Capitals are rolling along without Alex Ovechkin thanks to depth that has kept them a contenderHidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out WestGEORGIA TECH 87, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 68
The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Stock up on these popular board games for your next get-togetherWalmart Inc. WMT shares are trading lower on Monday. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a lawsuit against the company and Branch Messenger over concerns regarding junk fees. Here’s what you need to know . The Details: The CFPB has alleged that Walmart and Branch Messenger forced drivers to open deposit accounts filled with junk fees. The regulator sued Walmart and Branch Messenger on Monday for requiring drivers to use costly deposit accounts to get paid and deceiving drivers about how they could access earnings. The suit claims that Walmart opened accounts for “last mile” drivers in its Spark Driver program and told workers that they would be fired if they did not use the specific accounts. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Walmart misled drivers about the availability of same-day access to earnings. "Walmart made false promises, illegally opened accounts, and took advantage of more than a million delivery drivers," said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra . "Companies cannot force workers into getting paid through accounts that drain their earnings with junk fees." Benzinga has reached out to Walmart for comment. Related Link: Assessing Winnebago Industries: Insights From 6 Financial Analysts The lawsuit claims that drivers were forced to navigate a complicated process to access their funds, and then encountered additional delays or fees when they opted to transfer the money to an account of their choice. The government oversight agency stated that Spark Drivers paid over $10 million in junk fees to Branch Messenger in order to instantly transfer their earnings to a different account. The CFPB also claimed that Branch engaged in other illegal practices including failing to investigate errors, honor stop payment requests, maintain records and provide required disclosures. According to Reuters, Branch Messenger representatives rejected the claims and accused the CFPB of “rushing” to file a lawsuit in an attempt to gain media traction. “Branch stands behind its model and services and we will defend this action vigorously,” the company reportedly said. WMT Price Action: At the time of writing, Walmart stock was down 2.01% at $90.39, according to data from Benzinga Pro . Image via Shutterstock . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
In the current market session, Flex Inc. FLEX share price is at $39.15, after a 1.22% spike. Moreover, over the past month, the stock decreased by 1.93% , but in the past year, went up by 76.12% . Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. Comparing Flex P/E Against Its Peers The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 146.16 in the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, Flex Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 18.6 . Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
PESHAWAR/KURRAM: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has been making frantic efforts for a ceasefire between warring tribes in Kurram district and decided to constitute a high-powered commission to settle land disputes as tribal-sectarian clashes continued with the killing of 37 people in firing since overnight, including 18 on Saturday. The provincial government intensified its efforts with a jirga meeting held to restore peace in Kurram district and end the tribal-sectarian clashes erupted following Thursday’s deadly attack, when a convoy of around 200 vehicles came under heavy gunfire in Kurram’s densely populated Bagan town, killing at least 43 people and injuring 16 others. The convoy was carrying passengers between Peshawar and Parachinar city, which is in Kurram, a district near the Afghanistan border with a history of sectarian violence and land disputes. “The death toll is still rising” an official tasked with collecting details of the carnage told The Khorasan Diary, evidence shared with TKD from the area shows at least six bodies of the attackers and some charred bodies of those that were attacked. Officials and state functionaries could not reach the area due to heightened tensions, but one official who managed to bring out some injured before the firing begun again this morning had captured some visuals from the area which showed an entire village market, homes and government buildings gutted by fire as a response to the attack on passenger vans resulting in 47 deaths including women and children. There were reports of 6 women taken as captives but due to limited connectivity information and communication was scant to ascertain more. According to the security personnel, communication from elders of both sects suggested that a message had been sent across for further intensified attacks. Currently there was intermittent firing from at least three points in the district, while the Thall-Sada-Parachinar Highway has remained closed from Kohat district, as officials struggle to reinforce a volatile peace. The KP government on Saturday sent a high-level delegation to Kurram to improve the security situation in the area, comprising KP Law Minister Aftab Alam, KP Chief Secretary (CS) Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, the Kohat Division commissioner and deputy inspector general of police, and other high-level officials. The delegation was tasked with taking measures to improve the security situation and also make efforts to utilise the local jirga for the purpose. The KP Law Minister said that recommendations would be forwarded to the chief minister, adding that all departments were making tireless efforts to improve the law and order situation in Kurram. Alam, who led the efforts to peace restoration, told the media that the KP government has decided to form a high-powered commission to settle land disputes among the warring tribes in Kurram. He said a government delegation held a meeting with and spoke to various stakeholders in Kurram, saying that the biggest issue in the district was land disputes. “There were very positive meetings with one stakeholder group and the government delegation was assured of cooperation. “A report will be made on all the incidents taking place in Kurram and presented to the chief minister and other senior officials,” he said. Alam said a new high-level commission would be established to resolve the Kurram disputes since all commissions and committees previously formed were not acceptable to any of the parties. “This time, the commission will be formed according to the wishes of the parties,” he said, adding that it would be acceptable to everyone. Alam said the land disputes between the various groups in Kurram were being given the colour of sectarian riots, adding that it was wrong to do so. The provincial law minister said the report on Kurram’s issues would also be presented in a meeting of the apex committee. Meanwhile, KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif said the government delegation held a jirga with district elders on KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s instructions. “Efforts are being made to resolve all issues amicably to end the tension. Detailed meetings were held with Shia leaders today, positive discussions were held to resolve the issues. Meetings will also be held with Sunni leaders in the next phase,” he said. Saif added that the government’s first priority was to establish a ceasefire between the warring sides and establish lasting peace. “The KP CM has clear instructions that all issues should be resolved through dialogue.” Sajid Hussain Turi, a former PPP MNA from Kurram and one of the meeting’s participants, told Dawn.com after the jirga that KP Inspector General of Police (IG) Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, CS Chaudhry and others attended the jirga meeting. He lamented that the security provided to the convoy that was attacked was less than the required amount. Turi said another round of talks was scheduled for tomorrow, with provincial government officials, military officials and others expected to attend. “The jirga came to a decision that they will discuss with the chief minister, the corps commander and the federal government,” Turi said. “It is very important to have both sides present.” He added that there was a jirga being planned in lower Kurram, but maintained that there needed to be a ceasefire for that to happen. “We have been very clear, we will not do anything without a ceasefire,” he said. “We have ceased fire from our side.” He said the KP chief secretary, Barrister Saif, Alam, KP IG and brigade commander would also attend tomorrow’s meeting. Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said efforts were being made to re-establish peace in the area, reiterating yesterday’s statement. DC Mehsud said officials of security forces and local administration attended the meeting convened at the DC Conference Hall. “With the help of local elders, forces and the administration, peace will be established as soon as possible,” the official said. According to witnesses, the vehicles in Thursday’s attack were ambushed from four sides. Muhammad, a 14-year-old survivor, told Dawn that the assault lasted around 30 minutes. Authorities said that the victims included seven women and three children, with 16 others injured — 11 of whom are in critical condition. KP CM appeals to all parties for ceasefire Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur appealed to the warring for ceasefire, saying the provincial government has been making strenuous efforts for a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Kurram conflict. According to a press release issued from the CM’s House, CM Gandapur held a virtual meeting via video link with the government delegation after the jirga and reviewed the current situation in the district while being briefed on development in the talks with elders of the area. The government delegation also presented its initial report to the chief minister. It informed the chief minister about the suggestions and demands of the Shia elders it met today, adding that a similar meeting would be held with Sunni elders on Sunday. “The provincial government is making serious efforts for a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Kurram conflict. I am personally monitoring the situation in Kurram,” CM Gandapur said, adding that Thursday’s incident was “extremely regrettable and condemnable” and he shared in the grief of the affected families. “Efforts are being made to ensure that such tragic incidents do not recur. The provincial government will decide the future course of action in the light of consultation with the elders of the area. “Whatever the legitimate demands of the parties are will definitely be fulfilled. The government delegation should sit with the parties and the elders of the area and present final proposals,” he said. CM Gandapur stressed that a ceasefire in the area was indispensable to move towards resolving the conflict and urged all parties to observe one so that progress could be made towards ending current tensions. “Regional elders and elders should fully cooperate with the government delegation and local administration in this regard. Establishing peace in the region is the top priority of the provincial government at present, all available options will be utilised for this purpose. ‘Reports of ‘attack’ on KP govt’s chopper in Kurram baseless’ Earlier in the day, reports were making rounds in the media about an alleged firing attack on the helicopter carrying the government delegation in Parachinar, but KP Law Minister Aftab Alam and Advisor on Information Barrister Saif described the news was “baseless,” saying nothing of the sort happened. “The news of the firing on the helicopter is false and members of the government delegation, including me, is safe,” the provincial minister said. According to him, the provincial spokesperson reports about the firing on the helicopter were entirely baseless and a product of propaganda spread by news channels without proper authentication. Parachiner, its surroundings come to halt due to protests The businesses, educational institutions and markets remained closed across Parachinar and surrounding areas while mobile service and internet have also shut down across the Kurram district, in an effort to counter the “extremely tense” situation. The officials said a curfew had been “imposed on the main road connecting Upper and Lower Kurram”. Thousands of people participated in a sit-in in Parachinar, where protesters criticised the government’s failure to protect civilians. Hundreds also demonstrated in Lahore and Karachi. The attack was widely condemned, including by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, as well as political parties. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoil
How to Watch the Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for December 25PESHAWAR/KURRAM: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has been making frantic efforts for a ceasefire between warring tribes in Kurram district and decided to constitute a high-powered commission to settle land disputes as tribal-sectarian clashes continued with the killing of 37 people in firing since overnight, including 18 on Saturday. The provincial government intensified its efforts with a jirga meeting held to restore peace in Kurram district and end the tribal-sectarian clashes erupted following Thursday’s deadly attack, when a convoy of around 200 vehicles came under heavy gunfire in Kurram’s densely populated Bagan town, killing at least 43 people and injuring 16 others. The convoy was carrying passengers between Peshawar and Parachinar city, which is in Kurram, a district near the Afghanistan border with a history of sectarian violence and land disputes. “The death toll is still rising” an official tasked with collecting details of the carnage told The Khorasan Diary, evidence shared with TKD from the area shows at least six bodies of the attackers and some charred bodies of those that were attacked. Officials and state functionaries could not reach the area due to heightened tensions, but one official who managed to bring out some injured before the firing begun again this morning had captured some visuals from the area which showed an entire village market, homes and government buildings gutted by fire as a response to the attack on passenger vans resulting in 47 deaths including women and children. There were reports of 6 women taken as captives but due to limited connectivity information and communication was scant to ascertain more. According to the security personnel, communication from elders of both sects suggested that a message had been sent across for further intensified attacks. Currently there was intermittent firing from at least three points in the district, while the Thall-Sada-Parachinar Highway has remained closed from Kohat district, as officials struggle to reinforce a volatile peace. The KP government on Saturday sent a high-level delegation to Kurram to improve the security situation in the area, comprising KP Law Minister Aftab Alam, KP Chief Secretary (CS) Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, the Kohat Division commissioner and deputy inspector general of police, and other high-level officials. The delegation was tasked with taking measures to improve the security situation and also make efforts to utilise the local jirga for the purpose. The KP Law Minister said that recommendations would be forwarded to the chief minister, adding that all departments were making tireless efforts to improve the law and order situation in Kurram. Alam, who led the efforts to peace restoration, told the media that the KP government has decided to form a high-powered commission to settle land disputes among the warring tribes in Kurram. He said a government delegation held a meeting with and spoke to various stakeholders in Kurram, saying that the biggest issue in the district was land disputes. “There were very positive meetings with one stakeholder group and the government delegation was assured of cooperation. “A report will be made on all the incidents taking place in Kurram and presented to the chief minister and other senior officials,” he said. Alam said a new high-level commission would be established to resolve the Kurram disputes since all commissions and committees previously formed were not acceptable to any of the parties. “This time, the commission will be formed according to the wishes of the parties,” he said, adding that it would be acceptable to everyone. Alam said the land disputes between the various groups in Kurram were being given the colour of sectarian riots, adding that it was wrong to do so. The provincial law minister said the report on Kurram’s issues would also be presented in a meeting of the apex committee. Meanwhile, KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif said the government delegation held a jirga with district elders on KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s instructions. “Efforts are being made to resolve all issues amicably to end the tension. Detailed meetings were held with Shia leaders today, positive discussions were held to resolve the issues. Meetings will also be held with Sunni leaders in the next phase,” he said. Saif added that the government’s first priority was to establish a ceasefire between the warring sides and establish lasting peace. “The KP CM has clear instructions that all issues should be resolved through dialogue.” Sajid Hussain Turi, a former PPP MNA from Kurram and one of the meeting’s participants, told Dawn.com after the jirga that KP Inspector General of Police (IG) Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, CS Chaudhry and others attended the jirga meeting. He lamented that the security provided to the convoy that was attacked was less than the required amount. Turi said another round of talks was scheduled for tomorrow, with provincial government officials, military officials and others expected to attend. “The jirga came to a decision that they will discuss with the chief minister, the corps commander and the federal government,” Turi said. “It is very important to have both sides present.” He added that there was a jirga being planned in lower Kurram, but maintained that there needed to be a ceasefire for that to happen. “We have been very clear, we will not do anything without a ceasefire,” he said. “We have ceased fire from our side.” He said the KP chief secretary, Barrister Saif, Alam, KP IG and brigade commander would also attend tomorrow’s meeting. Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said efforts were being made to re-establish peace in the area, reiterating yesterday’s statement. DC Mehsud said officials of security forces and local administration attended the meeting convened at the DC Conference Hall. “With the help of local elders, forces and the administration, peace will be established as soon as possible,” the official said. According to witnesses, the vehicles in Thursday’s attack were ambushed from four sides. Muhammad, a 14-year-old survivor, told Dawn that the assault lasted around 30 minutes. Authorities said that the victims included seven women and three children, with 16 others injured — 11 of whom are in critical condition. KP CM appeals to all parties for ceasefire Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur appealed to the warring for ceasefire, saying the provincial government has been making strenuous efforts for a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Kurram conflict. According to a press release issued from the CM’s House, CM Gandapur held a virtual meeting via video link with the government delegation after the jirga and reviewed the current situation in the district while being briefed on development in the talks with elders of the area. The government delegation also presented its initial report to the chief minister. It informed the chief minister about the suggestions and demands of the Shia elders it met today, adding that a similar meeting would be held with Sunni elders on Sunday. “The provincial government is making serious efforts for a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Kurram conflict. I am personally monitoring the situation in Kurram,” CM Gandapur said, adding that Thursday’s incident was “extremely regrettable and condemnable” and he shared in the grief of the affected families. “Efforts are being made to ensure that such tragic incidents do not recur. The provincial government will decide the future course of action in the light of consultation with the elders of the area. “Whatever the legitimate demands of the parties are will definitely be fulfilled. The government delegation should sit with the parties and the elders of the area and present final proposals,” he said. CM Gandapur stressed that a ceasefire in the area was indispensable to move towards resolving the conflict and urged all parties to observe one so that progress could be made towards ending current tensions. “Regional elders and elders should fully cooperate with the government delegation and local administration in this regard. Establishing peace in the region is the top priority of the provincial government at present, all available options will be utilised for this purpose. ‘Reports of ‘attack’ on KP govt’s chopper in Kurram baseless’ Earlier in the day, reports were making rounds in the media about an alleged firing attack on the helicopter carrying the government delegation in Parachinar, but KP Law Minister Aftab Alam and Advisor on Information Barrister Saif described the news was “baseless,” saying nothing of the sort happened. “The news of the firing on the helicopter is false and members of the government delegation, including me, is safe,” the provincial minister said. According to him, the provincial spokesperson reports about the firing on the helicopter were entirely baseless and a product of propaganda spread by news channels without proper authentication. Parachiner, its surroundings come to halt due to protests The businesses, educational institutions and markets remained closed across Parachinar and surrounding areas while mobile service and internet have also shut down across the Kurram district, in an effort to counter the “extremely tense” situation. The officials said a curfew had been “imposed on the main road connecting Upper and Lower Kurram”. Thousands of people participated in a sit-in in Parachinar, where protesters criticised the government’s failure to protect civilians. Hundreds also demonstrated in Lahore and Karachi. The attack was widely condemned, including by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, as well as political parties. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
35 Magic Potions Disguised As Beauty Products, No Big DealI t’s only fitting that the pirate of pastry should plunder fans from across the ocean. Dylan Bachelet, the breakout star of this year’s Great British Bake Off , has found fame on both sides of the Atlantic, and went viral when the New York Times dubbed him “the Captain Jack Sparrow of baking”. “I wasn’t expecting that,” the 20-year-old from Buckinghamshire said. “The weirdest part was that it wasn’t in the food section, it was in the fashion pages ... A lot of coverage has been about my appearance but people seem to like it, so that’s all good.” Besides, Bachelet rather fancies the pirate lifestyle. “It would be a pretty sick life – on a boat with a bunch of your mates, just sailing around. If I could be the actual Jack Sparrow of baking, that would be wicked.” The 15th series of Bake Off , which aired its grand final last week, was widely seen as a return to form, boosted by fresh challenges, the antics of co-host Alison Hammond and a characterful batch of bakers. The calorific franchise remains Channel 4’s top-rated programme, pulling in 7million viewers a week and attracting a devoted international fanbase on Netflix. Bachelet was undoubtedly its star. He broke records by winning two star baker accolades, three technical challenges and three congratulatory handshakes from judge Paul Hollywood. “I’m sick of shaking your hand,” joked hard-to-please Hollywood, who called Bachelet “the flavour king”. His adventurous recipes were inspired by his gap year travels and his family heritage (his mother is Indian, his father Japanese-Belgian). Bachelet boldly blended sweetness with spice in high-concept creations, including a cake recreation of an ancient Egyptian canopic jar, a tiramisu designed to resemble a block of concrete and a gravity-defying hanging cake, inspired by the crumbling plasterwork on houses in Murano, Italy. He went into last Tuesday’s final as bookies’ favourite to become the contest’s joint youngest winner. Instead, Welsh paediatric nurse Georgie Grasso was crowned champion. “She totally deserved it,” he said. “Her cakes were awesome. Mine were poor.” Culinary stardom still looks assured. He has already amassed an Instagram following of 126,000, three times bigger than those of his fellow finalists. Not bad, considering he hadn’t baked much previously. “I was inexperienced compared to the others,” he said. “Before entering, I’d only baked 10 to 15 things that truly worked. Those were the photos that I sent off in my application. From that point, I was learning on the fly. As practice time got tighter towards the end, my bakes became less polished.” Bachelet’s swashbuckling style – flowing locks and goatee beard, often teamed with a bandana or baker boy cap – have made him easily recognisable. “Walking around London last week, I was getting recognised every five minutes,” he said. “I’d go to the supermarket and get stopped in every aisle. People were wishing me luck for the final. Everyone I met was lovely. Although I have been sent a few creepy DMs.” His newfound sex symbol status has taken Bachelet by surprise. “I’ve never been ogled before,” he said. “It’s not something I’d ever lean into. I won’t be starting an OnlyFans. My sister sent me TikTok clips of me blow-torching a meringue in slow motion.” In one episode, his trademark chunky jewellery included a Palestine earring. “While we were filming this summer, the war was escalating,” he said. “Regardless of your political stance, everyone can agree it’s a serious issue. People in their thousands are dying but nothing proactive is being done in the international sphere. The earring wasn’t intended to divide people.” Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion Bachelet achieved four A*s at A-level and started a degree in biomedical engineering before dropping out to pursue his passion for cooking. “I was actually offered a job at Ottolenghi and couldn’t take it because I was about to go on Bake Off . But I got my new job after doing the show, so it all worked out.” He is now chef de partie at The Five Fields in Chelsea, London, a Michelin-starred modern British restaurant. “It’s been a steep learning curve but it’s a great environment. The pressure is way higher in a professional kitchen than the tent. Bake Off was fun and you were in control. In the restaurant, get things wrong and you’re stuffed.” His employers knew he’d been on Bake Off but not how well he fared. Colleagues followed his fortunes on-screen each week and professed themselves “proud and overwhelmed” by his success. “When people asked [how I had done], I said, ‘Sorry guys, I’ve signed an NDA’.” Bachelet admits to stealing “a bunch of thermapens and a whisk” when he left the tent. What else did he take from the Bake Off experience? “It was life-changing. It brought me a lot of happiness and friends I’ll treasure for ever. We’re all seeing each other this weekend, which will be a nice reunion.” His ultimate ambition? “My priority is learning more about food. Going to different kitchens and improving my ability until I’m satisfied. When I get to that point, I’d love to have my own restaurant, but that’s a while away.” His US fanbase might beckon, too. “I’ve never actually been to the States, so it’s surreal they know about me over there ... I’d love to go.”I ditched my best friend’s wedding to go to work – I cut up my maid of honour dress too, but SHE’S the bad guy here
Relief, defiance, anger: Families and advocates react to Biden's death row commutations
Sources: Belichick finalizing deal to be UNC coachKeen NBL observers might have noticed that the usually boisterous Justin Tatum was quieter than usual, pacing the sidelines during the Illawarra Hawks win over the Perth Wildcats in Wollongong. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading The Hawks head coach joked afterwards he was on his best behaviour as his parents and daughter were courtside watching Sunday's game at WIN Entertainment Centre. They had arrived in the country to spend the Christmas holidays with Tatum. Not that the Hawks coach will have much time off, considering his team plays the Sydney Kings on Christmas Day. Two days later, they head to Brisbane to take on the Bullets before returning to Wollongong for a New Year's Eve showdown against the South East Melbourne Phoenix. Despite the gruelling schedule, Tatum was happy to have his family with him during the festive period. "They got here Saturday. I was very excited for them to be there, and my daughter gave me a high-five. She pays attention to the game as much as she can," he said. "It's good to have family here, go home, and be able to talk to somebody. "I was on my best behaviour. Mom and Dad were in town, so I behaved best. "I might have little pictures of them on the seats, so they remind me to be good when they leave. "It was good to have them there." He was also happy they saw him enjoying success as a coach. Tatum originally joined the Hawks at the start of the NBL24 season as an assistant to then-coach Jacob Jackomas. He became interim head coach after Jackomas was sacked after struggling to a 2-7 win/loss record. Tatum guided Illawarra to one win short of a grand final appearance after the Hawks were beaten by Melbourne United 2-1 in a seesawing semifinal series. The Hawks then locked in Tatum as permanent head coach on a three-year deal. The move has paid immediate dividends, with the ladder-leading Hawks considered NBL25 championship favourites. Tatum said he was happy his family saw how good the Hawks were. "It's cool, mostly for my 10-year-old daughter, to show her that you can achieve anything you want, as long as you put your mind to do it," he said. "Her coming across the world and seeing her dad having some impact on the team, the city, and the country in general means a lot to me. "My mom and dad are just proud of me no matter what, but it's just building confidence in her to let her know, 'Hey, whatever you want to achieve, whatever you want to do, believe in that because dad is doing his best to give you that confidence'." Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure. Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure. More from Basketball Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Find out what's happening in local business. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
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Lt. Gov. Jon Husted visits Mar-a-Lago. Could he succeed JD Vance as Ohio’s next U.S. senator?COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Victims’ families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they’d long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by an inmate whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden’s commutation of the killer’s sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but some say they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people,” Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims’ families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. Biden had faced pressure from advocacy organizations to commute federal death sentences, and several praised him for taking action in his final month in office. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement that Biden “has shown our country — and the rest of the world — that the brutal and inhumane policies of our past do not belong in our future.” Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, on the other hand, criticized the move — and argued its moral ground was shaky given the three exceptions. “Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency,” Cotton wrote on X. “Democrats can’t even defend Biden’s outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn’t commute the three most politically toxic cases.” Liz Murrill, Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, criticized the commuted sentence of Len Davis, a former New Orleans policeman convicted of orchestrating the killing of a woman who had filed a complaint against him. “We can’t trust the Feds to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, so it’s long past time for the state to get it done,” the tough-on-crime Republican said in a written statement to the AP. Two men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder, who is Black, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.”
Mumbai: After losing four of the six seats in north Maharashtra to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance proved that it was just a blip in a region that has been its bastion since 2014. In the assembly elections, the Mahayuti bagged XX of the 47 seats spread across five districts–Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar. The result was especially devastating for the Congress, which lost many strongholds, such as Sangamner and Akkalkuwa. The grand old party’s sitting MLAs in these two constituencies, Balasaheb Thorat and KC Padavi, had been in power since 1985 and 1990, respectively. In another important battle, state cabinet minister and senior OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal of the Nationalist Congress Party managed to retain the Yevla constituency despite appeals from Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and NCP founder Sharad Pawar to defeat him. To be sure, Bhujbal’s winning margin was more than halved from the 2019 assembly polls to 26,400. In the 2019 polls, the BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena had won 22 of the 47 seats in north Maharashtra, while the Congress and NCP bagged 20. As campaigning for the 2024 polls began, the MVA focused on issues such as the unrest among tribal communities over reservation, unemployment, anti-incumbency, and the low prices for crops like soybean, cotton and maize. The opposition alliance was expected to put up a good fight, especially given the Lok Sabha results. It wasn’t to be. In Nandurbar district, the BJP maintained its tally of two, while chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena snatched the Akkalkuwa seat from the Congress. In Dhule, the Mahayuti won all five seats, including a significant victory in the Dhule Rural constituency, where the BJP dealt a major blow to the Patil dynasty scion, Kunal Patil, of the Congress. In Jalgaon district, the Mahayuti swept all 11 seats. In Nashik, too, the ruling alliance did not allow any MVA candidate to win, with Ajit Pawar’s NCP bagging seven out of the 14 seats won by the Mahayuti. To counter the MVA’s challenge, the ruling Mahayuti resorted to hardline Hindutva and the mobilisation of its traditional vote bank, the OBCs, apart from banking on the success of the Ladki Bahin welfare scheme. It was no coincidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his Maharashtra election campaign from Dhule and Nashik earlier this month, in which he first raised the “Ek hain toh safe hain” (We’re safe if we’re united) slogan. During the last week of campaigning, social media was flooded with messages underlining the need for Hindus to be united. Whatever the Mahayuti did, it clearly worked.Did y’all see the most athletic thing anyone has done on an NFL field this year in Sunday night’s game between the Bucs and the Cowboys? Vita Vea brought the BOOM : #TBvsDAL on NBC/Peacock : Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tfwR1lOS0Z In a game that finished with a flurry of just the most incredible moments, this moment by Vea stands out. The Bucs are down two and it’s 3rd and 6 with two minutes left in the game. Because Tampa has one timeout, if Dallas gets this first down the game is essentially over. Tampa brings a simulated pressure, but Dallas beats it (a trend from Sunday night) with a quick throw to TE Jake Ferguson in the flat. Most times, this play ends in a first down and the game is over. BUT NOT ON VITA VEA’S WATCH. Vita Vea. Athlete. pic.twitter.com/l1NXc5JlbQ This is the most incredible play you’ll see in the NFL this year. Vea is listed at 347 pounds, and he’s coming from the other side of the field to make this play. I repeat. 347 POUNDS. FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD. The play is even crazier in the All-22! The Bucs have seven potential blitzers lined up at or near the line of scrimmage, but with Dallas in a 3x1 formation to the left, if the Bucs are blitzing, someone is going to have to come from the other side of the field. Tampa drops both Vea and EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, but JTS has to get under a potential CeeDee Lamb route from the single receiver side. This leaves Vea in the middle of the field, and this is a great call by Dallas. The quick throw to the flat gets the ball out of the QBs hands vs the pressure, and Ferguson makes the first man miss! But Vea has other plans, and decides to end this play by doing something that not even Isaac Newton believed was possible. Vea reached 14.91 miles per hour on this tackle, which is an ungodly amount considering he’s at least 100 pounds heavier than 95% of the people on the field. He hits Ferguson like a tsunami on this play, which could’ve been the play that the Bucs used to win the game. It’s another reminder that the greatest athletes in the world are the defensive and offensive linemen, because they do things that no other human should be able to do on a down to down basis. This isn’t even the first time Vea has dropped into coverage in his career! Because of all the wonky pressures Bowles will send, Vea will drop into underneath areas and do shit like this: This is insane: 350-pound NT Vita Vea *drops into coverage* and forces an Aaron Jones fumble on the 1-yard line to prevent a TD. Elite athlete. ( : @NFL ) pic.twitter.com/bNV3sCW0RV Cherish these moments from Vita Vea, one of the most unique athletes we’ll see in the NFL.