered how Ladysmith could do something to bring more attention to what resident had available in their own community in terms of Christmas shopping. Fitzpatrick knew there was a strong business community, locally, and was disappointed with shoppers heading to larger centres on Friday nights and weekends. So he, along with a small group, decided to create an event to make folks more aware of their downtown shopping advantages: a “light up” of downtown on the last Thursday in November. The town, at that time, had only a couple of strings of light bulbs, going across First Avenue, and a Santa sleigh and a reindeer on the old Ladysmith entrance sign at Bob Stuart Park. Initially, it was a struggle, but after about six years, the town realized the group had hit on something and momentum grew. Nearly 40 years later, the Ladysmith Festival of Lights attracts thousands of visitors from up and down the Island to watch the lights go on and twinkle through the holiday season Black Press Media spoke to Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Roberta Bowman about how the message Fitzpatrick's crew wanted to share still resonates: Is the FOL an advantage to the Ladysmith Community? The Festival of Lights offers significant advantages to the Ladysmith community by boosting local businesses, fostering community engagement, and enhancing cultural pride. By attracting visitors from surrounding areas, the event stimulates economic activity in restaurants, shops, and accommodations. It also brings residents together, promoting social bonds and showcasing local talent through performances and art displays. Volunteer opportunities abound, allowing community members to participate actively, develop skills, and connect with one another. Overall, the festival cultivates a vibrant atmosphere that elevates the quality of life in Ladysmith, making it a vital asset for the community. Is there benefit to the business community from Festival? The Festival of Lights significantly benefits the business community in Ladysmith by increasing foot traffic and sales for local shops and restaurants. The event attracts visitors, encouraging businesses to extend their operating hours and offer holiday promotions, which boosts visibility and customer engagement. Additionally, the festival fosters networking opportunities among local business owners, promoting collaborations that can enhance community ties. By participating in the festival, businesses contribute to a sense of community pride, encouraging local support and tourism. Overall, the festival serves as a powerful catalyst for economic activity, benefiting the business community and enhancing the local economy. Does the actual ‘Light Up’ night help businesses on that particular day or is any advantage come after that night? The actual “Light Up” night provides immediate benefits to businesses in Ladysmith, as increased foot traffic leads to higher sales as attendees shop and dine. Many local businesses capitalize on the event by offering special promotions and extending their operating hours, enhancing customer engagement. Additionally, the positive experiences created during the festival can foster long-term advantages, encouraging visitors to return in the following days and weeks. Word-of-mouth promotion and heightened community visibility can further boost tourism and local patronage. Overall, “Light Up” night not only supports businesses on the event day but also contributes to ongoing economic activity. Is the traditional Thursday night a good night for the event, for businesses, or would it be more productive if it was on a weekend? Holding the Festival of Lights on a traditional Thursday night offers advantages, such as reduced competition with fewer events, making it a standout occasion. It can also serve as a festive kickoff to the weekend, attracting an after-work crowd and encouraging attendees to return for shopping and dining in the days that follow. However, a weekend event could potentially draw higher attendance, allowing more people to participate and enjoy extended celebrations. Ultimately, the best choice depends on community preferences, and a hybrid approach, with a Thursday kickoff followed by weekend activities, could maximize benefits for local businesses. Holding the event on a Friday or Saturday night would be challenging as the town would see an inflow of folks for the actual light up event, which could double or triple the amount of people the town sees on a Thursday Light Up. The town doesn’t have the emergency support services nor parking capacity nor volunteers for a weekend event date. What can businesses do to improve their business on Light Up night? To improve business on Light Up night, businesses can implement several strategies. Offering special promotions or discounts can entice festival-goers, while extending operating hours allows for increased sales opportunities. Creating a festive atmosphere with themed decor and unique holiday offerings can attract more customers. Engaging with the community by participating in festival activities or hosting entertainment, such as live music, enhances visibility and encourages longer visits. Utilizing social media to promote participation and sharing behind-the-scenes content can generate buzz. Finally, focusing on excellent customer service ensures a positive experience that encourages repeat visits in the future. What do you think FOL (or others) can do to attract visitors downtown for the weeks while the lights are still on? To attract visitors downtown during the holiday season, a variety of engaging strategies can be implemented. Themed nights such as “Tasty Thursdays” with food tastings and “Family Fun Nights” featuring activities for children can draw in families and food enthusiasts. Promotions and discounts can be offered in collaboration with local businesses, encouraging shoppers to explore multiple stores. Community workshops for crafting, baking, or other holiday-themed activities allow residents to engage with local artisans and learn new skills while enjoying the festive atmosphere. Utilizing social media to promote events and create engaging content can help attract both locals and tourists. Additionally, Community collaborations with local organizations, schools, or charities can host events that give back, fostering participation and a sense of community involvement. Late night shopping — folks like to come and enjoy the lights when it is dark after work, in the evening time. It would be helpful if businesses were to stay open later on even one day a week to embrace those coming to Ladysmith to enjoy Light Up and Ladysmith as a whole. Should Light Up be made even larger? Expanding the Festival of Lights could significantly benefit the community by increasing attendance, boosting local tourism, and enhancing community spirit. A larger festival would allow for a wider range of activities, such as more performances, food vendors, and family-friendly entertainment, catering to diverse interests. However, careful planning is essential to address potential challenges related to budget, logistics, and crowd management. Engaging with the community for feedback ensures the expansion aligns with local preferences and needs. Ultimately, while a larger festival could create a more immersive experience, it must be approached thoughtfully to maximize its positive impact on the community. *** This year's Ladysmith Festival of Lights is set to go Thursday, Nov. 27 in downtown Ladysmith. From 4-6 p.m. on Light Up Night, attendees are invited to Ladysmith’s 1st Avenue to experience elite live street entertainment for all ages. With backgrounds in Cirque Du Soleil, theatre and opera, these performers will bring an entertaining, unique and sophisticated style to the Light Up festivities. “We’re thrilled to have so many acts to choose from — jugglers, stilt walkers, and more — which allows us to create a truly custom, dynamic experience for Ladysmith,” said Laura Goodwin, Festival of Lights board member. "A standout act includes an LED robot circus, bringing the magic of fireworks down to street level. As one young attendee excitedly put it, 'The robots are like real-life superheroes!'" After that, Santa will flick the switch heralding the light display, then the annual light parade will meander through downtown. This year there will be no fireworks display due to fire risk concerns. There will also be two photo booths this year, at no cost to attendees. You can get your picture taken professionally and printed on a card or sent digitally to your phone or email address. There will also be an extension of Light Up called Ladysmith’s Magical Christmas LIGHT UP Tour ... Explore ... Vote ... Celebrate Contest. Everyone is encouraged to do the tour, between Nov. 29 and Dec. 18 and then vote online, on the Chamber’s website. The winner will be announced on Dec. 20. For more information on the evening's activities and beyond, check out the Festival of Lights website. — with a file from Morgan BraytonSEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down

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Final crystal triangles installed on Times Square ball ahead of New Year's EveAfter two months inside a Brooklyn jail , Sean "Diddy" Combs experienced another setback as he prepares for his sex crimes trial in May , with another federal judge denying his request to be released on bail. On Wednesday, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled in favor of prosecutors, determining the hip-hop mogul should not be allowed to prepare for his 2025 trial from a private residence. Combs' lawyers previously proposed what they called "an extremely substantial, comprehensive bail package" with a $50 million bond, arguing their client has not been able to adequately prepare for his case from inside the Metropolitan Detention Center. Subramanian's ruling marked the fourth time Combs was denied pre-trial release on bond. During a Nov. 22 bail hearing, prosecutors continued to argue Combs presented a risk of danger and witness tampering. Combs' defense argued against the picture the government has painted of the rapper and again asserted that their bail proposal addresses any concerns about ensuring Combs would return to court and would not engage in obstruction of justice. Subramanian had both sides submit letters on Nov. 25 detailing Combs' communications from jail before making his decision. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Combs' renewed motion for bail, filed earlier this month, was Combs' fourth attempt at being released before his trial, following two requests around the time he was charged and an appeal filed in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in September. Diddy's lawyers proposed $50 million bail, 24/7 security This latest proposal, like those prior, offered a $50 million bond secured by the equity in Combs and his mother's Florida homes, implementation of a 24/7 monitoring service by approved security personnel, no internet or phone access for Combs outside of meetings with legal counsel, a pre-approved visitor list consisting of select family members and surrendered passports belonging to the rapper and his family members. This latest bid also mentioned Combs being willing to participate in "full home detention" at either his $48 million Miami home "or at a suitable location in New York." His family visits would be monitored by assigned security and Combs would be subject to "testing for a prohibited substance" as needed. When Combs, 55, arrived in the Manhattan courtroom with members of the U.S. Marshals Service, he wore a beige jail-issued outfit and blew kisses toward his family seated in the second row. His mother, Janice Combs , and his children — Quincy Brown , Christian "King" Combs , Justin Dior Combs , Jessie Combs, D'Lila Combs and Chance Combs — were photographed arriving at the federal courthouse earlier in the day. Combs, who is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes and has maintained all of his sexual encounters were consensual in the face of mounting civil lawsuits over the past year accusing him of rape, trafficking and sexual abuse from the 1990s to 2022. Prosecutors, Diddy's team argue over his use of other inmates' communication accounts In their Nov. 25 letters, Combs' team argued all of his actions since being detained fall under his First Amendment right to free speech as he "(defends) himself in the court of public opinion." Meanwhile, U.S. attorneys rejected this claim and detailed his alleged "extensive efforts to taint the jury pool" while at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. In his filing, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, noted "District courts have interpreted 'obstruction' ... to include willful actions that jeopardize the integrity of judicial proceedings." He claimed Combs "has used multiple unauthorized means of communications, which make it difficult or impossible to monitor the defendant’s communications." As mentioned in a previous filing , Combs has used other inmates' methods of outside communication, including phone access codes, and a service called ContactMeASAP to speak with people outside the MDC. Williams wrote, "The Government has no way of knowing whether there are other PAC or ContactMeASAP accounts the defendant is using of which the Government is not aware. Put simply, when the defendant uses other inmate’s accounts, his communications are very difficult—if not impossible—for BOP and the Government to track and monitor." In a previous filing, Combs' lawyers said they were unaware use of ContactMeASAP.com by an inmate "was unauthorized by (the Bureau of Prisons) as it is widely used in the prisons." They also noted, "The government has never once instructed defense counsel to have Mr. Combs refrain from using the service, nor has the BOP." "Inmates will frequently use other inmates' minutes to allow for (1) more than one call in a one-hour period; and (2) more phone calls once their 300 minutes expire," defense attorney Teny Geragos previously wrote, adding that BOP officials "are able to monitor every message Mr. Combs sends and receives." He stopped using ContactMeAsap.com "as of November 16, 2024." However, Williams alleged Combs continued "to use the ContactMeASAP account of at least one other inmate, sending messages to a family member as recently as November 24, 2024." He also claimed, "While at the MDC, the defendant has instructed family members and third parties to contact multiple potential victims and witnesses." Why Diddy's past bail requests were denied The first time Combs sought bail, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky sided with U.S. attorneys' argument that Combs posed a risk if he were to be released for home detention. "There are no conditions I can impose that would reasonably assure the appearance in court and the safety of the community," Tarnofsky said Sept. 17. "I don't know that I think you can trust yourself, and I don't believe that counsel has the ability to control you, given the very significant concerns I have, particularly because of substance abuse and what seem like anger issues." The following day, Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr. — who has since recused himself from the case — also ruled against Combs, determining that no amount of bail could guarantee Combs wouldn't tamper with witnesses. "I find that the government has proven that the defendant is a danger regarding obstruction of justice and witness tampering by clear and convincing evidence," Carter said. "I also find that the government has proven that the defendant is a danger to the safety of others in the community." Last month, federal appeals court judge William J. Nardini denied Combs' request for immediate release pending the court's decision on his motion for bail . Nardini referred the motion to a three-judge panel within the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In Combs' Second Circuit appeal , his lawyers argued the proposed conditions of his release were adequate in ensuring he will show up in court. "Indeed, hardly a risk of flight, he is a 54-year-old father of seven, a U.S. citizen, an extraordinarily successful artist, businessman, and philanthropist, and one of the most recognizable people on earth," the appeal stated. Investigators claim Combs elaborately schemed to use his finances and status in the entertainment industry to "fulfill his sexual desires" in a "recurrent and widely known" pattern of abuse, which included so-called "freak offs" — sexual encounters he allegedly orchestrated and recorded. U.S. attorneys have allegedly obtained Combs' information and data from phone, tech and social media companies as well as hotels airlines. They've also said they have seized more than 100 phones, laptops, tablets, iCloud accounts, cameras and flash drives. Meanwhile, Combs' attorneys have cast doubt on the alleged crimes the evidence purportedly shows. In a TMZ documentary released last month, " The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment ," one of Combs' lawyers, Marc Agnifilo, suggested Combs' "freak-offs" were simply "threesomes." Contributing: Luc Cohen, Reuters If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es .

Alarming new forecasts reveal how America's iconic coastal cities could soon be swallowed by the ocean

. —its land, its power, its women—but The Mamas* of Eastern Congo are asserting that the world, in fact, want a piece of them (and could never capture them, try as they might). Instead, The Mamas are capturing the world and recapturing themselves through the lenses of their own cameras. With the art of photography, they build community, dignity, and self-determination, all while wielding the most potent kind of beauty as a weapon against the state: liberation—the animated subjectivity of the objectified. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the wealthiest countries on the globe. Despite the incalculable that intimidates the constraints of commercialism, the country’s worth has been codified to a strangely monetized . The country hosts numerous major mineral deposits—from cobalt and coltan to diamonds and gold—that power that fuel them. companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Tesla have been complicit in the exploitative supply chain in the Congo for decades, but the hands of consumers aren’t any more clean. Our participation in the development and usage of convenient, luxurious, solution-based innovation—from our interaction with digital content (including ) on our “smart” devices to the use of “sustainable” electric cars that are powered by Congolese minerals–-depend on the pillaging of The Congo. Additionally, the international community is on Congo’s Eastern border—Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and others—and their brutal participation in destabilizing The Congo. Their goal is to exploit the weakness of The DRC’s authority in the aftermath of the ethnic and political conflict of the 1990s. has not been “silent,” as it is often regarded; we simply have not been , even as it rhymes with other genocides that are being amplified in this global moment of polycrisis. Still, the since World War II—seeing 7.3 million people internally displaced, 25.4 million people who are in need of emergency support, and over 6 million people killed, most of whom are women and children. This catastrophe is too large to be ignored. So why has it been? The negligence of advocacy for Congolese liberation, even by the socially conscious world, can be ; many regard Africa—humanity’s motherland, the second largest continent in the world—as a mere mass of land meant for death, or the of its living and breathing land and people. I attribute this to the world’s inability to understand Africa and its people beyond colonial contexts. The brutal disregard for natural and human life is consistent with that of The DRC and is particularly potent as the world fails Congolese women. The war waged on women in The Congo is intentional. Along with resource deprivation tactics and bombardment that is formidably common in areas of displacement, the state also uses . Additionally, voyeurism and other exploitative journalism practices of is commonly overlooked in The Congo. This inhumane practice visually captures and manipulates aesthetics of Congolese women into images of impoverished, oversexualized, and destitute archetypes from the lens of the (usually Western-adjacent) voyeur, furthering agendas of objectification. Though the women in The Congo have been victimized, they refuse to be victims. The Mamas of Yolé! Africa’s initiative for displaced women are a prime example. The Mamas are a group of 50 mothers from 13 villages across Eastern Congo who are currently surviving internal displacement in the Bulengo displacement camp, which holds about 800,000 people. The Mamas began taking photography classes as a part of an empowerment initiative by , a Congo-based arts and culture organization that meets The women’s exposure to photography classes allows them to reclaim their own narratives and assert their own subjectivities in the face of terror. The photography classes of Yole! Africa is led by a brilliant Congolese visual artist, Botembe Moseka Maïté. Born, raised, and based in Kinshasa, Maïté graduated from Académie des Beaux-Arts (The Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa) with a degree in Visual Communications. Her focuses on “capturing time through her photographs” and “creating captivating archives and memories that tell timeless stories.” What was seeded as an art project for an internship with Yolé! Africa blossomed into a revolutionary training program with The Mamas. “We are here because we have to see the school of Yolé!” Maïté tells me via call a day after touching down in Goma with Yolé! Africa founder Petna Ndaliko Katondolo. “Yolé! Ekolojia... it’s currently under construction and we have to check if everything is going well—and meet with The Mamas who were excited to see that their classrooms are about to get ready.” Yolé! Ekolojia is a school that is currently being built in the Bulengo displacement camp, where the Mama’s first participated in Maïté’s photography class. As an extension of Yolé! Africa’s cultural organization, it offers many creative classes that center the experiences and practical needs of the displaced people in the area, from agro liberation farming and shoemaking to filmmaking and other forms of storytelling. “It offers a space of liberation,” Maïté explained, “a space of expression through art for The Mamas and the families of the camp... we teach them about liberation—how to integrate themselves through ancestral knowledge, ancestral ecology—and that’s really the spirit of Yolé! Ekolojia: community building.” When asked if the women have any “self-care regimens” that aid in their survival, Maïté reminded me, “that the space where they are currently is a place designed by violence. And in this space, they don’t really have that right to really think about health, about beauty, about makeup,” she says. “We do it freely, but they can’t. So in the school, they build their own space where they are not victims anymore, but they are actors of their own beauty—a beauty that is like resilience, that is a call of their own freedom. That’s even the beauty of art, because through art, they extract themselves; they feel mentally and physically free.” The unimaginable stakes in the Mamas’ worlds bar them from access to many forms of care, including from themselves. Still, though the form of maintenance is not as concrete, what Maïté described a beauty regimen, and arguably the most potent form. I’m sure I have stars in my eyes as a Piscean Afrofuturist who luxuriates in dreamy optimism for African people globally. However, as an artist, I can testify to the incredible ways in which communal artistic practices and self-expression carry potential for healing and care, even on a cellular level. Art is a kind of maintenance—a more creative health regimen, a more spiritual wellness routine, and a more visceral ritual of adornment and beauty. One example of Yolé! Africa’s curriculum is, in itself, a masterclass in disassembling the visual politics of beauty as a colonial construct. Maïté details that, “The idea was to make a triptych of their own objects. While I was observing them, I thought, ‘why not [include] a piece of theater?’ So I asked them to each bring an object of value for them from home.” While recounting this part of the curriculum, she remembered how the class naturally and creatively reanimated objects for the assignment. “One who came with a jacket said, ‘this jacket, for me, is like a sister.’” Meanwhile, another “came with a spoon and called it ‘my brother who will help me nourish my kid.’” One who came with a mattress, “said that this mattress is her sister. She ran away from war three times with the same mattress. And her sister is always jealous each time she’s dirty.” The reanimation of what we deem inanimate play human-like roles in The Mama’s lives, turning still-life photography into a kind of portraiture. This perhaps reminded the women of their own ability to resist objectification through storytelling. Maïté intuitively offered to the class, “‘Why don’t you guys just give them a new name, give them a new story, and give them a new song?’ It started with storytelling, then presenting the objects, then presenting a song by a group of three. And, at the end, it was a show that we presented in another space in the town. And that was just beautiful.” The photographs in this article are selected works of a few of The Mamas in Yolé’s photography training program. These 50 Congolese women are showing us a more-than-physical beauty with lenses through which we could never even begin to peer. The subjecthood with which the women endow the focal elements of their photos makes a case for their subjectivity and agency as human beings, despite how the world seeks to objectify them. My interview with Maïté left me questioning the significance of aesthetic beauty as we celebrate it in our culture; does it even matter? Are Western beauty tutorials and trends, even when performed by Black people, relevant at all? If beauty is self-expression, then what are we expressing other than our ability to conform to an ideal that is ultimately irrelevant to our liberation? Even as we attempt to flex, force, and forge open the once seemingly immalleable standards of beauty to include greater differences, the concern with its manipulation alone implies our validation of an oppressive concept that was never going to free us. Black thinkers like that is “Black is beautiful.” Morrison’s commentary urges us to realize that liberation from white supremacist, patriarchal constructs isn’t possible through enrollment in yet another white supremacist, patriarchal construct. Her words are a reminder that aesthetic beauty is a concept created to drive an even deeper wedge between people who are deemed worthy of freedom and those who are not. bell hooks says it plain in her collection of essays , suggesting that, “We need to theorize the meaning of beauty in our lives so that we can educate for critical consciousness, talking through the issues: how we acquire and spend money, how we feel about beauty, what the place of beauty is in our lives when we lack material privilege and even basic resources for living, the meaning and significance of luxury, and the politics of envy.” The coloniality of—capital B—Beauty is more pungent than ever in today’s world. The world’s desperate subscription to Beauty and adjacent colonial constructs do not simply distract us from the current season of concurrent disasters; it also grants delusions of status and immunity from affect. These disasters and distractions are intentionally invented by white supremacist, patriarchal empires to work tangentially and symbiotically. This is how “Pretty Girl Core,” fascism, natural disasters, and dead people can alternate all-too-casually on the news feed of any given social networking app during a leisurely 5-minute scroll. To the conscious world, the former increasingly feels like the largest inconvenience of these examples, leaving many to question and critique its relevance—the first step in disrupting this dynamic. Black Beauty content in the digital age transforms its triviality into an ironic cruelty; Black beauty creators are benefitting from unspeakable violence on people with whom we share common origin by the hands of what is in our hands: our smartphones. . Whether or not our Beauty does is not as black-and-white. Both are concepts that we never needed to scream at the world but to prayerfully whisper into a salve for our own apathy. Our participation in irrelevant Beauty content from people who look like us that overshadows relevant liberation work from people who look like us is unethical. The fact that the former is produced by way of the technology that relies on the exploitation of the latter makes this dynamic existentially unbearable. To fully understand the tragedy of this reckless dereliction, we must collectively consider The Congo—not only for the ways in which it is being exploited, but for the beauty that The Mama’s are teaching us to on—the freedom they embody from in front of and behind their cameras. .Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail a third time as he awaits sex trafficking trial(The Center Square) – Prosecutors introduced secretly recorded audio and video along with a troubled star witness at the public corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis returned to the Everett McKinley U.S. Courthouse Monday. Solis is facing one federal count of bribery under a deferred prosecution agreement. The ex-alderman began cooperating with federal investigators in 2016. Separately Monday, former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Madigan codefendant Michael McClain enter the federal court building in Chicago Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. U.S. government attorney Diane MacArthur first introduced a recording of Madigan and Solis nearly two years before the alderman started cooperating with the government. The recording involved a conversation with Chinese developer, See Wong, who wanted to build a hotel on a parcel of land in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. The land was owned by the state of Illinois at the time, but Solis said a zoning change would be required from the city in order for a hotel to be built. At Madigan’s request, Solis said he facilitated the meeting on Aug. 8, 2014, at Madigan’s law firm, Madigan and Getzendanner, about the land along Wentworth Avenue between Archer Avenue and Cermak Road. Madigan’s law partner, Bud Getzendanner, discussed how successful the firm had been in working with hotels to make sure they were not taxed more than necessary. ”A large component of your expense for hotels is real estate taxes,” Getzendanner said during the recorded meeting. Getzendanner said the firm charged 12.5% of the tax savings obtained. Madigan told Wong and an interpreter about the quality of service his firm provided. “We don’t take a second seat to anybody,” Madigan said. The developer then asked for a picture with Madigan and Solis. Solis told the group that Wong would benefit from working with Madigan. “If he works with the Speaker, he will get anything he needs for that hotel,” Solis said on the recording. Solis testified that he meant the city would provide the zoning change the developer needed from the city if the developer hired Madigan’s law firm. Solis said the zoning change was approved, but the proposed hotel was never built. MacArthur asked Solis about the bribery charge he is still facing, which Solis said involved the redevelopment of a property in Chicago from a restaurant to a residential building in 2015. Solis said two problems prevented the project from moving forward: labor unions’ perceived lack of representation in the development and residents' concerns in the ward. The former alderman admitted that he solicited a campaign contribution from the developer or from one or more of the developer’s vendors while the project’s zoning change was still under consideration. Solis said he believed the developer was on board and that he would be getting donations from the developers’ vendors. The zoning change was approved by the city council, Solis said. He testified he solicited and accepted campaign contributions from other developers who had matters pending before the city council’s zoning committee. Solis then testified about about a variety of things like massages that turned sexual, trips to Las Vegas, tickets to professional sporting events, no-paperwork six-figure loans he'd paid back. He even admitted to an extramarital affair he had with an interpreter. Solis said he was separated from his wife for about five years and their house went into foreclosure. He also confessed that he lied to a collection agency by saying he was out of work. MacArthur asked Solis about his sister, Patti Solis Doyle, who worked on campaigns for former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, former President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, D-New York. Solis Doyle also managed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008. Solis said his sister was involved in a hotel project in which the developer offered her $100,000. Solis said his sister offered to split the sum with her brother. As chairman of the city’s zoning committee, Solis said he told his sister he could not accept money regarding a hotel development. Solis said his sister told him there would be another way she could compensate him. The former alderman said he did receive funds from his sister for referring her to his friend Brian Hynes’ state vendor assistance program. Monday afternoon, Solis testified that FBI agents visited his home on June 1, 2016, and played audio and video recordings. After considering an attorney, Solis said he decided to cooperate with the FBI a few days later and agreed to let investigators tap his phone. Solis also said he told an attorney friend that he was cooperating with the FBI in regard to an investigation of an organization he was involved in. Solis said he made recordings for several investigations he was involved in as part of his deferred prosecution agreement. He began communicating with Madigan after receiving a voicemail message on June 12, 2017. Solis said he discussed the Chinatown land deal, his interest in getting a state board appointment, and referring clients to Madigan’s law firm while cooperating with the government from June 2016 to December 2017. Solis admitted that he was not really interested in a state board appointment, but he raised the issue with Madigan at the direction of law enforcement. Solis said he began communicating with Madigan codefendant Michael McClain about the Chinatown parcel in the fall of 2017. He said he had to continue to perform his duties as an alderman while cooperating with the FBI because of “the farce” that he was involved in. Solis discussed a 2017 redevelopment project that required a zoning change involving a Union West development in Chicago’s West Loop. MacArthur played a recording, dated June 12, 2017, of Madigan asking Solis about the development. During the call, Solis told the speaker he would try to arrange an introduction for Madigan with the developers. In a subsequent call, Solis promised to arrange a meeting and said, “I think these guys get it, the quid pro quo and how it works.” When MacArthur asked Solis why he said that, Solis said he didn’t know and said it was “dumb.” MacArthur asked Solis if he used the words “quid pro quo” at the direction of law enforcement. “No,” Solis said. Union West developer Andrew Cretal agreed to meet with Madigan and told Solis, “confidentially,” that his company was working with Goldman Sachs as an equity partner and that he would “circle back” with Solis. MacArthur played a recording of Madigan privately telling Solis not to use the words, “quid quo pro.” The conversation immediately preceded the meeting Cretal and the Union West group had at Madigan's and Getzendanner’s law office. During the meeting, Madigan repeated to Cretal’s group what he had said to See Wong. “We don’t take a second seat to anybody,” Madigan said. Solis said he met with Madigan again privately after the meeting with the intention of discussing the Chinatown parcel. Solis said he had been having frequent meetings about the land with potential developers. During the recording, Solis said that nothing could really happen until the state transferred the land. Connie Mixon, professor of Political Science and director of the Urban Studies Program at Elmhurst University, served as an expert witness at the corruption trial of longtime Chicago Democrat Ed Burke, who served on the city council from 1969 to 2023. A jury convicted Burke in December 2023 on 18 counts of racketeering, bribery, attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity. Mixon said that Solis also testified as a cooperating witness during Burke’s trial. “It seemed as if, in the sentencing for the Burke trial, the judge did take a bit of exception to the fact that Solis, who also had potential criminal charges, was essentially getting away without any sort of repercussions,” Mixon told The Center Square. Mixon described Solis as a damaged witness. “He’s absolutely damaged, but as much as he’s damaged, you have the words on the wiretap. Having the defendants’ words played in the courtroom, they are really the witness against themselves when you have those wiretaps,” Mixon explained. Before the jury was seated Monday morning, prosecutors said they would provide the court with revised jury instructions by Dec. 3. Judge John Robert Blakey said he could deny admittance of new materials after that date if he deemed them to be untimely. Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning in Chicago.

As Law And Order: Organized Crime Loses Another Showrunner, Here's What Cast Members Told Us John Shiban Brought To The Series

A Quantum Computer Could Crack Bitcoin in Half, Research FindsAfter a significant delay, the Trump transition team has signed a key agreement with the Biden White House to ease the transfer of power. "This engagement allows our intended cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power," Susie Wiles, chief of staff to President-elect Donald Trump, said in a statement on Tuesday. The memorandum of understanding was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1 — along with a second MOU with the General Services Administration (GSA) that would provide funding, office space and technology. The deadline and process is set out in a law called the Presidential Transition Act. The transition team said it has ruled out signing the GSA agreement, saying it would use "an existing ethics plan" for its team, and would post it on the GSA website. "The transition already has existing security and information protections built in, which means we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight," the Trump transition team said in a statement, noting it would disclose its donors publicly. Now that the MOU is signed, authorized members of the Trump transition team can have access to agency and White House employees, facilities and information because it has "agreed to important safeguards to protect non-public information and prevent conflicts of interest, including who has access to the information and how the information is shared," said Saloni Sharma, a spokeswoman for the White House. While the White House would have preferred that the Trump transition team sign the GSA agreement, it decided that a disruption in the transfer of power would be more risky. A third agreement, with the Department of Justice, is required for FBI background checks and security clearances. That agreement has not yet been signed. Those background checks are traditionally required by the Senate during the confirmation process, along with an ethics agreement with the Office of Government Ethics, and responses to a detailed questionnaire.

Washington maintains stand on Pakistan’s missile programme restrictions Patel says US is committed to maintaining global non-proliferation regime and Pakistan is an important partner in that The United States has described Pakistan as an "important partner" that shares its commitment to upholding the global non-proliferation regime. However, at the same time, it reaffirmed its long-standing policy of denying support for Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme. The US statement came hours after Pakistan's forceful response in reaction to the State Department's December 18 announcement of additional sanctions on entities contributing to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme. Earlier today, Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Islamabad's conduct raised "real questions" about its intentions, saying nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets outside of South Asia, including the United States. "Candidly, it's hard for us to see Pakistan's actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States," Finer said in a speech to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Earlier today, the US reiterated that it would continue to use sanctions and other tools to protect its national security. "The US is committed to maintaining the global non-proliferation regime and Pakistan is an important partner in that. However, we have been clear and consistent about our concerns about Pakistan's long-range, ballistic missile programme," Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department said, addressing a weekly press briefing on Thursday. "It is long-standing US policy to deny support to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme. The Department of State will continue to use sanctions and other tools to protect our national security and ensure that US exporters and US financial systems cannot be abused by proliferators." The spokesperson said that the US hoped to continue to engage constructively with the Pakistani government on these issues. Replying to a question, Patel said that the US had concerns regarding Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme, but they don't affect great deal of other bilateral areas of cooperation. The US State Department said on December 18 that it was imposing additional sanctions related to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, targeting four entities that it said were contributing to the proliferation or delivery of such weapons. The statement, issued on the State Department's website, said that the decision was taken “in light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development”. It added that the four entities were being designated for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382, which targeted proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. "Pakistan’s National Development Complex – which is responsible for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program and has worked to acquire items to advance Pakistan’s long range ballistic missile program – and Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise – which have worked to supply equipment and missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long range missile program – are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 Section 1(a)(ii) for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use such items, by Pakistan," read the statement. However, Islamabad reacted strongly to the development, terming the the decision as "biased" and stressing that the step from the US has "dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond". "Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries. Such policies have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement. The Foreign Office stressed that the county's strategic programme is a sacred trust bestowed by 240 million people upon its leadership, adding that the sanctity of this trust, held in the highest esteem across the entire political spectrum, cannot be compromised. In September this year, Washington targeted five entities and one individual with sanctions, which were involved in the expansion of ballistic missiles and controlling missile equipment and technology to Pakistan. Similarly, the US — in October 2023 — imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan. The sanctions also affected China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co. Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national were sanctioned for knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions. White House official says Pakistan long-range missiles can target US Rangers official injured during PTI's November 26 protest passes away Imran gives govt new deadline to meet demands or face civil disobedience movement Non-bailable arrest warrant issued for six cops in Dr Shahnawaz killing caseThe Washington Commanders put kicker Austin Seibert on injured reserve Tuesday, just over 48 hours since he missed an extra point that would have tied the score with 21 seconds left against Dallas. Seibert also missed a field-goal attempt and another extra point in the loss to the Cowboys. He missed the previous two games with a right hip injury but said afterward he was fine and made the decision to play. The Commanders filled that roster spot by signing running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. off their practice squad. Austin Ekeler had a concussion and Brian Robinson Jr. sprained an ankle Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Is Enbridge Stock a Buy for its Dividend Yield?In a significant diplomatic exchange, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed on Wednesday that she had a highly fruitful conversation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. The primary focus of their discussion was on the pressing issue of migration. During the conversation, President Sheinbaum assured her American counterpart that Mexico is effectively addressing the matter of migrant caravans. She emphasized that these caravans are being managed within Mexican borders, thus preventing their arrival in the United States. The candid dialogue between the two leaders underscores the ongoing commitment to regional stability and cooperation in tackling migration challenges. (With inputs from agencies.)

Hallmark fans say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce-inspired film is going to be 'biggest one of the season'‘They’ve become so bold now’: Tensions peak as baboons push into Cape Town’s urban spaces, seeking foodBayer Leverkusen got their Champions League campaign back on track with a 5-0 home win over RB Salzburg on Tuesday, with Florian Wirtz scoring twice and the visitors having goalkeeper Alexander Schlager to thank for avoiding an even bigger defeat. ( More Football News ) Leverkusen, beaten 4-0 at Liverpool in their last game, raced into an early lead with Wirtz scoring from the penalty spot in the eighth minute and Alejandro Grimaldo netting from a free kick three minutes later. Wirtz scored again on the half-hour as Leverkusen threatened to run riot and Patrik Schick added a fourth goal 16 minutes after the break. BY Stats Perform Substitute Aleix Garcia rounded off the win 18 minutes from time, just four minutes after entering the pitch. Leverkusen return to winning ways, having failed to pick up three points in their last two matches in the competition. It moves them up to 13th on 10 points, while Salzburg remain on three points in 30th after suffering their fourth defeat in five matches. Flo delivers on the big stage. #B04SAL #UCL pic.twitter.com/kwbuI17zSA Data Debrief: Wirtz shows dazzling promise Leverkusen’s Wirtz scored his 17th goal in major European football tonight (12 in UEFA Europa League, 5 in UEFA Champions League) – at the age of 21, only Erling Haaland (23), Kylian Mbappe (21) and Ronaldo (20) have scored more before their 22nd birthday, with Wirtz drawing level with Lionel Messi tonight. He has scored five Champions League goals in his five appearances so far for Bayer Leverkusen, the most ever goals scored by a German player in their first five games in the competition. He was integral to what was Leverkusen’s joint biggest win in their major European football history, also registering 5-0 victories in November 1994 against Budapest Honved and in December 2007 against Zurich, both in the UEFA Cup.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday announced that the government won't stop individual New Year's celebrations in Bengaluru, but has declared mourning for government work and offices after the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Shivakumar emphasized the importance of maintaining law and order, especially in an international city like Bengaluru. To ensure public safety, nearly 10,000 cameras have been installed across the city. "For New Year we can't pleasantly stop the celebration, we can't stop individual celebrations, we have announced mourning for govt work and offices. Almost 10 thousand cameras were installed for the safety of everyone for the New Year celebration, it's an international city so we should be careful about law and order and we don't even restrict business fraternity as well. Everyone must maintain law and order, you can consider this as a warning or request..," he said. A seven-day mourning has been announced in Karnataka after Manmohan Singh's demise. "A government holiday has been declared tomorrow December 27," Karnataka CMO said in a statement. Dr Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday evening at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. 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Manmohan Singh had a sudden loss of consciousness at home today after which he was rushed to the AIIMS Delhi. Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years in the house. Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in the 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then succeeded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )AUM of USD 635 Billion at ADFW Caps Stellar Q4 as Trillion-Dollar Club Flock to ADGM